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Tag Archives: Turkey
Greece, Albania, Italy: The struggle against the construction of the Trans Adriatic Pipeline
TACKLING ENERGY
The struggle against the construction of the Trans Adriatic Pipeline
(TAP) through Greece – Albania – Italy
Pamphlet, A5, 48 pages
“They protest against the energy that flows under their house, but inside of the house they want it!” yells the stuffy national-popular bourgeois in the spring of 2017 seeing what’s upsetting a small village in Puglia and spreading out to the rest of Italy. Fights erupted between police and opponents in front of the future construction site of the TAP
(Trans-Adriatic Pipeline), the new gas pipeline which will link up Europe with the endpoint in Turkey of the Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline that’s connectect with the gas fields in the Caspian Sea. The new gas pipeline will cross the north of Greece into Albania, where it will continue through the Adriatic Sea to finally reach the shores of
Lecce in Italy, where it will connect with the existing gas transport network.
The TAP project, as most other energy projects, are considered of utmost “strategical” importance by power. A fair enough reason for enemies of power to have a look at the ongoing struggle against this TAP, put together this collection of texts from anarchist comrades active in the conflict and broaden up the horizons as to favour direct intervention
against everything that keeps the energy of power flowing.
You can download the pamphlet here
Turkish prisons: Osman Evcan on hunger strike again
Vegan anarchist prisoner Osman Evcan was recently exiled (aka transferred) from Kandıra prison No.1 to Silivri L-type closed prison No.6, and has suffered repression such as naked body search, cameras in cells, ban on letters and visitors, and blocking of vegan food. He has undertaken hunger strike since February 22nd 2016 to resist this oppression. Help spread the word!
via ABC İstanbul
in French
Thessaloniki: Solidarity with vegan anarchist prisoner Osman Evcan, on hunger strike since 10/11
Strength to veganarchist Osman Evcan
Osman Evcan, who was born in 1959 in Samsun, is an anarchist prisoner and has been in a Turkish prison for 23 years. In 1992 he was sentenced to life imprisonment under the charges of manslaughter, robbery and participation in a leftist terrorist group. He was also imprisoned for 9 years from 1980 until 1989.
“To explain who I am, why I am in prison and how I adopted a vegan living culture, I am writing this letter to those who have supported my demand about my nutrition in prison. Arrested in 1992 on charges of ‘membership to an illegal organization’, I was sentenced to life imprisonment in connection with the Article 146/1 of Turkish Penal Code. The reason for the life sentence was the murder of an organization member upon the central decision of the organization due to his disobedience to organizational discipline. Although I personally don’t approve this act, I was involved in it in connection with the circumstances of that time. I evaluate this act as a murder.”
In 2003 Osman became an anarchist, a vegan and a supporter of animal liberation movements. His first high impact act was his hunger strike in 2011, demanding that vegan food is available in prisons, which lasted 42 days. During his strike, anarchists, animal and earth liberation advocates from all around the world and Turkey supported Osman’s struggle for prisoners’ access to vegan food. After 42 days of hunger strike the Turkish government gave in and made regulations for vegan and vegetarian prisoners. According to his comrades’ letter, prisoners’ demands for vegan food will be met as long as they are covered by substinence allowance. After this victory, the Turkish prisoner continued to participate in the anarchist struggle from within the prison. He supports the LGBT movement, animal liberation, women’s rights and anti-imperialist struggles. For 3 years he went on hunger strikes protesting against the animal slaughter during the annual “feast of sacrifice” and wrote articles in defence of nature and about the multifaceted identities of people in society.
Today he is in Kocaeli, in a maximum security prison. After 33 days of hunger strike in June 2015 he took vegan supplies one step further and gained the right to receive vegan food from comrades and his friends and family. However, the prison administration violated his gained right for arbitrary reasons. They banned him from receiving vegan food forcing him on a hunger strike yet again. Osman continues his indefinite hunger strike from November 10th 2015. On his 16th day of strike after the elections in Turkey and the approval of the hegemony of Islamic fascism of AKP, the fascist regime is revealed in the techniques of oppression in the prisons, and the pressure on the anarchist prisoner increases and his access to vegan food is blocked. The technique he is subjected to states “obey or die”. Nevertheless he is determined to continue his hunger strike until – as he himself says – absolute freedom.
What is clear through every political prisoner’s or imprisoned struggler’s case is that the states and governments on an international scale are implementing common practices. The intensification of repression, the development of maximum security prisons, the solitary confinement policies, the prisoners’ psychological exhaustion and the total subjugation of their bodies are long standing tactics of domination aiming to weaken every idea of freedom and every need to claim it. The struggle of the Turkish anarchist is a struggle in defence of every struggling eco-anarchist and their demands. We should eradicate the false assumption that this scenario can’t happen in the Greek territory and prepare the resistance against this possibility, showing our internationalist solidarity and fight for the abolition of every prison, every cell/cage.
