Switzerland: We are monitoring the hunger strikes closely

Switzerland’s Foreign Ministry announced that they are “closely monitoring” the hunger strikes protesting the isolation imposed upon Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Ocalan.

Switzerland’s Foreign Ministry responded to a letter about the hunger strikes.

Ramazan Baytar had written a letter to the Foreign Ministry in the name of the Democratic Kurdish Social Center Geneva about the demands of hunger strikes started by HDP Hakkari MP Leyla Guven and continued by hundreds in various locations.

Head of Human Security Division Heidi Grau responded to the letter in the name of the Foreign Ministry and thanked Baytar for the information on Mehmet Ali Kocak, who has been on a hunger strike for 57 days in Geneva.

Grau said the Swiss Foreign Ministry closely monitors human rights issues in Turkey and in the region: “Switzerland has openly voiced its views on human rights in Turkey in the Council of Europe on February 27, 2019 and in the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe on the same date.”

Grau said they have taken note of the information on the ongoing hunger strikes in Geneva and Europe and added: “Our Ankara Embassy is monitoring the matter closely through their connections with NGOs.”

Grau also responded to Grau’s demand that a committee from the Foreign Ministry meet with hunger strikers in Geneva and Strasbourg and said they receive information through the embassy and such a meeting is not necessary.