Trade Unionists all over the world will have been shocked at the carnage caused by suicide bombers at a recent peace rally in Ankara on 10th October. This rally was called by Trade Unions anxious to end the hostilities between the Turkish state and the Kurdish people. Over 100 people were killed and over 200 injured.

The minute the bomb exploded (courtesy of BBC news)

In a welcome initiative Brighton UCU sent the following message

Colleagues, comrades and friends,

Please accept our condolences on your losses, and our dismay that this could happen to a peaceful demonstration in the capital city of modern Turkey. Over 100 of your people are dead, and scores are wounded. We stand in solidarity with you at this time, and in support of peace and justice.

We note that your rally was called by trade unions, was unarmed and peaceful, and sought an end of hostilities between the Turkish state and the Kurdish people. We further note that the detonations were located close to where the People’s Democratic Party (HDP) was assembling. We conclude that this atrocity was designed, therefore, to undermine the unprecedented unity, achieved by the HDP in the recent election campaign, of sections of Turkish left-leaning opinion with the Kurdish liberation movement. Continue reading →