Socialist Party of the Oppressed (ESP), Socialist Women’s Assemblies (SKM) and Socialist Youth Associations Federation (SGDF) launched an alternating hunger strike to support the hunger strikes protesting the isolation imposed upon Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Ocalan, with the motto “End the isolation, Lend a hand to Leyla”. Limter-IS Chairperson Kamber Saygili, SGDF Co-chair Okan Danaci, SKM Province Spokesperson Ezgi Bahceci, Voice of the Immortal and Prisoners Platform (OTSP), prisoners’ relatives and members of the public attended the press statement held in the Human Rights Association (IHD) Istanbul offices.

“MILLIONS OF PEOPLE DEMAND AN END TO THE ISOLATION”

Helin Yilmaz from the OTSP read the statement and said the hunger strikes launched by DTK Co-chair Leyla Guven demanding an end to the isolation are on day 163 and that Amed MP Dersim Dag and Van MPs Tayip Temel and Murat Sarisac are also on hunger strikes. Yilmaz said there are ongoing hunger strikes throughout the world with the same demand and added: “With them, hundreds of politicians and patriotic and communist prisoners resist to end the isolation.” Yilmaz said the demand to end the isolation is a demand by millions of people and that many prisoners have continued in their homes after they were released from prison.

PROTESTING LACK OF AWARENESS

Yilmaz said lack of awareness comes down to inviting in deaths and added: “The struggle against the isolation is not just an agenda for the Kurdish people. We as the ESP, SKM and SGDF have been Leyla Guven is right, and the isolation must end since day one.”

Yilmaz said the participants started an alternating hunger strike today to share the experience of the hunger strikers and gave a message: “If we shout out louder for their demand, we can end the isolation. We have faith and we will prevail.”

A CALL

ESP Deputy Co-chair Sahin Tumuklu said, “This is turning from a political struggle to a struggle to be human. We are faced with the task to grow and hold up the stance.”

Tumuklu said: “We are calling on all who demand freedom and democracy to raise the struggle by the hunger strikes.”

ESP Member Mesut Ceki said isolation is a severe crime against humanity and added: “From today onwards, we will be visiting every institution to find ways to put the demands on the agenda of as many people as possible.”

The hunger strikes will be held for 3 days at a time, for a total of 9 days. The hunger strikers will visit NGOs and organizations and speak about their goals.