Tens of thousands of people have staged a mass demonstration in the French city of Strasbourg today to mark the 14th anniversary of the capture of Abdullah Öcalan, the jailed leader of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), on 15 February 1999.
Around 40 thousand people joining the rally, which was organized by FEYKA (Federation of Kurdish Associations in France), condemned the international conspiracy and demanded freedom for Öcalan. Demonstrators also called for justice and truth on the execution of Sakine Cansız, a co-founder of the PKK, Fidan Doğan, representative of the Kurdistan National Congress (KNK) in Paris and Leyla Şaylemez, member of the Kurdish youth movement, in Paris on 9 January.
The rally starting from the Gare Centrale was followed by a meeting at Place Meinau where representatives of Kurdish and foreign organizations and institutions made speeches.
Speaking here, Kongra-Gel President Remzi Kartal said that the guerrilla resistance will bring freedom to Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan and the Kurdish people. Kartal pointed out that the French state must shed light on Paris killings and remarked that all Kurdish organizations, those of women and youth in particular, would be giving a struggle until the mass killings is enlightened.
Kartal underlined that 2013 would be the year of liberation of Leader Apo and the Kurdish people. Kartal noted that they supported the process of talks recently initiated by Leader Apo and said the Kurdish question could come up with a solution through dialogue.
Kartal also called attention to the importance of recent developments in West Kurdistan (Rojava) and added; "It is time for freedom".
In a written message sent to the meeting in Strasbourg, Kurdish Women's Movement (KJB-Koma Jinen Blind) strongly condemned Paris killings and demand the enlightenment of the executions. KJB condemned England, Russia, Israel and the U.S. for making Öcalan a victim of their economic interests by taking part in the 15 February conspiracy in 1999.
"The freedom of our leader will liberate us, just like the freedom of women will liberate the people"said KJB and added the followings referring to the execution of Sara, Rojbin and Ronahi, “2013 will be a year of resistance against conspirators' attacks, denial, elimination, surrender and destruction”.
Democratic Society Congress (DTK) co-chair Aysel Tuğluk started her speech by condemning Paris killings and she pointed out that "The France state must shed light on all details of these killings as it will otherwise be responsible for the mass killing. We will never end giving a struggle for justice and truth on the executions". Tuğluk called on the AKP government to give an end to conspiracies and underlined that the Kurdish people will be supporting the solution proposal the Kurdish leader will put forward.
Luisa Morgantini, former MP at the European Parliament, said she agreed with the slogan “Jin, Jiyan, Azadi" [Women, Life, Freedom] and remarked that the Kurdish people have long been subject to torture by occupying forces. Morgantini underlined that Sakine Cansız, Fidan Doğan ve Leyla Şaylemez did never bow to the pressures and added; “Thank you for teaching humanity”.
Kurdistan National Congress (KNK) President Tahir Kemalizade condemned the international conspiracy and pointed out that Europeans have split Kurdistan with the Skyes-Picot Agreement.
The Sykes–Picot Agreement, officially known as the Asia Minor Agreement, was a secret agreement between the governments of the United Kingdom and France, with the assent of Russia, defining their proposed spheres of influence and control in the Middle East should the Triple Entente succeed in defeating the Ottoman Empire during World War I.
The negotiation of the treaty occurred between November 1915 and March 1916. The agreement was concluded on 16 May 1916.
The agreement effectively divided the Arab provinces of the Ottoman Empire outside the Arabian peninsula into areas of future British and French control or influence.
The terms were negotiated by the French diplomat François Georges-Picot and British Sir Mark Sykes. The Russian Tsarist government was a minor party to the Sykes–Picot agreement.
“We are here, resisting against the pressure you have imposed on Kurds for years now. We will liberate Kurdistan”, he added and called the French state to urgently shed light on Paris killings.
Speaking on behalf of PYD (Democratic Union Party), Abdulselam Mustafa said that; “I have brought greetings to Leader Apo from Rojava. 2013 will be the year of Kurdish people's leader Abdullah Öcalan's liberation”.
Speaking after, Öcalan's lawyer Mahmut Şakar said that “We will continue to give a struggle until Kurdistan and Öcalan gain freedom”.
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