We stand in solidarity with the hunger strikers who, by putting their bodies forward as barriers against authority, they claim ground in the struggle for total liberation.
Until the destruction of all prisons, factories, laboratories of animal exploitation and industries that destroy the Earth. Until the death of the state and the dominant civilization, no one and nothing is free.
Uncompromising struggle for Total Liberation and Anarchy
Black/Green Anarchist Collective
in Greek as we received
Chania, Crete: Banner in solidarity with the hunger striker Osman Evcan, vegan anarchist imprisoned in Turkey
The banner reads:
Solidarity with anarchist Osman Evcan (A)
Vegan hunger striker in Turkish F-type prison cells
On November 23rd 2015, we hung a banner in solidarity with Osman Evcan, who is on hunger strike in Turkish F-type prison cells. This summer Osman, a vegan anarchist held in a maximum security prison, put up a multiday fight by undertaking hunger strike, until his demand to be able to receive food items from people in solidarity, so he can have a decent diet, was granted. A few days ago, however, the humanguards vengefully forbade him to receive vegan food items, forcing him to go once again on hunger strike.
Solidarity with Osman Evcan
Arson and fire to every prison
For total liberation and Anarchy.
Basel, Switzerland: In memory of the killed comrades in the Suruç massacre
In memory of the killed comrades in the Suruç massacre and in solidarity with the struggling comrades in Turkey and everywhere we hung two banners in Basel, Switzerland!
Greece: Elias Karadouman released from prison, despite consecutive obstacles thrown in his way by state authorities in order to afflict him
Some days ago, the combative prisoner Elias Karadouman – participant in the Network of Imprisoned Fighters (DAK) – was faced with the threat of deportation.
After 10 years of incarceration in the Greek galleys, Karadouman was able to sign his prison release papers on May 18th, 2015. However, he was kept in Corfu prison until June 15th. That day, just minutes before attaining his freedom, he was arrested by State Security officers and taken to the Corfu police department on the grounds that the authorities had ordered his immediate deportation to Turkey, his country of birth. Imprisoned at the police station for days, he refused to undergo deportation proceedings – given that he grew up and still lives in Greece – and instead, he presented legal documents and court decisions that deem any attempt to deport him unlawful.
Elias Karadouman was finally released on June 24th and remains in Greece, where he can meet up with comrades from whom he was separated by prison walls for ten whole years.
Until the demolition of the last prison left standing.
Istanbul: Anarchist solidarity to the hunger strikers in Greek prisons
Today [21.3.2015] in Kadıköy, we marched in solidarity with prisoners in Greek prisons, who have been on hunger strike since March 2nd and who fast to their death. During the march, we chanted slogans: “Destroy Prisons, Free the Prisoners”, “Wage Slavery System will end with anarchy”, “Greetings to the comrades who are fighting and have fallen”, “Insurrection Revolution Anarchy”. This action finished in a peaceful way, but if something happens to our comrades, we’ll turn the streets to hell.
Long Live Anarchy!
Shadowlesses (Gölgesizler)
via Sosyal Savaş! | in Spanish, Serbo-Croatian
Greek prisons: Political prisoners from Turkey join the hunger strike
On March 11th communists from Turkey who are incarcerated in Greek prisons began a rolling hunger strike in support of all the demands of other political prisoners who are on hunger strike since March 2nd.
İstanbul: Caferağa Mahalle Evi, squatted community centre in Kadıköy, evicted
Caferağa Mahalle Evi declaration about the eviction and evacuation of the house:
On the 1st of December 2014 we were notified that Caferağa Solidarity’s Mahalle Evi – where we’ve been living since January 2014 – would be evicted on Friday the 5th of December, at 10am, due to an inquiry of the General Directorate of National Property (Real Estate/Milli Emlak), with the assignment of the district governorship and by execution of the police forces.
As soon as we heard this news, we tried our best to reach you through all means of communication. We used social media, email, phone calls as well as posters, banners, videos and texts. We called for a solidarity gathering with the squatted community centre on the 5th of December, at 9am.
From a conversation that one friend had with local authorities, we learned that the state forces couldn’t take action and evict the building on behalf of the neighbourhood, also due to Istanbul folks’ response and reaction. People claimed the building.
Consequently, we called the district governorship asking for an appointment. The district governor Birol Kurubal responded to our request by sending police forces to the Mahalle Evi at around 6.30-7am of December 9th in order to evacuate the building.
