Opposition finds voice in Turkey referendum

WITH mainstream media saturated by pro-government campaigning ahead of the vote on broadening Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan’s powers, those opposed to the changes are seeking alternative channels to get their message across.

“No” supporters have complained of threats and bans from the authorities, and a report by one non-governmental group said TV coverage of the “yes” campaign had been 10 times more extensive.

“What we want to stress is that ‘no’ is a very important option.

“Let’s use our right to object,” said Mutlu, whose band, made up of teachers and students from a local university, put their song

One “no” is enough on YouTube. Sunday’s referendum will decide on the biggest change in Turkey’s system of governance since the foundation of the modern republic almost a century ago, potentially replacing its parliamentary system with an executive presidency. Erdogan says the change is needed to give Turkey stronger leadership.

Opponents fear increasingly authoritarian rule from a president they cast as a would-be sultan, who brooks little dissent.

The vote is being held under a state of emergency imposed after a failed military coup nine months ago, meaning there are “substantive” limitations on freedom of expression and assembly, according to the Venice Commission, a panel of legal experts at the Council of Europe.

Turkey has purged more than 113 000 people from the police, judiciary, military and elsewhere since the coup attempt, and has closed more than 130 media outlets.

The leaders of the pro-Kurdish opposition HDP, parliament’s third-largest party, have been jailed over alleged links to Kurdish militants.

“The extremely unfavourable environment for journalism... that prevails in Turkey at this point question the very possibility of holding a meaningful, inclusive democratic referendum campaign,” the Venice Commission said last month. – teleSUR