Hunger strikes continue in Antwerp, Cologne and Bern

Catalan politicians visited the hunger strike for Öcalan held in Antwerp, Belgium yesterday as the hunger strike in Cologne, Germany continues. The hunger strike in Bern was taken over by a new group.

A Catalan delegation holding diplomatic visits in Antwerp, Belgium about the MPs imprisoned after the independence referendum last year visited the hunger strike held in the city for Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan yesterday.

The Catalan committee said they stand with the Kurdish people and saluted the hunger strike. The hunger strike in Belgium continues on its 5th day.

The hunger strike in Cologne, Germany is on its 6th day. The activists opened up the tent at 10:00 this morning and started to pass out flyers. A letter by HDP MP Leyla Guven’s daughter was translated into German and read through megaphones.

Former HDP MP Dilek Ocalan and Kurdish artists Semdin, Seyidxan, Deniz Deman and Kawa visited the hunger strike in the afternoon.

HABES: THEY MUST RESPECT ÖCALAN

Hunger strike activist from Afrin, Walid Habes said he has been “with his friends” since 1983 and pointed out that he has known the PKK for decades. Habes is famous among Kurds in Germany with the drum he keeps on his shoulder.

Habes said he read an article on Mazlum Dogan in 1983 and met the PKK after the article inspired him.

Habes is a carpenter as well, and he arrived in Europe 5 years ago. He said he tries to participate in all actions and stayed in the tent in front of the CPT for 50 days.

Habes has 6 children: “My wife and children also know the struggle. One of my sons is named Öcalan. The children grew up within the struggle.”

Walîd Habes is one of he founders of Koma Agirî, founded in 1983, and said the following about that: “Until Aleppo was destroyed, we continued our efforts. I played the drums first, then I participated in the folkloric dance group. Then I became the drummer for the group.”

Walîd Habes said nobody has heard from Öcalan, and added that they are on a hunger strike to show solidarity with HDP MP Leyla Guven.

Habes called on the European public and said: “We have no information on the Leader. They ask us, why Öcalan? The Leader organized this people like a state. This people is now living for itself, not to serve its colonizers. The Leader is the one who made the people rise up like this. He must be respected like Mandela. We want to live like the rest of the world. Quwait has a population of 700.000. We don’t have an identity. The Leader lifted us up. They call him a terrorist. We will be in action for our martyrs, our Leader and for Leyla Guven.”

NEW GROUP TOOK OVER THE HUNGER STRIKE IN BERN

A new group took over the hunger strike held in Swiss capital Bern to protest the aggravated isolation imposed upon Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan and to demand his freedom.

The hunger strike continues in the Bern Democratic Kurdish Society Center as Kurds and allies hold constant visits. The hunger strike was taken over by new activists coming in from Lauseanne and St. Gallen.

The hunger strike will conclude with a mass march and rally to be held on December 22 in Basel.