The Ilisu Dam Campaign sees the role of the trade unions, both within Turkey and internationally, as vital if we are to halt the project from destroying the lives of over 36,000 people in the Kurdish region of Turkey.
Trade unionists active in the region strongly believe in an international trade union movement.
They have been able to witness first hand the international co-operation of governments when it comes to assisting the Turkish government to oppress the Kurds. Witness the co-operation of governments to kidnap Abdullah Ocalan leader of the Kurdistan Workers Party and international arms sales that have led to Turkey being armed to the teeth in order top attack Kurdish villages. In addition, the trade unions in the region are calling for Kurdish and Turkish unity. One way of meeting this objective will be to use international solidarity as an example to all workers in Turkey. Such unity would greatly cut across much of the anti Kurd prejudice that exists in Turkey.