Solidarity with the demonstrators in Turkey!

Since the demonstrations began on 19 March, 1,418 people have been arrested, according to the Turkish authorities themselves. The trigger was the crackdown on the mayor of Istanbul, Erdogan's announced rival in the forthcoming presidential elections. The demonstrators, primarily students, are denouncing this latest attack on democracy by the country's authoritarian regime. Trade unions are also taking part in the movement.

The International Labour Network of Solidarity and Struggle is expressing its support for the demonstrators and giving a voice to the Turkish trade unions:

The Turkish private sector trade union confederation DISK

At a time when the purchasing power of millions of people is falling rapidly, when inequalities in the distribution of income are widening rapidly, when a very large proportion of society is condemned to live on the ‘minimum’, while a small minority is adding wealth to its wealth, political power, which has lost its social support, is trying to protect its seat by undemocratic means. [...] The prisons are full of politicians, trade unionists, journalists, artists and protesting citizens. Hundreds of mayors and councillors who were able to stand for election at this time last year because they had not been charged with any crime have been accused of committing serious crimes such as ‘corruption’ and ‘terrorism’ in the space of a year.... [...] Mayors-elect Ekrem İmamoğlu, Mehmet Murat Çalık and Resul Emrah Şahan were arrested in operations targeting the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, Beylikdüzü and the Municipality of Şişli. The fact that Ekrem İmamoğlu's diploma, to which he was entitled 35 years ago, was revoked by the government [mandatory in order to run in the presidential election] and that he was arrested on the basis of secret testimony, and that this process coincided with the day of the presidential primary elections, clearly reveals that what happened cannot be explained by the law.

The struggle of the workers, young people and women, who have been demonstrating for days and will ‘defend their rights at all costs’ in the squares, has only just begun.

You cannot stop the will of the people!

You cannot stop democracy! [...]

Turkish public sector trade union confederation KESK

A state of emergency has been declared in Istanbul. Ekrem Imamoglu's house was surrounded by dozens of police officers and the main roads were blocked. While the Istanbul governor's office banned demonstrations in the city, access to social media was restricted. [...] Since the day they came to power, the country's leaders have been trying to implement a ‘Slavery Adaptation Programme’ covering the whole of society, particularly the working classes. The only condition for the implementation of this programme is to create a country where the most fundamental rights, in particular the rights of democracy, law, justice and labour, are abolished. For this reason, the current political power has been issuing edicts for 23 years saying that ‘we want servants who will pledge allegiance to our government’ and opening new chapters for everyone in the ‘acceptable citizen's guide’ adapted to their power.

They have created a ‘guide for acceptable citizens’ to suit their power.

[...] Those who play the role of masters of tyranny are now afraid that millions of people will rally against the strange order they have created. So the only way out of this total darkness into which the whole of society has been thrust - the poverty, injustice and disorder created by political power - is through the solidarity of millions of oppressed people. Let's keep fighting for our bread, our future and our country!