Thousands resign from Turkey’s DSP to say ‘yes’ in charter poll

Thursday, September 2, 2010 – MUŞ – Anatolia News Agency – Some 7,300 members of the Democratic Left Party, or DSP, in the eastern province of Muş have resigned from the party because they intend to vote “yes” on the upcoming constitutional referendum, contrary to the DSP leadership’s wishes.”

Former DSP provincial head Mehmet Ek held a press conference Thursday, saying the resignations included everybody in the party organization in Muş, including every member in the districts and villages.

DSP leader Masum Türker, however, has declared that the party will vote “no” in the Sept. 12 referendum. The party’s executive staff has been unsuccessful since DSP founder and former leader Bülent Ecevit died in 2006, Ek said, adding that they would vote “yes” because they want a brighter future without military juntas and alleged gangs like Ergenekon.

Ek said the “no” voters were against a civilian constitution and modern democracy.

“The logic of ‘I am the state, I own everything in this country, I do whatever I want’ is the logic of the people who are united around ‘no,’” said Ek, adding that this mentality made them respect Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the ruling Justice and Development Party, or AKP, more than their own party, which they perceived as the opposite.

“We will make our contribution by saying ‘yes’ in the referendum. We are resigning from the DSP collectively to participate in this honorable march.” Ek said the resignation letters of all the resigning members had been sent to the party’s general headquarters in Ankara