Kızıldere Commemoration Prevented by Police, 1 Person Taken into Custody

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Attempts to commemorate the Kızıldere Massacre on its 46th anniversary at Galatasaray Square in the district of Beyoğlu in İstanbul were prevented by the police today (March 30). Yunus Bircan, who is a member of the 78s Initiative and was carrying the pictures of those killed in Kızıldere Massacre at the time of the police intervention, has been taken into custody.

Kızıldere Commemoration is organized by the 78s Initiative with the participation of various political parties and non-governmental organizations each year.

A group of people gathered at Galatasaray Square on Istiklal Avenue in Beyoğlu, İstanbul to commemorate the Kızıldere Massacre on its 46th anniversary and to read out a statement for press at 12.30 p.m. today. However, they were prevented by the security forces. During the police intervention, Yunus Bircan from the 78s Initiative has been taken into custody for carrying the pictures of those killed in the massacre.

The organizations below were planning to attend the commemoration:

The 78s Initiative, The Military Opponents of the Military Coups (ADAM-DER), Laborer Movement Party (EHP), Labor Party (EMEP), Peoples' Democratic Congress (HDK), Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), Anti-Art Studies, Socialist Refoundation Party (SYKP), Greens and Left Future Party (YSGP).

About Kızıldere Massacre

Kızıldere is a village in Tokat province in Black Sea region of Turkey. On March 30, 1972, Mahir Çayan, Hüdai Arıkan, Cihan Alptekin, Nihat Yılmaz, Ertan Sarıhan, Ahmet Atasoy, Sinan Kazım Özüdoğru, Sabahattin Kurt, Ömer Ayna and Saffet Alp were killed in a raid by soldiers upon kidnapping three foreign hostages in order to prevent the execution of Deniz Gezmiş, Hüseyin İnan and Yusuf Aslan, the founding members of the revolutionary socialist organization People's Liberation Army of Turkey who were captured and sentenced to death following the military memorandum on March 12, 1971.

The revolutionists in Kızıldere

One of the founders of People's Liberation Party Front of Turkey (THKP-C) Mahir Çayan, Revolutionary Youth (Dev-Genç) Chair Ertuğrul Kürkçü, Dev-Genç Central Executive Committee Member Hüdai Arıkan, People's Liberation Army of Turkey (THKO) militant Cihan Alptekin, a driver from the district of Ünye Ahmet Atasoy, Dev-Genç Secretary General Sinan Kazım Özüdoğru, Faculty of Political Sciences Student Association Board Member Sabahattin Kurt, THKO militant Ömer Ayna and the founder of "Air Force Proletariat Revolutionist Organization" lieutenant Saffet Alp. (TP/HK/SD)