Turkey Celebrates 1st of May

Trade union confederations Türk-Is, Hak-Is, DISK and KESK who represent most of Turkey’s organized labor join forces to organize the celebrations in İstanbul.

In a joint public statement leaders of the four have called the citizens join celebrations to protest “US invasion ov Iraq and the draft anti-labor laws.”

Labor leaders expect a high participation in Istanbul, albeit the celebrations will be held during the work-day. Turkey in contrast to many European countries is yet to recognize may day as holiday.

With series of bloody confrontations between police and workers in its history, May Day celebrations are stil a matter of dispute in Turkey. Taksim square is denied for May day celebrations since 1977 when 36 people lost their lives on “Bloody Sunday”, as 500 thousand people were attacked by snipers.

Successive Turkish governments have failed to lift the ban on May Day Holiday imposed by the military junta of 1980s.

1st of May celebrations in İstanbul will begin on Thursday morning with traditional “silence for repect” in the Kazanci street in Taksim where most of 36 victims of Bloody Sunday were killed.

The traditional outdoor rally will take place in the Caglayan Square where trade union leaders will address participants from unions, left parties and youth and intellectuals. 50 thousand is expected to come together in İstanbul rally as hundreds of thousands are also expected to join rallies acrross the country. InDiyarbakir the biggest Kurdish inhabited city in southeast Turkey too is expected to host a massive rally of Kurdish workers.

İstanbul rally will close wtih a concert by celebrated protest singers such as Ferhat Tunc, Onur Akin and Mehmet Gumus.