DİYARBAKIR- Journalist Faruk Balıkçı, who has been watching the Newroz celebrations in many places in Kurdistan for many years, said that the 1993 Cizîr Newroz, in which his colleague İzzet Kezer was murdered, and the 2013 Amed celebration, in which the message of PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan was read, were unforgettable Newroz.

 

Journalist Faruk Balıkçı, who has been following the Newroz celebrations from the war conditions of the 90s to the present, shared his observations, impressions and thoughts on the Newroz celebrations he witnessed with our agency.

 

Expressing that the Kurdish people's resistance comes to mind when Newroz is mentioned, Balıkçı said: “The first thing that comes to mind for me is the 90s, because those were the times when unsolved murders, village burnings, evacuations and unlawfulness were the heaviest, and the people were filling the Newroz areas. In fact, filling in those fields was a response to the oppressors. At a time when lawlessness reached its peak, people were kidnapped and killed, journalists were shot in the neck and killed, the public was filling the streets. Therefore, when I think of Newroz, I think of this resistance of the Kurdish people.”

 

'PEOPLE WERE COMING FROM THE MOUNTAINS'

 

Drawing attention to the Newroz celebrations in Cizîr district, which attracts attention with its diversity, colorfulness and massiveness in the celebrations every year, Balıkçı said: “The place where Newroz was most intense and enthusiastic was Cizre. In the 90s, preparations were made a week before the arrival of March 21st in Cizre. This excitement and preparation was also reflected to us journalists. Journalists would not only come from Turkey, they would come from all over the world because Newroz celebrations in Cizre were always prevented by the state and it was known that something would happen. Despite the prohibitions, the people were flocking into the area where Newroz was celebrated in their clothes suitable for the holiday. A flock of people was coming from the mountains of Cizre. Of course, this was interfered with every year. Especially in 1994-95, when the pressure was heavy, people were filling the Newroz areas. The state had almost surrendered this region to dark forces and Newroz was celebrated under these conditions. The people were able to celebrate Newroz at a time when there were deaths, villages were evacuated and people were randomly detained. In fact, intense participation was a response to the state. The message "The Kurdish people exist and they are here" was given with these participations; therefore, Newroz celebrations were a sign of solidarity and struggle.”

 

JOURNALIST WAS SHOT IN THE HEAD

 

Referring to the Newroz in 1993, which he could never forget from the Newroz he witnessed and when his colleague İzzet Kezer was murdered in the middle of the street, Balıkçı said: There were tanks and military vehicles at every corner. We were at the Kadıoğlu hotel as usual, at that time the cry of a child was heard. We were 9-10 journalists. At that time, we took shelter in a house. Foreign journalist friends made white flags, then they said nothing would happen, I told them to wait for the evening, because in the dark I said 'the state is pulling back a little', but it was said that nothing would happen. Ultimately, white flags were made. Three white flags were made, I bought one, another journalist friend bought one, and one was bought by a German reporter. As we were heading back towards the hotel, heavy fire was fired at us. Journalist friend Izzet Kezer next to me was shot in the head."

 

MACHINE IN ONE HAND, WHITE FLAG IN ONE HAND

 

We run under the door, we were still being shot at, we were all piled up on top of each other, to avoid being shot. We were hiding under each other, there was an iron door in front of us, I punched the door, there was a gap under the door. I looked from below, a young woman came from the house with the courtyard. I shouted to open the door, but of course she does not know who we are, there are sounds of fire outside, she is afraid, I showed her the camera in that gap, I shouted that we are journalists. When she realized that we were journalists, she opened the door, we all went in, but we realized that one of our journalist friends was lying in the middle of the street. We didn't understand what had happened, and we didn't know if he was dead. When the gunfire stopped, me and two friends said, let's go and have a look, let's pull him inside, he was already lying on his back, his machine on his chest, a white flag in one hand, and he was lying on the ground covered in blood. Two friends and I tried to go, but when we left, heavy fire was opened on us again. We fled back helplessly when the shooting opened, and then our friend died in that street.”

 

'NEWROZ IN 2013 WAS A CELEBRATION OF ENTHUSIASM'

 

Balıkçı, who distinguishes the 2013 Amed Newroz, the date in which PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan's manifesto on the solution of the Kurdish problem was read, from other Newroz, said: “In the 90s, Newroz was celebrated with a combination of anger and enthusiasm. Two emotions were displayed together in the fields. Newroz in 2013 was a celebration of enthusiasm. There was a very intense participation and the Newroz area filled with great enthusiasm. Perhaps we witnessed such a crowd for the first time in the history of Newroz, because everyone had hope for peace and for the future. People filled the spaces and there was really great enthusiasm and excitement with that enthusiasm.”