16.09.1999

Workers’ assimilation

Comrade Esen Uslu - a comrade with a long history in the communist movement of Turkey - addressed a special London CPGB seminar on September 12 on the recent horrific earthquake in his country. The comrade described the abject failure of the state to provide aid in the immediate aftermath of the disaster. However, he pointed out that the revolutionary left had been found wanting too. In the first few days of the disaster, a political vacuum existed. Revolutionary and communist organisations were too weak to organise the anger of the masses against the authorities.

In wide-ranging discussion that followed the comrade’s opening, one of the most important topics touched on was the question of assimilation. The Turkish and Kurdish populations - concentrated in London - are undoubtedly the most revolutionary communities in Britain today. Yet, unlike the history of many such exile peoples in this country, there has been little or no real blending of our two traditions. Those from Turkish and Kurdish backgrounds have had at best a peripheral role in the indigenous workers’ movement, to our detriment.

Assimilation cannot be fought. The youth of Turkish and Kurdish ethnic origin will become an organic part of British society. But without a conscious struggle they will not do so as revolutionaries. This would be a great loss.

The comrade spoke of the response of exile organisations in this country to the quake and singled out the quick initiative and militant orientation of Day-Mer (see below).

Mark Fischer