The Kemalist Enlightenment Association launched its first event in line with the goal of explaining the foundation process of the Republic of Turkey, Atatürk's Principles and Revolutions, and informing the public with the "New Constitution Panel" organized in Gelibolu. The panel held the other day addressed the intellectual foundations of the Turkish Revolution, the Atatürkist thought system, contemporary values, and discussions on the new constitution. The audience, which included civil society organization executives from Gelibolu, surrounding districts and provinces, former CHP deputies, and mayors, showed great interest and participation in the panel.
The event was moderated by Republican People's Party (CHP) 22nd and 23rd term İzmir Deputy Bülent Baratalı, while National Center Secretary General Haluk Dural and 23rd-24th term İstanbul Deputy Prof. Dr. Nur Serter also took part as speakers, and the opening speech of the panel was made by Kemalist Enlightenment Association Board Member Ali Kaya.
“ERDOĞAN AIMS TO BREAK THE RECORD OF REIGN WITH THE NEW CONSTITUTION”
Speaking at the panel, which began with a striking introductory speech on topics ranging from Piri Reis to Bolayır, from the Çanakkale Martyrs' Memorial to the founding principles of the Republican People's Party, former MP and Kemalist Enlightenment Association Vice President Prof. Dr. Nur Serter made striking statements regarding the new constitution discussions. Prof. Dr. Serter said, “We know very well who wants a new constitution. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who wants a new constitution for Turkey and wants to make his own reign endless, is at the forefront. He is trying to break the 33-year reign record of Abdülhamid, who reigned the longest. However, let it not be forgotten that the founder of the enlightened Republic of Turkey, Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, was only able to rule the country for 15 years. So who else do these discussions serve other than the President? There is only one power, and that is the imperialist powers.”
Stating that the two projects of imperialism regarding Turkey are to establish a political Islamist structure and to divide and disintegrate Turkey, Nur Serter said, “After a federative structure is adopted, those who want us to be a part of the great Kurdistan project, the writers working for them, the unqualified voices occupying the media on their behalf will start to pump this up continuously. The button has not been pressed yet. So what will be done with the new constitution? Who will we sit at the table with? Can we sit at that table with the AKP mentality? We cannot and will not sit at that table for the future of Turkey.”
“WHERE SHOULD THE ENGINE OF THE STRUGGLE BE PLACED?”
National Center Secretary General Haluk Dural evaluated the new constitution discussions from the perspective of political history and said, “Currently, the public opinion polls asking ‘who would you vote for if there were new elections’ show us something. Turkey’s third party is undecided voters. There have been breakaways from the AKP. A group that has become rich in its own masses due to the plunder economy in the past 22 years has integrated with the AKP. What is the conclusion to be drawn from such a picture? Where should the engine of the struggle be placed? Of course, the answer to this question will be undecided voters. Right now, the federation of the separatist Kurdish movement that will be formed in Southeastern Anatolia, Barzani in Northern Iraq and the American-backed garrison state in Syria are trying to unite the three currencies on America’s great Middle East project map, and the stones are being laid to demand land from Turkey. The new constitution discussions are also helping these imperialist goals.”
“THE REAL SAYER OF OUR CONSTITUTION IS THE TURKISH NATION”
In the panel where political memory was refreshed, imperialism’s efforts to include Turkey among the states it divided, disintegrated and governed in this geography through the concept of the Turkish Nation and the destruction of the Turkish language were discussed. The panel also touched on the attitude of the political parties representing the nation in the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM). Based on the fact that the political parties did not defend themselves loudly enough in accordance with the founding principles against the imperialists’ ambitions to divide the country through the Turkish Constitution, it was stated that “The real arbiter of our constitution, which has been changed 17 times by those who govern the country historically, is the Turkish nation.”
In their written statement after the panel, the Kemalist Enlightenment Association board members drew attention to the historical mission of Gallipoli and stated that the high participation and intense interest in the New Constitution Panel gave them great hope and strength.
On the other hand, the association's board of directors meeting was also held in Gallipoli, where the association's board of directors and audit board members came together completely.
