Haldex
Expert Member
Taksim square will never be the same 
I wonder if they looting there?
I wonder if they looting there?
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Unrest in Turkey
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AchmatK
Honorary Master
*****
Leaving for Istanbul in 2 week. Bad enough that my holiday i now costing me 10% more because of the rand and now this.
Leaving for Istanbul in 2 week. Bad enough that my holiday i now costing me 10% more because of the rand and now this.
Last edited:
Nothing wrong with Turkey entering the EU. They just have to own up to the Kurdish genocide.
Agreed. Turkey has generally been a secular state and as soon as they fsck up the military has been there to remove the non-secular c*nts and uphold the constitution. It's actually a weird country in that way where the military steps in not to take power but to uphold the law.
This won't turn into a second Syria. Was a a very interesting discussion on Reddit about it today, involving some Turkish nationals.
The military is very secular and neutral - hence the reason that the police is 'handling' the riots.
Historically the military has stepped in previously and taken control of the government until elections were held.
Also the reason why over 300 senior officers and generals have been forcibly retired or put under suspension in the past year or so.
+1 If this goes much further the military will step up to the plate and do the right thing. They will remove those in power going against the constitution of the country and secular laws. Secular rules/laws within the military is very strict, hence the removal of certain people you mentioned. It's actually a weird scenario where you see a coup but for the good of the country. Turkey will end up doing the right thing at the end of the day. The thing that grates my ass however is that it's Islam voting these c*nts into power in the first place, you need a majority to do that so don't tell me Islam is not in support of a non-secular states, they're all the same and allah comes first.
Grant
Honorary Master
I think all may be well regards the military for now, until "adjustments" are made to the military hierarchy to obtain a critical mass to support & uphold religion based laws !
I dunno about that, it was tried recently and they got booted out very quickly, heads rolled from top to bottom. They seem to have a very low tolerance for bullscite.
killadoob
Honorary Master
Problem is the syrian war is going to spill over into many countries. Iran and hezbollah along with russian migs and air defense will ensure intervention is not possible. So what now? Assad remains in power and the rebels get pomped. not ideal.
Now turkey and lebanon well sectarian violence will perhaps grow to iraq levels? With hezbollah and iran commited to the cause the rebels don't have a chance. they even turned down a peaceful solution. Once again the western powers thought syria was easy get russia and china to sign a resolution and bomb assad into defeat. Sadly blocked. Now what? hezbollah and iranian troops ready to get involved with russia sending over mig planes, maybe not the best but still russia is not retreating and if anything they are showing more aggression to a regime threatened by terrorists. Al quade are terrorists.
I don't think that's true though. killadoob will be able to tell you that too. Agent Orange is not something the police would use
The dudes roiting in Sweden were immigrants from the third world, not atheists...:erm:
Do you see me saying anywhere that it was atheists doing the rioting?
I was responding to F1 Fan's question of "which country does not have unrest anymore"
Please read posts correctly before assuming things.
LazyLion
King of de Jungle
Thousands of protesters in Istanbul were celebrating victory early Sunday after police withdrew from the square at the centre of one of the largest demonstrations against Turkey's Islamist-rooted government.
Rights groups denounced police violence, with Amnesty International saying that there had been two deaths, while Turkey's Western allies Britain and the United States called on the government to show restraint.
Taksim Square has become the epicentre of demonstrations that have left dozens injured -- hundreds according to Amnesty, which also said some protesters had been left blinded by the tear gas used by police.
Late on Saturday however, the protesters danced and sang in the square after the police pull-back, some even launching fireworks in celebration.
"Government, resign!" protesters shouted as the police retreated.
"We are here Tayyip, where are you?" they chanted, taunting Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
What began as an outcry against a local development project has snowballed into a broader protest against what critics say is the government's increasingly conservative and authoritarian agenda.
Since the first clashes on Friday, the unrest has spread to other cities across the country.
On Saturday, police in Ankara blocked a group of demonstrators from marching on parliament and the prime minister's office.
