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Thousands voice support for reform in major rally
Many civil society groups joined the walk, which was organized by a referendum campaign called “Yetmez ama Evet” (Not Enough, but Yes.) “Not enough for freedom, but yes,” “Soldiers, return to your barracks,” “Yes for trial of coup plotters” read the banners carried by the groups. Arife Köse, one of the activists in the campaign, said she will vote for the planned changes to the Constitution as she wants to see coup plotters be called to account.
“I will say ‘yes' because I do not want people to be categorized any more in accordance with their beliefs or ideologies. I will say ‘yes' because I want a judicial system which respects the rule of law, instead of standing by the status quo. I will say ‘yes' because I want military members to be tried in civilian tribunals and do not want civilians to be tried in military courts,” she said.
Köse also said the reform package would be a first step toward a brand new civilian constitution.
“We say that the planned amendments do not suffice, but we will support them in the referendum. The incumbent Constitution belongs to [coup plotters Gen.] Kenan Evren, who executed Necdet Adalı and Erdal Eren. So, it should change. We want a constitution that is civilian, democratic and pro-freedom. We want a constitution which guarantees peace. We want a constitution that is clear from all sorts of racist and nationalist items, and which protects our rights and freedoms,” she added.
Civil society groups grew even more crowded after they were joined by hundreds of young people, who were conducting a web-based campaign urging young voters to support the constitutional amendment package. Ebubekir Kalkan, the spokesperson for the group, said he would vote “yes” in the upcoming referendum, hoping his vote would help to change Turkey for the better.
“The reform package seeks to do away with the pro-ban mindset of the 1982 Constitution. It seeks to replace the state with the individual. It defends the rule of law instead of the rule of elites,” Kalkan noted.
Tensions mounted as the marches passed near a group of Turkish Communist Party (TKP) members on İstiklal Street, and later as they passed near a Republican People's Party (CHP) office building in Beyoğlu.
CHP members opened a banner which read: “Good sons of the US, and bad sons of Turkey; history will never forgive you.”
A large group of members of the Bayrampaşa Women's Platform also held a rally in İstanbul on Sunday, too. All participants of the rally were female who played drums and horns. The women distributed flowers and booklets that sought to inform the public about the content of the reform package as they continued their march. Emine Sare, who delivered a speech on behalf of the group, said the platform will vote “yes” for the constitutional amendment package on Sept. 12.
Sare also said the planned changes to the Constitution sought to give women greater advantages. “We do not consider the constitutional amendment package as an ideological item. We support it because it seeks to make women more visible in society,” she added.
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