Turkey: Leading civil society organizations get up against terrorism

A major rally is being planned for Istanbul on Oct. 30, with organizers aiming to bring together 1 million people to march against escalating acts of terrorism in the wake of bloody attacks last week, according to an announcement by 24 nongovernmental organizations. The group includes some of the country’s most influential business circles and trade chambers and represents a broad swath of society.

“We will hold a great march in Istanbul on Oct. 30 under the leadership of professional organizations, confederations of trade unions and associations with the support of our political parties. We will only raise our flag with its crescent and star, the symbol of our unity and integrity,” Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, president of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) said at a press conference yesterday.

The country’s civil society, mainly the professional organizations and business circles, have been mobilized after the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK ) killed 24 troops in Çukurca province of Hakkari on Iraqi border in a move to show public resistance to terrorism.

Hisarcıklıoğlu said they have established the “Platform for a Call for Unity” with 24 organizations but that the venue was open for anyone who wanted to take part in the initiative.

Along with TOBB, which has more than 1.5 million members, prominent business organization the Turkish Industry and Business Association (TÜSİAD), the Workers’ Union Confederation (Türk-İş), the Bars Union (TBB) and the Turkish Exporters Assembly (TİM) have joined the platform. Leaders of these organizations visited President Abdullah Gül, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and all opposition parties on Oct.21 to share their plans to hold the rally.

“We saw that all political leaders in Turkey shares similar sensibilities against terrorism despite daily political disputes. Their common ground is our unity, integrity and fraternity. This is promising,” Hisarcıklıoğlu said. “We invite those who have the same feelings as us to this great march. We will walk altogether despite these dirty games. We invite everyone because it won’t happen without you.”

It was not yet clear if leaders of the political parties would also take part in the march, but the platform intends to invite all of them. However, no party banners or flags can be raised during the march, the platform states. Details of the march will be announced this week.

Despite wide representation, the Confederation of Revolutionary Trade Unions (DİSK), the Confederation of Public Sector Trade Unions (KESK) and the Turkish Engineers’ and Architects’ Chambers (TMMOB), known to be critical of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), have not joined the platform.

Hisarcıklıoğlu said they have not excluded anyone. “We have invited all societal organizations and our invitation is still valid. We want to march arm in arm with everyone,” he said. Reportedly, KESK and DİSK officials are set to discuss joining the platform.

Change in plans

The platform has changed its initial plan to hold simultaneous marches in the country’s seven regions after President Gül convinced them that such an initiative could face provocations in some regions, Turkish media reported.

“We have no such fear. We are engaged in this in the name of 74 million people,” Hisarcıklıoğlu said, adding that they will act together in every part of the country when required. Another reason for holding only one march is to concentrate the density and public attention on one march only so that its influence can be multiplied, the Daily News has learned.

October 23, 2011
SOURCE: Hürriyet Daily News