During this operation, which we may call “raid at dawn”, one of our friends was taken from their house by force, mistreated and brought to the Mahalle Evi. Hacı Şükrü Street and the surrounding streets were blocked by anti-riot police. Residents were not allowed to enter not only the Mahalle Evi but also their neighbourhood.
Police forces entered the house without the presence of a law agent. They (somehow) took out all the furniture, equipment and more than one thousand books that were collected over the past months. They (unnecessarily) tore apart all archive documents, such as posters and notes. Upon leaving the Mahalle Evi, they welded the historical exterior door and the metal door after that, in order to shut the building to the community. They went away without leaving behind any formal document or seal that would indicate the legality of their act.
We were not able to witness the evacuation, but their vandalism (exposed on social media with “before and after” photos) was visible through the ground-floor windows. Nobody has entered the building after the eviction, so we don’t know the extent of damages caused to people’s effort.
Meanwhile, starting from the early morning hours, locals, Kadıköy residents, İstanbul folks, Turkish-born and world citizens, many individuals and groups declared solidarity with us. On the same day, in the evening hours, people gathered at the street where the Mahalle Evi is located to demonstrate against the repressive attitude and non-negotiating approach of governor Birol Kurubal and state forces, and staged a protest action which included music and dance.
During the demo, as solidarity group, we tried our best to prevent police intervention that could have occurred violently against the crowd, such as happened to the building earlier. We stood for all the words we have spoken, all the things we have done. The Mahalle Evi’s door was opened partway, but to our knowledge nobody entered the house.
For us, the Mahalle Evi is not an issue of “property strife” as the State wants to see it. While the State abandoned the building and left it in disuse for several years, the house evolved into a “common space” that opened doors to everybody who desired to use it.
We have no doubts about the rightfulness and legitimacy of what we have done. All the brave hearts that stood by us and defended the Mahalle Evi proved it once more.
We thank everyone who supports us. This struggle does not belong only to us, but also to all people that are eager to defend common and public spaces.
And this process is not over yet. Caferağa Solidarity will continue its activities in the Caferağa neighbourhood. The community house has been shut to the locals. But the ideas that have kept that house alive are expanding with the participation of those who support us.
We know that the doors that were brutally shut by the authority are going to be opened with solidarity and struggle, until freedom.
Like we all together say, this is just the beginning. Keep on fighting!
December 11th, 2014, Caferağa – Kadıköy/İstanbul/Turkey/Earth
İstanbul: DAF and other groups salute comrade Nikos Romanos
Today, we were in streets for Alexis who was murdered by Greek State and for Nikos Romanos who is in hunger strike for 26 days against the repression of the same state.
Today, we were in streets for our sisters and brothers who has been murdered while resisting in Greece, in Ferguson, in Mexico, in Kobanê.
Today, we were in streets for Berkin, Ali İsmail, Ethem, Arin, Kader, Suphi Nejat.
While states are killing our sisters and brothers in whole over the world; we, revolutionary anarchists were in the streets with our anger to states, capitalists, companies and murderers. Even police held up our way and attacked us with their plastic bullets, gas bombs and batons; they couldn’t achieve to suppress our anger. We resisted with our black flags while rising out our slogans.
This passion for freedom is getting bigger today; the anger for the ones’ that has been murdered by state flare up our riot.
Revolutionary Anarchist Action salutes comrade Nikos Romanos’ and his resistance.
Communique:
Today, with all the rage against powers that seizes lives, with the conviction to a free world, the black flags are waved all around the world. Against companies that exploit our labour to profit more; against states that murders many of us in the name of the borders they drew; against all powers that fill their pockets with our lives that they destroy, making us poorer and making the rich richer; rebellion is alive in the rage of anarchism. The rage against bosses, companies, murderers and states, is propagating in full flood with the black flags. The sorrow of being neglected, disappeared and murdered, is now turning into anger, and the street are burning with the rage all over.
Exactly 6 years ago, in Exarchia neighbourhood of Athens, murdered because he was an anarchist, at the age of 16, was Alexandros Grigoropoulos. Murdered by a cop, with the bullet from his gun, because he transformed his anger into rebellion and went on the street, calling to account for the lives being seized, because he didn’t obey the powers and he was resisting at all costs for freedom. On the day of December 6, 2008, The bullet that ran into Alexis’ chest turned in the fire of revolt in the streets. Even though the murderers continued their attacks, the rage against the ones that silenced a heart that was beating for freedom, burned the streets into flames in Athens, in Thessaloniki, in Istanbul and everywhere.
