The Torch is in the Hands of the Intellectuals

Translated: By Mutlu Civirioglu

October 28, 2002

Many intellectuals among them Yasar Kemal, Vedat Turkali, Murathan Mungan, Celal Baslangic, Edip Akbayram, Murat Celikkan, Perihan Magden, Sanar Yurdatapan called for support to Democratic People’s Party DEHAP, by a common declaration.

“You don’t need to be a DEHAP member to vote for DEHAP”

The intellectuals, writers, musicians, artists and human rights activists who organized a reception in Istanbul yesterday titled “YOU DON’T NEED TO BE DEHAP MEMBER TO VOTE FOR DEHAP” declared that they would vote for DEHAP because they support the notions of labour, peace and democracy and called people to vote for DEHAP.

The intellectuals replied the question “Why DEHAP? as follows: People who fix their eyes on our bread, attack our freedoms are coming and asking for our votes. In their Turkey, there is more unemployment; more taxes, more poverty and higher inflation and more oppression than anywhere else. In their Turkey, there is less freedom for workers, intellectuals, artists, and writers but also for all peoples of the country than anywhere else. Because, in their Turkey, there is slavery to the IMF and worship of war.

Against, their “Dark Turkey”; we want to rise our voices in this elections for an “Enlightened Turkey”, which is in favour of labour, peace and democracy. Against the blusterers of darkness, we want to shout out for a better future. For this reason, in November the 3rd elections, we are supporting DEHAP, who obtained the largest alliance with the left, by forming the “Labour, Peace and Democracy Block” and gave place to the (Kurdish) patriots, democrats, revolutionists and socialist candidates in its list. We believe that you don’t need to be a DEHAP member to support DEHAP. We invite the people who are in favour of labour, freedom and a democracy without any lies, to destroy the prohibitions of this “virtual democracy”. For the sake of labour, peace and for the future of democracy, we are saying, “My Vote is for DEHAP”.

“Because the honourable will enter the parliament”

The famous writer Vedat Turkali, who held the opening speech, told the guests why he would vote for DEHAP and why he wants people to vote for DEHAP too, with a short story. “A general goes to the East (Kurdish Regions), he sees a villager on a mountain and asks him: Who are you? I am Kurdish, the villager answers. The General says, come here and I tell you why you are Turkish, and asks the question one more time, and receives the answer, I am Turkish, through force from the villager. Turkali went on as follows after the short story; “I am voting for DEHAP, to not let people like the feudal pashas (generals) and aghas (feudal landlords) force people to say I am Turkish because I want freedom for everybody living in these lands. I am not a DEHAP member; but when the candidates of DEHAP enter the parliament, they will be the honourable MPs who will defend the rights of the working peoples’. My heart is with them. Let your hearts be with them too”.

“We had to break this circle”

The famous journalist and writer Celal Baslangic, who made an effort to bring intelectuals together stated, ”despite all the deficiencies we present our support for DEHAP for obtaining an alliance with the left, being the closest party to the threshold and the most importantly, for struggling for the representation of the Kurds in the parliament”. Baslangic said that their support for DEHAP was a proffesional obligation because all the newspapers and TV channels in Turkey had closed their doors to this party. Baslangic went on, “DEHAP is the sole party which expresses the aspirations of artists, writers, journalists through its Election Declaration. Therefore I invite everybody who supports democracy to stand with DEHAP.

Call from Yasar Kemal

The world famous writer Yasar Kemal expressed his feelings through a written statement, “I find this a very important development and I support the people who are coming together for democracy, peace and labour. I believe that to take this unity into the parliament will overcome the political chaos and will strengthen the culture of consensus.”

“We don’t have a threshold problem”

Former Chairman of the Human Rights Association ( IHD ) and the banned DEHAP candidate Akin Birdal made a speech on behalf of DEHAP during the reception. Birdal stated that they were very pleased for the support of intellectulas, writers and artists and added, “we don’t have a threshold problem, our aim is to recieve 13-14 % of the votes in the elections.

