As part of an Ankara-based investigation, 19 people, including Socialist Laborers Party (SEP) Chair Güneş Gümüş, Central Executive Committee (MYK) member of the Energy, Industry and Mine Workers Union (ESM) Emre Başer and members of United Transport Union (BTS) were detained in house raids in Istanbul and Izmir on December 13. 2 of the 19 people were referred to the prosecutor's office on December 16 and were released by the prosecutor's office with judicial control conditions. 14 of the 17 people who testified in court were released with judicial control conditions and 3 were given house arrest. 

 

SEP Chair Güneş Gümüş, who was released on jıudicial control conditions, made evaluations on the detention operation. 

 

'FICTITIOUS ORGANIZATION INVENTED'

 

The work of socialist who carry out legal political activities is being targeted said Güneş Gümüş and added: "Ankara Polive have invented an organization by juxtaposing four incidents. However, the existence of this organization is only known to the Ankara Police. Through this fictitious organization, which is known to the public and does not have any call, declaration, document or action, SEP activities are wanted to be shown as 'terrorist' activities." 

 

Güneş Gümüş stated that the families of party members and sympathizers who were not detained were called by police and threatened. Güneş Gümüş said that the indictment consists of unrealistic allegations and said: “Our March 8 protests, including our comrades drinking tea on the balcony, our visits to support workers' strikes, our May Day protests, our participation in the KESK rally are presented as terrorist activities. Even in our party's statute, our 'women's work for equality', our Marxist Intellectual Society (MFT) work, the work of our culture and arts association and our trade union work have been labeled as 'terrorist' activities.” 

 

'OPERATION OVER ORGANIZATION SCENARIO'

 

Güneş Gümüş pointed out that the operation was carried out based on the scenario of an illegal organization that does not exist, citing the party's work and activities as justification, and said: "No one knows about this organization. It has not appeared in any news agency, it has no action, no emblem, no documents, no call to the public. Then what is this organization? We were accused on behalf of an organization called 'Leninist, Trotskyist, 4th Way Bolshevik Organization'." Güneş Gümüş stated that this operation is an attack not only against SEP but also against democratic politics.

 

Güneş Gümüş said: "The economic crisis and social anger have increased. The government is targeting socialist movements to suppress this social anger. Today there is an increase in workers' protests against privatization, poverty and the economic crisis. They are afraid that these protests will unite and become an organized force. The struggle to organize around these demands can turn into a struggle that will involve much wider masses."

 

'SOLIDARITY GAVE STRENGTH'

 

Güneş Gümüş said that the solidarity shown during the operation gave them strength and continued as follows: "Our friends and comrades outside showed great solidarity during and after the detention process. This conspiracy against our party will be nullified. This attack is not only against our party, but also agianst democratic politics and the socialist movement. We will not allow socialists to be terrorized and we will frustrate this conspiracy of the government."

 

MA / Ömer Güngör