Nikos Romanos, who was with Alexis the day he was murdered and who also had the same conviction for a free world, is now captivated because he is an anarchist. Romanos is captivated because he was not silent against injustice, because he didn’t give up despite state oppression, because with the same conviction of his murdered comrade, he kept on the struggle against all powers. The ones who think they can terminate this struggle by murdering Alexis, are now captivating Nikos hoping to stop another heart that is beating with the conviction for anarchism. Just like in 2008, the streets are filled with anger against the state that continue to attack Romanos with all its isolation, oppression and torture. As Romanos continues his hunger strike since 10th of November, other anarchist comrades in captive also start hunger strikes in solidarity; universities are occupied; and the same voice echoes in burning streets, in cells resisting captive: “As long as we are alive and we breathe, long live anarchy!”
The powers that murdered Alexis in 2008 and that captivate Nikos today think that they can silence the rage against injustice that is growing in every part of the world. They continue to captivate, attack and murder under this illusion.
In Mexico, 43 students resisting politics of the powers seizing their future, had disappeared by the hand of state; and their bodies are found in mass graves after many days. Just because they are black, the people targeted by fascist repression of the power, become the targets of bullets shot by the police; and the ones who resist being taken to custody are strangling and murdered by the police. Many of our brothers like Berkin, Ethem Ali, Ahmet who resisted for their lives, were murdered by the state police. While the ones resisting in Kobanê to create a new life, like Arin, like Suphi Nejat, like Kader, are murdered by the gangs, military and soldiers of the state; the ones who are on the streets in every corner of the region embracing Kobanê resistance, like Hakan, like Mahsun, are the targeted by the murderer police of the same state…
Wherever the ones who call to account for injustice, who resist to win their lives, who struggle with their conviction of freedom are on the streets; there is the address for oppression, torture and massacre. The oppressors who think that they can discourage the ones who don’t obey them by captivating, kidnapping or murdering; a cry of freedom raised in one place is echoed from every direction. From the cells of Athens to Mexico, from the streets of Ferguson to Istanbul, to the free lands of Kobanê, the conviction for a new world is propagating in full flood. Now, this passion for freedom is getting bigger; the rage for the murders is flaring up the fire of revolt in hearts.
This revolt is against the powers that seize our lives, that intend to destroy our freedom, that murder us. This revolt is against capitalism and the states. This revolt is against all kinds of captivity.
With this revolt for freedom in our hearts, anarchism is growing in every part of the world.
And our struggle is growing from one corner of the world to another, carried by the waves of the black flags.
Long live Revolution, long live anarchy!
Revolutionary Anarchist Action (DAF)
High School Anarchist Action (LAF)
Anarchist Youth
Anarchist Women
MAKI
TAÇANKA
İstanbul: ELF/Insurrectionary Solidarity Faction sabotaged a road roller for Nikos Romanos
On the night of December 1st, 2014, we broke the windows of a road roller and cut its cables in the Kocasinan district of Istanbul, with the intention of showing our solidarity to anarchist prisoner Nikos Romanos, who is on hunger strike for 26 days, and then to Yannis Michailidis, Andreas-Dimitris Bourzoukos and Dimitris Politis, who have started a hunger strike in support to Nikos Romanos in Greek prisons. Then we spray-painted some slogans on a wall close to the target: “Nikos Romanos” and “Fire to the prison cells”.
With this small action, we also salute warriors who are fallen while not giving way to ISIS butchers, we salute rebels who refuse to stay as protestors, then fight against cops and attack to the targets of repression and exploitation in Mexico, France, Ferguson and Santiago, we salute ALF-ELF cells who increase actions and attacks in Istanbul and around, we salute the insurrectionaries who got bored of being armchair revolutionaries, who got bored of insurrectional vaporings and fetishism of organisation, and of losing their anarchic imagination in the swamp of liberal opposition.
Until freedom of Nikos Romanos and all anarchist prisoners of war around the world…
Solidarity…Attack…İnsurrection…
Until Total Liberation…
Social War!
Earth Liberation Front (ELF) / Insurrectionary Solidarity Faction
Source: Sosyalsavas.org
Istanbul: Social War’s (insurrectional anti-civ magazine) 4th issue is out now!
there are translations from alfredo m. bonanno, enzo martucci, kaczynski, 325, crimetinc., nestor makhno comics, and there is an interview with kurdistan anarchist forum about the situation in kurdistan, iraq and syria… and there are some articles about current issues and civilization, and of course actions
we need all kind of support about distribution and also about content. you can write articles, send your local action news and photos. contact us at sosyalsavas[at]riseup.net
ALF Istanbul action for World Vegan Day
(we received this partial translation of an anonymous report:)
November 1st should be an action day for animal liberation, not a partying day for veganism.
On November 1st, 2014, at around 2am, we did a series of actions at the European side of Istanbul: two trucks that transport dead chickens were sabotaged, tires blown, front windows broken, locks glued.
