DİYARBAKIR- English unionist Tony Burke, one of the delegation who visited Leyla Güven at her home said about PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan: "He is no different than Mandela". Burke stated that Turkey has no choice but to terminate the isolation on Öcalan.

 

International Peace Delegation chaired by former Justice Minister of Iceland, Öğmundur Jonasson met with the political parties and institutions in Ankara, where they arrived on 12 January, for the DTK Co-Chair and HDP Member Leyla Güven, who entered the 100th day of the hunger strike.

 

The delegation members who said they wanted to create public awareness about Leyla Güven for the international public, emphasized that they applied to the Ministry of Justice to meet Öcalan in order to end the hunger strikes, but they did not get a positive response.

 

Britain UNITE Union Deputy Secretary General Tony Burke from the delegation spoke to Mezopotamya Agency (MA) about the isolation on Öcalan, the hunger strikes and their impressions about their formal visits.

 

HE WAS TAKEN ABACK WITH THE POLICE SURVEILLANCE 

 

Burke who stated that they will share everything they have learned in this visit with the public when they go back, said they were taken aback with the police surveiling the delegation relentlessly. He said: " People here are not doing anything illegal. They have very legal demands. And they request Turkey to abide by their own laws." and added that he, himself invites Turkey to abide by their own laws.

 

Burke made assessments about the isolation imposed on Öcalan: "Our main objective to be here is ofcourse the termination of the isolation.We will take international initiative to terminate this isolation. And we will do this through our union. Our union has millions of members and international connections. We will also organize campaigns to carry out the necessary diplomatic initiatives for the termination of isolation."

 

Burke who mentioned that their union UNITE have struggled against the Apertheid regime for years and worked hard for the liberty of South African leader Nelson Mandela who was being kept in Robben Island and lost his life 2013, said Öcalan's situation reminded him of Mandela's.

 

Burke said: "Öcalan is no different than Mandela"

 

English unionist emphasized that they are very worried about Leyla Güven who is on a hunger strike protesting the isolation. Burke who said Turkey has only one choice and that is the terminatioon of isolation, said: "Turkey has no choice but to terminate the isolation. Both Leyla Güven and the other political prisoners are ready to lose their lives on the values they believe in. Leyla is a very courageous woman."

 

Burke who said they are under one roof with the global unions, said: "We will create pressure on Turkey through trade unions. We will put pressure on the states where the unions exist. We also will help these pressures directed to Turkey. We will bring isolation on the global agenda. We will do our best to end this isolation."