Thousands of People Say "Enough" to 60 Years of Nato

There were protests against NATO in Ankara, Istanbul and Eskişehir. Around 2,500 people gathered for a protest in Kadıköy, Istanbul.

Emine Özcan

The sixtieth anniversary of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) was marked by protests in Turkey. Rallies in several cities demanded the closure of the organisation.

2,500 people in Kadıköy

On Saturday, 4 April, around 2,500 people gathered in Kadıköy, Istanbul at 1 pm to protest against the organisation under the slogan “Unity against NATO”. The crowd marched to the square next to the piers.

One of the slogans shouted was “We will not kill, we will not die, we will not be anyone’s soldiers”.

The visit of US President Barack Obama to Turkey (starting on Sunday night) was also protested against. US and Israeli flags were burnt.

Singer Suavi spoke as a representative of the Artists against NATO, saying that NATO had never been a defence organisation. Rather, its aim had been to coordinate attacks against the USSR and collaborating countries, and to create new markets for imperialist countries.

In Istanbul, four people who attempted to chain themselves to the railing of the Bosphorus Bridge were taken into custody by the police.

Protest in Eskişehir

The Student Collective and the Labour Youth of Eskişehir, a city in the west of Turkey which has a NATO base nearby, gathered in front of the base and read a press release.

They said, “We don’t want NATO, which has killed and maimed millions of people around the world, in our country or our city. As the enlightened people and youth of this country, we have been struggling against imperialism since 1968.”

1,000 protesters in Ankara

In Ankara, around 1,000 people protested against NATO at a ralley on Kolej Square. The crowd who walked there had a big placard reading “War organisation NATO should disband! We are marching against NATO and imperialism.”

Speakers talked about the “new Ottomanism” of the Justice and Development Party (AKP), i.e. the attempt to become a regional power and imperial actor, arguing that the USA had prepared this role for Turkey.

Further it was criticised that the AKP was ignoring Kurdish actors in Turkey in the Kurdish issue and rather was looking towards Obama, Talabani and Barzani for a new order.

Protests in Strasbourg

When the 28 member countries of NATO met in Strasbourg (France) and Baden-Baden (Germany) on Friday (3 April), there were protests.

Thousands of police closed down streets to traffic in Strasbourg, and the hundreds of protesters gathering in squares were dispersed with tear gas.

Protesters tried to break through the security cordon around the summit area.

On Saturday, 25 protesters were taken into custody and there were scuffles between police and protesters. (EZÖ)

* Members of Unity against NATO:

Antikapitalist, BarışaRock Initiative, Barışa Pedal Grubu, Revolutionary Socialist Workers Party (DSİP), Labour Party (EMEP), Labour Movement Party (EHP), Socialist Platform for the Oppressed -(ESP), Association for Solidarity with the Palestinian People, Young Civilians, People’s Front, HOMUR Caricature and Humour Group, Intiative to Say Stop to Racism and Nationalism (Dur De), Human Rights Association (IHD), Confederation of Trade Unions of Public Employees (KESK), Global Peace and Justice Coalition (Küresel BAK), Global Action Group (KEG), Association for Human Rights and Solidarity for the Oppressed (MAZLUMDER), Freedom and Solidarity Party (ÖDP), Socialist Party, Socialist Democracy Party (SDP), Social Democratic Foundation (SODEV), Communist Party of Turkey (TKP), Association of University Lecturers, Green Party, Artists against NATO, Lever magazine, Revolutionary Movement.

Click here for photos of the Kadıköy protest.