R Yurukoglu (Veli Dursen)

To Central Committee TKP

Dear comrades

It was with shock and great sadness that I heard the news of Rustu Yurukoglu’s death. To die at the age of 56 is to be cut short. So much more still could have been done by a man of his talents and drive and so much more needs to be done.

Nevertheless cut short though it was the comrade lived life to the full. Above all he devoted himself to the finest cause there is - cause of communism and human liberation.

The comrade not only had an important impact on the communist movement in Turkey. His long exile in Britain and the translation of a number of his books into English ensured that the comrade materially effected the communist movement in Britain and helped its painful recovery in what were the darkest hours.

In 1979 Yurukoglu was responsible for my recruitment to the TKP. He plied me with strong drink and strong ideas in equal measure. A number of other British comrades also joined along with and after me. The plan was to learn from the higher level of class struggle in Turkey and later to apply those lessons to Britain.

My relationship with comrade Yurukoglu often proved difficult. There can be no doubt that the comrade had a domineering personality. Political differences existed as well on the prospects of world revolution and the durability of the system of capital. It should be emphasised though that these differences were between communists. What united us was always far more profound and significant than what happen to divide us.

In particular Yurukoglu will be associated in our minds with his books - Socialism will win, Living socialism, Socialism and democracy - books that powerfully argue for a socialism founded on the principles and practice of mass democracy.

There can be no denying the role played by comrade Yurukoglu in Britain. His ideas - especially his unyielding commitment to partyism - inspired those of us in the Communist Party of Great Britain who founded The Leninist journal in 1981 - this was the Weekly Worker’s precursor. The comrade gave his active and close attention to the early stages of our struggle against the galloping dangers of liquidationism and opportunism in Britain. We held numerous meetings. As befits serious communists there was agreement and disagreement.

Comrade Yurukoglu attended the first conference of our wing of the CPGB and was accorded full speaking rights. The comrade also participated in the international school we organised on the Greek island of Andros.

I regret that contact between us ended in the 1990s. This was certainly a loss as far as the CPGB is concerned.

Comrade Yurukoglu will be remembered by the communist movement in Turkey. Comrade Yurukoglu will also be remembered by the communist movement in Britain. He will always have a place in our hearts.

Fraternally

Jack Conrad