March 08, 2006 Workers commemorated a fellow union official, Süleyman Yeter who was tortured and murdered by the police while under arrest. Süleyman Yeter was the education expert at Limter-İş, the union of dock and shipyard workers affiliated with DISK, the Confederation of Progressive Labor Unions. The ceremonies were held at Alibeyköy cemetery where the […]
March 08, 2006
Workers commemorated a fellow union official, Süleyman Yeter who was tortured and murdered by the police while under arrest. Süleyman Yeter was the education expert at Limter-İş, the union of dock and shipyard workers affiliated with DISK, the Confederation of Progressive Labor Unions.
The ceremonies were held at Alibeyköy cemetery where the unionist is buried and was attended by workers from ESP (The Socialist Platform of the Oppressed), SDP (the Social Democratic Party) Municipal Workers union, Belediye-İş, and Human Rights Association IHD.
The workers chanted slogans, “Comrade Süleyman, you are living in our struggle!” and “Torturer Murderers will pay!” A banner reading, “The State continues murdering and raping while under arrest. We will not be silenced, we will settle the score!”
The first speech was by Mrs. Ayşe Yumli Yeter, the President of Tekstil-Sen, the union of Textile workers. She said, “We have repeated every time we commemorate comrade Süleyman that torture was a state policy in Turkey. But the truth stands that the year 2005 was yet another year full of torture. His stand during torture, where he gave his life instead of giving his comrades’ names is a symbol of peoples’ resistance throughout the world. We condemn torture once again. We say once again that the working class, the laborers will win in the end.”
Cem Dinç, the President of Limter-İş, speaking on behalf of the workers said, “Süleyman Yeter was arrested 7 years ago and was murdered under state control. This was a conscious decision by the state. They did this because Süleyman Yeter had frightened them with his stand and his struggle. The working class, the oppressed will eventually construct socialism with their organized struggles. But, no matter what, those who murdered Süleyman Yeter will definitely pay the price!”
The President of Nakliyat-İş, the transportation union, Ali Rıza Küçükosmanoğlu, said in his supporting speech, “Süleyman Yeter was one of the very important revolutionary leaders. He was murdered under torture. Those responsible for his death and those who decided on this murder will eventually be forced to settle the score in front of the working class.” He added that to commemorate the martyr, one needed to make them live in the struggles.
Leman Yurtsever, representative of the Human Rights Association’s Istanbul Branch said, “If we had not pursued, today, Süleyman Yeter would be yet another name on the list of those who disappeared during their arrest. Torture during arrest is still a prevailing policy in Turley. The torturers were never tried in this country. They are freely walking among us and continue committing the same crimes. We demand all torturers to be brought to justice.”
The representative from the Socialist Platform of the Oppressed reminded that Süleyman Yeter was murdered at a time when the aggression against the Kurds had peaked, and that today the perpetrators were waging the same attacks. The speaker said, “Those who killed Süleyman should know that his comrades are working harder than ever before and will even work harder and the score will be settled one day.”
The ceremony ended after songs were sung in Süleyman Yeter’s memory.
M.B.