“Viva animal liberation” slogans were also spray-painted in the same neighbourhood. Another fast-food restaurant nearby was attacked, windows smashed. . . .
November 1st should be a day of action, not a day of celebration.
Every day action, every day ALF!
Viva animal liberation!
Down with speciesism!
Everything for our animal friends!
Freedom to animals, humans and the earth!
“Iraq–Syria–Kurdistan”
A first-person report received on October 12th, 2014.
I wanted to share some knowledge about what’s happening and what happened around here.
IS (Islamic State) attacks to Kobane city in Rojava (means West Kurdistan in Kurdish) as everybody knows. But I want to explain why there is this organization Islamic State, how it is founded. So maybe everything can be clearer.
We can say history of ISIS begins with Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi, who organizes the strongest resistance against USA and Coalition troops in Iraq. Actually he is from Jordan, city called Zarqa, so he took this name “Zarqawi”.
In Jordan he was in a Salafi and jihadist organization and he was imprisoned with his comrades because of this. Why Jordan state doesn’t want a Salafi-jihadist organization? 1- Salafi organizations against Human Laws (Constitution), just the Allah Laws (Quran) must be applied. So also they are against democracy and election. 2- Jihadist organizations against Western Block and Israel. But Jordan is the most domesticated collaborator of the Western Block and Israel.
After he went out from prison he didn’t want to get in the Jordan prisons, so he moved to Afghanistan to train militants. But in 2001 USA invaded Afghanistan so he had to move with his comrades to Iraq to organize a Salafi organization in Iraq.
Slowly slowly they got contacts etc. And on 2003 USA also invaded Iraq and gave power to Shia power, so Shia’s stopped resisting immediately. And Sunni’s resistance started.
Why formed a great hatred between Shia and Sunni? It is not just because of religious practices. It was always different, why now? We need to look to invasion and how USA changed the balances. Who resists most was them (Salafists who come from Sunni regions) and old Baas (Saddam, and also Sunni) soldiers-militants.
For the last 10 years (2004-2014) Sunni cities, villages was bombed by the Coalition; Salafist Sunnis was in the USA prisons like Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo… So why now there is this ISIS we have to look to these facts. And why for the last 10 years it turned to a ‘Religious Sect Wars’ between Shia and Sunni.
Zarqawi was a guy full of anger and a militant. He had also this hatred against Shia. He organized lots of bomb attacks in markets of Shia neighbourhoods and mosques. They don’t recognize western values like ‘Humanism’, ‘Civilians’. To critic them, do not critic with these values. Why are they killing-torturing those who are irrelevant to cruelty? Why are they killing irrelevant Ezidi, Christian, Alawi people just because they ARE? This is the problem. Kill who supports the cruelty with his money, weapon or knowledge. Continue reading “Iraq–Syria–Kurdistan”
Bağcılar, Istanbul: Earth-destroying excavator sabotaged
Responsibility claim in turkish/english via sosyal savas. Here in greek.
Source: istanbul indymedia
ALF in Istanbul: Further actions in 2014
April 30th, 2014, Istanbul: 18 ducklings and 18 chicks were liberated from a street peddler who was trying to sell them in a tiny box. The action was claimed by the Animal Liberation Front, in solidarity with vegan anarchist prisoner Osman Evcan.
July 28th, 2014, Istanbul: 2 rabbits were freed from a pet shop in Beyoğlu-Taksim area. An ALF cell claimed the action against industry and civilization, stating that being vegan is not enough since animals are being held in cages, tortured and slaughtered all over the world, and this violence should be stopped.
July 30th, 2014, Istanbul: 3 milk trucks were sabotaged in a busy street of a district in the European side of the city. Front tires were slashed, and door locks and load locks were glued. Residents realized what went on, so ALF activists hurriedly moved away. However, while escaping, they threw stones at the windows of a fast food store.
ALF in Istanbul: At least 4 fish freed, fish cage damaged
An anonymous report at Sosyalsavas.org (English text included).
Istanbul: Özgür Ortak Alan 1903
Below is the proclamation which was distributed on March 22nd, 2014, during the squat attempt in the district of Beşiktaş, Istanbul [‘we’ for buildings; ‘you’ for people]:
I came into being of stone and wood in the year 1903. I am a product of human thinking and effort.
I have been through many things.
Workers’ labor, kids’ hustle and bustle and laughter, lectures of teachers… Afterwards came my desertion by people, my damp walls and leaking ceilings…
There came a time when you abandoned me and broke the bonds that you had once formed with me. With time, you broke the bonds among us as well. With each passing day, you built a new wall between us. You have surrounded us with fences.
You have imprisoned us. Why?
