DBP Co-chair Kamuran Yüksek met with organisers of the 'Freedom for Mr. Abdullah Öcalan' campaign to be initiated with speeches in the UK Parliament tonight. HDP Central Executive Committee member Berat Anlı and HDP MP Dilek Öcalan also attended the meeting held in the capital London.

In meetings with organisers of the campaign, GMB Union Secretary General Tim Roache and International Relations Office Representative Bert Schouwenberg and Unite Union International Representative Simon Dubbins, Yüksek stated that Öcalan’s efforts towards peace should be heeded.

In the meetings, Yüksek stated that Öcalan’s freedom is vital for ending conflicts in the Middle East, especially the Kurdish issue. He pointed out that Öcalan has great power and will to create a lasting peace in Turkey and the Middle East.

'MR. ÖCALAN MUST BE FREE'

Yüksek continued, stressing that; “The AKP government has added fuel to the flame by forcing Mr. Abdullah Öcalan into isolation. The Kurds consider Mr. Abdullah Öcalan their leader. They refuse the isolation imposed upon him. In this sense, for the conflict to be over, Mr. Abdullah Öcalan must be free. The international community and European countries must intervene for the lifting of the isolation imposed upon Mr. Abdullah Öcalan who is being deprived of his fundamental human rights. He is currently not allowed to see anybody. The AKP government must lift the isolation they imposed upon Mr. Abdullah Öcalan immediately. Hundreds of people lost their lives because of the reignited conflict in Turkey. These policies will not bring gains to Turkey. The AKP government must return to the negotiation process, end blockades in the cities and lift obstacles on the way of the İmralı committee meeting with Mr. Abdullah Öcalan at once.”

Yüksek thanked the GMB for leading such a campaign and said, “Mr. Öcalan must be free to fulfill his role. I believe that Mr. Öcalan will contribute more to the peace and solution under conditions of freedom. Mr. Öcalan’s role is vital but his ability to fulfill this role depends on his total freedom, as in the Mandela example. A campaign launched by the international community has immense importance in this sense.”

ROACHE: WE ARE AWARE OF ÖCALAN’S CONTRIBUTION

Speaking after, GMB Union Secretary General Tim Roache remarked that Öcalan will have great contributions to peace in the Middle East. Stating that they will call for freedom for Öcalan in the campaign expected to be launched this evening, Roache said, “We know peace in the Middle East depends on the freedom of the peoples of Kurdistan. We are aware of the contribution Mr. Öcalan can make to the cohabitation of Middle Eastern peoples.”

DUBBINS: ÖCALAN’S ROAD MAP IS VERY IMPORTANT

Unite Union International Representative Simon Dubbins said: “The foundations for an honorable peace in the Middle East will be stronger when Mr. Öcalan is free. I wish this campaign to lead to the beginning of peace. I read Mr. Öcalan’s books too, his road map for the democratic and political solution to the Kurdistan and Kurdish issue is very important. His proposal for solution without abolishing state borders should also be heeded. This is a bold proposal for solution.”

DBP Co-chair Kamuran Yüksek is expected to hold separate meetings with parliamentary groups from Scotland, Wales and Ireland in the United Kingdom as well.