Thousands of union strikers fill Ankara protest square

ANKARA - Hürriyet Daily News

Thousands of union members on strike voice their demands by chanting songs and holding banners, Turkish flags and Atatürk posters in Ankara. DAILY NEWS photo, Selahattin SÖNMEZ

Thousands of striking workers were in Ankara’s Kızılay Square on June 5 in order to protest over the crackdown on the Gezi Park unrest.

The Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions (DİSK), the Public Workers Unions Confederation (KESK), the Turkish Doctors’ Union (TTB) and the Union of Chambers of Turkish Engineers and Architects (TMMOB) as well as members of left-wing political parties and members of civil society organizations gathered in Kızılay, with other protesters in the square also supporting them.

Crowds voiced their demands by chanting songs, holding banners, Turkish flags and Atatürk posters. People in Turkey have reacted against the “I had more votes in ballots. Therefore I can do whatever I want,” understanding of democracy shown by the government, Secretary General of KESK Ismal Hakkı Tombul said, addressing the members of the union. Gezi Park protests have come up against government pressure, he said.

“People who have claimed their land, their water are accused of being bandits. People seeking freedom and democracy are described as marauders,” Tombul noted.

Tombul reiterated the Taksim Solidarity platform’s demand for law enforcement against governors and police chiefs of cities where the police carried out crackdowns on protests. The protests looked set to intensify with two major trade union federations, KESK and DISK, which together represent hundreds of thousands of public and private sector workers.