People's Assembly of Turkey marches against NATO and imperialism: Fifth stop is Ankara

The fifth stop of the People's Assembly of Turkey's (THTM) march, which began in Kartal, Istanbul on September 15 and will conclude at the NATO Base in Incirlik, Adana on September 28, was Ankara. The THTM will continue its Ankara program between September 19 and September 22, and will set off from Ankara to Konya on the morning of September 23.

FIRST STOP IN THE ANKARA PROGRAM IS SİNCAN

The first stop for the THTM representatives, who arrived in Ankara from Eskişehir, was Sincan. With the participation of patriots from Sincan, THTM marchers began their walk in front of the Sincan Station at 19:00, chanting slogans such as "Killer NATO, collaborator AKP."

BANNER SUPPORT FROM THE TKP SİNCAN WORKERS' HOUSE

The marchers, who enthusiastically welcomed the unfurling of a banner reading "NATO get out, this country is ours" from the TKP Workers' House along the route, saluted the banner with the same slogan.

Throughout the march, slogans such as "Patriots to the ranks against NATO," "Killer NATO, killer Israel," "NATO and the US are the perpetrators of genocide," "The Palestinian people are not alone," and "Laborers, workers, patriots to the ranks" were chanted.

"NATO PROTECTS THE ORDER OF EXPLOITATION"

A press statement was held at Lale Square, where the march concluded. The first statement was delivered by retired Petty Officer Ali Berçin, a member of the THTM Ankara branch.

Starting his speech by asking the question, "Why are we against NATO?" Berçin emphasized that NATO, which was founded in 1949 under the guise of being a defense organization, has never operated solely as a defense organization.

Stating that NATO has a mission to protect the interests of the capitalist system, Berçin said, "NATO has also protected the order of exploitation on the US axis by collaborating with financial and political organizations."

People's Assembly of Turkey marches against NATO and imperialism:
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"NATO IS A TOOL THAT DEFENDS THE INTERESTS OF THE RULING CLASSES"

Pointing to the Russia-Ukraine war and Israel's aggression in the Middle East, Berçin said, "In terms of class and system interests, NATO is a tool that defends the interests of the ruling classes. We do not need any other reason to oppose NATO."

Reminding the audience of the NATO bases and deployed weapons in Turkey, Berçin spoke as follows:

"That is why Turkey must withdraw from NATO. The Turkish Armed Forces' obligations within the scope of NATO must be terminated. NATO personnel in Turkey must be deported, and the bases must be closed. Turkey must be cleared of nuclear weapons, and the NATO ammunition in our country must be destroyed. NATO, which is the center of crimes against humanity, must be dismantled."

Citing examples of struggles against NATO in Turkey, Berçin concluded his words by saying, "Our march will continue from Ankara to Incirlik, and everywhere we go, we will shout these words in their faces: Yankee go home."

"THIS IS THE AGENDA OF THE PEOPLE OF TURKEY, ITS PATRIOTS, AND INDEPENDENCE ADVOCATES"

Following Berçin, Burçak Özoğlu, a member of the THTM Executive Board, took the floor. Stating that the THTM has been continuing its march since September 15, Özoğlu said, "Our march began at Kartallı Kazım Square. We came to Sincan by passing through Gebze, İzmit, Sakarya, and Eskişehir." Expressing that there was a special reason for the THTM to meet in the Sincan district, Özoğlu said, "We are fighting for Sincan, where we know laborers are very concentrated, to also be the center of the struggle against NATO. Isn't this imperialist system, NATO, and its collaborators the cause of this bloody order that cannot even protect an 8-year-old child in our country, the cause of reactionism, poverty, hunger, and lack of a future in our country? This is the agenda of the people of Turkey, its patriots, and independence advocates."

EXHIBITION AGAINST NATO TO OPEN IN ANKARA

Providing information about the THTM's Ankara plan, Özoğlu announced that the exhibition featuring works by artists who responded to the THTM's call, "Speak out against NATO and war with your pen, your paint, your brush," as part of the campaign, will be held on Friday, September 20, at 19:00 at the Nâzım Hikmet Cultural Center. In addition to artists from Turkey, artists from Russia, China, and Cyprus also participated in the exhibition.

"NATO ROAD WILL BE THE ROAD TO INDEPENDENCE"

The THTM had announced that the name of Natoyolu Street (NATO Road) in Mamak, Ankara, would be changed to "Independence Road Street" through the struggle to be waged. Reminding the audience of the petition campaign launched on the subject as well as the march to be held on Saturday, Özoğlu said, "On Saturday, we will meet in Mamak on that road tainted by the name NATO, and we believe that with the struggle of the people of Mamak, we will clean the name of Natoyolu Street and make it the Road to Independence."

Özoğlu stated that the THTM delegation would move on to Konya after the march to be held in Kavaklıdere on Sunday, and concluded her speech by saying, "On September 28, we will be at the gates of NATO, we will be in Incirlik. Our struggle will continue, and we will definitely win."

HOW WILL THE MARCH CONTINUE?

The march against NATO and imperialism, which began in Istanbul, will pass through Konya, Niğde's Ulukışla, and Mersin after Ankara, and will end at the Incirlik Air Base in Adana.

Many meetings and events will be held throughout the march. The exhibition opened at the Istanbul Nâzım Hikmet Cultural Center will also meet with citizens in many provinces and districts.

The campaign against NATO and imperialist war, which the People's Assembly of Turkey announced on September 1, World Peace Day, will conclude with a mass rally to be held in Kartal, Istanbul on November 3, following the marches and events.

News Source: 12punto