Turkish communists commemorated Mustafa Suphi: Mass events in Ankara, Istanbul and Izmir

With political events titled "TKP calls for a new Turkey", the Communist Party of Turkey (TKP) honored on Saturday 29 January the memory of its founder Mustafa Suphi. 

Events, with both political and cultural programs, took place in the country's three largest cities, Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir, with the participation of numerous party members and supporters, soL portal reported.

The event in Ankara was attended by the TKP General Secretary Kemal Okuyan who delivered a speech in memory of Mustafa Suphi and his 14 comrades who were killed in 1921. 

Turkish communists lead protests over price rises: "Stand up against expensiveness"

While the Turkish Lira collapses and the cost of living is rising day by day, demonstrators are taking the streets in Turkey's major cities in order to protest Erdogan government's economic policy.

The Communist Party of Turkey (TKP) is once again on the forefront of the protests, organizing rallies in Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir and other cities.

 “Our labor is exploited, our country is plundered. Our lives are being stolen with prices that change every day, with increasing bills. We have to resist for our life, for our future. Now is the time to stand up!”, reads a statement by the TKP which calls the working people to mobilize against the governmental policies. 

Big rally by TKP in Istanbul: Now is the time for socialism!

Photo: sol.org.tr

Under the slogan "Now is the time for socialism", thousands of people, men and women of every age, gathered at Kartal Square, Istanbul, in order to attend the rally organized by the Communist Party of Turkey (TKP). 

Speaking at the rally, TKP Secretary General Kemal Okuyan said among others: "We are a family, a growing family that fights against lies and exploitation. TKP is acting with great self-confidence at its 101st year, it is spreading and growing. Come and be a part of this struggle, if you are still not in the ranks of the TKP. We are the future of Turkey". 

Large political rally by Greek and Turkish communists held in Lesvos: Socialism is the future!

Under the slogan “In Greece and Turkey, the enemy is the same: NATO – governments – capitalism! Socialism is the future!”, hundreds of communists from the two countries participated in a large rally held on Saturday 10 July in Mytilene, Lesbos, 

 

The rally was organized within the framework of the 30th Anti-imperialist camp of the Communist Youth of Greece (KNE). 

"The real enemy isn't the neighboring countries, but capitalism, its monopolies and their imperialist alliances", underlined Dimitris Koutsoumbas, the General Secretary of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), during his greeting speech at Sappho Square in Mytilene. 

Greek and Turkish young communists to meet in Lesvos

Dimitris Koutsoumbas (KKE) and Kemal Okuyan (TKP)

Greek and Turkish young communists, members and friends of the KKE and the TKP, are going to meet on July 9-11 in the island of Lesvos (Lesbos), at the 30th Anti-imperialist Camp of the Communist Youth of Greece (KNE).

KNE organizes this year's Anti-imperialist camp in Mytilene, Lesvos, under the slogan: “In Greece and Turkey, the enemy is the same: NATO – governments – capitalism! Socialism is the future!”.

The two-day events will conclude with a large political rally on Saturday 10 July, at 8 pm, at Sappho's Square in Mytilene. A speech will be delivered by Nikos Abatielos, Secretary of the Central Council of KNE. 

Under the Shadow of the Revolution: Berlin, Warsaw, Ankara 1920 — Book by Kemal Okuyan

The International Relations Bureau of the Communist Party of Turkey (TKP) launched the latest book of Kemal Okuyan, the General Secretary of TKP, titled "Under the Shadow of the Revolution: Berlin, Warsaw, Ankara 1920" in English and published by Yazılama Editorial House.

Originally published in Turkish in 2019, this work does not only analyzes the achievements but also the shortcomings of the communist movement during the rise of the revolutionary wave in the early 20th century.

