In the events titled ‘How Turkey has come to this situation and how it can stand on its feet again’, TKP General Secretary Kemal Okuyan explained how the power of monopolies had undermined the idea of the republic and how it could be re-established on the basis of equality with socialism. He also shared the position of the TKP on current political issues such as the new ‘solution process’ on Kurdish issue.
Some headlines from the General Secretary’s speech are as follows:
‘In 1919, occupation and partition were taking place in these lands. Those we greeted today as the founders of the republic disrupted the plan of the imperialism. This is not something to be underestimated, if the plan of imperialism had been realised, imperialists would have reached India, China, Afghanistan, Iran and darkened them even more. A great work was done in Anatolia. That is why we are not saying this out of formality: Whoever fought and worked for independence, republic and secularism in this country 101 years ago, we salute them all, starting from Mustafa Kemal.’
‘The private sector does not have a single benefit for this country. They are making commerical films for the 101st anniversary of the Republic. There is such hypocrisy in those films that they must be laughing afterwards. We say in advance, we will make our people stand up in this country. Then we will hold the private sector, who poisoned us and buried us alive, to account in such a way that they will go away with the darkness that has descended on this country.’
‘There is a Kurdish issue in this country. Just as there is inequality for women and capitalism is at the root of this problem today, so is the Kurdish issue. The reason why our Kurdish compatriots do not feel equal is this system, the one per cent of the population who have seized 40 per cent of Turkey’s resources. The solution to the Kurdish issue will pass through the confiscation of these resources in the name of the people. Kurdish language will be liberated as an equal language in a socialist republic.
With socialism, we will not leave a single place in this country without education facilities and resources. With a centralised approach, with a planned and statist economy. And yes, by smashing the tribal order that lies at the root of the Kurdish issue.’
The last of the three events that took place in İstanbul ended with the song of ‘Fraternity’ by the Children’s Choir Fraternity Against Racism, which was established in TKP Tarlabaşı District House. The event was also marked by a ‘No to NATO’ banner and the slogan ‘The Palestinian people are not alone’.
