http://www.istanbul.indymedia.org/news/2003/01/46.php http://www.istanbul.indymedia.org/ ---
Peace chorus of ten thousands
by imc İstanbul • Sunday January 26, 2003 at 05:37 AM
Anti-war report for Jan 25: More than 30,000 people said “No To War” in Mersin, where U.S. plans to use as a naval base. In Istanbul, Assembly of Hundreds formed by 2,000 persons from 20 profession organizations - each sending 100 representatives - issued a declaration at Lütfü Kırdar Hall on behalf of peace and life against a possible attack on Iraq.
At the meeting arranged by Labour Platform in Mersin tens of thousands of people came together and chanted slogans against the war as a united giant chorus. 77 organizations participated in the meeting. Music groups also gave concerts during the meeting. The walk before the meeting lasted for more than 1.5 hrs due to dense participation. Due signs were "NO TO WAR", "BREAD AND JUSTICE FOR ALL", "RIGHT TO LIVE IS SACRED, CANNOT BE MASSACRED", "UNITE AGAINST GLOBAL ATTACK", "THOSE WHO WANT WAR GO TO FRONTS", "ALL THE CHILDREN OF THE WORLD ARE OUR CHILDREN", "NOT WAR WASTE BUT TOYS ARE WHAT I WANT" and the following slogans were chanted: "DAMN U.S. IMPERIALISM", "DAMN U.S., INDEPENDENT TURKEY", "BUDGET NOT FOR WAR BUT FOR LABOUR", "DON'T SHUT UP, SHOUT, NO TO WAR" Talking at the meeting Civil Workers Confederation Spokesman Abbas Koluaçýk said "…If there is an account to be given, it is U.S. who has to give it first. Today we are asking this account as tens of thousands from Mersin… All detergents of the world would not suffice to clean the waste extracted by the U.S. We thus say 'Yankee go home!"
Assembly of Hundreds in Istanbul: In Istanbul, Assembly of Hundreds formed by 2,000 persons from 20 profession organizations - each sending 100 representatives - issued a declaration at Lütfü Kýrdar Hall on behalf of peace and life against a possible attack on Iraq. Ryan Amindson, who is among those who lost her/his relatives at S11 attacks, described a potential war in Iraq as the war of U.S. weapon traders abd urged everyone to "struggle to help U.S. people."
Cinema Workers Walked Against War: National Cinema Platform formed by seven cinema NGOs' members walked against war in Istanbul. Many directors, actors and actresses also participated in the action.
Peace chain in Ankara: Ankara Anti-War Platform arranged a demonstration against war by forming 'a peace chain' after a protest walk in Kýzýlay, Ankara.
Academicians urged to stand against war: 91 academicians from Gazi University Medical Sciences Faculty declared an announcement against war. In the statement "The right to live is sacred for everyone with no differences of race, religion, language, gender or the like and it is the most fundamental one. No one can and should attack any country in order to get cheap and abundant oil. " was said.
Peace letter from High School: 70 students from Ýslim Nihat Özyurt High School in Nizip, Gaziantep sent peace-calling letters both to U.S. President G W Bush and Iraq President Saddam Hussein.
Message to Bush from the stage: Antalya Municipality Theatre criticizes a potential war in the play that it is staging named Love Strike.
Protest from CHP members: CHP Adana Organisation arranged an anti-war demonstration to protest the upcoming/potential war.
Children washed for peace: Bolu Özel Melih College students protested attack preparations against Iraq via an exhibition they prepared. Many anti-war messages were hung on the 'wish-tree' founded in the exhibition.
Biji Aþiti: In Edirne 20 DEHAP members protested U.S. aggression with Kurdish signs saying "LONG LIVE PEACE" (Biji Aþiti).
Meeting in Sinop: 5.000 people came together in Sinop for a meeting against war.
Referandum from Emep in Elazið on war: Elazýð EMEP Organisation arranged a referendum on war in Elazýð PTT Square. Police did not attack the activists this time, unlike was the case in Istanbul.
Two actions in Þanlýurfa: Members of Peace Platform and Mazlum-Der arranged separate protest demonstrations in Þanlýurfa. Children were among the participants.
Chain in Denizli: 74 chambers, trade unions and NGOs forming Denizli Atniwar Platform, issued that they are against a war from Pamukkale travertens. A peace chain of 300 persons was arranged as well.
Anti-Bond action from Communist Party: Members of Turkey Communist Party arranged protest demonstrations against new Bond movie named "Die Another Day" in Eskiþlehir and Ýzmir. In the press statement the following was also said: "…Hollywood is in charge to legitimize Yankee's disgusting profit making attempts."
Meeting in Yalova: 100 people came together in an antiwar meeting in Cumhurþyet Meydaný, Yalova.
Signature campaign in Bursa: Mazlum-Der (Solidarity for the Oppressed and Human Rights Association) Bursa Branch wrapped up a signature campaign against a war. Children also participated in the campaign. Also in Bursa, Karacabey was arranged an antiwar meeting by Peace Platform.
War kills tourism as well: A meeting was arranged by Antiwar Platform and political parties in Çeþme, Ýzmir. "War Kills Tourism As Well" was the main theme of the meeting.
Panel in Kocaeli: Kocaeli University Medical Sciences Academician Prof. Dr. Nejat Gacar said "The reason of a potential war is nothing but U.S. and other hegemonic states' oil profit seeking." in the panel named 'Reflection of War to Helath and Labourers". Also through a joint statement issued in Kocaeli's Derince a potential war was protested.
Demonstration in border: 3,000 came together to protest war in the Syrian Border of Turkey, Reyhanlý, Hatay. Demonstrators chanted slogans emphasizing that U.S. use the theme of terror to grasp oil wells.
Meeting in Malatya: Trade unions and some political party members came together in Malatya to protest a war.
Concert in the peace meeting: At an antiwar meeting in Akhisar, Manisa - where some PMs from CHP also participated - a mini concert was arranged by Yaren Group.
War pollutes the environment: Ýskenderun Environmental Protection Ass. Head Þemsettin Eser decribed war to be "the biggest environment polluter."
Kütahya does not want a war: 16 NGOs came together to arrange an antiwar meeting in Kutahye. Mazlum-Der and Petrol-Ýþ spokesmen criticized U.S. based attack policies during the meeting.
Threat from Istanbul governorship to demonstrators: Istanbul Governorship sent a threat fax to No To War In Iraq Platform's planned massive press statement that will be realized in Istanbul on Jan 26th.
http://istanbul.indymedia.org/news/2003/01/43.php
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