The hunger strike resistance launched by HDP Hakkari Deputy Leyla Güven to demand the end of isolation against Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan continues in many cities and countries.

Concerns for the health of the hunger strikers are growing, as doctors monitoring the activists report of the worsening of their condition.

Kurdish patriot Mehmet Ali Koçak is on an indefinite hunger strike in front of the UN Office in Geneva since 20 February and reiterates his determination and commitment to continue the fast.

ANF talked to Mehmet Ali Koçak on the 25th day of his hunger strike. He spoke about his life story, the reasons that led him to take this difficult decision, the purpose of his action and how he was health wise.

A life of exile

Mehmet Ali Koçak is 52 years old and father of 6 children.

Originally from the village of Alanyaz in Mazgirt (province of Dersim), Koçak has been living in Switzerland since 2006 with his family as a political exile.

Kocak was living happily on his own land with his wife and children, but was subjected to death threats and repression by the Turkish state. So like thousands of people he was forced to find a life in exile.

Even though the State does not give him the right to live in his own land because of his thoughts, Koçak never gave up his struggle once in Switzerland, where he finally settled.

Koçak is a well known activist, who has been present in all demonstrations and activities in Switzerland and Europe. Now he has gone on hunger strike demanding the end of isolation against Kurdish People's Leader Öcalan, who, he says, represents the will of millions.

Koçak is on the 25th day of his hunger strike. Despite him explaining us that his health is good, we could see the effects of 25 days of fast on his body.

After undergoing the medical check on day 20 of his fast, Koçak said “it is not correct to talk about my health while many of our friends are in critical condition.”

I did not remain silent

Undoubtedly, it is easy to say you put your body at stake for something you believe in, but to make such a difficult decision is actually not easy.

Koçak explained how he took this decision and how his family reacted. “I was following the hunger strike of Leyla Güven and other friends very closely from the press. Watching their bodies fading away every day on TV, it was very hard for me to find anything to counter this situation. Then, I decided to be part of this action and to stand by my comrades.

I shared this decision with my family. IMy family new I had taken the decision so they said ‘we respect your will and decision, and we support you’. They come to visit me and express their support at every opportunity.”

The leader made us realise who we are

Asked what is the main reason that made you begin this action, he said: “There is a leader that makes us be. We got to know ourselves thanks to the leader. We knew we were Kurdish before, but we didn't know what kind of Kurdish we were. Thanks to the leader, we began to know our own existence better. Look, the leader is our red line. The leader is not only the leader of the Kurds, but the most important of all, the leader of the oppressed. The leader of a people today has been in isolation for 20 years, and particularly for the last three years, he has been denied all rights. He can’t meet his family and lawyers. These rights are fundamental rights. The most basic rights that every prisoner should benefit from is now denied to a people's leader. These rights are fundamental rights anywhere in the world and in Turkey they are denied. Unfortunately we have such a barbarous enemy that feeds itself of Kurdish blood and isolation of the leader.

When a people is entirely denied the possibility to defend its rights, to express its opinions the it is left with no other option but to carry out the resistance in a different way.

This hunger strike today is led by Leyla Güven and spread to many places. It is a rebellion against the enemy in front of us and a sign of our loyalty to our leader.”

Don’t stay silent

Koçak believes that no one should remain silent on what is happening. “The Kurdish people should get up and join. We are in a time of total resistance. We chose to put our body at stake as a way of resistance, and it is not time to be upset for us. People should come and join the resistance. If we act together, we get stronger.”

We are ready to pay any price

Koçak said he is confident that they will end isolation with the resistance and call on the Kurdish people and their friends: “There is a resistance going on, yes, but this is not enough. We have expectations from our people in Europe, our patriots, our workers, our friends. We can make these actions even bigger. We are sure that we will succeed and break isolation. As long as we increase the resistance. We are ready to pay any price.”

We will win!

When we left Koçak came after us and said: “I forgot to send my greetings to all friends. Would you add this? I greet and love all my friends who are in resistance. I believe that those who resist will win!”