Erdogan conceded in a speech that there may have been some cases of "extreme" police action.
But he added: "I call on the protesters to stop their demonstrations immediately."
The interior ministry said legal action would be taken against police officers who had acted "disproportionately."
Erdogan was speaking as clashes raged for a second day at Taksim Square, a popular tourist destination and traditional rallying site in Istanbul.
"It is true that there have been some mistakes, extremism in police response," Erdogan added.
The Turkish premier nevertheless vowed to push forward with controversial plans to redevelop the square -- the issue that sparked the protests.
Down in the square the mood was equally defiant.
"We are still ruled by a prime minister who thinks people are lambs and declares himself the sultan," said 19-year-old law student Batuhan Kantas, sitting exhausted on the ground.
-- Police response 'disgraceful': Amnesty --
Turkey's President Abdullah Gul said the protests had reached a "worrisome level" and called for restraint on both sides.
Interior Minister Muammer Guler said that 53 citizens and 26 police officers had been injured across the country. One of the injured civilians was in intensive care unit at an Istanbul hospital, he said.
The minister also said police had detained 939 protesters in over 90 demonstrations in 48 cities, though some had later been released.
Officials said a dozen people were being treated in hospitals.
But Amnesty International spoke of reports of two deaths and more than a thousand injured, although there was no official confirmation of those figures.
Amnesty's Europe director John Dalhuisen said police excesses in Turkey had become routine.
"But the excessively heavy-handed response to the entirely peaceful protests in Taksim has been truly disgraceful," he added.
Human Rights Watch also suggested the real casualty figure was much higher than the official figures. One protester had lost an eye after police shot him with a plastic bullet, the group reported.
The US State Department called on Turkey to uphold "fundamental freedoms of expression, assembly and association, which is what it seems these individuals were doing".
"We urge authorities in Turkey to exercise restraint and not to use tear gas indiscriminately," the British foreign office tweeted on Saturday.
The Istanbul protest began as a peaceful sit-in at Gezi park across the iconic square.
The demonstrators had been preventing workers from razing some the park's 600 trees, the last patch of green in the commercial area, to make way for the restoration of Ottoman era military barracks. Residents fear that the barracks will be turned into a shopping mall.
But the demonstration soon took a violent turn, with police firing rounds of tear gas to disperse the protesters.
"We were sitting there around the square and reading a press statement when the police came toward us with riot vehicles, spraying gas," said one demonstrator, 34-year-old Burak Ozbey.
He said his friend had to undergo a second brain operation after she was hit in the head on Friday by a gas cannister and remained in critical condition.
Local media reported that Istanbul police were running short of tear gas and had been warned to use it sparingly.
Clashes raged overnight Friday to Saturday with thousands of people marching through the city, some banging pots and pans as residents shouted support from the windows.
Others held up cans of beer in defiance of a recent alcohol law by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) that will restrict the sale and advertising of alcohol.
Erdogan's populist government is regularly accused of trying to make the predominantly Muslim but staunchly secular country more conservative.
Source : Sapa-AFP /ma
Date : 02 Jun 2013 04:32
Rights groups denounced police violence, with Amnesty International saying that there had been two deaths, while Turkey's Western allies Britain and the United States called on the government to show restraint.
Taksim Square has become the epicentre of demonstrations that have left dozens injured -- hundreds according to Amnesty, which also said some protesters had been left blinded by the tear gas used by police.
Late on Saturday however, the protesters danced and sang in the square after the police pull-back, some even launching fireworks in celebration.
"Government, resign!" protesters shouted as the police retreated.
"We are here Tayyip, where are you?" they chanted, taunting Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
What began as an outcry against a local development project has snowballed into a broader protest against what critics say is the government's increasingly conservative and authoritarian agenda.
Since the first clashes on Friday, the unrest has spread to other cities across the country.
On Saturday, police in Ankara blocked a group of demonstrators from marching on parliament and the prime minister's office.
Erdogan conceded in a speech that there may have been some cases of "extreme" police action.
But he added: "I call on the protesters to stop their demonstrations immediately."
