Freedom and democracy can not be reduced to headscarf

18.2.2008

Parliament voted to amend the constitution to lift the ban on Islamic headscarves at Turkey’s universities with the votes of AKP (Justice and Development Party) and MHP (Nationalist Action Party) deputies. And this constitutional change presented as a necessity for democracy and freedom.

But we know that both two parties and the main opposition, CHP (Republican People’s Party) are all against the democratic rights of workers and Kurdish people in Turkey.

Ignoring some other fundamental problems and reducing the freedom and democracy demands to only headscarf ban shows that these parties are real fakers, not democrats.

While the Government and Army insist on the military solution for Kurdish problem instead of a democratic solution, latitude of thought and expression are trampled by the laws like Article 301, religion classes are compulsory at schools and workers’ unionising is banned by laws AKP and MHP just gain nothing but ridicule by making freedom and democracy show with headscarf.

EMEP’s thought of freedom is not same with the Prime Minister Erdogan’s thought as “demanding education in mother tongue for Turks in Germany while banning Kurds even talking in their mother tongue in Turkey”. EMEP supports the freedoms in all fields including headscarf and dress liberty and struggles for establishing a democratic Turkey. But, EMEP esteems awaking the peoples to not believe this “freedom” and “democracy” game, as a duty.

Headscarf is not the only forbidden subject in Turkey. Moreover, it doesn’t have the highest priority among the bans. Freedom and democracy problem can not be reduced to “the freedom for headscarf”.

Definitely, dressing must be free and nobody must be under pressure because of wearing or not wearing headscarves. But this doesn’t mean that headscarf and democracy has the same meaning. Headscarf is used as a political sign aiming exploitation of religion. Apart from being a freedom issue, it’s a feudal pressure item forcing woman to be veiled. Awaking the peoples of Turkey on this subject is also EMEP’s duty.

Necessity for political freedom and democracy of peoples in Turkey is indubitable. EMEP continues struggling for achieving the democracy and freedoms.

Labour Party of Turkey (EMEP)

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Toufan: Join the Demonstrations against the Imperialists' war

Call on Members and Supporters of the Party of Labour of Iran (Toufan)

Join the Demonstrations against the Imperialists' war

The fifth anniversary of the military invasion and occupation of Iraq is ahead of us. The week of March 15-22 is the week of world protests against the invasion of Iraq by the US imperialists and their allies. In that week, hundreds of thousand of progressive and peace-loving people, the communists at the forefront, will demonstrate and express their disgust and rage against the US imperialists represented by George Bush administration. Solidarity and support for the just and anti-colonial struggle of the people of Iraq is growing and expanding.

Our Party resolutely support the heroic resistance of the people of Iraq and calls on its members and supporters to mobilise wherever they are, in cooperation with progressive and anti-war forces, for March 15-22 demonstrations. Our comrades will do their utmost to strengthen the solidarity movement with the people of Iraq, Afghanistan, and Palestine who are under direct occupation of imperialists and Zionists.

The communists and revolutionary forces of the world defend the Iraqi resistance movement and demand the unconditional withdrawal of troops of the US imperialists and their allies from Iraq. The unconditional withdrawal of all occupying forces from Afghanistan, the condemnation of the Zionist regime of Israel, the solidarity with the Palestinian people, and the condemnation of any military aggression or economic sanction against Iran are the principal demands of the movement against the imperialists' war. Let us expose and slap the faces of imperialists and their lackeys by our participation in and strengthening of the anti-war movement. Let us prepare ourselves for the world demonstration against the war.

Unconditional Withdrawal of all Occupying Forces from Iraq!
Pay War Reparation to the People of Iraq!
Shame on Terrorist-Zionist Regime of Israel!
Long Live Palestinian People!
No to Military Aggression against Iran!
No to Economic Sanction on Iran!
Imperialists Hands off Iran and the Middle East!

The Party of Labour of Iran (Toufan)
February 2008
www.Toufan.org

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All the working people united in the GSEE-ADEDY strike

The large and without precedent massive strike on the 12th of December 2007 was a decisive response from the working people to the anti-labor plans of the reactionary Karamanlis government concerning the Insurance System. This happened in spite of the desperate effort made by Karamanlis-Papariga to undermine the massiveness of the strike through the separate strikebreaking rally of the PAME reformists; a separate rally that was obviously at the service of the government's plans for Insurance System.

