Kalo's struggle for truth continues

  • actual
  • 10:39 16 January 2025
  • |
img

AMED - It has been 3 years since Yılmaz Yakut, aka Kalo, who delivered newspapers on the streets of Amed, ignoring detention, torture and death threats, passed away. 

It has been 3 years since Yılmaz Yakut, the “Kalo” of the Free Press, lost his life on January 16, 2022 due to cancer. Kalo (elderly) started working at Free Press in the 1990s, a period of village evacuations, kidnappings and disappearances, unsolved murders, detentions and arrests in Kurdistan. From the age of 14, he worked as a distributor for Özgür Gündem newspaper. During this time, he was detained, kidnapped and subjected to severe torture many times. One winter day in 1993, while delivering newspapers to subscribers on Melik Ahmet Street in Sûr (Sur) district, he was attacked with a cleaver by Hezbollah and wounded. Kalo was saved by the newspapers hidden in his coat. 
 
Despite all the pressure, Kalo did not back down and continued his work as a “little general” of Apê Musa (Musa Anter). Kalo delivered the newspapers that were banned from entering Kurdistan to the people, sometimes camouflaged in garbage bags, sometimes in flour bags or under buckets of seeds. Kalo started his struggle with Özgür Gündem newspaper in 1992 and continued until 2010 with Özgür Ülke, Yeni Politika, Demokrasi, Ülkede Gündem, Özgür Bakış, Yeni Gündem, Yeniden Özgür Gündem, Welat and Ülkede Özgür Gündem newspapers.
 
 
Journalist Hakkı Boltan, one of Kalo's colleagues, said that Kalo was one of the first names that came to mind when the Free Press tradition was mentioned. Boltan said, “Yılmaz was one of the first distributors. No one knows the attacks on Kalo. No one knows how many times he was beaten, detained and threatened. When we looked at his body, we could see how much torture he was subjected to from the blows he received. Each of those wounds are news. He was fighting against the attacks of fascism,” 
 
Noting that Kalo's determination came from the meaning he attributed to journalism, Boltan said, “At that time, there was a death almost every day. For this reason, we especially commemorate Kalo. Being Apê Mûsa's general suits him the best. Wherever a journalist was in trouble, Kalo would run there. We promise 'Kalo, rest in peace, your legacy of struggle continues. We promise that we will continue to do so.” 
 
MURDERED JOURNALISTS
 
Stating that attacks on journalism continue today, “When we look at the year 2024, we see that attacks on journalism are never lacking. Our friends Cihan Bilgin and Nazım Daştan were murdered. They were targeted even though their cars had the word 'press' on them. Where did they come from? They were coming from the news. Just as Kalo opened a space and breathed life into journalism in the most difficult days, Nazım and Cihan were doing the same in Tishreen. They were fulfilling the people's freedom of information. They were the successors of Kalo, Apê Musa, Nagihan, Gülistan, Hero and all the journalists who struggled. We are grateful to Kalo and his friends and all the journalists who struggled,” he said. 
 
'WE WILL CONTINUE THEIR STRUGGLE'
 
 
 
Ümit Aslan, who worked with Kalo and now distributes the Yeni Yaşam newspaper, said, “Yılmaz continued his work without giving up despite all the torture. Yılmaz was full of morale and energy. When we went out in the field with Yılmaz, he was so full of morale and had such warm communication with his subscribers... Everywhere we went, everyone respected him and called him Kalo. Therefore, his death affected us very much and saddened us. Today we continue their struggle,”
 
Stating that he and his friends were also subjected to similar attacks, Aslan said, “But we could not give up our struggle. Because being a journalist is really a very sacred duty. Because you are a path for people. We have never stepped back from this sacred duty and we never will. Because we are Apê Musa's little generals.” 

View More Articles

18/07/2025
21:10 85-year-old ill prisoner Sıddık Guler releases
21:01 What decisions taken at Commission meeting?
19:55 Release of 30-year prisoner postponed for the 2nd time
19:03 2 journalists acquitted 1 journalist sentenced
12:05 Central Anatolian Kurds stand with the peace process
11:17 Parties gathered for the commission
11:07 Families of fighters at disarmament ceremony: The world saw Ocalan’s theoretical and practical power
10:41 Peace Mother: safe return path must be opened for the guerrillas
10:16 Salih Muslim: We reject surrender, a change in mindset is needed
09:51 Hundreds of women kidnapped in Syria
17/07/2025
10:48 Rojava Revolution marks 13 years: We will not give up our gains
16/07/2025
15:13 Imrali Delegation statement after meeting with Minister of Justice
12:57 Holloway: I am deeply honored to join voices supporting peace process
10:22 Saw his brother the historic ceremony: We want to see him among us
10:07 Partido Obrero supports 'I want to visit Ocalan' campaign
10:00 Witnessed the historic ceremony: Kurds should trust themselves, not the state
15/07/2025
16:57 Urgent demands from TTB for the process
15:10 Suwayda statement from Damascus: Ceasefire declared
15:03 Druze Spiritual Leader: The statement made in our name does not reflect our will
14:43 Damascus forces enter Suwayda: Curfew declared
14:38 Nagehan Avcil from OHD: Recognition of the ‘Right to Hope’ will contribute to the peace process
13:05 Newala Qesaba faces threat of concrete development
11:09 Lawyer following ceremony: Legal reforms must be implemented swiftly
10:04 Peace process is an opportunity to end attacks on nature say ecologists
09:26 Tells PJAK meeting: Freedom is only possible through national unity
09:13 Margaret Owen: No real peace process can until Öcalan is free
08:14 'Democratic Society Meetings' continue
14/07/2025
18:01 14 July resistance fighters commemorated in many cities
17:48 DEM Party Imrali Delegation to meet Minister of Justice
17:00 DEM Party İmralı Delegation's statement on 'meeting note'
15:48 Ahmet Özer released from 'urban concencus' case
15:25 Request of arrest to 3 people beaten for listening to Kurdish song
15:22 Clashes in Suwayda: 37 killed
13:23 High-level meeting between KDP and PUK
11:40 DBP, DEVA, SAADET: Commission and legal process should not be delayed
11:02 Palestine Action banned in the UK: An unjust legislation
10:51 Wan residents to state: We expect official confirmation, not just words
09:00 İmralı delegation's meeting date with political parties announced
08:49 'Democratic Society' meetings continue
08:33 CHP-affiliated Şile Municipality Mayor arrested
13/07/2025
22:13 Statement from DAANES on talks with the Damascus administration
15:58 The duty to build peace lies with all of us says DEM Party Group Deputy Chair
14:03 25 thousand people informed about the ‘Peace and Democratic Society Process’
12:43 People of Amed: We want freedom and equality
11:55 Two of her children joined the PKK: We all have a great burden on our shoulders
11:29 Mother sees her daughter at ceremony after 12 years: We want peace
10:52 IHD Co-chair who followed ceremony: The state has no more excuse
10:33 Women figth for national unity: Goal is national congress
10:03 DEM Party MPs: Parliament should play an active role in solution
09:47 Footage of forest destruction in Besta and Biliga