The interior ministry said legal action would be taken against police officers who had acted "disproportionately."
Erdogan was speaking as clashes raged for a second day at Taksim Square, a popular tourist destination and traditional rallying site in Istanbul.
"It is true that there have been some mistakes, extremism in police response," Erdogan added.
The Turkish premier nevertheless vowed to push forward with controversial plans to redevelop the square -- the issue that sparked the protests.
Down in the square the mood was equally defiant.
"We are still ruled by a prime minister who thinks people are lambs and declares himself the sultan," said 19-year-old law student Batuhan Kantas, sitting exhausted on the ground.
-- Police response 'disgraceful': Amnesty --
Turkey's President Abdullah Gul said the protests had reached a "worrisome level" and called for restraint on both sides.
Interior Minister Muammer Guler said that 53 citizens and 26 police officers had been injured across the country. One of the injured civilians was in intensive care unit at an Istanbul hospital, he said.
The minister also said police had detained 939 protesters in over 90 demonstrations in 48 cities, though some had later been released.
Officials said a dozen people were being treated in hospitals.
But Amnesty International spoke of reports of two deaths and more than a thousand injured, although there was no official confirmation of those figures.
Amnesty's Europe director John Dalhuisen said police excesses in Turkey had become routine.
"But the excessively heavy-handed response to the entirely peaceful protests in Taksim has been truly disgraceful," he added.
Human Rights Watch also suggested the real casualty figure was much higher than the official figures. One protester had lost an eye after police shot him with a plastic bullet, the group reported.
The US State Department called on Turkey to uphold "fundamental freedoms of expression, assembly and association, which is what it seems these individuals were doing".
"We urge authorities in Turkey to exercise restraint and not to use tear gas indiscriminately," the British foreign office tweeted on Saturday.
The Istanbul protest began as a peaceful sit-in at Gezi park across the iconic square.
The demonstrators had been preventing workers from razing some the park's 600 trees, the last patch of green in the commercial area, to make way for the restoration of Ottoman era military barracks. Residents fear that the barracks will be turned into a shopping mall.
But the demonstration soon took a violent turn, with police firing rounds of tear gas to disperse the protesters.
"We were sitting there around the square and reading a press statement when the police came toward us with riot vehicles, spraying gas," said one demonstrator, 34-year-old Burak Ozbey.
He said his friend had to undergo a second brain operation after she was hit in the head on Friday by a gas cannister and remained in critical condition.
Local media reported that Istanbul police were running short of tear gas and had been warned to use it sparingly.
Clashes raged overnight Friday to Saturday with thousands of people marching through the city, some banging pots and pans as residents shouted support from the windows.
Others held up cans of beer in defiance of a recent alcohol law by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) that will restrict the sale and advertising of alcohol.
Erdogan's populist government is regularly accused of trying to make the predominantly Muslim but staunchly secular country more conservative.
Source : Sapa-AFP /ma
Date : 02 Jun 2013 04:32
LazyLion
King of de Jungle
In a scene reminiscent of the Arab Spring, thousands of people on Saturday flooded Istanbul's main square after a crackdown on an anti-government protest turned city streets into a battlefield clouded by tear gas.
Though he offered some concessions to demonstrators, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan remained largely defiant in the face of the biggest popular challenge to his power in a decade in office, insisting the protests are undemocratic and illegitimate.
Public anger has flared among urban and secular Turks after police violently broke up an anti-development sit-in in the landmark Taksim Square, with protests spreading to dozens of other cities as demonstrators denounced what they see as Erdogan's increasingly authoritarian style.
As the furious protests entered its second day, police fired tear gas and turned on water cannons at angry demonstrators, some of whom threw rocks and bottles on their march toward Taksim. In an area normally abuzz with tourists, stores were shuttered and protesters fled into luxury hotels for shelter. There were hundreds of arrests and injured.
Turkish authorities later removed barricades and allowed thousands of demonstrators into the square in an effort to calm tension. Sounding defiant even as he bowed to protesters and pulled back police, Erdogan promised to stick to the government's redevelopment plans - which protesters fear will remove one of the few green spaces in the sprawling city.
