May Day: A Different Turkey is Possible:

1st of May, "the Day of International Unity, Struggle and Solidarity of Labor," is celebrated in Turkey, along with the rest of the world, in series of events . The celebrations started on Tuesday, April 29, when workers leaders placed carnations at the Kazanci Slope (Kazanci Yokusu)in Istanbul, in the memory of the people who lost their lives in 1977 May Day celebrations when 34 people were killed in the disturbances. The ceremonies continued with the commemoration in Kadıkoy, for the three people who lost their lives during the May Day celebrations in 1996.

Widespread Support

May Day celebrations across the county are lead The "Labor Platform" comprising the Turkish Confederation of Labor (Turk-Is), the Confederation of Revolutionary Workers Unions (DISK), the Confederation of Moral Rights Workers Unions (Hak-Is), the Confederation of Public Workers Trade Unions (KESK), profession chambers and other labor organizations. In some provinces, other groups will lead the celebrations Labor unions, pro-labor political parties, environmentalist groups, human rights organizations, youth and student groups are supporting the celebrations. .

Rightists too...

Some right-wing parties are also expected to join the celebrations first time this year. Justice and Development party (AKP), Felicity Party (SP), Motherland Party (ANAP), and True Path Party (DYP) are among the political parties that have announced that they will officially join the demonstrations in Ankara. it was not yet clear whether these political parties would join the demonstrations through a representative or as a group. Officials who have spoken to bianet, stated that Organized by the Labor Platform the demonstrations in Istanbul and Ankara, are expected to rally largest participation. The celebrations in the southeastern provinces of Diyarbakir, Tunceli, Bingol, and Siirt, which are under emergency rule and also in the Mediterranean province of Mersin are banned

"A Different Turkey is Possible"

All the preparations for the May Day celebrations in Istanbul, have been finalized. Some roads will be closed to traffic. The May Day demonstations organized by the Turkish Confederation of Labor (Turk-Is), the Confederation of Moral Rights Workers Unions (Hak-Is), the Confederation of Revolutionary Workers Unions (DISK), the Confederation of Public Workers Trade Unions (KESK), the Union of White-Collar Workers (Memur-Sen), the Society of Worker Pensioners, the Association of all Worker Pensioners, the Association of Turkish Engineers and Architects, the Union of Turkish Bars, the Association of Turkish Dentists, the Association of Turkish Pharmacists, and the Association of Turkish Physicians will raise the slogan "For Equality, Freedom, Development and Social Justice! A Different Turkey is Possible."

First, the presidents of the workers confederations together with the presidents of the member unions and the political parties, provincial presidents, presidents of other organizations and the heads of profession chambers, will place garlands at the Taksim Monument at 10:00 a.m. At 10:30 a.m., the participants will gather at Perpa and Sisli for the demonstrations, and walk to the Caglayan Square.

At 10:00 a.m. at Tandogan in Ankara

The committee formed by the Turkish Confederation of Labor (Turk-Is), the Confederation of Moral Rights Workers Unions (Hak-Is), the Confederation of Revolutionary Workers Unions (DISK), the Confederation of Public Workers Trade Unions (KESK), the Union of White-Collar Workers (Memur-Sen), the Society of Worker Pensioners, the Association of all Worker Pensioners, the Association of Turkish Engineers and Architects(TMMOB), the Union of Turkish Bars, the Association of Turkish Dentists, the Association of Turkish Pharmacists, the Association of Turkish Physicians and the Union of Chambers of Certified Public Accountants of Turkey (TURMOB), will organize the May Day celebrations in Ankara, which will start at 10:00 a.m. at the Tandogan Square.

The demonstrators will gather at Hipodrom, Nokta Stop, and Toros-Tok Street, and set off from these three different meeting points to walk to the Tandogan Square, where the demonstrations will take place. There is a large number of demands and protest messages among the slogans and mottos that will be chanted by the demonstrators or written on the banners. Some of the slogans and mottos announced by the May Day Organization Committee are:

* "Resources for Laborers, Not for Banks,"

* "They Took from Workers, They Gave to Robbers,"

* "IMF, Get Out of Here, This Country is Ours,"

* "Government Business Enterprises Belong to the Public, They Cannot be Privatized,"

* "The People of Palestine Are Not Alone,"

* "Murderer Sharon Should be Tried,"

* "Organized Crying Out not Silence is Salvation,"

* "Women-Men-Unity, Labor-Bread-Freedom,"

* "Long Live the Unity of Laborers."