Because you have broken apart from each other. You have fallen into doubt and fear. Some of you even fed yourselves by playing games on us; people who were selfish and infected with the disease of always wanting more.
During the 40 years that you are not here, I have been watching the growth of plants in my garden and the lives of mice, spiders, lizards, birds, and cats.
Recently I have noticed that you began to form bonds with each other again. You have overcome your fears. You were right about your doubts.
I overheard Taşkışla telling the story of what happened on the grave of the deceased Topçu Kışlası artillery barracks, where Gezi Park is now located.
You were very loud. Your voice echoed at my rooms, which you may call empty. The voice of your streets. I was able to hear you.
I am aware that you need us in order to develop the bonds you have formed with each other. We also need you in order to keep standing.
Your past and our past have reconnected me and you at this point.
It is time to wake up. Both for us and for you.
I am glad I was able to provoke you. Welcome.
ÖOA
Istanbul, Turkey: From the day of Berkin Elvan’s funeral
Berkin Elvan, who sustained severe head injury from a gas canister in June 2013, died on March 11th, 2014. The boy’s funeral was held on March 12th in the Feriköy cemetery in Istanbul’s Şişli district. Berkin had only turned 15 while still in coma.
The police attacked the massive crowd that demonstrated in Şişli for Berkin’s funeral.
During post-funeral resistance in the neighbourhoods of Pangaltı and Kurtuluş, banks were also destroyed and the ruling AKP election office was wrecked and set on fire.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tbD5TCg71I
On same night in Greece, people gathered in remembrance of Berkin in Athens, at the Exarchia’s location where 15-year-old Alexis Grigoropoulos was shot dead in December 2008; a slogan on the street reads:
Berkin Elvan, 15-year-old dead
ACAB (All Cops Are Bastards)
For the brothers and sisters who left too soon ((A))
Turkey: Squat attempt in Beşiktaş, Istanbul
On Saturday noon, March 22nd, 2014, a group of nearly 50 people from the anarchist milieu and different left tendencies gathered at the central Eagle Statue in the district of Beşiktaş (on the European side of Istanbul) to jointly occupy a former Greek school, which is located nearby, and has been standing empty for many decades already. The activists intended to liberate the space and turn it into a non-commercial social centre.
Their attempt was met with negative reaction from conservative residents, as well as immediate aggression by fascists, who carried wooden sticks and harassed the group as soon as they entered the building. The police rushed also to the spot, and of course stood promptly at the side of the fascists, asking the activists to leave. The fascists were driven back eventually. However the group gave up the space, after the homeowner appeared out of nowhere and suddenly seemed to have very big plans for the building…
No injuries or detentions were reported.
Turkey: ALF liberated 4 rabbits from a pet shop in İstanbul
On March 2, 2014, people gathered in Kadıköy district of İstanbul to protest against the changes in the Animal Protection Law proposed by the government, which includes the exploitation of stray animals as test subjects, and so on.
ALF activists who were among the crowd gathered in front of the Başkent Pet Shop in Kadıköy, where four rabbits condemned to live in very poor conditions were rescued and emancipated.
These living beings who get transferred by luggages get murdered when they’re not sold and their cuteness is over.
This is also a call to direct action, and to ask for support from our friends from the ALF, ELF, activists for the freedom of animals and nature. We dedicate this action to all the species about to be ravaged in the destructions of the Northern Forests of İstanbul.
We vehemently condemn the use of stray animals as test subjects for science and industry, just as we oppose the exile of strays to concentration camps. And if necessary, we will respond violently!
If not now, when?
If not you, who?
source: sosyal savas
Turkey: Anti-government protest on February 25th, 2014 in Kadıköy, İstanbul
The demo started at 7pm. Thousands of people gathered around the bull sculpture in Kadıköy. Demonstrators blocked the road for a few hours. At one side of the road were two TOMAs (antiriot control vehicle), and cops at the other side; a huge banner reading ‘hükümet istifa’ (government resign) was unfolded. More protesters were at the Bahariye pedestrian street. Some of the protesters, mostly communists and kemalists, left the demonstration area after few hours. Communists headed to their party office, while kemalists went to their middleclass houses. Before they left, barricades were already set on fire along the Bahariye street. The area was crowded. Instead of gathering all together and marching one direction, resisters were spread along the Bahariye street. At many different points along and around the Bahariye, barricades were set on fire. Bank windows were smashed, ATMs damaged. Messages against corrupt Tayyip and his son were painted on the walls, shop windows and billboards. (The protest broke out in response to recently leaked phone conversations from the 17th and 18th of December 2013 between Turkish prime minister Tayyip Erdogan and his son Bilal, that appear to capture them talking about where to hide or how to get rid of dirty money…)
Next day (26.2.2014), same hour, another demo took place in Taksim, İstanbul.
