Kurdish institutions in Switzerland will organize a march in Geneva tomorrow to urge international institutions to “tackle” Turkey’s use of chemical weapons against guerrilla forces in the Medya Defense Zones. The Swiss Kurdish Democratic Council (CDK-S) and the Swiss Kurdish Women’s Union (YJK-S) released a statement on the rally in front of the UN headquarters following a march scheduled to start at 2pm on November 30 from the Parc des Croppettes .

“The defeated Turkish state resorted to chemical weapons”

“As technological advances gathered momentum in the 19th century and beyond, mankind leapt forward under the motto ‘progress,'” the statement reads.

“In the mid-20th century, this technological and scientific advance through the armaments industry favored the interests of capitalist modernity. Governments have entered an arms race and have squandered trillions of dollars in welfare funds. Towards the end of World War II, atomic bombs were developed and used. History has seen how ‘progress’ has led humanity to an impasse and hundreds of thousands of people have been killed by chemical weapons.”

“The Kurdish people, who have continued their freedom struggle throughout history, have also been exposed to chemical weapons. Colonial powers have repeatedly used chemical weapons against the Kurdish people, particularly in Halabja.

The invading Turkish state and its collaborators, suffering repeated defeats in the face of outstanding resistance from the freedom guerrillas and the Kurdish movement, continue to use banned and chemical weapons to cover up their defeats and win the war.

The genocidal attacks on our freedom movement and our guerrillas are currently being carried out with chemical weapons. It is troubling that all world public opinion and all relevant institutions have remained silent, implying their cooperation with the Turkish attacks.

CALL TO PROTEST

The institutions and organizations of capitalist modernity, which have declared the days between November 28 and December 2 as “days of remembrance for all victims of chemical warfare”, continue to ignore the atrocities suffered in Kurdistan.

To bring the atrocities in Kurdistan to the agenda of the regular meetings held by the OPCW and to raise our voice on the “Day of Remembrance of All Victims of Chemical Warfare” worldwide, we call on all people living in Kurdistan Switzerland , their friends and those who oppose this brutality are joining our demonstration on November 30th.

We call on everyone to shoulder their responsibilities, not to be a partner in Turkey’s atrocities and to make our voice heard around the world. We expect the OPCW and its member states to take a stand against Turkey’s use of chemical weapons.”