He called the protesters a "minority" that was trying to forcefully impose demands and challenged the opposition that he could easily summon a million people for a government rally.
"I am not claiming that a government that has received the majority of the votes has limitless powers ... and can do whatever it wants," Erdogan said in a televised speech. "Just as the majority cannot impose its will on the minority, the minority cannot impose its will on the majority."
Under Erdogan's leadership, Turkey has boosted economic growth and raised its international profile, taking a central role in post-Arab Spring politics in the region. Though widely supported by rural and conservative religious Muslims, he remains a divisive figure in mainly secular circles and is criticized for his often abrasive style.
Hundreds of people were injured in the protests, including four people who permanently lost their eyesight after being hit by gas canisters or plastic bullets, Huseyin Demirdizen of Turkey's Doctors' Association told The Associated Press. He said at least two people injured in the protests are in life-threatening condition.
Interior Minister Muammer Guler said more than 900 people were detained during the protests but some of them were released after questioning. He did not say how many were still in custody. The protest had spread to 48 cities, he added.
The mood at Taksim after Erdogan called off the police was cheerful. Protesters chanted "Tayyip resign!" Turkish celebrities joined the crowds, with thousands milling around the square, waving flags, and cheering and clapping at anti-government speeches. Many drank beer in protest of newly enacted alcohol curbs, singing "cheers Tayyip!"
Private NTV television reported that protesters built barricades at entrances to the square to prevent police from returning.
Sporadic clashes continued between police and a group of protesters who were trying to approach Erdogan's office in Istanbul, which is located at a former Ottoman palace. The Dogan news agency said the protesters had set an abandoned police vehicle on fire.
In Ankara, thousands congregated at a busy shopping street, jovially singing, waving Turkish flags, and frequently breaking into calls for Erdogan to resign. One group jokingly called on police to fire more tear gas at protesters suggesting they had grown addicted and "were going crazy" without it.
"We have had it up to here with him," said protestor Neslihan Yildirim, raising her hand to her chin. "Constant oppression... All the intervention in our lives."
Although scenes at the square brought to mind Cairo's Tahrir Square, the center of an uprising that ended Egyptian President Hosni Mubarek's rule, the protests were not likely bring down Erdogan's government, one analyst said.
The protests were more of a warning, according to Ahmet Cigdem, a professor of sociology and political science at Ankara's Gazi University.
"The people showed that the government's rule is not guaranteed just because they obtained some 50 percent of the votes and just because there is no powerful political opposition in Turkey," Cigdem said.
"These protests have clearly showed what the people reject. They are saying 'Don't force your political, sociological and cultural impositions on our lives. Don't try to shape my thoughts and my beliefs," he said.
In a surprise move last week, the government quickly passed legislation curbing the sale and advertising of alcoholic drinks, alarming secularists. Many felt insulted when he defended the legislation by calling people who drink "alcoholics." He insists the new regulations are aimed at protecting Turkey's youth from the harms of alcohol.
Erdogan is frequently criticized as a meddler in all aspects of life, telling couples, for example, to bear a minimum of three children. He also berated producers of a popular television series on the life of Ottoman Sultan Suleyman the Magnificient for depicting him as a figure who spends his time dwelling on his harem instead of fighting wars.
The government's policy on Syria also remains unpopular, with many believing its open support to rebels fighting Syrian President Bashar Assad's regime has put Turkey's security at risk. On May 11, twin car bombs at a border town the government blamed on Syria killed 52 and sparked anti-government protests.
At dawn on Saturday, police violently rousted protesters who had camped out at Taksim to protest the planned removal of trees in the square. Officials are planning to rebuild a former Ottoman army barracks and put in a shopping mall.
"We can hardly believe that a small action caused by a tree or two has led to such an uprising," demonstrator Hande Topaloglu said.
The protest was also seen as a demonstration of the anger building toward Turkish police, who have been accused of using inordinate force to quash demonstrations and of using tear gas excessively.
