"People’s Alternative is Strengthening" meetings, organised by the Communist Party of Turkey (TKP), continues with enthusiastic and broad public participation.
As part of its new organisational campaign, the TKP has held a mass meeting in the northern district of Sarıyer in İstanbul.
Having attracted intensive attraction of the locals, the event began with the opening address given by TKP member Nurcan Erdoğan. Speaking on behalf of the TKP Sarıyer District Organisation, Erdoğan reminded how Sarıyer, which was used to be known as the “lungs of İstanbul” due to its large forested lands, had fallen a victim to rent sharing wars of the capitalist class, and stated that the TKP wouldn’t give passage to rentiers, to the murder of nature and exploitation.
WORKERS OF İSTANBUL'S NEW AIRPORT RESIST
Following the opening speech, workers from the construction site of İstanbul’s new airport took to the stage.
"We are working under inhumane conditions at the third airport construction. Working conditions are so poor. But we can see the upstanding enlightenment of the working class there. Workers have shown their strength through the demonstrations they staged in the recent weeks. Capitalists have started stepping back when they saw the strength of workers. This marks a start for workers. We won’t lower our fists without punching the bosses," said the workers on the recent developments in the controversial airport construction.
"We know that the power which will end the darkness is through the organised power. For this reason, at the construction site of the third airport, we are getting organised in the ranks of the Communist Party of Turkey. We have nothing to lose but our chains. We are aware of this. Long live the TKP. People’s alternative is strengthening in the TKP," continued the workers, quoting the Communist Manifesto by Marx and Engels.
CP OF GREECE: PEOPLES SHOULD UNITE
After the third airport workers, the representative of the visiting delegation from the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) made a speech, remarking, "I offer you my warm greetings on behalf of the Communist Party of Turkey. I am happy that the TKP is inaugurating new offices. I wish for the TKP to multiply its offices and expand around Turkey."
"Unemployment in Greece is one million, and six million people in Turkey lives under the poverty limit. Money of the peoples is being spent for weapons. Peoples should unite, and fight against the division and war policies of imperialists, and they should turn their back on fascists. We won before; we will win again and establish the better. The hope is in the struggle of peoples," said the KKE spokesperson, noting on the border crisis in the Aegean Sea that the latest borders between the two countries were drawn with blood.
"SYSTEM MUST CHANGE FOR OUR EMANCIPATION"
Another speech was given by Kemal Okuyan, the General Secretary of TKP.
"People in Turkey are hopeless. But what is this reinforced by? By fake hopes that always go to the wall. We see those who say, 'Yours is good but very difficult, distant, a dream.' What do they say? They set goals such as, 'When we come into power, I will abolish subcontracting, increase wages, remove obstacles against strikes, clear the way for unionisation.' All those who say these are lying. Because, capitalism doesn’t let regular wage rise; it gives with a spoon and takes with a ladle. Subcontracting is now the lifeblood of capitalism; they can’t abolish it," said Okuyan.
"Nothing can be done unless this system changes. Everyone who says that 'Turkey will emancipate with the 2019 elections' is a liar. The system must change for our emancipation. The TKP says this. However, we cannot emancipate without getting organised and creating an organised people. You should become a member of the TKP because it doesn’t lie," continued Okuyan, explaining his reasons to join the TKP.
"WE ARE NOT IN THE SAME BOAT"
Reminding that the TKP’s emphasis on patriotism mustn’t be compared to nationalism, Okuyan also mentioned the lie that "we are in the same boat" which is often expressed by Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party and other capitalist circles.
"We are in the same boat, they say. No. We are not in the same boat. And we won’t be. This is a lie. They embarked the majority of the people on the ever-leaking boat of poverty. They are in luxury cabin boats themselves. We will sink those boats," said the TKP General Secretary.
"Can we succeed? You can’t know when conditions will develop in favour of the revolution. In 1917, there was a bigger darkness in Russia, yet the revolution happened. It happened in Germany in 1918. The Gezi Resistance was not a revolution but it showed that the street could be filled up. We will, therefore, stand ready," Okuyan said.
The 2013 Gezi (June) resistance demonstrations began on May 31 after trees were unrooted as part of a government plan to redevelop Gezi Park. The demonstrations soon snowballed into mass protests, over the perceived authoritarianism of AKP government and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who was premier at the time.
"We will stand ready with what? Look, you saw the airport construction; the TKP has a hand in it. We are alarming the people of İzmir against the public transport fare hike. The TKP is involved in the struggle of metal workers. Our promise is very clear. We are calling on each of you to give effort and support to this promise and power," finished Okuyan, with an invitation to raise the struggle.