Turkey and Covid-19: Interview of TKP General Secretary Kemal Okuyan in "Rizospastis"

In an interview with the daily newspaper of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) "Rizospastis", the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Turkey (TKP) Kemal Okuyan commented on the Covid-19 pandemic, its effects on working-class and TKP's initiatives to protect the health and rights of the workers. Okuyan noted that they have built solidarity networks organized by the district organizations of TKP:

— What is the evolution of the Covid-19 pandemic in Turkey? How does the TKP judge the measures of the Erdogan government and the positions of other bourgeois parties?

Neo-Ottomanism: the political economy of contemporary Turkey

The following article, published in "Morning Star" newspaper on January 20th, under the title "Neo-Ottomanism: the political economy of contemporary Turkey", was written by the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Turkey (TKP) Kemal Okuyan:

After failure in Syria, the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is busy developing a second version of his neo-Ottoman project, which he first brought onto the political agenda in the second half of the early 2000s.

"We will change this city, this country": Mass gathering of TKP in Istanbul

The second of the events organized by the Communist Party of Turkey (TKP), calling for "hope, organizing, and celebrating to win 2020" was held yesterday in Istanbul Bostancı.  

It was the second of the events organized in three major cities with the title of the Istanbul Bostanci Showland. The first gathering was held in Izmir on Saturday.

Before the start of the event, resisting workers from many sectors, including Bimeks workers, textile workers, teachers of Doğa schools, construction workers, metal workers, and cafe workers, came to Bostancı Showland by shouting slogans and holding banners.

Scientific symposium on Socialism initiated by the Communist Party (TKP) held in Ankara

Photo: soL news.

An interesting symposium on Socialist future and planning began on Friday 6th December in Ankara, after an initiative by the Communist Party of Turkey (TKP). 

The meeting takes place under the auspice of the "Academy of Science and Enlightment" at the premises of the Middle East Technical University (METU), with more than 300 scholars, university students and workers attending the event.

The General Secretary of the Communist Party of Turkey, Kemal Okuyan, was among the speakers of the first day. Okuyan pointed out that the only goal of scientific work in capitalism is the maximalization of profits, because its organization is in the hands of monopolies. In socialism, he said, the organization of scientific work will be transformed into a large network of all the working people. 

21st International Meeting of Communist and Workers' Parties: The opening speeches by Dimitris Koutsoumbas and Kemal Okuyan

The 21st International Meeting of Communist and Workers' Parties (IMCWP) kicked off today, Friday 18 October, in Izmir, with the participation of 75 Parties from 61 countries. 

The hosting Parties are the Communist Party of Turkey (TKP) and the Communist Party of Greece (KKE). The meeting takes place between 18 and 20 of October.

Below, you can read the full transcripts of the opening speeches delivered by the General Secretaries Dimitris Koutsoumbas and Kemal Okuyan.

Kemal Okuyan: Who will be the target of S-400 missiles purchased by AKP government?

The General Secretary of the CC of the Communist Party of Turkey (TKP) Kemal Okuyan reflects on the issue of Turkey's purchase of S-400 missiles from Russia and the stance of communists on this political crisis:

Can a government develop domestic policy in a completely different direction from its foreign policy? Can a political power that is hostile to its own people defend the interests of the oppressed and the poor in the international arena and take a position against inequalities in the world?

Massive election rally in Istanbul organized by the Communist Party of Turkey

The Communist Party of Turkey (TKP) held a promising election rally in Istanbul's Kartal on Sunday, March 10, soL news portal reports. 

Thousands of people gathered in Kartal Square for the rally of the TKP participating in the elections chanting the slogans "If money has its reign, working people have their Communist Party" and "We are not in the same boat".

Turkish and Cuban communists honored the 60th anniversary of the Cuban Revolution

TKP General Secretary Kemal Okuyan (left) with
Juan Carlos Aguilera of the Communist Party of Cuba.

Together with the José Martí Cuba Friendship Association, a member of ICAP (Instituto Cubano de Amistad con los Pueblos), the Communist Party of Turkey organized a solidarity week with socialist Cuba and hosted a delegation of five, including representatives of the Communist Party of Cuba, the Cuban Parliament and ICAP. 

