The resistance against the fees was successful
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Another important characteristic of the actions is the fact that the students could intervene with their own academic democratic demands in the social struggle that developed against the economic crisis during a period of continuing strikes and resistances of workers and labourers at different work places.

 

01 September 2009 /International Bulletin /Issue 85

 

The student movement led by the union Genc-Sen realised an important achievement before the new term 2009-2010 started at the universities: After a busy period of struggle under the slogan "Don't rise the fees but the wages", the plan to rise the fees by 500% changed and it was decided to rise them by 8%.
Led by Genc-Sen, students realised sit-ins and actions all over Turkey and Northern Kurdistan, collected signatures and protested against the rise of fees.
When on August 10 the Council of Ministers gathered for a last meeting in Ankara to discuss the fee rise, the youth organised actions in different cities throughout the day and mainly in Ankara. The youth in Ankara gathered in front of the Prime Ministry. The youth handed over a file to the Council of Ministers, and said concerning the fees "We won't even accept a rise of 1%". The young students demanding a meeting with the Prime Minister Erdogan were instead attacked with gas bombs by the police. While the youth resisted and defended themselves with stones, 12 of them were punched and arrested.
After this meeting of the Council of Ministers, at which the decision of rising the fees by 8% was taken, the students still haven't remained silent. On August 11, the youth once again went on the streets in Ankara, Istanbul and Izmir calling on the government to cancel the fee rise and demanding the release of the arrested.
On August 16 members of Genc-Sen went on the streets on the same day in the cities Izmir, Ankara, Istanbul, Kocaeli, Balikesir and Eskisehir shouting "We managed to cancel the fee rise of 500%, we'll also manage to cancel the fee rise of 8%". In Istanbul the youth organised a demonstration at Istiklal Street and were supported by the DTP , EHP and ESP as well as the ATV-Sabah labourers being on strike.
The government that tries not only to make the workers and labourers pay the bill of the economic crisis but the students, too, several times had to make a step backwards in the past as a result of the student youth movement. It must not be forgotten that this youth movement got experiences such as Taxim and Kizilay. In 1995-1996 the socialist youth occupied a hall at a university with the slogan "We don't pay HARAC anymore" to protest against the 300% rise of fees. Despite all oppression the youth started a hunger strike lasting for 45 days. Then 5,000 students joined the actions following on February 4-5 and marched to Taksim. Conquering Taksim Square was the first action after the coup on September 12, 80. In Ankara, the youth marched to Kizilay Square, and on February 15 the youth occupied Istanbul University in Istanbul. This big wave of actions ensured that the rise of fees made in the following years was limited.
This period of actions against the rise of fees created by Genc-Sen is quite important. The student union, that was only founded 2 years ago and that is a totally new means in terms of the student youth movement in Turkey and Northern Kurdistan, has showed with these actions that it is the organisation most effective for the broad masses of youth.
The attacks by civil fascists at the universities during the last years and the actions organised by the youth movement having been severely attacked as a result of the collaboration of the directors and the police made the youth movement awake and were realised during a period like summer when the universities are closed and during the most weak period of student movement in general.
This situation is a sign for the fact that the upcoming semester will be a busy period with lots of actions from the point of view of the youth movement.
Another important characteristic of the actions is the fact that the students could intervene with their own academic democratic demands in the social struggle that developed against the economic crisis during a period of continuing strikes and resistances of workers and labourers at different work places. This situation informs us on the student youth being a striking participant of the social struggle in the upcoming period. It shows that a new period has started that offers real opportunities for the youth movement to overcome its lows that lasted for years.

 

 

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The resistance against the fees was successful
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Another important characteristic of the actions is the fact that the students could intervene with their own academic democratic demands in the social struggle that developed against the economic crisis during a period of continuing strikes and resistances of workers and labourers at different work places.

 

01 September 2009 /International Bulletin /Issue 85

 

The student movement led by the union Genc-Sen realised an important achievement before the new term 2009-2010 started at the universities: After a busy period of struggle under the slogan "Don't rise the fees but the wages", the plan to rise the fees by 500% changed and it was decided to rise them by 8%.
Led by Genc-Sen, students realised sit-ins and actions all over Turkey and Northern Kurdistan, collected signatures and protested against the rise of fees.
When on August 10 the Council of Ministers gathered for a last meeting in Ankara to discuss the fee rise, the youth organised actions in different cities throughout the day and mainly in Ankara. The youth in Ankara gathered in front of the Prime Ministry. The youth handed over a file to the Council of Ministers, and said concerning the fees "We won't even accept a rise of 1%". The young students demanding a meeting with the Prime Minister Erdogan were instead attacked with gas bombs by the police. While the youth resisted and defended themselves with stones, 12 of them were punched and arrested.
After this meeting of the Council of Ministers, at which the decision of rising the fees by 8% was taken, the students still haven't remained silent. On August 11, the youth once again went on the streets in Ankara, Istanbul and Izmir calling on the government to cancel the fee rise and demanding the release of the arrested.
On August 16 members of Genc-Sen went on the streets on the same day in the cities Izmir, Ankara, Istanbul, Kocaeli, Balikesir and Eskisehir shouting "We managed to cancel the fee rise of 500%, we'll also manage to cancel the fee rise of 8%". In Istanbul the youth organised a demonstration at Istiklal Street and were supported by the DTP , EHP and ESP as well as the ATV-Sabah labourers being on strike.
The government that tries not only to make the workers and labourers pay the bill of the economic crisis but the students, too, several times had to make a step backwards in the past as a result of the student youth movement. It must not be forgotten that this youth movement got experiences such as Taxim and Kizilay. In 1995-1996 the socialist youth occupied a hall at a university with the slogan "We don't pay HARAC anymore" to protest against the 300% rise of fees. Despite all oppression the youth started a hunger strike lasting for 45 days. Then 5,000 students joined the actions following on February 4-5 and marched to Taksim. Conquering Taksim Square was the first action after the coup on September 12, 80. In Ankara, the youth marched to Kizilay Square, and on February 15 the youth occupied Istanbul University in Istanbul. This big wave of actions ensured that the rise of fees made in the following years was limited.
This period of actions against the rise of fees created by Genc-Sen is quite important. The student union, that was only founded 2 years ago and that is a totally new means in terms of the student youth movement in Turkey and Northern Kurdistan, has showed with these actions that it is the organisation most effective for the broad masses of youth.
The attacks by civil fascists at the universities during the last years and the actions organised by the youth movement having been severely attacked as a result of the collaboration of the directors and the police made the youth movement awake and were realised during a period like summer when the universities are closed and during the most weak period of student movement in general.
This situation is a sign for the fact that the upcoming semester will be a busy period with lots of actions from the point of view of the youth movement.
Another important characteristic of the actions is the fact that the students could intervene with their own academic democratic demands in the social struggle that developed against the economic crisis during a period of continuing strikes and resistances of workers and labourers at different work places. This situation informs us on the student youth being a striking participant of the social struggle in the upcoming period. It shows that a new period has started that offers real opportunities for the youth movement to overcome its lows that lasted for years.