BY MAHMUT OVUR
SABAH- Obviously, the most interesting characteristic of the July 22 general elections is that independent candidates seized the opportunity. Not only Democratic Society Party (DTP) candidates, but also other independents have this chance. One of these is Professor Baskin Oran, an independent candidate from Istanbul's second district. Last week he held a press conference which mostly brought together old school leftist intellectuals. What was being presented by those leftists to modern society? Mine Gultekin, my `young guarde' assistant, watched this press conference. Her impressions are as follows:
Who will people who expect minority rights to be defended, ethnic discrimination to be stopped, and equality, individual freedoms and human rights to be defended end up voting for? A `superman' has come to the rescue: Baskin Oran, formerly a political science lecturer at Ankara University. Just when he was about to go to his country house to write books, Oran became a candidate with the support of people promoting independent candidates on the left. Acclaimed author Yasar Kemal will also vote for Oran! After the 1980 coup, Oran was dismissed from university three times due to his views and then taken back in. Oran stands with those who are suppressed and unjustly treated, and faced charges under Article 301, just like peace activist Hirat Dink, who was murdered earlier this year. He is the left's new hope. During the meeting kicking off his campaign, the enthusiasm in the packed hall attested to this. During the meeting, many intellectuals and activists made speeches and so channeled the feelings of the hundreds of people at the hall. They said that they were happy and hopeful because for the first time they would vote willingly and full of belief. In addition, two people got tremendous applause: Kemal and his fellow author Adalet Agaoglu. Agaoglu said that on her way to the meeting, she persuaded eight people more to vote for Oran. Kemal said that in past years when people asked him for who he would vote for he had no good answer, but now he has made up his mind to cast his ballot for Oran.
After all these speeches, a short film on Oran's life was presented. In the film, Oran recounted his memories with abundant humor, which made all the people laugh. Just afterwards, when he went to the podium, he stood with excitement. He said that he would be the voice in Parliament of those who are suppressed, excluded, and unjustly treated. He added that he would go to Parliament to reject the idea that only Kurds would vote for Kurds or Alevis for Alevis and also to say that a Turk can be defended by a Kurd, a socialist by a Circassian, etc. There is nothing we can add to these words. I would like to say this to people who are worried about voting for independent candidates: There is no threshold for independents, your votes will not be wasted!