Responding to the call of TKP, thousands of friends of Cuba gathered in a series of events organized from the 25th of November to the 1st of December in three major cities of Turkey; Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir.

In Istanbul, under the title "Great Humanity is 60 years old", a large solidarity event was attended by hundreds of people, including representatives from the Communist Parties of Cuba (PCC) and Turkey (TKP). 

Kemal Okuyan: "The goal of communism is absolutely timely today"

On the occasion of the 101st anniversary of the 1917 Great October Socialist Revolution, soL news portal interviewed Kemal Okuyan, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Turkey (TKP):

On the 7th of November, 101st anniversary of the October Revolution will be celebrated. Is there anything left to celebrate?

USSR has been collapsed, that is, the country that is founded on the basis of the Revolution now does not exist. From that point of view, it might be thought that there is nothing to be celebrated, however, the Revolution is the greatest event of the 20th century whose remains cannot be wiped off from the earth and which still continues to inspire those who are oppressed all around the world. Today, in Russia, various rock bands are playing songs saying 'Towards New Octobers". 

The murder of Jamal Khashoggi highlights the hypocrisy of the imperialists

The alleged murder of Jamal Khashoggi, a Saudi journalist, in the Consulate of Saudi Arabia in Istanbul has made headlines. A Washington Post writer and a former newspaper editor in Saudi Arabia, Khashoggi had been an advisor of Prince Turki al-Faisal, former Saudi intelligence chief, and has also been close to billionaire investor Prince Alwaleed bin Talal. 

According to Middle East specialists, there are deeper subplots played into Khashoggi’s death — ties to Saudi intelligence and his relationship with the Islamist group known as "the Muslim Brotherhood". Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman branded the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organization. 

Turkish communist leader Kemal Okuyan talks about the economic crisis

Kemal Okuyan, Secretary General of the Communist Party of Turkey (TKP), elaborated on the ongoing economic crisis for soL news portal. 

Okuyan highlighted that crises are inevitable under capitalism, and that they result in further monopolization as well as the reallocation of funds from toiling masses to capital. 

Emphasizing that expecting the crisis to lead Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan or his AKP government to a political stalemate would be too optimistic, Okuyan pointed out that the political outcomes of the crisis would be determined by the struggle of the working class.

Erdogan's regime prohibits Communists from participating in June elections

According to soL international latest report, Turkey's top election authority has ruled the Communist Party of Turkey (TKP) will not be allowed to run in June 24 snap elections. 

Supreme Election Board (YSK) has also not approved the participation of the leftist ÖDP and EMEP. YSK, which acts according to the directives of the AKP government, announced that only 10 political parties were eligible to take part in the elections. 

Kemal Okuyan on imperialist aggression in Syria : "What you are watching is porn"

"Everything is apparent. Capitalism is dying and has no way out other than delaying its fate by gradually destroying humanity. Yes, we do not need any analysis. In fact, the existing world order survives by sucking the blood of the poor", writes, among other things, Kemal Okuyan, Secretary General of the Communist Party of Turkey (TKP) in a recent article regarding the developments on Syria. 

The article appeared on soL news portal and is titled "Don't mind analysing, what you are watching is porn", where Secretary Okuyan refers to the escalation of the imperialist aggresiveness on Syria as an indication of dying capitalism.

Don’t mind analysing, what you are watching is porn.

Kemal Okuyan- Don’t you understand the difference between patriotism and nationalism?

Kemal Okuyan, the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Turkey (TKP) and soL columnist, wrote an article on January 30 regarding the differences between patriotism and nationalism with reference to a famous patriotic Soviet song, 'Song of the Motherland', some lyrics of which were removed after the collapse of the Soviet Union in order to ignore the song's references to the equality of all people under socialism.

Don’t you understand the difference between patriotism and nationalism?

It was 1936. Racism and fascism were rising in Europe. Italy, Germany and Austria surrendered. The fascists declared a "holy war" against the republicans in Spain. Nationalism was polluting everywhere. Discrimination against the black people reached the highest level.