Thousands of people from all over Switzerland gathered in Fribourg to celebrate Newroz, in one of the first rally of the month. 

Newroz, the Kurdish new year, was held at the Forum Center hall. The thousands of activists celebrated with enthusiasm this important date for Kurds and constantly reminded of the hunger strikers and the resistance led by HDP Hakkari deputy Leyla Güven who is fasting together with hundreds of people demanding the end os isolation of Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan.

Among those attending the meeting were Turkish left-socialist representatives, Swiss Socialist Party MP Fabian Molina, Urs Sekinger for Zurich-Amed Friendship Bridge, Mehmet Ali Kocak who is on hunger strike in front of the UN office in Geneva and HDP Muş MP Ahmet Yildirim.

The program started with a minute's silence in memory of those who lost their lives in the struggle for the revolution. The opening speech was made by CDK-Switzerland co-chairs Cuma Allak and Songül Arslan.

Molina: Talking with Öcalan a must

Speaking after the opening speech, Swiss Socialist Party MP Fabian Molina celebrated the Kurdish people on Newroz. Molina stated his solidarity with the ongoing hunger strike led by Leyla Güven demanding the end of isolation against the Kurdish people’s leader and added that “for the peace process to begin again in Turkey talking with Mr. Ocalan is a must.”

Recalling Erdogan's threats against Rojava, Molina said: “The system implemented in Rojava means peace for the peoples of the Middle East. To protect that system international forces must not remain silent on Turkey's threats.”

Sekinger: Leyla Güven’s demand must be accepted

Swiss politician Urs Sekinger from the Zurich-Amed Friendship Bridge also commended the hunger strike resistance and stressed that the international community should take action to ensure Leyla Güven’s demand is accepted. 

Koçak: We will end isolation!

Kurdish activist Mehmet Ali Kocak, who has been on hunger strike for 25 days in front of the Office of the United Nations in Geneva, told the crowd: “We chose resistance against isolation. With the support that our people will give to this resistance, we believe we will end isolation. We are ready to pay any price. Our people should be our voice and support the resistance.”

Yildirim: We must claim this resistance

HDP Muş MP Ahmet Yildirim spoke about the massacre of Halabja on 16 March 1988 and said that Newroz is a festival of resistance. The Kurdish people, he added, have historically been a resisting people.

Yildirim reminded of the resistance of blacksmith Kawa and said that today the most important issues are ending the isolation against Abdullah Öcalan and supporting the hunger strike resistance.

“We must claim this resistance - said the MP - to prevent the loss of any of our friends on hunger strike. Isolation is not only only targeting Mr Öcalan, but the Kurdish freedom struggle.”

Yildirim added that “the end of isolation against Öcalan would mean the end of chaos in the Middle East. It would mean opting for peace against all war policies.”

After the speeches, the message sent by KCK co-president Cemil Bayık was broadcast in the hall.

The day end with a shown by the Swiss Folklore Team, and music by artists Xelil Xemgin, Hozan Diyar, Xece and Cemil Kocgiri.