KADIKÖY'S FIRST VICTIM

ENGLISH

The upsurge of protests around the country is continuing as an established ritual- a sort of rendez-vous between the demonstrators and the police for an all-night apache-dance, and our own neighbourhood Kadıköy has established itself as a prime venue. (See "Kadıköy by Night", 11 September-Eylül 2013) By day it's business as usual with shoppers and street vendors, come evening it's business as usual again with barricades and gas. The Süreyya Opera House has now has a steady second job as an infirmary. I am curious as to what will happen when the season starts at the end of the month- not only because the foyer may have to be used for first aid to the injured again, but also because watching a show in a confined space might be a bit risky when so much gas is in the air. 

Last night Kadıköy gave its first victim, and he wasn't even out in the streets. 35 year old Serdar Kadakal was soundmixer in a locale called Shaft Bar, where the group was performing protest songs. His home also being in the same area, he had been experiencing the effects of the gas for the last three nights. Last night, he was overcome with the effects and died of heart failure.

Serdar Kadakal

(Image from the media.)

The bodyf Serdar Kadakal being placed on the hearse. Date: September 14th, 2013. Place: Kadıköy Şifa Hospital. We happened to be passing by when we were on our way to today's "Silent Scream" demonstration. The sorrowful man to the left was the father. Hearing something on the news is one thing but coming face to face with the hard reality is another. How can I hope to fathom such deep and comlete sorrow! God give strength to the family- to all families of victims of a soulless band of tyrants clinging to power.
(Image from my own camera.)

Meanwhile, with the recent anniversary of the September 12th military intervention, there has been a new rash of protests against the "Fascism of September 12th". With all that is happening today, they are protesting something that happened 33 years ago. The protesters were generally unmolested by the police, but gas was used in Denizli.

 Protesters at Denizli, demonstrating against the military intervention of 32 years ago. Chased by the police, some enteredthe EMEK party offices, which would imply they areKurdih seperatists.

(Image from the media.)

 Reviving the September 12th spectre is in line with the AKP government's policy of discrediting the only institutişon that couldhave checked its excesses, so I was a bit surprisedthat the police intervened in Denizli. Sometimes the policy backfires, like the Emek Party (Kurdish-Seperatsit, not represented in parliament) and Kurdish-Seperatist BDP (Barış ve Demokrasi Partisi- Peace and Demcracy Party, representedin parliament )organized demonstration in Tunceli that put the September 12th and the AKP in the same basket. To me, this is stretching it somewhat! The  BDP was on the best of terms with the AKP so long as the AKP seemed committed to a "peace process"- behind closed doors- that opened the way to a secession of the Eastern provinces as a Kurdish state that would unite with northern Iraq, northern Syria, and areas in Iran to create a greater Kurdish state. To this end, the BDP has been supporting and even urging a new constitution that will be fatal to the Turkish Republic. Let us remember how confused  the BDP had been during the Gezi events, not being able to decide whether to support it, and to what extent. Now there is an impatience that the separation process isn't running as smoothly as originally envisaged. A military outpost under construction in Siirt was attacked by PKK insurgents on the night of the 12th. The insurgents kidnapped four construction workers, planted explosives, and blew them up. The kidnapped laborers were released in the morning.

The link between the revival of the September 12th spectre and Kurdish separatist objectives is apparently the "unchangeable" first four clauses of the Turkish constitution. The talks on the "new constitution" have come to that juncture, with the AKP and BDP pressing for the speedy application of this coup de grace to the suffering Republic, and the "opposition" CHP and MHP not yet daring to go that far for fear of their electorates.  By associating the "unchangeable clauses" with the military government of September 12th, the separatists are apparently trying to hijack some of the energy of the anti-government demonstrations to push this change through.

 "The Fascist Coup of September 12th is going on with the AKP":  demonstration in Tunceli. Apparently the intenton is to link the "unchangeable clauses" with  the September 12th intervention, and the six young people who died since June with their own cause.

(Image from the media.)

My own viewpoint remains unaltered: by disqualifying the Armed Forces as the Guardians of the Republic, we have placed that heavy burden on the shoulders of the young. (See: "The Youth", 16 December-Aralık 2012.)

I fear Serdar Kadakal will not be the last to lose his life.