KURDISH HUNGERSTRIKE : Early day motion 628: U.K.
United Kingdom: PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT TO WRITE TO MP REGARDING EDM 628. You can find out who you’re MP is here: http://www.theyworkforyou.com/
Jeremy Corbyn MP, who supported yesterday’s demonstration outside Downing Street in central London, has tabled an Early Day Motion (EDM) in Parliament on the ongoing hunger strike by Kurdish political prisoners in Turkey, entitled: EDM 628: Kurdish Hunger Strikes (below).
The hunger strike began on the 12 September, and since then, 776 have joined in, demanding the right to education and legal defense in mother tongue, and an end to Abdulah Ocalan’s isolation in Imrali Prison, so that he can be part of negotiations to end the Kurdish conflict as he should.
EDM’s are a very useful way of gathering support in Parliament. When an MP signs an EDM, they are registering their support for a specific issue. On rare occasions, when an EDM has enough signatories, it is also debated on the floor of the House of Commons. In this way, it is a mechanism to get an issue that is often overlooked discussed in Parliament.
What can you do?
Contact your MP and urge them to sign the motion! Your local MP can be found here: http://www.theyworkforyou.com The attached model letter will give you an idea of what you could write, but remember individual letters make much more of an impact. If you have time, why not arrange to visit your MP at their constituency office and discuss it with them in person?
For background information on this EDM and other Parliamentary lobbying, the BDP, the ongoing KCK trials and other news and politics from Turkey, visit: www.peaceinkurdistancampaign.wordpress.com
Peace in Kurdistan
Campaign for a political solution of the Kurdish Question
Email: estella24@tiscali.co.uk <mailto:estella24@tiscali.co.uk>
Contacts Estella Schmid 020 7586 5892 & Melanie Sirinathsingh – Tel: 020 7272 7890
Patrons: Lord Avebury, Lord Rea, Lord Dholakia, Baroness Sarah Ludford MEP, Jill Evans MEP, Jean Lambert MEP, Jeremy Corbyn MP, Hywel Williams MP, Elfyn Llwyd MP, John Austin, Bruce Kent, Gareth Peirce, Julie Christie, Noam Chomsky, John Berger, Edward Albee, Margaret Owen OBE, Prof Mary Davis, Mark Thomas
Early day motion 628: KURDISH HUNGER STRIKES
Session: 2012-13 – Date tabled: 24.10.2012
Primary sponsor: Corbyn, Jeremy
Sponsors: Bottomley, Peter; Russell, Bob
That this House notes that on 25 October 2012 the Kurdish hunger strike in Turkey reached its 43rd day; further notes that 63 Kurdish political prisoners have been on hunger strike for the whole of this time and have now been joined by several hundred more; observes that the demands of the strikers include the release of Abdula Ocalan in order to negotiate a political settlement of the Kurdish question in Turkey and that Kurdish language rights in the public sphere be recognised; further notes that a letter has been sent to the Prime Minister on behalf of the Kurdish Federation of the UK asking the Government to do everything in its power to apply political pressure on the Turkish government to solve the Kurdish question; further notes that the TurkishMinister of Justice is reported to have met some of the hunger strikers and hopes that this significant move is a step towards meeting the fundamental rights of Kurdish people by the Turkish government; and calls on the Government to do all it can to support the rights of Kurdish people in Turkey.