"The media are profit partners of the government and their allies in some way or other, so it is normal that they are ignoring us. But the fact that they ignore us doesn’t mean that we are not here.”Akın Birdal, former head of the Human Rights Association (IHD) and then MP for the pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP) in Diyarbakır, is the candidate of the “We exist, too” Platform for Greater Istanbul mayor.
He says that the mainstream media is giving the impression that the elections are only being fought between the Justice and Development Party (AKP) of the national government and the People’s Republican Party (CHP), the main opposition party in parliament.
Kurds and democrats
From impressions gathered at neighbourhood visits and meetings with professional associations and trade union representatives, Birdal believes that he can trust in the votes of the 1.7 million Kurds in Istanbul who have been voting for the AKP in the hope for a solution to the Kurdish question, as well as in the votes of the democrats who have reluctantly voted for the CHP in the past.
Birdal said, “Our election campaign is in full stride. We have been meeting with trade unions linked to the DISK and KESK federations, as well as the Turkish Medical Association (TTB) and the Union of Chambers of Turkish Engineers and Architects (TMMoB), in order to see what kind of city we can create.”
He criticised the fact that trade unions and professional associations were excluded from local government, saying that he found it vital to include the representatives of the people.
People are excluded from city
Birdal said that he has been listening to “the people who are not asked” during events, election office openings and solidarity meetings. He is also in contact with shopkeepers.
“The small traders are very worried. They have all said that they have come to the point where they will have to close down. They are worried that the AKP has slowed down the economy because of the elections and that they will suffer the consequences.”
“Existing neoliberal policies have pushed the small traders and all workers outside of the financial city”, he said, adding:
“There are 4.5 million workers in this city, and they are aware of the situation. But the current local government does not consider them or what kind of city they would like tol ive in. We will create a new Istanbul by including this group in local administration.”
"We also exist"
Birdal emphasised the importance of the sense of solidarity created by the “We also exist” Platform. He expressed his belief that many voters disappointed in the AKP and the CHP would vote for him.
“Women, Kurds, Armenians, homosexuals, workers, in short all the oppressed and workers in Istanbul will stand up and lead us to an impressive result. This will not be a surprise for the media or the other parties.”
He ended by saying,
“Even if the media is the voice of government and is ‘burying’ us, there are independent and oppositional newspapers, Internet websites, TV channels and radio stations.”
Today (Friday), Birdal is meeting with people in the areas of Nurtepe and Okmeydan, before giving an interview on Yaşam Radio at 5 pm. At 7 pm, there is an election rally in Maltepe.
Tomorrow, Birdal will take part in the Saturday Mothers/People protest, which is a regular protest demanding justice for the many people who have disappeared in Turkey in the last decades. (BW/AG)
