with known fascists.
uprising among class of Izmir.
panied by tanks and helicopters.
and fifteen coup workers Taris their part in the mass resistance.
dictatorship.
Can you tell us about the situation immediately prior to the coup?
When the Generals seized power on 12 September 1980 50,000 workers were on strike and another 100,000 were due to come out. Between 15 and 20 DeoDiC welcocle Kuneu Py yout iol vice das or mostyouthful victims of rightwing terror.
Turkish industry was runncapacity, and the Turkish parliament had been unable to elect a Head of State for six months.
It was up to the army, the only state institution that had remained remotely stable, step in — as it had twice before Turkey, from 1960-61 and 1971-73 - LU sual alilcc future for capitalism.
Parliament was dissolved, political parties banned, workers on strike ordered back IO WOrK.
A estime 15 ATOS were arrested largest army took swift control of one of NATO's most imporlall countues.
What is the significance of the coup in Turkey for worklabour movement Ireland — Time for Tory policies to gó' Scheduled take This vedt number things have widened the cracks Labour's slavish acceptance of Tory policies. First was MP Patrick Duffy's attack on what he called the 'me-tooism' between Foot and Thatcher on the hunger strike Soon after this, Tony Benn called for the withdrawal British troops and a policy which promoted the unification Since May, GLC Leader, Ken Livingstone has repeatedly condemned Mrs Thatcher's stance on the hunger strike as well as that of his own parliamentary readers ON 8 February 1980 the workers in the massive state-run spinning complex of Taris in Izmir, Turkey went on strike against their employers' attempts to sack dozens of trade union militants and replace them 'The Turkish police were joined by the army in laying seige to the plant for three weeks, sparking off an the shantydwellers and working Demonstrations and street were finally ended by 10,000 armed troops accomOn 28 May this year, nine months after the military montns arter une uprising, wele sentenced by tribunal to between 2 and 29 years imprisonment for This week is the first anniversary of the coup. Socialist Challenge asked a Turkish socialist recently returned from Turkey her assessment of one year of The coup in dramatically changed the international balance of forces in ine Ivaale zast. une country with the largest SOCASI organisations, most militant and working class, the politicised Kurdish movement in the region Support for the coup from the Western governments was immediate ine sick man et NATO' had been cured (for the time being), and the powerful Turkish working class ment was defeated.
the Soviet intervention Afghanistan and NICiUL instabilitv the to countries in the Uncle Sam is surely rubbing his hands with glee the swift successes of the Generals in Turkey. Here is a cop for NATO's southern flank.
Just why was resistance to the coup so slight?
The Turkish left was rumoured be Detrel armed Turkish army but the large left groups were bitterly among themselves.
Overwhelmingly composed of radicalised youth, organisations lacked any links with the working while politically they tended to tee for Withdrawal from Ireland are planning a major _conterence the theme place London on 28 play in solving the problems of the British presence in There have been similar developments in the union movement in the last six months. The Scottish sharply opposed the attitude HuneC kc anu mne Asocatoe granades Conncils reed tallll demands as the only solution to the H Block crisis.
Over 50 resolutions on Northern Ireland have been before this year's Labour Party conference.
The overwhelming majority of these are critical of the line pursued by the Labour leader. ship and call for a positive comsubstitute armed struggle for mass activity. large section of socICLy Wa. Weay creasing violence on the streets accepted cvilaoic. cven we comecut The was tied leaders. battles democratic 1977-79 had politically Turkish working class military an alternative in a dependent economy up to its neck in debts to imperialism.
So what is the character of the present regime?
Turkey The regime is a military dictatorship barbaric kind.
Turkey was are Carouru eight DISOLCS.
the been more have been sentenced to developed death.
most oppos 15 a. dances to the tune of Turkey's It is big capitalists turn, are only junior partners to Western capital.
Workers
been replaced move- Referee Committee' already imposed vicious wage cuts while the bank interest rate is a staggering 60 per cent. perla At the other economy is being 'opened' and Dallll Middle East, currency try and at the early altiall vestors.
What about the future of the junta?
Prospects for the junta are mixachieved political stability with than the relative ease; on the other hand their economic goal is to defray Turkey'ş enormous divided difficult.
Austerity
these won't real crisis — working people have to SU VC LUCHI class, Seat ana will be sure to resist tur. ther wage cutting. of Status trade Address.
Tory Return to: to the mitment to the withdrawal of British troops from Ireland.
This conterence provides an important opportunity to carry laid the debate on irelana into ine wider trade union and Labour ino velctt leading Trish and British trade It will unionists.
guerrilla Turkish of the in as lil Turkish working class CHOrSE But Bulent Ecevit's socialgovernment from Culi ictery disarmed the Social democracy just isn't of a particularly Already there 100,000 political youths have executed while hundreds They have silenced all which who,. their organisation has 'democratisation' by Which has 'High the comyculioll This will time the restrictions lifted lists foreign in- capable' each region.
is to construct Ón the one hand, they have which will civilian nothing but firm tions.
measures alone economic the junta?
If the wans to l agree to sponsor the conterence Delegates attending conference.
Labour Movement Organising Committee, 1 North End Rd, London W14.
urge ference Denis Canavan Roberts MP Stuart addressed Thorne MP Richard Turkish police in action And in the long term?
In one month the process of begins with ot somelning called a constituent assembly.
CursIsI
members plus the five-man jun• forty of these are pičked directly by the junta while the rest are selected by them from LEUSIWOrENV and persons to be presented by the governor of Undoubtedly the intention La panoply of harsh and restrictive legislation Stances guaranice Inal any will be administrators of repressive state instituWhat can the labour movement in the European countries do to help bring down assist dictatorship goes, go circum- campaign Conference on Ireland you get delegated from your TU branch/CLP. Sponsors for the coninclude Joan Maynard MP, Clive Soley MP MP, Ernie Bob Parry MP, HO ana Star Sid Bidwell MP Balfe MEP, Peter Hain LCC (personal capacity).
Friday 11 September Picket of Turkish Ambassador's Residence and Chilean Embassy (with Chile AntiFascist Committee)
NW1. 5.30-7.30pm Saturday 12 September Picket of Downing Street 'Save the life of Dogan Tarkan' 11am Rally Against Dictatorship NUFTO Hall, Jockey Fields, London WC1 2pm own choosing leaving its mark permanently ana prominently on any future Repressive institutions do go away, they are kicked out by the class struggle.
The Turkish working class has a long struggle ahead of it It is up to us outside Turkey to developing broadest possible international of solidarity British troops should get out Devonshire Street, isolate the junta Despite the bloody record of the applause for Turkey's safe return to the Free echoes editorials across Europe.
The Turkey Solidarity Campaign is organising a week of action to mark the first anniversary of the coup. The cam paign can be contacted at BM Box 5965, London WCI. Socialisi Challenge 10 Sapienoer I inpe 3
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a new initiative THE Labour Committee on Ireland and the Commit-
November its aim is to widen the debate on Ireland within the labour movement and to urge that the Labour Party and trade unions have a positive role to
r mad this will be debts
The Theatre 309 Regent St,