Imperialism threatens our country and our future. With its pro-capitalist, anti-labor politicians, with the constant threat of war, with foreign soldiers and bases deployed all over our country…
Our country was integrated in NATO by the will of the capitalist class and by the hand of Menderes, who was in power at that time. Thousands of our compatriots were sent to Korea to die and be killed as a price. NATO has been operating in these lands since 1952 to plunder the country’s resources, build pro-American communities, and murder patriotic students and intellectuals. This terrorist organization, which developed an even more aggressive attitude after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, bombarded Yugoslavia in a very short time since the 90s. It played a role in the intervention in Iraq through Turkey, attacked Afghanistan and was one of the triggers of the war between Ukraine and Russia in our north.
NATO is the enemy of labor: It brought up counter-guerrilla structures in the face of the rising working class movement in the 1960s, and bloody actions were carried out against the working class by these gangs.
NATO is enemy of independence: It intervened in the decisions regarding the defense and politics of the country, enabled foreign bases to be launched on our territory, and made Turkey a partner in its own war plans.
NATO is enemy of secularity: Until today, it has supported reactionary political movements in line with NATO’s activities in our country, and has played a leading role in the growth of the gangs and sects that plague us today.
NATO is enemy of youth and patriotism: Deniz Gezmiş and his comrades, which we commemorate on the 50th anniversary of their murder, were executed for fighting against NATO’s bloody plans.
The capitalist class in our country and the ruling parties, from the government to the opposition, are collectively members of NATO.
The political maneuvers and occasional shows of the AKP government do not change their core pro-NATO stance. During the AKP rule, which has exceeded 20 years, our country has participated in numerous NATO missions, NATO bases in our country have preserved their assets, the nuclear bombs in Incirlik have both threatened the countries in the region and made our country a target of threats.
The situation is the same for the establishment parties that claim to be the opposition. From the CHP to the IYI Party and yesterday’s AKP supporters DEVA and the Gelecek Party, all elements of the bourgeois opposition argue that our country should be an active part of NATO. On top of that, they criticize the AKP for not being an actively enough NATO member.
We do not accept the existence of NATO, which committed massacres, occupations and hostility towards the people in its entire history. We do not want the nests of the world’s largest terrorist organization in our country. We see that no good will come from the parties siding with NATO, from the government to the opposition.
The Communist Youth of Turkey will fight until no military force of the bloody NATO organization remains in our country.
The youth has always been against NATO. Deniz, Yusuf and Hüseyin were sentenced to death by the dirty hands of establishment politics in 1972, as they defended their homeland against this threat and responded to the longing of the workers for an independent Turkey. They will not be erased from their memories.
We continue to step forward by taking the path of youth with Deniz and his comrades further: We are marching to the NATO base in Incirlik on May 15th!
Communist Youth of Turkey