Peoples' Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party Youth Assembly started a march from Amed (Diyarbakır) to Amara neighbourhood of Riha's (Urfa) Xelfetî (Halfeti) district on 1 April on the 76th birthday of Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan. The 4-day march left behind the determination of the youth and those accompanying them to struggle. One of those accompanying the young people on the march was 84-year-old Abdulhafız Çiftçi (mamo-uncle), who was at the forefront of many demonstrations. Çiftçi added colour to the march with his cheerfulness, morale and energy, and he was always at the front.

 

WHERE THERE IS RESISTANCE, THERE IS 'MAMO'

 

Çiftçi, who is remembered for his participation in the "Respect for the Will March" on 30 June after the appointment of trustees to Colemêrg (Hakkari) Municipality on 3 June 2024, has been at the forefront of many marches before.

 

Çiftçi is from Bayê village of Colemêrg and spent most of his life as a shepherd. During the time he lived in the village, Çiftçi had to leave his village because he was subjected to state pressure and settled in the centre of Colemêrg. Çiftçi spent more than a year in Diyarbakır Prison No. 5 and was detained 11 times. Despite all the pressures, the farmer went to Amara for the 5th time this year.

 

Çiftçi, who took part in the march with his symbolised red scarf and local clothes, started the halay (Dance) 2 hours before the announcement and the start. Çiftçi, who joined the youth in the halay he started with Botan melodies, was one of the first to move from Şêx Seîd (Sheikh Said) Square for the march. Çiftçi travelled from Amed to Sewêreg (Sİverek), from there to Curnê Reş, from Pirsûs (Suruç) to Xelfetî, became the leader of the halay at each stop. Despite all the difficulties, Çiftçi, who was at the front of the march as he was in the halay, always gave strength to those with him with his never-ending energy.

 

In Xelfeti, Çiftçi said, "We are always ready for our leader. We have been marching with young people for days. We will celebrate our Leader's birthday here with great enthusiasm. In 2015, I set out from Cizîr and participated in the 4th of April celebrations. I would sacrifice my life for my leader. Without him, I would not be here today. There is no life without a leader. Peace entered our language thanks to our leader. Everything has a solution. We are waiting for it too. I hope we will achieve it. The reason we came here is that we have a search. We have seen illness and attacks. But in the end we recovered."

 

Stating that he witnessed the excitement of the youth and the "awakening" of the people during the 4-day march, Çifçti said, "This shows our commitment to our path. I will continue to wave this red scarf in every resistance. This is the fifth time I have come here and each time this red scarf was in my hand. We have come all the way to Xelfetî. We are doing this march for the release of our Leader. We have introduced him to the world. I am with my leader. I have a photograph of him and I keep it with me."

 

MA / Ceylan Şahinli - Fethi Balaman