In another gesture to placate protesters, Erdogan said that police may have used tear gas excessively. The Interior Ministry said police officers who abused their power would be punished.
As police retreated from Taksim, some protesters hurled objects at officers and police vehicles, prompting police to fire several rounds of tear gas. Police also withdrew from a protest in Ankara.
Erdogan said the government was determined to revamp Taksim and rebuild the old army barracks but said no firm decision was made on building a shopping mall. He also spoke of government plans to tear down a cultural center to build an opera hall, in statements that could cause further controversy.
The protests broke out just days after Istanbul pitched its bid to host the 2020 Olympic games to sports and Olympic officials at a conference in St. Petersburg.
The United States, Britain and Sweden were among countries that asked citizens to stay away from areas where protests were held.
In Syria, Information Minister Omran al-Zoubi said Erdogan's suppression of the peaceful protests in Turkey was "illogical and reveals his detachment from reality."
Echoing words that Erdogan has used against Syrian leader Assad, Al-Zoubi said it is unjustified that Erdogan should defy his people.
-----
Fraser reported from Ankara. Associated Press writers Ezgi Akin and Burhan Ozbilici in Ankara, Karin Laub in Beirut and Jan M. Olsen in Copenhagen, Denmark, contributed to this report.
Source : Sapa-AP /ma
Date : 02 Jun 2013 01:26
Though he offered some concessions to demonstrators, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan remained largely defiant in the face of the biggest popular challenge to his power in a decade in office, insisting the protests are undemocratic and illegitimate.
Public anger has flared among urban and secular Turks after police violently broke up an anti-development sit-in in the landmark Taksim Square, with protests spreading to dozens of other cities as demonstrators denounced what they see as Erdogan's increasingly authoritarian style.
As the furious protests entered its second day, police fired tear gas and turned on water cannons at angry demonstrators, some of whom threw rocks and bottles on their march toward Taksim. In an area normally abuzz with tourists, stores were shuttered and protesters fled into luxury hotels for shelter. There were hundreds of arrests and injured.
Turkish authorities later removed barricades and allowed thousands of demonstrators into the square in an effort to calm tension. Sounding defiant even as he bowed to protesters and pulled back police, Erdogan promised to stick to the government's redevelopment plans - which protesters fear will remove one of the few green spaces in the sprawling city.
He called the protesters a "minority" that was trying to forcefully impose demands and challenged the opposition that he could easily summon a million people for a government rally.
"I am not claiming that a government that has received the majority of the votes has limitless powers ... and can do whatever it wants," Erdogan said in a televised speech. "Just as the majority cannot impose its will on the minority, the minority cannot impose its will on the majority."
Under Erdogan's leadership, Turkey has boosted economic growth and raised its international profile, taking a central role in post-Arab Spring politics in the region. Though widely supported by rural and conservative religious Muslims, he remains a divisive figure in mainly secular circles and is criticized for his often abrasive style.
Hundreds of people were injured in the protests, including four people who permanently lost their eyesight after being hit by gas canisters or plastic bullets, Huseyin Demirdizen of Turkey's Doctors' Association told The Associated Press. He said at least two people injured in the protests are in life-threatening condition.
Interior Minister Muammer Guler said more than 900 people were detained during the protests but some of them were released after questioning. He did not say how many were still in custody. The protest had spread to 48 cities, he added.
The mood at Taksim after Erdogan called off the police was cheerful. Protesters chanted "Tayyip resign!" Turkish celebrities joined the crowds, with thousands milling around the square, waving flags, and cheering and clapping at anti-government speeches. Many drank beer in protest of newly enacted alcohol curbs, singing "cheers Tayyip!"
Private NTV television reported that protesters built barricades at entrances to the square to prevent police from returning.
Sporadic clashes continued between police and a group of protesters who were trying to approach Erdogan's office in Istanbul, which is located at a former Ottoman palace. The Dogan news agency said the protesters had set an abandoned police vehicle on fire.
