Seven parties in Turkey against the war in Ukraine: “We refuse the unjust war!”

An alliance of the left parties and organisations, HDP (Peoples’ Democratic Party), EMEP (Labor Party), EHP (Proletarian Movement Party), Halkevleri (People’s Houses), SMF (Federation of Socialist Councils), TİP (Workers’ Party of Turkey) and TÖP (Social Liberty Party), was formed in Ankara at the weekend. A statement by the coordination of the alliance on the war in Ukraine said: “While the world is struggling to heal the wounds of the pandemic, it is facing a great new threat of war. Capitalism is not interested in the bread or health of humanity, instead it is creating the basis for a new war in which peoples are slaughtered for energy and weapons monopolies. This is what the war and occupation that began with the escalation of the conflict between Ukraine and Russia in the Donbass is all about. We do not stand with Russia and the US-led NATO, which disregard the will of the peoples with their expansionism. We refuse unjust wars and the slogans of war. Our side is peace, our side is the same as that of the peoples who oppose war all over the world.

“Taking to the streets for world peace and against rearmament”

We salute the democratic forces that have taken to the streets in Turkey demanding ‘Peace Now!’. We call on everyone to take to the streets for world peace and against the global expansion of the war apparatus. Turkey should not be a party in a war and polarisation that puts fire to the fuse of the Third World War. We warn the AKP government, which collaborates with regional and international powers and has long been in an aggressive position of constant conflict with neighbouring peoples. Turkey must not be included in the NATO or Russian war bloc. The people who want peace will not allow this.

“Together against war and militarism”

War is the enemy of the workers who fight for equality and human life. The workers, the poor, the women and the youth are the ones who lose the most in war. All peoples, the workers of our country, must unite against war, militarism and chauvinism. War is also the enemy of democracy. It is the shortest road to dictatorship, autocracy and oligarchy. War means more displacement, assault and rape for women. War means destruction of the environment. It threatens all living beings, not just human beings.

“Solidarity is a weapon against war”

All forces fighting for democracy in our country must unite against war. It is an imperative necessity of the struggle for democracy to stop this war and prevent the slaughter of peoples and the barons of war from becoming even stronger. For this we must show the greatest solidarity.

“Withdraw troops now – preserve the right to self-determination”

In Donetsk, Lugansk and Ukraine, civilians are being killed, people are being displaced en masse. All war and occupation forces must be withdrawn from the region and the peoples’ right to self-determination should be recognised. Imperialism and fascism have reached a level of madness and desperation that even the use of nuclear weapons is apparently being considered. Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Vietnam and Halabja are historic warnings against such forms of criminal war. We will not stand by and watch! Now is the time to raise our voices against war and for peace and brotherhood!”