Kani Beko: Turkey won't liberalise unless Taksim liberalises
İSTANBUL (DİHA) - "Turkey won't liberalise unless Taksim liberalises. Turkey won't democratize unless workers celebrate May Day freely at Taksim Square," said DİSK General Head Kani Beko.
Istanbul police stationed around 10,000 police officers on and around the square for May Day. Water cannon (TOMA) and police officers are waiting on the touristic İstiklal Avenue and other crowded streets leading to Taksim such as Tarlabaşı Street, Gümüşsuyu Street and Sıraselviler Street. TOMAs are also be stationed in front of the Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions (DİSK) building in Istanbul’s Şişli district, Beşiktaş Square and Dolmabahçe.
Unions led by DİSK, the Confederation of Public Sector Trade Unions (KESK) and the TTB, TMMOB, HDP, HDK, SODAP, DHF, ESP, SYKP, Kaldıraç, anarchists, Unity of Struggle, Halkevleri and feminists came together at Beşiktaş and Şişli.
The feminists women chanted the slogans of "Woman, life, freedom" and bore purple flags. The workers danced traditional halays and are waiting to pass into Square Taksim.
'We want to march with flowers to Taksim'
DİSK General Head Kani Beko addressed to the workers and labourers in Barbaros Avenue and said, "Turkey won't liberalise unless Taksim liberalises. Turkey won't democratize unless workers celebrate May Day freely at Taksim Square. We want to march with flowers to Taksim and celebrate May Day here".
Only a small group of unionists, Türk İş, were allowed into the square for a moderate remembrance ceremony for the victims of the May Day 1977 when 34 people were massacred.
(nt)
