RedHack Supported KESK Protest - Quarrel at Parliament

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RedHack hacked several websites of police directorates all over Turkey in order to support the protest of the Confederation of Trade Unions of Public Employees (KESK) against the 4+4+4 Education Draft Bill.

RedHack defined the aim of their latest hack attack on Twitter: "Our action was done in protest of the oppression against KESK, the press and RedHack. We attribute our action to Mahir Çayhan who became a martyr* on 30 March '72".

On Thursday morning (29 March), access was blocked to the websites of dozens of police directorates as the result of the RedHack action. A list was published in the internet with all hacked police directory sites.

http://pastebin.com/TMqPdmEY

The RedHack members sent a couple of messages via Twitter:

"Yes, we are guilty! While you are beating your people, we hacked those who are beating our people! This is our only guilt. And you call us terrorists".

"With the media power and the organs of force at your hand you try to censor us and to stop those who support us by 'scaring the people'".

"Yes, we are guilty; it is our crime to reject being a 'tool' of your theatre!".

"And we are proud of committing that crime! Maybe history will try out prison on us but it will remember you with your dishonour!".

"As a result, we are here, man. Let's dance a bit ;)".

KESK Protest Action ended after 2 days

The protest actions organized in Ankara by KESK against the Education Draft Bill and the Draft Law on Public Servants' Trade Unions ended after two days on Thursday evening.

During two days of protest, the KESK members encountered constant police interventions in Ankara and at demonstrations in other cities. The groups that were not able to reach the capital organized demonstrations in Istanbul, Izmir, Bursa, Kocaeli, Dersim, Hatay, Manisa, Adana, Mersin and Antakya.

Three groups of demonstrators managed to get through to the central Kızılay district of Ankara despite water cannons, tear gas and police barricades.

The KESK members wanted to walk to parliament where the much disputed 4+4+4 draft bill was being debated on Thursday. Once more, the police intervened with tear gas and water cannons. Police helicopters were circling the area. The confederation members dispersed into the side streets due to the massive police interventions only to re-converge after a while. Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) Deputies Sebahat Tuncel and Ertuğrul Kürkçü were among the people who got soaked on the street. They announced to request to speak in parliament to explain the situation.

Subsequently, the KESK members walked towards the Tandoğan Square where they issued a press release at around 17.00 hrs.

The statement was read by KESK Secretary General İsmail Hakkı Tombul. He declared, "We wanted to raise free bright minds to the contrary of the neo-liberal, market driven, conservative and authoritarian education brought by the AKP. We used our democratic right for that. Even our constitutional right to freedom of movement was obstructed. The police forces of this country intervened with gas bombs and water cannons against teachers and pedagogues".

When the KESK members chanted slogans after the press release, they were once more exposed to tear gas and water cannons. This last police intervention marked the end of the two-day protest. Activists who came from other provinces got on their busses to return home.

In a statement issued at 17.45 hrs, the Ankara Governorship announced to initiate legal procedures against the organizers of the protest.

Security measures at parliament

Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) deputies Sebahat Tuncel and Eturğrul Kürkçü had joined the demonstration in Ankara in the afternoon. MP Kürkçü told bianet that almost 3,000 KESK members were in the street.

He said that extraordinary security measures had been taken at parliament. Visitors were not allowed.

"People came to Ankara from many directions. There are groups at Ziya Gökalp, at the Station and in Tandoğan. They were exposed to a lot of tear gas and many water cannons on their way but they managed to stay while being beaten by the police on one hand and negotiating with them on the other hand".

Kürkçü noticed that the activists all seemed to be very determined and devoted. "This occasion showed why KESK is the most important confederation of the teachers' movement".

This, according to the parliamentarian, was a source of courage and inspiration for the opposition in parliament. The police aggression was "inacceptable by reason and conscience and in violation of the law", Kürkçü added.

First 8 Articles Debated in Parliament

The Turkish Parliament approved the first eight paragraphs of the first part of the 'Draft Law on the Amendments of the Law on Primary Education and Training and Certain Laws' on Thursday.

The General Assembly of the Turkey Grand National Assembly (TBMM) convened at 14.00 hrs under the chairmanship of TBMM Vice President Sadık Yakut. Eight out of 13 Articles of the first part of the draft bill were debated. The controversial proposal is known as "4+4+4" because it foresees to split the now compulsory eight-year school education into two sections of four years plus four years at secondary school.

Two intermissions were given because of repeated tensions within the assembly during the heated debate. (ÇT/HK)

* In the Turkish language, the word "martyr" is actually used for soldiers who died on active duty.