Bulletin de liaison et d'information - Institut kurde de Paris

Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro
de la Prensa-Basm Özeti
26 March, 2000, Turkish Probe issue 375, Copyright (Ç) Turkish Daily News
'Nevruz' is okay but 'Newroz' is not
• While the controversial Nevruz holiday was officially celebrated in Diyarbakir and Batman, the reason for it being
banned in other cities were the letters 'W' and '0'
Dakan Aslaneli
The Nevruz holiday on March 21, which marks the beginning of spring and when daytime and nighttime hours are equal, was
celebrated again amid disputes this year. In the southeastern cities of Diyarbakir and Batman, about 20,000 people set tires on
fire, danced the halay folk dance and sang songs over the 24-hour period.
Permission was first given for Nevruz celebrations in Istanbul and later cancelled by area governors citing the reason for their
disapproval as the fact that the People's Democracy Party (HADEP) had spelled the word "Newroz." The Governor's Office
stated that "Nevruz" means spring holiday, so spelling the word "newroz" would provoke hatred and hostility among people,
thus the celebration should not be not permitted.
Police detained 147 people who wanted to celebrate Nevruz, but on Tuesday morning, Istanbul Governor Erol Cakir was
among the people symbolically celebrating Nevruz in Sultanahment Square. Cakir even jumped over a burning tire as a gesture
symbolizing unity and brotherhood. In the same afternoon, however, Cakir ordered that those who wanted to participate in
Nevruz celebrations be taken into custody.
Showy celebrations
Nevruz was fully celebrated only in Diyarbakir. The International Fair Center, designated as the site for celebrations by the
Governor's Office, began filling up in the morning. More than 20,000 people got together in the Uckuyu district. The
predominantly yellow, red and green HADEP flags were hung in some parts of the area and the celebrations started at about
10:00 a.m. with opening speeches from HADEP District Chairman Ali Urkut, .Diyarbakir Mayor Feridun Celik and HADEP
Chairman Ahmet Turan Demir. After the speeches, fires were lit in some parts of the area while people danced the halay, sang
Kurdish songs and jumped over burning tires under the constant surveillance of F-16 aircraft flying over the crowds of people.
Diyarbakir police headquarters and the garrison command took tight security measures throughout the city. With reinforcements
from other cities, about 4,000 police were on duty, and the entire city was under camera surveillance. One thing attracting
attention were some groups participating in the celebrations who were giving red carnations to the police.
At the end of the Nevruz holiday, which passed without the unpleasant events that had been expected, the 147 people detained
in Istanbul was the highest number, whereas 100 people in Sanliurfa and 20 people in Siirt were taken into custody.
The Kurdish Culture Research Association issued statements concerning the celebrations cancelled in Istanbul and accused the
governor's office of being biased. The statement, signed by Kamber Soypak on behalf of the organizing committee, said, "The
Governor's Office, which could not tolerate spelling the word Newroz, did not permit the celebrations because it found the date
of March 21 objectionable from a security standpoint."
Politicians commemorate Nevruz in writing
President Suleyman Demirel: Nevruz, which is accepted as the first day of the new. year and the beginning o~ sprin~, is a
perfect ground on which unity and peace can be reflected as well as where such.um.vers~ va~ues as peace, !TIend~hlpand
brotherhood can be shared. There have been some changes in our region that WIllgIve dIrection to world hIstory m.the 21st
century. Our wish is that this new world appearing in.the ~gion promotes friendship, lo.ve, peace a,nd tolerance as IS
appropriate for Nevruz. Nevruz should be celebrated In thIS way, and we should not let It be made Into an unpleasant event.
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevil: Nevruz, which strengthens national unity and symbolizes bro~erh~, has taken its place in our
culture. I celebrate Nevruz with the wish that it will contribute to the development of love, solIdanty and peace among the
people of our country.
Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli: Over the last few y~, there was a desire to see Nev~z become a holid~y when .
separatist and terrorist force would be used. Common sense In our country has not l~t the~ wlshe~ become reall~Y.The Tl~rkish
people's beliefs, cultural values and civilization are the strongest guarantees of Turkish national eXIstence and umty, of which
one celebration of these values is the Nevruz holiday.
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