In Ankara, thousands congregated at a busy shopping street, jovially singing, waving Turkish flags, and frequently breaking into calls for Erdogan to resign. One group jokingly called on police to fire more tear gas at protesters suggesting they had grown addicted and "were going crazy" without it.
"We have had it up to here with him," said protestor Neslihan Yildirim, raising her hand to her chin. "Constant oppression... All the intervention in our lives."
Although scenes at the square brought to mind Cairo's Tahrir Square, the center of an uprising that ended Egyptian President Hosni Mubarek's rule, the protests were not likely bring down Erdogan's government, one analyst said.
The protests were more of a warning, according to Ahmet Cigdem, a professor of sociology and political science at Ankara's Gazi University.
"The people showed that the government's rule is not guaranteed just because they obtained some 50 percent of the votes and just because there is no powerful political opposition in Turkey," Cigdem said.
"These protests have clearly showed what the people reject. They are saying 'Don't force your political, sociological and cultural impositions on our lives. Don't try to shape my thoughts and my beliefs," he said.
In a surprise move last week, the government quickly passed legislation curbing the sale and advertising of alcoholic drinks, alarming secularists. Many felt insulted when he defended the legislation by calling people who drink "alcoholics." He insists the new regulations are aimed at protecting Turkey's youth from the harms of alcohol.
Erdogan is frequently criticized as a meddler in all aspects of life, telling couples, for example, to bear a minimum of three children. He also berated producers of a popular television series on the life of Ottoman Sultan Suleyman the Magnificient for depicting him as a figure who spends his time dwelling on his harem instead of fighting wars.
The government's policy on Syria also remains unpopular, with many believing its open support to rebels fighting Syrian President Bashar Assad's regime has put Turkey's security at risk. On May 11, twin car bombs at a border town the government blamed on Syria killed 52 and sparked anti-government protests.
At dawn on Saturday, police violently rousted protesters who had camped out at Taksim to protest the planned removal of trees in the square. Officials are planning to rebuild a former Ottoman army barracks and put in a shopping mall.
"We can hardly believe that a small action caused by a tree or two has led to such an uprising," demonstrator Hande Topaloglu said.
The protest was also seen as a demonstration of the anger building toward Turkish police, who have been accused of using inordinate force to quash demonstrations and of using tear gas excessively.
In another gesture to placate protesters, Erdogan said that police may have used tear gas excessively. The Interior Ministry said police officers who abused their power would be punished.
As police retreated from Taksim, some protesters hurled objects at officers and police vehicles, prompting police to fire several rounds of tear gas. Police also withdrew from a protest in Ankara.
Erdogan said the government was determined to revamp Taksim and rebuild the old army barracks but said no firm decision was made on building a shopping mall. He also spoke of government plans to tear down a cultural center to build an opera hall, in statements that could cause further controversy.
The protests broke out just days after Istanbul pitched its bid to host the 2020 Olympic games to sports and Olympic officials at a conference in St. Petersburg.
The United States, Britain and Sweden were among countries that asked citizens to stay away from areas where protests were held.
In Syria, Information Minister Omran al-Zoubi said Erdogan's suppression of the peaceful protests in Turkey was "illogical and reveals his detachment from reality."
Echoing words that Erdogan has used against Syrian leader Assad, Al-Zoubi said it is unjustified that Erdogan should defy his people.
-----
Fraser reported from Ankara. Associated Press writers Ezgi Akin and Burhan Ozbilici in Ankara, Karin Laub in Beirut and Jan M. Olsen in Copenhagen, Denmark, contributed to this report.
Source : Sapa-AP /ma
Date : 02 Jun 2013 01:26
LazyLion
King of de Jungle
Hundreds of people demonstrated in New York on Saturday in a show of support for mass protests in Turkey against the Islamist-rooted government of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The marchers gathered at Zuccotti Park, near Wall Street, which also became the nerve center for the Occupy Wall Street movement when it took over the public space in late 2011.
Many wore red and white, the colors of the Turkish flag. They chanted in Turkish: "Tayip, Resign!" Their banners read, in English and Turkish, "Enough!" and "Resistanbul."
