Turkish Young Communists Arrested By YCL International Department 30 members of the Youth of SIP (Party for Socialist Power) in Turkey were detained and arrested April 6 while they were putting up posters against NATO (the North Atlantic Treaty Organization). Youth of SIP is a member of the World Federation of Democratic Youth (WFDY), which has begun an international campaign among youth organizations against NATO. The military-dominated government of Turkey is a member of NATO. NATO is the military alliance of 19 European and North American capitalist countries and is responsible for the criminal bombing of Yugoslavia two years ago this March. NATO was founded 50 years ago in opposition to the Soviet Union and growing revolutionary sentiment in Europe. NATO remains a puppet and cover for US military aggression in the region. NATO, at its 50th anniversary, even redefined its charter to allow NATO actions outside of member countries. The arrest of SIP activists in Maslak, Besiktas, Goztepe and Umraniye, Turkey is par for the course for NATO "democracy." NATO, which was created supposedly to defend democracy in its member countries, is in fact the top cop for world capitalism, exporting conflict to other countries and suppressing dissent at home. The Young Communist League USA, also a member of WFDY, calls on the Turkish government to release the detained activists and allow free expression of political dissent. Furthermore, we call for an end to NATO and US aggression. We oppose any military alliance that acts against the people.
