DIYARBAKIR, — It was in the air: Newroz in Diyarbakir this year would surely be historical. But then again, every year expectations are higher and higher and every year these expectations are met, ANF reported.
This year is no different. An incredible, coloured, noisy mass of women, men, children, youngsters took to the street once again; emotionally strong to see this huge crowd chanting slogans and singing songs.
The slogans are for peace, justice and rights. Ahmet Turk, co chair of DTK (Democratic Society Congress) at around 11 (Diyarbakir time) took the stage for a passionate speech interrupted many times by loud cheers, clapping and slogans.
Tens of thousands of people with different colours and voices began to flock to the Newroz Area by early morning hours in Diyarbakir where all eyes were turned because of the Newroz Festival. Moving from neighbourhoods decorated with yellow, red, green, ten thousands are gathering in the celebration area.
The mass, gathering in merkez Bağlar, Kayapınar, Sur and Yenişehir districts by the dayspring in the cloudy weather, started to move to the Newroz Area in groups with vehicles decorated with green, yellow, red and carrying banners “Newroz pîroz be” (Happy Newroz in Kurdish). Young and old alike turned the streets of Diyarbakır into a color festivity with local dresses they were wearing. Groups are trying to reach the celebration area of Diyarbakır where fires are lighted in some places.
CITY CENTER EMPTIED
Walking with Kurdish national leader Abdullah Öcalan’s posters and KCK flags, the mass often chanted slogans “Newroza te pîroz be ey Serok Apo”, “Bijî Serok Apo”, “The PKK is the people, the people is here”. While the road to the Newroz Park was closed to traffic because of intensive mass flow, people left their cars in the city and gathered at Yenihal crossroad. The city has fallen into silence as thousands of people moved to the area. The closure of the Urfa way to traffic due to the meeting made vehicles wait in the traffic for a long time. Traffic also got stuck at Airport Street and Kantar crossroads.