Anti-war Actions Spread Across The Country
The week closes as anti-war actions extend across the country, in many cities where public protests are unusual anti-war activism gathers momentum, reinforcing the national opposition against US occupation in Iraq and prospective Turkish cooperation.
* In northeast Trabzon on the Black Sea coast, on Mar. 27, some 200 members of the Confederation of Public Service Trade Unions (KESK) protested against the cuts on public spendings in the budget in the context of war.
Addressing the people, "this is not a war, this is the United States' and war-mongers' attempt to subjugate the peoples of the world. Turkey should not participate in the attack. Bush and the war coalition should immediately stop the attack," an official told. The crowd dispersed after frictions with the police.
* In neighbor city of Giresun , other union Kamu-Sen (Confederation of Turkeys Public Workers Unions) members faxed letters to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
"We will not accept the conditions that will lead to the disintegration of our country in the process of entering the European Union. We will not accept the United States to occupy our country's bases, ports and land for its attack on the Iraqi people," they said.
* In Ankara , activists from Alevite organization Pir Sultan Abdal Cultural Association placed a black wreath in front of the US Embassy in Ankara. The president of the association stated that the United Nations should take urgent action to stop the war on Iraq. He accused the US of "taking on the duty of world's gendarmerie" and condemned the bombing of Kerbela and Najaf, historic cities for the Alevite culture and faith.
* In Artvin , on the Turkey-Georgia border, demonstrators took to the streets to protest the war on Iraq and cuts of public spendings in the budget. They urged that the government should pull back the 2003 budget, cancel the IMF programmes and deny support for the US' attack on Iraq.
* On Friday , Mar. 28, students and lecturers in Ankara University's Faculty of Communication in a symbolic act set afire a TV receiver to protest pro-war corporate media. Having organized teach-ins during recent weeks to criticize the corporate media's war coverage the students said: "We are not against TV as such but against its use. Our reaction is not against TV itself but against those who fail to use this means of communication for the common good of humanity."
* In Istanbul , after the Friday prayer, 3 thousand people gathered in front of the Beyazit Mosque to protest against the US' and Britain's attack on Iraq. Grouping separately men and women held a symbolic funeral prayer for civilian deaths in Iraq and a US flag was set on fire.