No action, no satisfaction in Kadıköy
Güncelleme Tarihi:
Hürriyet Daily News
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Mayıs 02, 2009 00:00
ISTANBUL - Thousands flocked to the government-designated area at Kadıköy Square for May Day demonstrations Friday, but the celebrations remained emotionless because all thoughts were focused on Taksim Square.
Around 5,000 people from the Confederation of Turkish Labor Unions, or Türk-İş; Labor Party, or EMEP; and Workers’ Party, or İP, gathered in Kadıköy in the early hours Friday and walked to Kadıköy Square.
Mustafa Kumlu, the president of Türk-İş, said in his speech at Kadıköy Square that they wanted to celebrate May Day in Taksim and bring an end to the “Taksim fear and obsession.”
“However, they did not allow Taksim and behaved shamefully,” Kumlu said. “They overshadowed the recent declaration of May Day as a holiday.”
Kumlu also called on the government to ban laying off workers because of the economic crisis. “Leave the IMF; it has brought us only bad things. Become a social state, so that people can look to the future with hope,” he said.
Erkin Malkoç, a member of Belediye-İş union, told the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review that many union members do not support Kumlu because he is pro-government despite the harsh measures used by security forces last May Day.
Sometimes Kumlu’s speech was interrupted by whistles and boos. A man from the Gıda-İş trade union, a member of Türk-İş, shouted, “We don’t want a silent Türk-İş.” He was later quieted by other Türk-İş members.
Ulrike Beldrof, a member of Germany’s May 1 committee, said a group of 40 Germans came to Istanbul to support Turkish workers. “We hope we will celebrate May Day in Taksim all together,” she said.
Selahattin Yıldırım, from Gıda-İş Trade Union of Germany, said Taksim is closed to workers even though it is open to all kinds of entertainment, adding that the “road to democratization passes from opening Taksim to celebrations of May Day.”
Joyless celebration
Although the number of people attending the celebration was not low, the celebrations were lifeless. Those who walked to the square followed the developments in Taksim on the radio.
A majority of the participants came from neighboring provinces, and most of them left Kadıköy Square as soon as the speeches ended. Some young EMEP members and Marmara University students danced halay, a folk dance, which was the only action of the day.
“Too passive, too ineloquent” was how Banu, an EMEP member who declined to give her surname, described the rally in Kadıköy. “The workers are separated thanks to the government. We would rather go to Taksim or never bother celebrating May Day like this,” she said.
Security forces blocked traffic on major roads that cross Kadıköy Square. The ferries between Kadıköy, Beşiktaş and the Princes Islands did not run after 8 a.m.
Mustafa Kumlu, the president of Türk-İş, said in his speech at Kadıköy Square that they wanted to celebrate May Day in Taksim and bring an end to the “Taksim fear and obsession.”
“However, they did not allow Taksim and behaved shamefully,” Kumlu said. “They overshadowed the recent declaration of May Day as a holiday.”
Kumlu also called on the government to ban laying off workers because of the economic crisis. “Leave the IMF; it has brought us only bad things. Become a social state, so that people can look to the future with hope,” he said.
Erkin Malkoç, a member of Belediye-İş union, told the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review that many union members do not support Kumlu because he is pro-government despite the harsh measures used by security forces last May Day.
Sometimes Kumlu’s speech was interrupted by whistles and boos. A man from the Gıda-İş trade union, a member of Türk-İş, shouted, “We don’t want a silent Türk-İş.” He was later quieted by other Türk-İş members.
Ulrike Beldrof, a member of Germany’s May 1 committee, said a group of 40 Germans came to Istanbul to support Turkish workers. “We hope we will celebrate May Day in Taksim all together,” she said.
Selahattin Yıldırım, from Gıda-İş Trade Union of Germany, said Taksim is closed to workers even though it is open to all kinds of entertainment, adding that the “road to democratization passes from opening Taksim to celebrations of May Day.”
Joyless celebration
Although the number of people attending the celebration was not low, the celebrations were lifeless. Those who walked to the square followed the developments in Taksim on the radio.
A majority of the participants came from neighboring provinces, and most of them left Kadıköy Square as soon as the speeches ended. Some young EMEP members and Marmara University students danced halay, a folk dance, which was the only action of the day.
“Too passive, too ineloquent” was how Banu, an EMEP member who declined to give her surname, described the rally in Kadıköy. “The workers are separated thanks to the government. We would rather go to Taksim or never bother celebrating May Day like this,” she said.
Security forces blocked traffic on major roads that cross Kadıköy Square. The ferries between Kadıköy, Beşiktaş and the Princes Islands did not run after 8 a.m.