It should be noticed that local elections are going to be held in Turkey on the 30th of March 2014…
Some background information:
Two powers that joined their authority to become the government are currently at war. These two powers are Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s ruling AK Party and Fethullah Gülen’s Cemaat. Cemaat is a religious group that organized secretly, first with student houses. They opened countless ‘dershane’ (private establishments preparing students for various exams) across Turkey. They also opened many schools and universities all around the world, especially in Turkic countries in Middle Asia and Muslim countries in Africa. In short, they brainwashed young people in these places and created their manpower and brainpower for their empire. Then they placed their men at crucial positions (assignation and intelligence) in the police organization. By the time Turkish State’s police realized this it was already too late. They tried to get rid of them but were not successful. Cemaat was also organized very well around the Muslim companies. They also had the secret support of US government, further establishments and NGOs. They became a superpower that can affect not only the incidents in Turkey but also the Middle East; one of the secret hand of the empire, and a very powerful one. They supported AK Party in the elections, so Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his gang became the rulers of Turkey. For 10 years they were getting along very well. They established many businesses; they earned incredible amounts of money together. Cemaat became more and more visible as they gained more power. Then Tayyip Erdoğan became a megalomaniac day by day and forgot how much power he owes to the Cemaat. And he started to do things that would eventually hurt Cemaat’s network. The dispute was first visible with an incident of MIT (National Intelligence Organization of Turkey) assistant secretary Hakan Fidan (he was blamed for having leaked information from Israel to Iran). Then Taksim Gezi Park was occupied. Cemaat probably saw that their hegemony was in danger. Then AK Party insisted on a new law that would shut down the dershane’s. This was another sign of disloyalty on the part of Tayyip Erdoğan towards Fethullah Gülen, since dershane’s were the core in which Cemaat had flourished; dershane’s were the recruitment organs of Cemaat. This new law of AK Party was the straw that broke the camel’s back. Cemaat acted furiously and started their operation: Many top level politicians and businessmen were blamed for corruption and were detained. Tayyip Erdoğan counter-acted by getting rid of many chiefs and officers in the police agency.
On December 16th, 2013 former football player MP Hakan Şükür resigned from the AK Party. The next day, Cemaat’s operation was launched. They published documents of corruption. They detained sons of ministers, some businessmen close to the AK Party; houses were raided, where millions were found in cash. Some of the money was hidden in shoeboxes, so shoeboxes became the symbol of their corruption. The operation continued the following days. On December 21st, kemalists protested in many cities after a call by the TGB/Turkish Youth Union, a branch of the CHP/Republican People’s Party.
In the context of the war between AK Party and Cemaat, people tired and disgusted of both shit decided to take to the streets in December 2013; not to become a subject of their dirty war but to give rise to the struggle for freedom.
On December 22nd, thousands of people gathered for a rally in Kadıköy, İstanbul. The initial call was made weeks before, in defense of the city against the Capital, but when the news of corruption broke out it also turned into a protest against corruption. Police attacked the crowd and tried to disperse them. Clashes broke out in the streets of Kadıköy.
On December 25th, protests under the slogan ‘government resign’ took place in many cities and different places in İstanbul. The most massive one was held in Kadıköy. The crowd was mainly divided into two blocs: anti-autoritarians, the LGBTT group and city action groups on the front; and the TKP (Communist Party) and the CHP (Republican People’s Party) at the back. First bloc headed to the place where they started (at the bull sculpture) and the next bloc split and headed to the place in front of the ferry. When the march finished, Taksim Solidarity’s call was announced. Some dispersed and went home. Other people remained around the bull statue and a group marched to the AK Party’s building. Police attacked them, and demonstrators went back to the bull sculpture. The remaining people gathered with them and built barricades all along the Bahariye street. The crowd was not organized well and had to pull back along the Bahariye street. Clashes continued till midnight; 42 people were detained (6 of them under the age of 18). The next day, protests continued in various different places in İstanbul.
On December 27th (videos i, ii), cops attacked people that were gathered in small groups before a demo in Taksim. Street clashes started instantly. The ferry station in Kadıköy was blocked by cops to prevent people at Anatolian side from joining the protest in Taksim.
Istanbul, Turkey: ELF-FAI/IRF torched an excavator in Northern Forests
While we lightened a cold dark night by torching a pile of iron, the rising flames could be seen far from the site, and aside from the pleasure that has given us, the action was taken in the service of eco-vandalism lobbying whose name has never been heard before.