The government of the monarch-fascist party of “New Democracy” started the attack against the public character of the social insurance and the pension funds. The government plans include the extension of the retirement age limits, the slashing of the already low pensions and the further reductions of the contributions from the employers

Those grand panhellenic striking rallies resulted in the ousting of the V. Maginas, the Employment Minister at that time, and his replacement by a new minister, F.P. Petralia.

The new panhellenic strike, called by the reformist leaders of GSEE-ADEDY for the 13th of February, was a continuation of the previous one. The working people, united and en masse, took part in the new strike knowing that only in this way they can repel the anti-insurance plans of the Karamanlis government

The government facing serious problems, during this period, because of the scandals and being unable to deal with the fighting strike rests its hopes on A. Papariga and the PAME reformist leaders who, once again, rushed to support their ally, K. Karamanlis, by organizing yet another strikebreaking and divisive rally. The choice of Omonia Square this time, instead of National Resistance Square, as the place of the rally was made with the view to withhold a greater number of working people from the ones going to the central rally and to avoid the fiasco in which their similar attempt ended on the 12th of December.

Movement for the Reorganisation of KKE 1918-55
February 14, 2008

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PCOF: Stop French Interference in Chad!

Once again, French authorities and the 1,450 men of the unit "Sparrow Hawk" have come to the rescue of the Chadian dictator, Idriss Déby.

One must have cheek to claim, as did the Minister of Defense, that "France is neutral" in this new war. In 2006, there were bombardments by French airplanes, deployed in Chad, which had prevented the regime of Déby from being overthrown. Today, the Mirages were "put aside", in a neighboring country, but this does not mean that the French military is remaining idle. Just by their presence, they continue to protect a regime that is only maintained by force. Tomorrow, we may learn that the French military participated actively in the fight that has caused very many civilian victims.

A new black page in the history of French Africa is being written.

Contrary to what the French authorities claim, this neo-colonial policy of supporting reactionary regimes that agree, in return, to sell off the wealth of their country, is not over! It may be that Sarkozy will end up giving up Déby, but French imperialism does not want to give up Chad, a key country for its military forces in Africa.

What is the Eufor [European Union Force] going to defend?

It is in Chad and the Central African Republic that Sarkozy and Kouchner want to deploy a strong European military force of 3700 men, directly involving fourteen countries. "This operation is an excellent demonstration of the European defense that has to be built. And no one can refuse to make their financial contributions. On the contrary, the agreed upon efforts have surpassed our expectations," Kouchner congratulated himself before the parliamentary representatives. But what will this European force “defend"?

Officially, it is to protect the "refugees and the displaced people" of the two countries. But how can one fail to see that the military and political interference destined to assert the presence of the European Union in a strategic region, has become the field for a struggle for influence among Europe, the USA and China, based on control of the oil resources, especially those of Doba [city in southern Chad – translator’s note], and those still untapped resources (uranium).

The defense of the "vital interests" of the EU is one of the tasks assigned to the European Defense in the Lisbon treaty. That means that the European imperialist powers intend to make all of the countries of the EU participate in the defense of their interests, their promoted vital interests of the EU.

Together with the people of Chad, we say: French Troops, Out Of Chad!

Together with the peoples of Africa, we say: French Troops, Out Of Africa!

Dismantle the French Bases!

And together with the peoples of Europe who do not want a policy of military intervention, we say: No to the Eufor!

French Africa has lasted too long; Solidarity with the peoples of Africa!

Communist Party of the Workers of France
Paris, February 3, 2008

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Police and neonazis heavily attack and injure antifascists; Neonazi demo cancelled

On Saturday, 2nd of February, the Greek State and its various guard-dogs (police, neonazis & other para-statists), united in striking the anti-fascist demonstration organized by leftist organizations, anarchists and anti-authoritarians. Two anti-fascists were heavily injured and transferred to hospital -one with a deep wound caused by a 20cm long knife stab at the belly area, and the second one with a serious injury on the head and knife stabs at his legs.

