LAUSANNE - 200 people, including academics, writers and representatives of NGOs from 37 countries have started a march to the building of the UN from Switzerland’s Lausanne city to Geneva for demanding an action to be taken against Turkey’s attacks on Afrin.

 

A march has been started in Switzerland to demand freedom for PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan and to call for an immediate end to Turkey’s attacks on Afrin. The march started in Lausanne city by 200 people, including academics, writers and representatives of NGOs from 37 countries will be ended in front of the building of the United Nations (UN) in Geneva.

 

The march to last five days has been launched today after press statement issued in front of the building where The Treaty of Lausanne was signed.

 

The press statement read by İhsan Kurt on behalf of the European Platform for Afrin emphasizes that the Turkish state is perpetrating genocide and committing a crime against humanity in Afrin and the Turkish state’s attacks on Afrin strengthen and open new spaces for Daesh. Noting that Rojava border must be declared as no-fly zone in order to ensure the stability and security of the region, the statement says, “Turkey must stand trial at international courts because of its massacres against civilians, including women and children, in Afrin. For all these reasons, we invite the United Nations, all international forces and institutions to take on responsibility and fulfil their mission. We invite the United Nations, all international forces and institutions to take on responsibility and fulfil their mission.”

 

‘Kurdish struggle has annulled the Treaty of Lausanne’

 

Democratic Kurdish Society Center in Europe (KCDK-E) Co-chair Yüksel Koç recalled that the homeland of the Kurdish people has been divided into four parts and that they are in front of the building where The Treaty of Lausanne was signed. Yüksel stated that the Kurdish struggle has annulled this agreement.

 

‘Demographic structure is wanted to be changed’

 

Kurdish politician Hatip Dicle pointed out that Turkey aims to change the demographic structure of the region by attacking Afrin and placing jihadist groups there.

 

Panels and conferences will be held during the march and the march will end on February 16 after holding a demonstration.