September 2009

Editorial

We want a solution to the Kurdish problem designed in Turkey

The recent solution initiative headed by the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government has heated up the debate on Kurdish issue. The government and the liberal intellectuals supporting the government argue that we are passing through a historical moment because we have not been so close to the solution as we are today. Although the so-called “Kurdish initiative” is not clear in content, they herald a great opportunity hidden in it.

Nobody knows the concrete policies meant by the Kurdish initiative but it seems that there is a consensus among state institutions, particularly between the army and the government. Besides, the Kurdish party in the parliament, Democratic Society Party (DTP), has declared that they are ready to conciliate with the AKP government on Kurdish initiative. This does not mean that these various actors have agreed on the details of the policies for solution but they all think that Turkey is on the right direction. Despite vital differences in their expectations, they all say that the regional conjecture is favorable for Turkey to solve Kurdish problem. They also envision that after solving the problem Turkey will be a regional power and a guardian of the Kurdish state on the North of Iraq. This is the role that the United States has urged Turkey to play.

Communist Party of Turkey has issued several statements on the issue and in order to fully state its position regarding Kurdish problem and the Kurdish initiative prepared Declaration of Peace, Brotherhood and Unity. TKP once again reminded that Turkey has to do away with the previous policies which are based on the denial of the basic rights of the Kurdish people and destruction of the struggle for freedom. TKP asserts that armed struggle renders the dialogue between the peoples impossible and deepens ethnic conflicts and calls the parties to stop using arms.

On the debates on solution, TKP openly shared with the public that solution must be a Turkey-born project not one produced in Washington. All signs single out the US as the architect of the Kurdish initiative. The US imperialism pushes Turkey to develop close ties with Iraqi Kurdistan and solution to the Kurdish issue will ease an alliance between Turkey and Iraqi Kurdistan under the umbrella of the imperialism. Of course, this is not a peace project but a strategy to drive Turkey to a more active role in the Middle East even participating regional conflicts in the name of the US imperialism. This is the direction that US draw for Turkey. That is why TKP warns Turkish and Kurdish people that hegemonic design of the imperialism is being palmed off as a project of brotherhood.

On the other hand TKP recognizes the urgent need for solution to establish unity and brotherhood between two peoples. In the Declaration of Peace, Brotherhood and Unity TKP openly stated that:

“We will never applaud any development other than re-founding of our people of all origins, cultures and languages on the base a fair voluntary unity and re-defining of our republic with this content.”

However, TKP emphasizes that the precondition for re-defining a common republic of the Turks and Kurds is to refuse any kind of imperialist interference in the Kurdish issue. Imperialism has not ever brought peace to people and will not in the future.

The Party Council meeting: “American peace” would not lead to brotherhood

In the meeting held on August 22-23, the Party Council discussed new developments regarding Turkish politics and the party, evaluated ongoing campaigns and reviewed party’s duties and goals.

A new declaration entitled “What Kind of a Turkey Do We Want?” was on the agenda of the meeting. This document has come out as a part of a package consisting of two other texts recently released: “Declaration of Freedom” and “Declaration of Peace, Brotherhood and Unity.” These declarations are basic documents prepared to expose the dimensions of the threat behind the new direction Turkey has been taking under the rule of the Justice and Development Party (AKP). This direction that has been labeled as “new Ottomanism” entails the transformation of Turkey from a republic into a reactionary and dependent caricature of a dead empire. The declaration of “What Kind of Turkey We Want” is deemed as a total answer to this total reactionary project sponsored by imperialism. In the meeting a decision was taken to release this document in high numbers and distribute it in all over Turkey.

In the final text of the meeting written by the Political bureau, emphasis was put on the fact that it is inadequate and even misleading to define this process Turkey is going through as a reactionary phase, but this period obliges the party to accelerate a multi-dimensional socialist propaganda. Aware of its responsibilities, TKP committed that the decisions taken for the re-organization of the party would be accomplished by the anniversary of the foundation of TKP on September 10.

In the final text, it is also announced that TKP will participate in the meetings planned for denouncing the September 12, 1980 military coup and the main slogan of the party will be “AKP ensue September 12 fascism”.

Voice of TKP will become more powerful and effective

Communist Party of Turkey has temporarily halted the issue of the Voice of TKP, which had been written weekly by the politburo of the party to set the agenda of “Get ready for 2010” weekly meetings. Meanwhile, these meetings have also been suspended. This measure is taken to adapt the party to a new and more intense period of struggle starting from the anniversary of the foundation of TKP on September 10. On this date the first issue of a new and monthly Voice of TKP will be released.

Taking this step, the politburo of the party informed the public that TKP has not abandoned its decision to discuss the problems of Turkey and seek solutions to these problems together with party’s friends and sympathizers. In this manner, a similar mission will be attributed to the monthly Voice of TKP as defined for the weekly Voice of TKP at the very beginning of the “Get ready for 2010” campaign. The “Voice of TKP” will continue to serve as a ground for discussion but with a more powerful and convincing content.

TKP: The third bridge on Bosphorus is irrational

Communist Party of Turkey Istanbul Provincial Organization issued a statement about the third bridge intended to be built on Bosporus in Istanbul. TKP Istanbul Provincial Organization accused the authorities of opening Istanbul, one of the biggest and most beautiful cities of Turkey, to the looting of the capital and the market and said:

“We agree with the assessments of the scientists, academics and experts that a third bridge will mean a strike against the future of the rail system, homicide of our forests, destruction of water basins located en route the bridge and intensification of the traffic jam. We stand against all these and we condemn Metropolitan Municipality of Istanbul of the Justice and Development Party.”

In the statement it is indicated that the third bridge is a part of a plan to market Istanbul. The Municipality has launched a policy to transform Istanbul into a service and trade center serving for international capital.

On the other hand, it is emphasized that those who will benefit from the third bridge are not laborers but international oil and automotive monopolies, pro-AKP barons, real estate property speculators and reactionary religion communities.

In this regard, TKP Istanbul Provincial Organization made a call to stop this hostility to the public and declared:

”We must struggle against usurpation of the housing and transportation rights of our people and destruction of their living spaces and paving way to reactionary organizations”