The - supposedly outlawed - neonazi group "Golden Dawn" had called for a demonstration on the evening of 2nd of February, to commemorate some incident between the greek and turkish military in 1998. Leftist groups had called for a counter-demonstration at the same square five hours earlier, at 2pm. The first anti-fascists arriving at the square discovered it had already been occupied from fascists, waiting there from the early hours. The anti-fascist demo, comprising of leftists, anarchists and anti-authoritarians, was confronted by the police and neo-nazis joined forces (photos): The fascists ran through the riot police line, attacked and stabbed two anti-fascists before running behind the police again (!) The heavy anti-fascist presence (significantly strengthened by the joining of a smaller demonstration against a biotechnology conference in Athens) forced the ban of the fascist demonstration.

The police were quick to heavily attack the anti-fascist gathering in an attempt to disperse and arrest people; anti-fascists retreated to, and occupied the deanship's university building and a march was called for 7 o' clock in the evening. Most the leftist organizations, despite having previously decided to occupy the square where the fascists wanted to protest, chose not to participate in the evening march.

The peaceful antifascist march started at 20:00 and was brutally attacked from the police early on and without any provocation; it took a huge amount of tear gas and beating for the police to disperse a march that the protesters made every effort to safeguard.

Many anti-fascists were brutally beaten by the police and about one hundred were arrested and taken to the police headquarters, where a spontaneous solidarity gathering formed and lawyers started arriving. By the end of the night all arrestees werel set free with no charges, except for one woman charged with three misdemeanours and also released later on. Of these people, 20 were taken to hospital for first aid treatment.

From Athens Indymedia

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Stop French Interference in Chad!

Communist Party of the Workers of France

Once again, French authorities and the 1,450 men of the unit ‘Sparrow Hawk’ have come to the rescue of the Chadian dictator, Idriss Déby.
One must have cheek to claim, as did the Minister of Defense, that ‘France is neutral’ in this new war. In 2006, there were bombardments by French airplanes, deployed in Chad, which had prevented the regime of Déby from being overthrown. Today, the Mirages were ‘put aside’, in a neighbouring country, but this does not mean that the French military is remaining idle. Just by their presence, they continue to protect a regime that is only maintained by force. Tomorrow, we may learn that the French military participated actively in the fight that has caused very many civilian victims.

A new black page in the history of French Africa is being written.

Contrary to what the French authority’s claim, this neo-colonial policy of supporting reactionary regimes that agree, in return, to sell off the wealth of their country, is not over! It may be that Sarkozy will end up giving up Déby, but French imperialism does not want to give up Chad, a key country for its military forces in Africa.

What is the Eufor [European Union Force] going to defend?

It is in Chad and the Central African Republic that Sarkozy and Kouchner want to deploy a strong European military force of 3700 men, directly involving fourteen countries. ‘This operation is an excellent demonstration of the European defence that has to be built. And no one can refuse to make their financial contributions. On the contrary, the agreed upon efforts have surpassed our expectations,’ Kouchner congratulated himself before the parliamentary representatives. But what will this European force ‘defend’?

Officially, it is to protect the ‘refugees and the displaced people’ of the two countries. But how can one fail to see that the military and political interference destined to assert the presence of the European Union in a strategic region, has become the field for a struggle for influence among Europe, the USA and China, based on control of the oil resources, especially those of Doba [city in southern Chad – translator’s note], and those still untapped resources (uranium).

The defence of the ‘vital interests’ of the EU is one of the tasks assigned to the European Defence in the Lisbon treaty. That means that the European imperialist powers intend to make all of the countries of the EU participate in the defence of their interests, their promoted vital interests of the EU.

Together with the people of Chad, we say: French Troops, Out Of Chad!

Together with the peoples of Africa, we say: French Troops, Out Of Africa!

Dismantle the French Bases!

And together with the peoples of Europe who do not want a policy of military intervention, we say: No to the Eufor!

French Africa has lasted too long; Solidarity with the peoples of Africa!

Paris, February 3, 2008

Read More »