Communist Party of Turkey (TKP) calls for a rally on Oct. 29 Republic Day to celebrate the 97th anniversary of the foundation of the Republic of Turkey. “We are meeting in Turkey’s Bakırköy to say ‘Long Live the Republic’ at 16.00 on Thursday, October 29,” the statement said, adding “as the 100th anniversary of the Republic approaches, on duty for a new Republic!
The day celebrates Oct. 29, 1923, when the Turkish Parliament amended the constitution to change the system of government to a republic. It concluded the four-year independence war against several countries and officially marked the end of the Ottoman Empire. Mustafa Kemal was elected as the first president of the Republic. The day is celebrated since 1925.
The full statement made by TKP is as follows:
“We will meet in Turkey’s Bakırköy on Thursday, October 29 at 16.00 to say ‘Long Live the Republic.’ The republic must live and keep alive. As we approach the 100th anniversary of the proclamation of the Republic in these lands, our people must undertake a duty for a new Republic, for a Republic of the working people, for a Socialist Republic that will live and keep alive.
The republic is necessary for the equality of people.
The republic is necessary for the participation of the people in politics.
The republic is necessary for the enlightenment of society.
The Republic means the overthrow of kingdoms, empires, and sultanates.
The Republic means the end of ruling in the name of holiness and religion.
The Republic means the superiority of the people’s will.
The Republic has been collapsed by the exploitatory bosses who no longer need it.
The Republic has been destroyed by the religionists who have waited for years to take revenge on it.
The Republic has been destroyed by the imperialists who have never accept the revolutionary spirit of Turkey in 1923.
For the Republic to rise again, the reign of the exploiters must end.
For the Republic to be established with an indestructible strength, secularism must be established.
For the republic to enlighten our geography, imperialism must be driven out with all its elements.
The Republic must rest on the working people, not on the parasites.
The Republic must reorganize the economy from top to bottom according to the public interest.
The Republic must build a strong industry, and target a self-sufficient country by applying methods regarding the environment and human health in agriculture.
The Republic must provide jobs for everyone.
The Republic must provide everyone with a place where they can live decently.
The Republic must make heating, lighting, water, and transportation free.
The Republic must provide education and health services for everyone on a scientific basis, equally and free of charge.
The Republic must put an end to all kinds of exploitation, and it must absolutely prevent citizens from being discriminated against for ethnic and religious reasons.
The Republic must eliminate the economic, political, and cultural reasons that threaten the equality and freedom of women, and create a social climate that includes citizens of various sexual orientations in all respects.
The Republic must protect nature and history.
The Republic must mobilize the resources that will leap science, art, and creative thinking.
The Republic must establish the independence of the country.
The Republic must not interfere with the internal affairs of other countries and must withdraw from all imperialist agreements and institutions.
The Republic must develop friendly relations with the peoples of all countries, and adopt a patriotic and internationalist policy.
The Republic must displace foreign soldiers from the country, and close all foreign bases in the country.
The Republic must take measures to protect itself from the imperialists and from the enemies of the people and the Republic.
The Republic must live and keep alive.
As we approach the 100th anniversary of the proclamation of the Republic in these lands, our people must undertake a duty for a new Republic, for a Republic of the working people, for a SOCIALIST REPUBLIC that will live and keep alive.
LONG LIVE THE REPUBLIC!”
