RIHA - Ömer Öcalan of DEM Party said that Abdullah Öcalan, whom he met on 23 October, said about the developments in Syria: "Kurds are not the Kurds of 100 years ago. Kurds will defend their rights until the end".

 

The vigil protests started on the border line against the attacks on North and East Syria continue. While the demonstration in Nisêbîn (Nusaybin) district of Merdîn (Mardin) entered its 12th day, a vigil was started yesterday in Pirsûs (Suruç) district of Riha (Urfa), which is on the border with Kobanê.

 

Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) Riha MP Ömer Öcalan is also among the participants of the demonstration. Öcalan evaluated the developments in Syria and the attacks on North and East Syria.

 

'THEY WANT TO LOSE AGAIN'

 

Öcalan pointed out that Turkey has been trying to eliminate the gains of the Kurds since 26 November, "Our people must be vigilant against this. Just as 100 years ago in these lands some people made the Kurds lose under the name of 'brotherhood of the ummah', in this new century they want to make them lose again with this justification. We do not want this. If we have to pay a great price in order not to lose, we will pay it, as a matter of fact, great prices are being paid," he said.

 

An artificial border was drawn between Kobanê and Pirsûs 100 years ago said Öcalan and added: "We care about solving this problem in a democratic way. We are now in Pîrsûs. There is Kobanê in front of us. The people living in Kobanê are our relatives. We are brothers and sisters. They are Kurds and we are Kurds. The border 100 years ago could not separate us from each other. We want a democratic model to come to the fore in the Middle East. Everyone needs to take action before it is too late. Maybe tomorrow it will be too late. The democratic forces must play their roles and missions in order to protect the gains of the Kurds and to prevent more destructive wars." Öcalan reminded that during the ISIS attacks on Kobanê in 2014, a vigil was held in Pîrsûs for days and said also today everyone must portect Kobanê

 

Referring to the talks between Kurdish parties in North and East Syria, Öcalan emphasised that Kurds should go to Damascus with a joint delegation. Öcalan said: "All Kurds in Rojava should defend their rights in Damascus as one voice. They need to defend their rights both locally and internationally in a strong and united way. Syria's new regime should not be like the Assad regime. The Baathist regime ignored the Kurds for 61 years, this should not continue. Kurds should have a status."

 

WHAT DID ABDULLAH ÖCALAN SAY?

 

Reminding that PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan stayed in Syria and North and East Syria between 1979 and 1998, Öcalan shared Abdullah Öcalan's evaluations on Syria for the first time on 23 October. Öcalan said: "Mr Öcalan passed from here to Kobanê 45 years ago. During our meeting on 23 October, Mr Öcalan said, 'Syrian Kurds are not the Kurds of 100 years ago. They have many opportunities. They will defend their rights until the end. They will always increase their resistance. Kurds have the right to establish dialogue and diplomacy with everyone.' We met on 23 October, Assad was still in office then. Mr Öcalan made an observation about Assad and said, 'If Assad gains in this process, he will return to the policies he pursued against the Kurds before 2011'. Now the Assad regime is gone and another regime has replaced it. If a determined struggle is waged against this regime, gains can be achieved."

 

'EVERYONE MUST PLAY THEIR ROLE AND MISSION'

 

Öcalan pointed to the efforts of Shêx Murşid El Xeznewî, the son of the scholar Shêx Maşûq, who was murdered by the Baath regime in 2005, for unity among the Kurds and emphasised that all figures who have a voice in the society should play their role and mission. Öcalan continued as follows: "Opinion leaders, people who are important to the society in terms of nationality and faith should play the role assigned to them today. The Kurdish language is a positive language. They need to create a positive language within themselves as well. We are here. Today is the day, everyone must look after each other. If a Kurdish status is established in Rojava, all Kurds will have a status. We will stand against the attack attempts with our right to democratic politics and democratic protest."

 

MA / Emrullah Acar