On Thursday, February 20th, in Poyraz rural regions of Anatolian part of Istanbul, we attacked an excavator which was left to sleep on the verge of excavating nature, and we spray-painted several locations around the site with the signs of ‘ELF-FAI/IRF’. While this nature killer became unusable with a simple, time-set, handmade incendiary device, the message we wanted to give was clear: ‘If you build it, we will burn and destroy it!’
Our major motivations for this action:
We wanted to emphasize that the definitive attack against the dictatorship, which legitimizes itself by conducting ecocide projects such as the ‘Third Bosphorus Bridge’ and the ‘Kanal İstanbul’, has to be manifested no more relying on liberal-pacifist stereotypes such as ‘consciousness raising campaigns’ and ‘judicial process’. These kinds of organizations are just trying to delay what is unavoidable, and to hinder the reasonable eco-defense ground against current ecological destruction. By trying to get a positive decision from the State’s justice system, which is actually the contractor of ecocides, they help to weaken the anger by channeling it to polls or social media shares.
The industrial capitalist civilization is spreading with bridges and double highways on Earth, is securing itself inside concrete forests which it builds, considering nature as only a source, it is spreading by narrowing the wildlife borders everyday in the name of meeting the deficit of energy, and it is making itself dominant. For that reason, taking ourselves against a society which believes that building, development and expansion is virtue, we assume some kind of responsibility for eliminating everything involving this automation process, and as a part of the global total liberation struggle we choose to realize this by putting into practice simple incendiary methods, sabotage and direct action techniques by ourselves.
We dedicate this night, in which we lightened the domination castles with flames, to the comrades who are fallen, imprisoned or on the run.
To Sebastián Oversluij Seguel, murdered by a security guard while organizing a bank robbery in Santiago, the capital of Chile, on the 11th of December 2013; to Alfonso Alvial and Hermes González, who were arrested; and to Tamara Sol Farías Vergara, arrested and accused of shooting a security guard on the 21st of January 2014 by the Republic of Chile.
To Ali İsmail Korkmaz, Ethem Sarısülük, Abdullah Cömert, Medeni Yıldırım, Mehmet Ayvalıtaş and Ahmet Atakan, who were murdered by the Turkish State, and to Berkin Elvan (a 15-year-old boy), who got piped to his head and injured by a gas canister, and is in intensive care unit since the 15th of June 2013, during Gezi Park riots, which broke out in the summer of 2013.
To Hans Niemeyer, who is behind bars since the 30th of November 2011 accused of bombing attack on a bank in Chile.
To all protesters in the ‘NO TAV’ fight, on the mountains in northwest Italy for about 20 years, and to Nicco, Claudio, Chiara and Mattia, who were arrested for fighting against the high-speed rail line (TAV).
To Mónica Caballero and Francisco Solar, who were arrested for incendiary attack on El Pilar cathedral in Zaragoza, and to all direct action movement against the rising Church in Spain.
To Fallon Poisson, Amelie Pelletier and Carlos López Marín, who got arrested for an attack on the Ministry of Communication and Transportation and a dealership of Nissan motor company in Mexico on the 5th of January.
To Ilya Romanov, who was injured as a result of a hand grenade when it exploded in his hands, and arrested as suspect of attack to policemen on the 26th of October 2013.
To the imprisoned anarchists and rebels for the cases of Conspiracy Cells of Fire, Revolutionary Struggle, Kozani in Greece, and other prisoners all over the world.
To the rebels, anarchists and black blocs who participate actively in social explosions (in Egypt, Brazil, Ukraine, Bosnia and other parts of the world), and those who raise the slogans ‘insurrection, subversion, anarchy’, fight against cops and attack the exploitation institutions on the streets of Istanbul, Izmir and Ankara.
To eco-warrior Marco Camenisch, imprisoned in Switzerland for more than 21 years.
We send our solidarity, love and rage to all cells of Informal Anarchist Federation who have organized informal attacks and plots all around the world, International Revolutionary Front, ITS, all cells of Phoenix Project, all cells of ELF and ALF and all lone wolves who walk around in the darkness of the night, and all comrades, rebels whose names we forget while we are writing these words.
ELF-FAI/IRF (Earth Liberation Front-Informal Anarchist Federation/International Revolutionary Front)
İstanbul: Painted slogans in Turkish and Greek on the walls of Şişli by anarchists
A group of anarchists painted slogans on walls and billboards around Mecidiyeköy–Şişli area, in İstanbul, about the murder of Pavlos Fyssas in Greece, antifascism, anarchy, rebellion, animal massacre in Romania, animal liberation, and the Gezi uprising.
With this action, which reflects on the ongoing struggle in Athens, İstanbul and every other city in the world, it is reminded that the fight against fascism, against the State and the Capital, should be intensified and expanded.
source/more photos: sosyal savas (social war)