The indefinite rotating hunger strike  launched in Greece's Lavrio Camp demanding an end to the isolation against PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan continues on its 10th day. In memory of Kurdish women politicians Sakine Cansiz, Fidan Doğan and Leyla Şaylemez who were murdered in Paris, the capital of France, 9 women took over the action on January 9 on the anniversary of their murder. The hunger strike continues under the leadership of Tevgera Jinên Kurdistan a Ewropa (Kurdish Women's Movement in Europe).

 

Berivan Karakoyun (53), one of the women on hunger strike, spoke to the Mesopotamia Agency (MA). Karakoyun who came to Lavrio Camp a year ago was the MEYA-DER (Mesopotamia solidarity association with those whose family members forced into dissappearance) Siirt Representative for a long time. Being imprisoned more than 15 years between 1993 and 2019, Karakoyun had to migrate to Greece because the prosecutor sought 40 years of imprisonment in her case. Going on a hunger strike many time during her years in prison, Karakoyun said: "The struggle has no limitations" and went on a hunger strike in Greece with similar demands.

 

FREEDOM OF ÖCALAN

 

Stating that their aim is Öcalan's freedom as well as the lifting of the continued isolation, Karakoyun said: "It is not enough for Öcalan to be allowed visits by his family and attorneys. It is time for him to cut free. Öcalan is behind bars for 22 years. The isolation in İmralı is inhumane and immoral."

 

Underlining that the pressure on the Kurds is increasing on a daily basis in Turkey and the world, Karakoyun said: "They are trying to weaken to Kurds in terms of politics and diplomacy. This will not happen. This is what the history shows us. So many governments have come and passed from Turkey but none of them achieved to break the will of the Kurds. The Kurds have shown them their mistakes with their resistance. We want the whole world to know that this isolation is imposed on the women and the humanity. And we call on to everyone, especially women to stand against this persecution. We have taken over the hunger strike as 9 women from the camp, not be forgotten in a few days, but to make sure the whole world hears about our demand."

 

CALL TO CPT

 

Criticizing the Council of Europe Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT), Karakoyun said, "The CPT met with Öcalan many times. They say CPT is an independent organization but it doesn't fulfill its responsibilities. They should have disclosed the situation to the public following their meeting with Öcalan. They should have applied sanctions on Turkey. But the international conspiracy on Öcalan is continued by the CPT. If CPT claims it is defending human's rights, we call on the CPT to fulfil their responsibility.

 

 

Underlining that they will continue to fight against isolation, Karakoyun said: "Today, women continue their struggle in the path of Leyla Qasim, Rosa Loxemburg, Clara Zetkin, Sakine Cansız, Fidan Doğan, Leyla Şaylemez, Sêvê Demir, Pakize Nayır and Fatma Uyar. Öcalan says 'Slavery started in the person of women and must be ended by the women". This thought is now embraced by the world. We have to uphold his ideas and step up the struggle."

 

 

MA / Zemo Ağgöz