POTSDAM – On Saturday evening, December 17th, a musical commemoration for Şehîd Bager Nûjiyan (Michael Panser) took place in Potsdam at the self-governing Club Spartacus. The German internationalist Şehîd Bager Nûjiyan (also known as Xelîl Viyan) fell on December 14, 2018 in the Medya defense zones in a drone attack by the Turkish occupying state. Every year on this day, a musical commemoration event in memory of the internationalist truth seeker and freedom fighter takes place in his hometown of Potsdam, which is organized by his friends and comrades. However, due to the corona pandemic, the events had to be canceled in the last two years.
This year’s event is reported as follows:
“After the room had filled with around 200 people, Michael Panser’s voice rang out with the song of the moor soldiers, which he accompanied on the guitar. A minute’s silence was then observed for him and all those who died in the revolution. With shouts like ‘Şehîd namirin’ (the fallen are immortal) and ‘Long international solidarity’, the participants showed their solidarity with the revolution and the resistance in Kurdistan.
Bermal Çem had prepared the first musical contribution. She pointed out that Michael Panser himself was musically active in the cultural sector in the mountains of Kurdistan, but unfortunately could not complete his projects. In memory of her fallen friend, she sang the song Zîlan, which also connected her with him.
In a speech, a friend of Michael’s told about his life, his life path and diaries and thus brought the audience closer to the process that Michael went through and which ultimately led to joining the People’s Defense Forces HPG.
In addition, Dîrok Diyar spoke on behalf of the cultural movement TEV-ÇAND. She emphasized the importance of the internationalists and their work in the Kurdish freedom movement and also applauded Michael’s family for having produced such strong children and personalities. She emphasized that “the ‘Epic of the PKK’ was written and completed by friends of Şehîd Bager in his memory”.
After the continuing attacks by the Turkish state on the free mountains of Kurdistan and also on Rojava, above all using poison gas, the song ‘Freiheit, Freedom, Azadî’ was performed by friends of Michael Panser, as well as the Weberlied by Heine.
Zozan Qamişlo wrote a poem for the revolutionary Michael Panser and set it to music for the anniversary, which was shared at the event.
Jiyan Arjîn also made a musical contribution of his own, saluting the solidarity of so many generations who attended the memorial.
After him, Hozan Aydin took the stage and shared his songs. He also said that people like Michael Panser (Bager Nûjiyan) with the fire in their hearts have the power to transcend all limitations and make them disappear.
The Echo Choir took the audience on a musical journey around the world. At the end everyone got up and sang the ‘Marşa Rojava’ together with the choir and rounded off the commemoration with loud shouts and slogans.”