“Intellectulas made clear their stance”

The chairman of the People’s Democracy Party (HADEP), Murat Bozlak, stressed that the support of the intellectuals is very meaningful but not surprising. Bozlak noted that everyone who believes in freedom, peace and democracy shold take his place in the elections and today these intellectuals showed their stance. Bozlak thanked the intellectulas for their suppport.

Why DEHAP? It is very obvious

The famous writer and poet Murathan Mungan said, “Everybody in Turkey thinks that being from Mardin means voting for DEHAP, that is not true. I am voting for DEHAP because I am from Turkey and I am against discrimination. I will vote for DEHAP for the suffered pain and price paid.”

WHO SIGNED THE DECLARATION

Arif Damar (Poet) Asli Erdogan (Writer) Ast. Prof. Fuat Ercan (Acedemician) Ast. Prof. Gulhan Turkmen (Acedemician) Ast. Prof. Kurtar Tanyilmaz (Academician) Ast. Prof. Mehmet Turkay (Acedemician) Aytaç Arman (Actor) Berat Gunçikan (Journalist) Cahit Berkay (Musician From Mongolians) Canol Kocagoz (Caricaturist) Celal Baslangiç (Journalist And Writer) Celaleddin Yoyler (Writer) Cengiz Bektas (Poet) Cezmi Ersoz (Writer) Cihat Aral (Painter) Cuma Boynukara (Writer) Deniz Türkali (Artist) Derya Alabora (Theater Actress) Efkan Cecen (Musician) Engin Yorukoglu (Musician) Esber Yagmurdereli (Human Right Activist) Fatos Güney (President Of Yilmaz Guney Foundation) Ferhat Tunç (Musician) Figen Genc (Musician) Firat Baskale (Musician) Group Kardes Turkuler (Music Group) Gül Selçuk (Journalist) Guler Kazmaci (Journalist) Gulsen Tuncer (Theater Actress) Gulten Kaya (Music Director- Wife Of Ahmet Kaya) Haluk Levent (Musician) Hilmi Yaray?c? (Musician) Huseyin Karabey (Director) Huseyin Kuzu (Scenerasit) Ilkay Akkaya (Musician) Iskender Savasir (Writer) Ismail Gulgec (Caricaturist) Julide Kural (Theater Actress) Kazim Koyuncu (Musician) Mehmet Cagcag (Caricaturist) Mehmet Uzun (Writer) Menderes Samanc?lar (Actor) Metin Kahraman (Musician) Muammer Ketencioglu (Musician) Muge Iplikci (Writer) Murat Celikkan (Journaist- Writer) Murathan Mungan (Poet- Writer) Mustafa Koz (Poet) Nail Satligan (Acedamician) Nebil Ozgenturk (Film Producer) Necmiye Alpay (Journalist) Nejat Yavasogullari (Musician) Nevhiz Tanyeli (Painter) Nilüfer Akbal (Musician) Nur Surer (Actress) Orhan Iyiler (Writer) Perihan Magden (Journalist- Yazar) Prof. Dr. Sahika Yuksel (Academician) Ragip Duran (Media Critic- Writer) Rahmi Saltuk (Musician) Ramize Erer (Caricaturist) Roni Margulgez (Poet) Sanar Yurdatapan (Human Rights Activist) Senol Horozlu (Painter) Servet Kocakaya (Musician) Suavi (Musicin) Suna Aras (Poet) Sunay Akin (Poet) Suzan Samanci (Writer) Taner Ingür (Musician) Tuncay Akgun (Caricaturist) Vedat Türkali (Writer) Veysel Atayman (Writer- Translator) Yasar Kurt (Musician) Yildirim Turker (Writer) Yusuf Kurcenli (Film Director) Zehra Aral (Painter) Zeki Coskun (Journalist) Yasar Kemal (Writer)