Güler was responding to questions by reporters yesterday at İstanbul Atatürk Airport, where he bade farewell to President Abdullah Gül, who was leaving for Oman. Recalling that May 1 was declared Labor and Solidarity Day last year, Güler said: “This day is perceived as a festive day. If this day is celebrated in a festive atmosphere by labor unions, we would like to contribute to this atmosphere. But what we and İstanbulites cannot accept and allow is destruction and violent acts.”Last April, Parliament announced that May 1 would again be an official holiday. Shortly after the Sept. 12, 1980 military coup, the National Security Council (MGK) put an end to official recognition of the May 1 holiday. Also known as Workers’ Day, the holiday sees clashes between protesters and police in Turkey each year over whether celebrations will take place in İstanbul’s Taksim Square.
Interior Minister Beşir Atalay also signaled on Sunday that May 1 would be celebrated at Taksim Square, adding that labor unions’ demonstrations would be generally tolerated during May Day celebrations. “May 1 is a day which should be celebrated by workers in a festive atmosphere. This day has been defamed by bitter experiences. We want to put an end to this,” he said. Atalay was referring to May 1, 1977, referred to as “Bloody May 1.” On that day, 34 people died after unidentified gunmen opened fire on the crowds celebrating in the square.
Turkish Confederation of Labor Unions (Turk-İş) President Mustafa Kumlu previously said a group of six labor confederations including Türk-İş had decided to hold a mass gathering at Taksim Square this year, as they tried to do in 2009. Last year, protesters fought with police and eventually gained access to the square.
