The "Internationalist Long March", organized annually to protest the international conspiracy against Kurdish leader Öcalan, started this year in Geneva, Switzerland. The march, which marked its seventh year, started at Place de Neuve Square.

The activists, who made a press statement in front of the UN Geneva Office, marched towards Versoix, Geneva.

More than 120 internationalist activists and many Kurdish people from Germany, Spain-Catalonia, Portugal, France, England, Switzerland, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Kenya, Ecuador, Mexico, Hungary, Austria, Brazil and India have participated in the march.

The marchers marched towards the UN Geneva Office. A press statement was made there. Selma Süren, Co-Chair of the Swiss Democratic Kurdish Council (CDK-S), offered condolences for the earthquake in Kurdistan.

Süren said: “We have come together for Öcalan. He has been jailed for 24 years. The European people, the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) and the UN remain silent in the face of Öcalan’s isolation. Internationalists from all over the world are among us. This support gives us strength. We are sorry for the earthquake, but we will continue our march.”

KCDK-E Co-Chair Yüksel Koç also called for solidarity with the victims of the earthquake.

Koç said: “We will continue to fight with our friends until Öcalan is free.”

'ÖCALAN'S PARADIGM IS OUR PHILOSOPHY OF LIFE'

SP Federal Deputy Laurence Fehlmann Rielle said that they are in solidarity with the Kurds. Rielle remarked: “We want the freedom of Öcalan. There is a huge democracy problem in Turkey and the Kurds are victims of it. We are working to resolve this problem only through dialogue and peaceful methods.”

Deputy Mayor of Geneva Christina Kitsos said: “It is a great honour that you came here. There is oppression and isolation of Kurdish people and their leadership. The Kurdish people are peaceful people, and they are fighting for it. As the Municipality of Geneva, we support the Kurds and internationalists who have participated in this action. We will offer support for the earthquake that has occurred in Kurdistan.”

Franziska Schulz said: “We have come here for the freedom of Abdullah Öcalan from different countries of the world. The paradigm introduced by Öcalan is also our philosophy of life. His ideas concerning women and ecology promote a world where everyone can live together.”

Clement Monatte, who has participated in the march from France, said: “We believe that we will remove the isolation of Öcalan with this march. We call on all internationalists to fight together.”

Geneva Canton Deputy Pablo Cruchone said: “The regime in Turkey is gradually evolving into fascism. We can talk about proto-fascism in Turkey. The freedom of Öcalan is also very important to us. We stand in solidarity with the Kurdish people. We will continue to fight together with you until Öcalan and all political prisoners are free.”