May Day celebrations were held in many cities under the leadership of Confederation of Public Laborer's Unions (KESK), Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions (DİSK), Turkish Medical Association (TTB) and Union of Chambers of Turkish Architects and Engineers (TMMOB). Tens of thousands of workers and labourers participated in the demonstrations and events where peace was emphasised and banners were unfurled emphasising socialism. Messages on the call of Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan also came to the fore.

 

MÊRDÎN

 

May 1 was celebrated in Mêrdîn (Mardin) with the participation of thousands of people under the leadership of Labour and Democracy Platform. Workers and labourers gathered in front of the PTT main building in Artuklu district and started the celebrations with halay. After a minute of silence in memory of those who lost their lives in the struggle for freedom and democracy, speeches were made.

 

Speaking on behalf of the 1 May Worker's Day Organising Committee, Diyar Kut drew attention to Abdullah Öcalan's call dated 27 February and listed the steps the government should take.

 

Saliha Aydeniz, DEM Party Mêrdîn MP, pointed to the conference they attended in North and East Syria and said, "They want there to be no more borders, to ensure their unity and to work freely. From here, we will eliminate these borders, which have been drawn by the rulers and which are now futile, with our unity, and we will build a democratic society together."

 

ŞIRNEX

 

The celebration was held in Republic Square in Şirnex (Şırnak). Speaking at the celebration which started after a minute of silence, DEM Party MP Zeki İrmez drew attention to Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan's "Call for Peace and Democratic Society".

 

Irmez stated that as long as the Kurdish issue is not resolved through democratic and peaceful methods, the existing multiple crises will continue and that we are going through a period where the minimum wage is equal to the hunger limit and women are being murdered every day.

 

RIHA

 

A press statement was made after the march organised by the Labour and Democracy Platform in Riha (Urfa). Representatives of political parties, civil society organisations and women's organisations participated in the march which started at Nova Park and ended at Topçu Square. Making a statement after the march, Labour and Democracy Platform Term Spokesperson Kemal Yüksekkaya gave a message to increase the struggle. The celebration ended with halays.

 

SEMSÛR

 

Speaking at the Semsûr (Adıyaman) rally, which started with the greetings of representatives of non-governmental organisations, DEM Party Riha MP Ferit Şenyaşar said, "As a country, we are on the verge of social peace. The responsibility of this process is on all of us. Let's give the necessary support to the process and fulfil our responsibility. Bijî 1 Gûlan (Long live May Day)."

 

DÎLOK

 

A celebration was held in Station Square in Dîlok (Antep). Speaking at the rally, KESK Dîlok Term Spokesperson Ömer Parlakçı said: "Release the dissidents who use their democratic reactions and political rights. It is meaningful that this attack was carried out in the very days when the Kurdish question was being discussed to be solved through democratic and peaceful means. We know that the resolution of the Kurdish question through democratic and peaceful means directly affects the lives of labourers. We know that the guarantor and creator of peace and democracy are the labourers who create all values, that is us."

 

KILIS

 

A march and press statement were held in Kilis. Participants gathered in front of Hacı Cümbüş Mosque and marched to Cumhuriyet Square. 3 high school students, whose names were unknown, were detained on the grounds that they found Trotskyist magazine in their bags while they wanted to join the march. The students were released after the "examination of the magazine". After the press statement, the participants ended the celebration with halay and slogans.

 

ESKISEHIR

 

In Eskişehir, the mass gathered on Atatürk Boulevard and marched towards the rally in Odunpazarı Square. Speeches were made on the meaning and importance of 1 May.

Making a statement on behalf of youth organisations, Senem Çelik underlined that the youth were in the squares as a historical responsibility and said: "Those who turned their backs on the rebellion of the youth have moved 1 May in Eskişehir away from the city squares that have been held for years. The youth remembers this square from the day they were directed to the rally and the day they left the square saying that they had come for a demonstration, not a rally."

 

KONYA

 

Konya Labour and Democracy Forces celebrated May 1st Labour Day with a rally at Zafer Square in Kılıçarslan City Square. The rally started with a minute of silence in memory of those who lost their lives in the struggle for freedom and democracy.

 

Speaking at the rally, Özgür Konukçu from KESK said, "We are here today to shout the honour of labour, the power of solidarity and the will of the people. 1 May is not just a holiday, it is the revolt of labour against exploitation. Millions of people, who are employed 365 days a year but not given their rights, are speaking out in the squares today and claiming their future."