What started out as a peaceful sit-in protest to save trees in Gezi Park in central Constantinopole's Taksim Square ended in serious injuries, chaos and destruction. Also this new Turkish Spring has rapidly become a far wider expression of discontent against government authoritarianism in particular. From restrictions on alcohol sales and warnings over behaviour in public (or kissing), many see the heavy hand of government and especially of the prime minister. Erdogan has denied trying to impose Islamic values, insisting he is committed to state secularism.
Instead, he has vowed to push ahead with several large infrastructure projects he sees as embodying Turkey’s emergence as a "Major Power".
Riots continued well into the night of Friday into Saturday in Turkey as police clashed with demonstrators in the fiercest anti-government protests for years.
Police in riot gear and gas masks led a dawn raid against demonstrators, firing tear gas bombs and water cannons at the crowds. A Facebook message to various media outlets reports that it is about more than just trees - the people are tired of police state bully tactics.
Government renovation was going to uproot the trees "to make way for a replica Ottoman army barracks and a shopping mall" -- protesters say this is the last green space in Constantinopole center. Peaceful demonstrations began on Monday and at some point, a court order delayed the uprooting. Police raids dispersed the gathering literally firing tear gas canisters at the people. Pictures of the ammunition flying out can be seen here.
Twelve people are seriously injured, six have brain injuries including an Egyptian tourist now having surgery for brain hemorrhaging. A Reuters photographer was also injured. Hundreds are suffering with respiratory complications from the gas.
Police chases compelled people to climb a wall to escape tear gas clouds, and injuries also occurred there when it collapsed.
From Washington Post:
The dawn raid was the latest in a series of aggressive crackdown on protests. Human rights activists frequently accuse Turkish police of using inordinate force to break up protests and of excessively using tear gas and pepper spray against protesters.Why is it being called a late bloom Occupy wave?
Other reports are hinting that there is more behind the clashes. Reportedly, the protest grew into 5,000 (a Facebook-er reports 10,000 in gatherings below) and spilled into the capital Ankara.
"The use of violence by police on this scale appears designed to deny the right to peaceful protest altogether and to discourage others from taking part' said John Dalhuisen, Director of Europe and Central Asia Program at Amnesty International.AP reported:
"The use of tear gas against peaceful protestors and in confined spaces where it may constitute a serious danger to health is unacceptable, breaches international human rights standards and must be stopped immediately.' (source)
Protests were also held in a dozen other cities, including one that drew thousands in the third-largest city of Izmir, reports said.
Report:
http://www.activistpost.com/2013/05/police-brutality-breaks-out-at-late.html
Other Reports, Footage, and Updates:
http://rt.com/news/turkey-clashes-istanbul-park-067/
http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Turkish+police+stage+dawn+raid+break+peaceful+sitin+protect/8459431/story.html
Posts
