The indefinite nonalternating hunger strikes under Leyla Guven’s lead protesting the absolute isolation imposed upon Ocalan by AKP-MHP fascism since 2015 continue. The mass alternating hunger strike launched last week in front of the European Parliament (EP) to remind the CoE, the Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) and European countries, who remained silent in the face of the hunger strikes, of their duties continues with new groups this week.

NEW GROUPS TOOK OVER WITH PRESS STATEMENT IN FRONT OF THE COE

Hundreds of Kurds gathered in front of the CoE this morning and started their hunger strike after a short press statement.

Kurdistan National Congress (KNK) Executive Council Member Zubeyir Aydar gave a speech about the isolation protests and the local elections held yesterday in Turkey and Northern Kurdistan. Aydar saluted the people’s resistance against the isolation and stressed that there won’t be any compromise regarding Ocalan’s freedom.

AYDAR: DESPITE ALL TYRANNY, THE TRUSTEES ARE NOW PACKING THEIR BAGS

Aydar spoke extensively about the local elections held yesterday (March 31) in Turkey and Northern Kurdistan and said the Kurdish people have “sent the trustees packing and kicked them out of Kurdistan” despite intense pressure and demographic tricks by the Turkish state. Aydar said the election results must be analyzed and reminded the audience that the elections came with great tyranny and police/military presence, and that thousands of party volunteers are currently under arrest.

“HDP DIDN’T RUN AGAINST OTHER PARTIES, IT RAN AGAINST THE STATE”

Aydar said there wasn’t a rivalry with other parties, but rather the HDP was “forced to run against the state” and stated that municipalities like Sirnak have been stolen through large scale voter transportation. Aydar said despite everything the Kurdish people achieved an important result in Kurdistan and  pointed to the key role the Kurdish people play in Turkey’s metropolitan cities.

ERDOGAN LOST THE METROPOLES BECAUSE OF ANTI-KURDISH SENTIMENT

Aydar said CHP won the metropoles against the AKP, thanks to the Kurdish vote and HDP voters in general. About Erdogan, Aydar said: “If he hadn’t attacked us so much, he wouldn’t have lost the metropoles. That is the situation now. Looking at the election results, Tayyip Erdogan is the one who lost. Everybody, including us, can consider themselves a winner in some respect but Erdogan has lost. Those who were hostile against Kurds lost. This will cause problems for them, between the AKP and MHP as well.”

TURKISH STATE IS HAVING DISPUTES AMONG THEMSELVES

Aydar pointed to the crisis of the Turkish state and the AKP government and stated that the economic crisis in particular has deepened quite a bit. Aydar said some groups within the Turkish state system have rejected Erdogan yesterday in the Istanbul elections and pointed to the disputes among various state elements.

BOTAN: THE WHOLE WORLD SEES WHAT OUTCOME THERE IS

Former HDP MP Lezgin Botan said municipalities like Dersim and Sirnak have been stolen with a strategy in line with decisions made in the National Security Council meetings.

Botan said the arrests and trustee practices in many cities in Kurdistan are not just AKP policies and added that Tayyip Erdogan is the spokesperson for the deep state. Botan stressed that Erdogan’s downward spiral has begun, and added that the Kurds have manifested the beginning of the end for Erdogan with their stance in the elections.

Botan stressed that the “official results” obtained in Kurdish cities through trustee policies and demographical trickery are not prescriptive and added that the will put forth in metropoles like Amed, Van and Mardin should be the real measure of the people’s will. Botan said the whole world can see the truth clearly and added that the Kurds will continue to push the process through strong morale and organized diplomacy.

PYD: ERDOGAN’S DEFEAT STARTED IN KOBANE

Mihemede Heci Ali spoke in the name of the Democratic Union Party (PYD) and said Erdogan’s defeat started in the battle of Kobane where he experienced a great defeat. The PYD Representative said, “Erdogan was defeated in Kobane at the hands of Arin Mirkan and other women,” and commended the HDP for the election success where they pushed all trustees out of Northern Kurdistan despite all the pressure against the party.

The PYD Representative s tressed that all the success in the election has been a great blow to the Erdogan regime.

“WE ARE READY FOR 2019, STRONGER”

Zubeyir Aydar responded to questions after the speeches. When asked about Turkey’s invasion of Rojava, Aydar said a military operation is not as easy as it seems. Aydar pointed out that Erdogan has negotiations with both deep state elements called “Ergenekon” and with foreigners, but the Kurds will be careful against all odds.

Aydar said the spring of 2019 brings important developments for the Kurdish people and cited the definitive defeat of ISIS gangs in Baghouz, despite all hopes Turkey had for them. Aydar stressed the ongoing resistance against the isolation and stressed that the Kurdish people will continue the struggle in a stronger, more organized and more prepared manner this year.

MASS HUNGER STRIKE TO SUPPORT THE RESISTANCE WILL CONTINUE IN FRONT OF COE

The alternating hunger strike launched last week in front of the EP to support the indefinite nonalternating hunger strikes will continue in front of the Council of Europe (CoE). The protest grounds on the Avenue de l’Europe is also home to the Freedom for Ocalan Vigil and is 100 meters from the Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) offices.

A banner that demands an end to the isolation imposed upon Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Ocalan was put up as well as banners with Ocalan’s face on them. The activists also put up a 3 Monkeys banner to reference the stance of Europe and the United Nations (UN) in particular.

Some 150 people are participating in the alternating hunger strike from various European countries.