2 days without food is a fast NOT a hunger strike

[Anthea]

24th group takes over
hunger strike on day 47

The hunger strike launched on December 18, 2020 in Martyr Rûstem Cudi (Maxmur) refugee camp to denounce the isolation imposed on Abdullah Öcalan and to embrace the KCK's "Time for Freedom" campaign has left 47 days behind

PKK and PAJK prisoners started an indefinite and alternating hunger strike on 27 November 2020 demanding the end of the isolation imposed on Kurdish people’s leader Abdullah Öcalan, who has been held in Imrali High Security F-Type Closed Prison for 21 years. The prisoners also demand the end of the increasing violations of rights in jail.

The hunger strike launched on December 18, 2020 in Martyr Rûstem Cudi (Maxmur) refugee camp to denounce the isolation imposed on Öcalan and to embrace the KCK's "Time for Freedom" campaign marked its 47th day. The 24th group took over the strike in Maxmur.

The takeover ceremony started with a minute of silence for all the martyrs of the Kurdistan Freedom Movement. Hewlêr Adanmış read out a statement which said:

“On February 15, 1999, an international conspiracy was carried out against Leader Apo (Abdullah Öcalan). With this conspiracy, they wanted to destroy Leader Apo and all Kurds. The hunger strike actions that started in Turkey’s prisons on November 27 have now spread everywhere.

We, as young people of Maxmur and followers of the Leader, have participated in this hunger strike action. We need to fulfill our duties and responsibilities for Leader Apo. As young people in all parts of Kurdistan, we should not give up our actions until the physical freedom of Leader Apo is achieved."

After the speech of Adanmış, the 24th group took over the strike. The takeover ceremony was concluded with the slogans 'Bijî Serok Apo' (Long live Öcalan) 'Bijî Berxwedana Zindanan' (Long live prison resistance) and 'Bê serok jiyan nabe' (No life without the leader).

[Anthea]

22 YEARS

After 22 years is a 2 day fast really the best Kurds can come up with

I was there at the very first protest outside the Greek embassy and many of the following protests

I have watched with disgust the support for Ocalan has diminished - this is unfair

Ocalan was one of a group of people who got together to improve the conditions of Kurds living beneath the murderous Turkish regime

The barbaric treatment of Kurds started long before Oclan was born

I am not sure that Ocalan even wanted to become the leader and believe the position was more or less forced onto him by his group as he was the the best, most charismatic speaker of the group so became a sort of pop-star like figurehead

Some of the group were better organisers, some better fighters, many of the group have remained true to the original positions within the PKK hierarchy

In the first instance, the group adopted their ridicules Marxist ideology, that alone did not win them very much support so they made one of their first major adjustments

They stood for a FREE KURDISTAN

Many thousands flocked to join the PKK and fight for freedom

There were other adjustments along the way including the use of Osman Sabri's nickname APO - Osman Sabri, one of the most loved and highly respected Kurdish leaders ever

When captured Ocalan did what he had to do and said what he had to say in order to stay alive, as initially his was sentenced to be executed

Ocalan, imprisoned, manipulated by his captures and by his contacts with the outside world including his lawyers - who made a fortune, never sure from whom - solicitors who spend a great deal of time telling people how important they were without actually achieving anything

Ocalan is now a sick old man and deserves to be released on compassionate grounds

Turkey will not let Ocalan go because a free Ocalan who they could not control, could indeed bring the government down and give Kurds their FREEDOM