Peoples' United Revolutionary Movement

The Peoples' United Revolutionary Movement (Turkish: Halkların Birleşik Devrim Hareketi, HBDH) is an alliance of ten leftist, revolutionary socialist and some communist Turkish and Kurdish organizations in Turkey. The alliance was founded on March 12, 2016, with the goal of overthrowing the Turkish government of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.[1]

Peoples' United Revolutionary Movement

Halkların Birleşik Devrim Hareketi
AbbreviationHBDH
FoundedMarch 12, 2016 (2016-03-12)
IdeologyRevolutionary socialism
Communism
Marxism–Leninism
Anti-fascism
Political positionFar-left
Members

Background

The alliance chose to declare their founding on March 12 to announce to the world their commitment to the struggle against the AKP government in Turkey. March 12, 2016, was the 45th anniversary of the 1971 Turkish military memorandum, the 21st anniversary of the Gazi Quarter riots, and the 12th anniversary of the 2004 al-Qamishli riots. All three of these events serve as reminders of the alliance's mission "to lead victoriously our struggle for the Revolution, democracy and socialism."[2]

The alliance believes that Erdoğan's party, the Justice and Development Party (AKP), seeks to implement a new leadership in Turkey, effectively restoring the dictatorship established on March 12, 1971. Five members of the alliance (TKP/ML, MLKP, TKEP/L, Devrimci Karargâh, and MLSPB) are also members of the International Freedom Battalion, a small group of foreign fighters supporting the Syrian Democratic Forces in the Rojava conflict.

Principles and Objectives

The alliance calls for the destruction of the AKP and its public support along with it. It calls for all victims of the government's terror to organize to overthrow the ruling AKP party. The alliance stresses that the struggle for self-determination of minorities is of the utmost importance,[2] for all peoples oppressed by the government:

If the struggle for Kurdish self-determination is broken, the AKP will start to attack all other opposition forces in Turkey. Consequently, the future of all progressive, revolutionary and working class forces in Turkey is directly tied to the future of the Kurdish resistance.

It is through this message that the alliance calls for the mobilization of a unified popular revolution in order to overthrow the current government. The alliance resists all forms of imperialism, fascism, racism, capitalism, and conservatism on its path to a revolution. They invite "our peoples, our workers, the oppressed, all cultures starting with the Alevis, the women, the youth to join the ranks of the Revolutionary United Movement and to struggle."[2]

Member organizations

The following organizations were in attendance at the joint press meeting announcing the alliance:[1][2]

The Coordination of Revolutionary Proletarians (PDK) has also announced that they have joined the alliance, while the Resurrection Movement (TDH) has expressed interest in joining.[1][2]

Activities

Soon after its formation, the movement began conducting armed operations against the Turkish government. On May 6, 2016, HBDH attacked a Gendarmerie General Command base in Giresun Province in northeastern Turkey. According to news reports, a roadside bomb exploded, targeting a Gendarmerie vehicle.[4] HDBH claimed responsibility for the attack on May 8, stating that three gendarmes died in the attack, as well as the Base Commander, who was the intended target.[5] This was inconsistent with the Odatv release, which reported only 1 casualty.[4]

Since its initial attack, the Joint Command of the Peoples' United Revolutionary Movement has claimed responsibility for several more attacks in the region, primarily targeting Turkish soldiers or gendarmes. The tactics employed by the alliance are very similar to those used by the PKK. The most notable attack came on July 19, just 4 days after the 2016 Turkish coup d'état attempt. HBDH reported that they had killed 11 riot police in Trabzon Province at 08:30 that morning.[6] The HBDH report is consistent in time and location to an attack reported by Doğan News Agency, in which "unknown assailants" fired on a police checkpoint. This report states that 3 officers were killed and 5 were injured, along with a civilian.[7]

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See also

References
  1. Behdinan (March 12, 2016). "Peoples' United Revolutionary Movement established for a joint struggle". Firat News Agency. Archived from the original on March 14, 2016. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
  2. Zeynel, K. (March 16, 2016). "Declaration of the Founding of the Revolutionary United People's Movement". Nouvelle Turquie. Archived from the original on April 11, 2016. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
  3. "STATEMENT OF OUR PARTY, COMMUNIST PARTY OF TURKEY/MARXIST-LENINIST (TKP/ML) … | İşçi Köylü Kurtuluşu". ikk-online.org. Retrieved 2017-12-30.
  4. "PKK ve 9 örgütün oluşturduğu grup o saldırıyı üstlendi". Odatv.com. May 8, 2016. Retrieved July 26, 2016.
  5. "HBDH claims responsibility for the action in Giresun". Firat News Agency. May 8, 2016. Retrieved July 26, 2016.
  6. "HBDH: 11 riot police killed in Trabzon". Firat News Agency. July 21, 2016. Retrieved July 26, 2016.
  7. "Three police officers killed in attack in Turkey's north". Doğan News Agency. July 19, 2016. Retrieved July 26, 2016.
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