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The Long March for Kurdish Rights and
Freedom for jailed Kurdish PKK leader Öcalan on its
fifth day
4.2.2012 |
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February 4, 2012
LAUSANNE, — The Long March for Kurdish Rights
and Freedom for jailed Kurdish PKK leader Abdullah
Öcalan which started in Geneva on 1st February
continues in the fourth day despite the perishing
cold and heavy snowfall. Protestors on Friday staged
a demonstration in front of the Place de Rumine
building in Lausanne where the Treaty of Lausanne
which divided Kurdistan into four parts was
concluded on 24 July 1923.
Chanting slogans and carrying a banner “From Geneva
to Strasbourg for Freedom and Justice”,
demonstrators are moving towards the European
Committee for the Prevention of Torture in
Strasbourg city of France.
Different people from different age groups, beliefs,
cultures and professions have so far joined the
march.
Yesterday’s demonstration at Riponne square in front
of Place de Rumine was joined and supported not only
by Kurds in the city but also many Swiss politicians
who in the area voiced their support messages for
the long march. Speaking at the intense interest
drawing demo, Social Democratic Federal Parliament
MP Erick Vouruz said that; “I admire your
determination to continue the march under these
severe winter conditions. Kurds have gained their
freedom owing to this determined struggle. What is
left to us is only to respect this determination.”
Another speaker Social Democratic Federal Parliament
MP Jofiame Oubert pointed out to the increasing
pressure against Kurds and reacted to European
countries as well as to the Turkish state. Oubert MP
said the followings; “While Turkey’s policies
against Kurds continue stringently,www.ekurd.net
a very silent policy is conducted against the Kurds
in Europe. The most recent example of this policy
has been observed in Roj Tv case. However, the
struggle you give here will push Europe for an exam
of human rights.”
Following the speeches, demonstrators called on the
international society for sensitivity and underlined
that they would never accept the isolation on Öcalan
and the non-status state of Kurds.
Demonstrators of the long march will today walk to
the Swiss Federal Parliament building. Following a
demonstration to be staged here, the march will
continue towards Legnau.
The march is expected to reach Strasbourg on the 18
of February when a major demonstration will be held
to protest the international conspiracy against PKK
(Kurdistan Workers’ Party) leader Abdullah Öcalan.
Since it was established in 1984, the PKK has been
fighting the Turkish state, which still denies the
constitutional existence of Kurds, to establish a
Kurdish state in the south east of the country, sparking a conflict that has claimed some 45,000
lives.
But now its aim is the creation an autonomous
Kurdish region
and more cultural rights for ethnic Kurds who
constitute the greatest minority in Turkey,
numbering more than 20 million. A large Turkey's
Kurdish community openly sympathise with the Kurdish PKK rebels.
PKK's demands included releasing PKK detainees,
lifting the ban on education in Kurdish, paving the
way for an autonomous democrat Kurdish system within
Turkey, reducing pressure on the detained PKK leader
Abdullah Öcalan, stopping military action against
the Kurdish party and recomposing the Turkish
constitution.
Turkey refuses to recognize its Kurdish population
as a distinct minority. It has allowed some cultural
rights such as limited broadcasts in the Kurdish
language and private Kurdish language courses with
the prodding of the European Union, but Kurdish
politicians say the measures fall short of their
expectations.
The PKK is considered ass 'terrorist' organization by
Ankara, U.S., the PKK continues to be on the
blacklist list in EU despite court ruling which
overturned a decision
to place the Kurdish rebel group PKK and its
political wing on the European Union's terror list.
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