Peace in Kurdistan celebrates May Day as International Workers’ Day. Let us remember that when workers in Chicago peacefully assembled in Chicago in May 1886 to demand an eight-hour working day they were attacked by police and there ensued the Haymarket massacre. May Day symbolises and demonstrates the importance of struggle by the working masses for social advance. What has been won everywhere has had to be fought for and defended.
Capitalist Modernity and the rule of private monopolies is proving to be unsustainable for humanity and the environment we live in. It is sustained by attacking nature, with disastrous consequences for humanity and the other species. Its lifeblood is sectarianism and ethnic division, it thrives on patriarchy and authoritarian reaction. May Day announces the coming end of subjugation. Generations follow each other and pledge to build a better tomorrow. There is no other choice.
Today, in Turkey we see the grotesque form of reaction taken by the AKP-MHP government led by President Erdogan. It promotes war on the Kurds, wherever they may be; it terrorises its opponents, tries to silence any critics and fills its prisons with any who display the slightest nobility of spirit. It is the opposite of democracy and unity – it is the rule of fascism and it casts its shadow across the Middle East. Whatever desperate measures the rulers of Turkey take, they cannot defeat the risen Kurdish people, who are set on their destiny to democracy and freedom. Four decades of unbroken struggle is testimony to the determination which will win in Kurdistan and the Middle East. Long live the struggle for freedom! Long live international solidarity! Long live May Day!
Peace in Kurdistan
Campaign for a political solution of the Kurdish Question
Email: estella@gn.apc.org
https://www.peaceinkurdistancampaign.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/peaceinkurdistan1/
Contacts Estella Schmid: 07846 666 804 & Melanie Gingell: 07572 430903
Patrons: John Austin, Baroness Blower of Starch Green, former GS NUT, Prof Bill Bowring, Julie Christie, Noam Chomsky, Jeremy Corbyn MP, Prof Mary Davis, Lord Dholakia, Simon Dubbins, UNITE International Director, Jill Evans, former MEP, Desmond Fernandes, Lindsey German, Convenor STWC, Melanie Gingell, Christopher Gingell, Prof Dr. Michael Gunter, Secretary-General, EU Turkey Civic Commission (EUTCC), Rahila Gupta, journalist, Nick Hildyard, policy advisor, Dafydd Iwan, Former President Plaid Cymru, James Kelman, Bruce Kent, Jean Lambert, former MEP, Dr Les Levidow, Open University, Elfyn Llwyd, John McDonnell MP; Aonghas MacNeacail, Scottish Gaelic poet, Mike Mansfield QC, David Morgan, journalist, Doug Nicholls, General Secretary, GFTU, Dr. Jessica Ayesha Northey, Sinn Fein MLA Conor Murphy, Dr Thomas Jeffrey Miley, Kate Osamor MP, Margaret Owen OBE, Ali Gul Ozbek, Former Councillor and Mayor of Haringey; Gareth Peirce, Dr Felix Padel, Maxine Peake, actor, Dr Thomas Phillips, Liverpool John Moores University, Trevor Rayne, writer, Joe Ryan, Tony Simpson, Bertrand Russell Peace Foundation, Stephen Smellie, PIK Trade Union Liaison Officer, Jonathan Steele, journalist, Steve Sweeney, journalist, Gianni Tognoni, General Secretary Permanent People’s Tribunal, Dr Tove Skutnabb-Kangas, Dr Federico Venturini, Associate Researcher, University of Udine, Italy; Dr Tom Wakeford, Dr Derek Wall, Julie Ward, former MEP, Kariane Westrheim, Chair, EU Turkey Civic Commission (EUTCC); Hywel Williams MP.