The Communist Party of Turkey (TKP) has called for a mass anti-NATO rally in Ankara on 5 July, ahead of the NATO Summit scheduled to take place in the Turkish capital on 7–8 July.
In its initial appeal, the party described NATO as an organization that has brought war and destruction to peoples around the world since its foundation and argued that the summit would further integrate Turkey into NATO’s military and political agenda. Calling on citizens to gather in Ankara’s Tandoğan Square, TKP declared: “NATO means death and dishonor. Long live life, independence and socialism.”
International anti-NATO meeting in Turkey’s capital
TKP had declared July 4–12 an Anti-NATO Summit. As part of the week’s activities, an international meeting will be held on 4 July in Ankara, bringing together parties from NATO member states and across Europe. A significant number of parties have already confirmed their participation.
“Don’t even think about it!”
Central Committee of TKP later issued a statement in response to reports suggesting that extraordinary security measures could be imposed in Ankara during the summit and that the anti-NATO rally might face restrictions. Referring to NATO as “the world’s largest terrorist organization,” TKP warned the authorities: “Don’t even think about it!”
According to the statement, the party is closely monitoring attempts to turn Ankara into an “open-air prison” because of a planned anti-NATO demonstration. TKP argued that the summit is being used to deepen Turkey’s integration into NATO’s plans and accused both the government and the mainstream opposition of aligning themselves with the alliance.
“The capitalist class that rules over this system, the AKP government, and the bourgeois opposition that praises NATO at every opportunity may be happy that Trump, the number one person responsible for all these massacres, will be coming to our country,” the statement said.
Referring to recent military attacks in the region, TKP stressed that “US-made bombs dropped on the peoples of Palestine, Lebanon and our neighbor Iran are still burning in the memory and conscience of our people.” While ruling class may see the summit as an opportunity to secure “new agreements and new assignments,” the party argued that “this country does not consist of them and their collaborators alone.”
The statement then shifted its focus to public opposition to NATO and US influence in Turkey. “There is no people in this country who will bow before the plans of the United States, plans that would trample our independence and send our people to death for its own interests,” TKP declared.
It added that “millions in this country stand wholeheartedly with the peoples of Palestine and Iran against Israeli and US brutality,” and that there is a people that “feel shame at the presence of US and NATO bases on the soil of our homeland.”
Calling on people to join the demonstration, the party argued that it is the duty of working class patriots, republicans, revolutionaries and communists “to welcome NATO as it deserves” and “to stand up to this imperialist banditry with a major mobilization in Ankara.”
TKP emphasized that the rally should not be seen as an event belonging solely to the party. “This rally belongs not only to TKP,” the statement said, “but to all honorable citizens of our country and to everyone sincerely engaged in the struggle against imperialism.”
The statement concluded with a call for unity against imperialism and collaboration:
“Join us to raise together the banner of our country’s independence. Join us to stand together against collaborators and imperialist bandits.”
“This country is ours.”
