May 1 celebrated in all corners of Turkey

Groups of various labor unions, political parties and civil society organizations on Wednesday celebrated May 1 Labor and Solidarity Day in all corners of Turkey. In Istanbul, hundreds of people rushed to the Kadikoy Square to join Turkish Communist Party's (TKP) rally to celebrate May 1. Istanbul Police stepped in to disperse a group of people in Dolapdere district who wanted to walk to the Taksim Square. Unions attached to the Turkish Confederation of Labor (Turk-Is) gathered together at the Besiktas coast earlier in the day but later were dispersed. Istanbul Police had to use tear gas in Besiktas. Deputy Chairman of main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Gursel Tekin and a member of the CHP Party Assembly Ercan Karakas had to be hospitalized after being affected by the tear gas. Both officials were reported to be in good health. Celebrations in Istanbul were generally peaceful except a few incidents around Taksim Square in which clashes took place between police forces and individuals trying to celebrate Labor and Solidarity Day in Taksim Square. Some businesses and bus stops were partially damaged in the clashes. In Ankara, the Turkish capital, labor unions, political parties and civil society organizations held rallies to celebrate May 1 in both Sihhiye and Tandogan Squares. One of Turkey's biggest unions, Moral Rights Workers Union (Hak-Is) held a rally in the northern province of Karabuk on Wednesday. Hak-Is's rally in Karabuk kicked off with a statement read aloud. The statement said "we are in the fields in order to solve the problem which made mothers cry and for the future and brotherhood of Turkey. We support the solution process in Turkey". Hak-Is's Deputy Chairman Mustafa Toruntay and an accompanying delegation laid a wreath at the Taksim Monument in Istanbul in celebration of May 1. In other provinces of Turkey, people chanted slogans in support of the Labor and Solidarity Day, sang songs, and danced in rallies held to celebrate May 1. Colorful rallies took place in provinces such as Canakkale, Hakkari, Izmir and Van. In Kars province, rallies were held in which people sang songs in both Turkish and Kurdish languages. Releasing messages to mark May 1 Labor and Solidarity Day, Turkish President Abdullah Gul, Parliament Speaker Cemil Cicek, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Labor Minister Faruk Celik and Economy Minister Zafer Caglayan wished all workers a happy May 1. I congratulate all workers of Turkey who have made crucial contributions to Turkey's development, said President Gul. I do wish that May 1 would strengthen work peace and unity in Turkey, Gul also said. Cemil Cicek underlined that it was among their aims to develop human rights in Turkey and improve the standards of living. Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that they were in an effort to improve the level of prosperity of workers and to make sure the workers reached life standards they deserved. Our biggest wish is to see that May 1 gets celebrated in joy and a friendly atmosphere, Erdogan also said. Labor and Social Security Minister Faruk Celik stressed that he wished May 1 would be celebrated in friendship, love and peace. Economy Minister Zafer Caglayan said that it was due to the efforts of Turkish workers that Turkey broke records in production and exports.