The hunger strike of the Kurdish political movement’s constituents, who demand communication with Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan, began in the DBP headquarters in Amed today. DBP Co-President Sebahat Tuncel spoke during the hunger strikers’ press conference and called upon everyone to show solidarity so that the indefinite and irreversible hunger strike making legitimate demands grows and reaches success.

The indefinite and irreversible hunger strike of the Kurdish political movement’s constituents demanding communication with Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan began with the press statement made in the DBP Provincial Headquarters in Amed. The names of the 50 hunger strikers were shared with the public during the press statement. People of Amed participated in the press conference, which was encircled by Turkish police officers. Posters saying "We are on an indefinite and irreversible hunger strike until communication with Mr. Öcalan is established", "The freedom of our Leader is our freedom" and "We are concerned over Öcalan’s health and safety" were hung on the DBP headquarters and people chanted the slogans "No Life Without the Leader" and "Long Live Leader Apo" during the press statement.

HDP parliamentarians, Co-Presidents, Co-Mayor, politicians and hundreds of people participated in the press conference and hunger strikers wore t-shirts with Öcalan’s photos printed on them. Before DBP Co-President Sebahat Tuncel read the press statement, DTK Co-President Leyla Güven informed the public about the goals of the hunger strike.

‘WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY OBJECTIVE INFORMATION ON THE HEALTH AND SECURITY OF ÖCALAN’

DBP Co-President Sebahat Tuncel recalled that people’s representatives, notables and NGO officials had made a statement on August 31 and criticized the isolation of Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan in İmralı Prison for the past 18 years and the lack of communication with Öcalan since April 5. Tuncel emphasized that although 52 days passed since coup plotters attempted to take over İmralı Island on July 15, they have not received any objective information on the health and security of Öcalan.

Tuncel noted that Öcalan has been making a great effort for the democratic and peaceful solution of the Kurdish issue, the democratization of Turkey, and the peace that the people of Kurdistan and Turkey has longed for despite his isolation in İmralı Island over the past 18 years. Tuncel said that the dialogue process between 2013 and 2015 showed that peace was possible, and the Turkish state’s decision to end the negotiations after the February 28 declaration has resulted in pain and tragedy. Tuncel underlined that the isolation of Abdullah Öcalan, who has an important role in the issue, is not acceptable from the perspective of human rights, freedoms, and democracy.

‘HUNGER STRIKE BEGAN WITH 50 VOLUNTEERS’

Tuncel recalled that in their August 31 declaration, they had objected to the illegal and unethical treatment of Mr. Öcalan, who is a political leader followed by millions of people but with whom communication has been banned since April. Tuncel pointed out that they had made every political, legal, diplomatic and humane effort to establish communication with Öcalan over the past 510 days, and decided to begin the hunger strike when all of these previous efforts failed. She emphasized that the only demand of the indefinite and irreversible hunger strike, launched by 50 volunteers on September 5, is the establishment of legal communication channels with Mr. Öcalan.

Tuncel noted that state officials failed to reply to the August 31 declaration, and 50 volunteers began the indefinite and irreversible hunger strike until Öcalan’s lawyers, family members or the political committee meet with Öcalan.

Tuncel called upon Kurdish people and the forces of democracy to stand up for Öcalan, defend their honor and freedom, and enhance the solidarity with hunger strikers until their demands are met.