Kayseri workers: They condemn but keep trading

Ahmet AKARSU
Olcay SAL
Kayseri

The common point that stands out from the discussions we had with metal and textile workers from Kayseri waiting at the bus stop is the point of “religious brotherhood”. While one group of workers says, “Muslim countries are not helping each other”, there are also quite a few who point out that condemning Israel’s acts is not enough, but “although we want trade with Israel to be ceased, looking at our countries economy, that does not seem feasible”.

A worker from Orta Anadolu Tekstil said, “If it looks like a duck and walks like a duck, it is a duck. Israel is causing the suffering. Selling land to them was not right. But there is lots to be said against suffering. Profits and stakes are the reason why our country remains silent. For instance, do the president’s son’s ships work for Israel? Well, then no one will say anything.”

A textile worker said, “every Ramadan they attack Palestine. They try to occupy our Palestinian brothers’ and sisters’ houses and homes. They rely on the power behind them, the USA. The situation there affects us, saddens us. Our consciousness does not allow for a little child to cry beneath raining bombs.

A young worker working at Has Celik added, “Condemning is not enough, there is Qatar which is richer than us. They invest in Turkey, they have money. Is for instance Saudi Arabia not richer than us? Shall they help. I oppose the torture done against the children there, but the catch is that they sell land…”

The textile worker who thinks Turkey is not taking the stance against Israel it deserves, mentions that “they cannot do anything because of the economy. At a different time they would cease economic relations”.

“Condemning Israel is not enough. There are no results. One needs to intervene. State officials meet. Islam is like this, Islam is like that, they say. But where are they when it comes to Palestine. If you are condemning, then you need to prevent certain things from happening. Is there no other country in the world to do business, or what? Now we are getting our seeds from Israel”, chips in the Has Celik worker.

A Simfer worker stated: “I am an MHP supporter and almost have to support Israel at this point. Because we are undecisive, passive people.”

“WHY DOES NO STATE ATTORNEY TAKE ACTION?”

At the bus stops we also asked workers about the relations between politicians, the mafia and the media that were highlighted by Sedat Peker’s videos. We noticed that a high percentage of workers keep track of his videos.

A Boyteks worker said: “First they skimmed the cream off the top and now they have parted. Alaattin Cakıcı was released and instead Sedat went inside. But the state always had a dark hand.”

“There was a relation of interest. Only when things got unfavourable, he started speaking. He only spoke out once he did not receive what he was promised. Why did you not speak out earlier?”, the Has Çelik worker added.

The Orta Anadolu Tekstil worker pointed out, that “it’s very thought provoking that a government regularly banning access to anything does nothing against these publications. Somebody will benefit from these revelations. Only once people of too high ranks are affected, they will take action.”

“Look at what a mafia boss like Sedat Peker has said”, another textile worker threw in. “He outlines all the partnerships he had with the people in power. And there is yet a state attorney to act. Why? There is neither law in Turkey, nor justice.”

And another Has Çelik worker told us: “I think they are afraid of what Sedat Peker knows. Deep state they said, Ergenekon and coup they said. As a result ‘FETÖ’ came out at the very last. As details surface now, their concerns have risen.”