12 Highschool Students Make 12 September Documentary

The oral history projects that twelve highschool students carried out with 12 witnesses of the military coup on 12 September 1980 has been turned into a documentary.

Directed by Aydın Yıldırım, the film includes experiences by Süleyman Çelebi, president of the Trade Union Confederation of Revolutionary Workers (DİSK), actor Tarık Akan, MP Ufuk Uras, writer Etyen Mahçupyan, researcher Erdoğan Aydın, MP Akın Birdal, writer and former MP Tarık Ziya Ekinci, journalist Aydın Çubukçu, Celalettin Can of the 78'ers Foundation, lawyer and human rights activist Eren Keskin, journalist Oral Çalışlar and sociologist Ünsal Oskay.

The Genç Praksis ("Young Practice") magazine was formed five years ago. The documentary, entitled "12", was created by highschool students.

Yıldırım said, "With this documentary 29 years after the event, we bring a social event onto the screens that is still very current, with the constitution that is still in place, the pain that has not been questioned, and the ongoing debate on whether to try (coup leader) Kenan Evren."

Music for the documentary was provided by the Kara Güneş (Dark Sun) group. The film has been dedicated to Erdal Eren, who was executed after the coup, aged 17. (BÇ/AG)