The Long March that started from Luxembourg on February 1 with the slogan “Freedom for Öcalan, Status for Kurdistan” by allies of Kurds and representatives from Kurdish institutions continues on the 5th day.
The 10-day long march started on January 1 with a press statement in front of the European Council of Justice in Luxembourg with the motto “Freedom for Öcalan, Status for Kurdistan” continues on the fifth day.
Among the marching crowd are representatives of Kurdish institutions in Europe and 67 internationalists from 15 countries and representatives from the Kurdish institutions in Europe. They are planning to arrive in Strasbourg on February 10. The marchers will call on institutions like the EU and the CPT to improve conditions for Öcalan and they will meet with many institutions on their way. The demonstrators will then attend the rally to be held in Strasbourg on February 11 to protest the international conspiracy against Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan.
67 internationalists from 15 countries from Europe to Latin America are participating in the march in solidarity with the Kurdish people and their demand; including 16 from Germany, 4 from France, 4 from Sweden, 2 from Belgium, 2 from Italy, 2 from the Netherlands, 1 from Denmark, 2 from Switzerland, 2 from the UK, 20 from Spain, Basque Country, Catalonia and Andalusia, 1 from Chile, 2 from Argentine, 6 from Portugal and 1 from Brazil.
In addition to the allies of Kurds from around the world, 18 representatives of various institutions from Kurdistan and Turkey are also joining the march; including 1 from PYD (Democratic Union Party), 1 from PJAK (Party for Free Life of Kurdistan), 1 from MLKP (Marxist-Leninist Communist Party), 3 from TEV-ÇAND (Mesopotamian Movement for Democratic Culture and Art in Europe), 5 from Kurdish Foreign Relations, 1 from the Union of Kurdistan Êzîdîs, 3 from Ciwanên Azad, 1 from the Peace Bureau of Kurdish Women (CENI) and 2 from TJK-E (Kurdish Women’s Movement in Europe).
Despite heavy rain and cold weather, demonstrators marched from Talange, Moselle till the town of Landremont, covering 32 kms on the 4th day of the march, and a total of 107 kms since the beginning.
The demonstrators spent last night in the town of Metz where they were welcomed and hosted by Kurds living in this region.
The marchers yesterday took a lunch break in Borny where they were visited by the French Communist Party representative Jacques Mazechal who said they supported the Kurdish people and added: “I would like to express our belief that you will prevail, due to the level of activity and making your voice heard with such demonstrations. Even though we are not marching with you in person, our hearts are with you.”
The French Socialist Party Mozel Federation also issued a statement in support of the Long March yesterday. The statement pointed out the oppression and intimidation practices geared towards HDP and other opposition groups in Turkey and said: “The wave of arrests of HDP politicians is geared towards smothering the Kurdish movement.” The statement called on European and international powers to pressure Turkey and stated: “Our party is actively supporting the Kurdish people’s Long March. We stand with the Kurdish people in their rightful cause.”
Participants of the Long March will continue their route from the town of Landremort and cover 30 kms today, planning to advance till the Faulquemont town located between Metz and St. Avold.