In Istanbul, thousands of protesters in Istanbul celebrated a victory earlier as police withdrew from Taksim Square, in one of the largest demonstrations against Erdogan's government.
"Government, resign!" protesters shouted as riot police pulled back from the city's central square, the epicenter of the demonstrations that have left dozens injured and earned Turkey a rare rebuke from its Western allies.
Police have detained 939 protesters in over 90 demonstrations in 48 cities, officials said.
Erdogan's populist government is regularly accused of trying to make the predominantly Muslim but staunchly secular country more conservative.
Source : Sapa-AFP /ma
Date : 02 Jun 2013 02:32
The marchers gathered at Zuccotti Park, near Wall Street, which also became the nerve center for the Occupy Wall Street movement when it took over the public space in late 2011.
Many wore red and white, the colors of the Turkish flag. They chanted in Turkish: "Tayip, Resign!" Their banners read, in English and Turkish, "Enough!" and "Resistanbul."
In Istanbul, thousands of protesters in Istanbul celebrated a victory earlier as police withdrew from Taksim Square, in one of the largest demonstrations against Erdogan's government.
"Government, resign!" protesters shouted as riot police pulled back from the city's central square, the epicenter of the demonstrations that have left dozens injured and earned Turkey a rare rebuke from its Western allies.
Police have detained 939 protesters in over 90 demonstrations in 48 cities, officials said.
Erdogan's populist government is regularly accused of trying to make the predominantly Muslim but staunchly secular country more conservative.
Source : Sapa-AFP /ma
Date : 02 Jun 2013 02:32
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LazyLion
King of de Jungle
Turkey's Islamist-rooted government faced growing pressure on Monday after angry demonstrators clashed for a third night with police in a nationwide wave of protests.
Police fired tear gas and water cannon Sunday at protesters who marched on Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's offices in Istanbul and Ankara.
"Dictator, resign!... We will resist until we win," yelled the crowds, in the latest of a string of protests that have by some accounts left hundreds injured.
Police had withdrawn on Saturday from Istanbul's main Taksim Square, the symbolic heart of demonstrations that started over an unpopular building project nearby and boiled over into a general protest against the government.
Crowds of whistling, flag-waving protestors continued to cover Taksim Square but the flashpoint shifted late Sunday to the area near Erdogan's nearby Istanbul base.
AFP reporters there saw police disperse thousands of demonstrators and incidents continued into early Monday.
Interior Minister Muammer Guler said earlier that more than 1,700 people had been arrested in the unrest nationwide, though most have since been released.
He said 58 civilians and 115 security officers had been injured over several days of protests, although rights groups have put the number of injured higher.
A doctors' union in Ankara said more than 400 civilians had been injured there including some with serious head wounds.
Rights groups have complained about what Amnesty International described as a "disgraceful" heavy-handed response by police to the demonstrations.
Turkey's Western allies have appealed for restraint.
The unrest began as a local outcry against plans to redevelop Gezi Park, a rare green spot near Taksim, but after a heavy-handed police response it quickly snowballed.
Accused by critics of pushing an increasingly conservative and authoritarian agenda, Erdogan's government is facing the biggest protests since it took power in 2002.
Erdogan on Sunday renewed his call for an end to the disturbances.
"If you love this country, if you love Istanbul, do not fall for these games," he said in televised comments.
-- Protests 'harm Turkey's reputation' --
Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu warned in a Twitter message: "The continuation of these protests... will bring no benefits but will harm the reputation of our country which is admired both in the region and the world."
Guler estimated the cost at more than 20 million liras (eight million euros, $10 million).
The prime minister had insisted on Saturday that his government would press ahead with the park redevelopment, although he said it may not include a shopping mall, as protesters fear.
He also admitted "some mistakes" in the police response and called off the police from Taksim on Saturday after an outcry.
He confirmed on Sunday however a plan to build a mosque on Taksim Square -- a sensitive move as he faces growing accusations of trying to impose an Islamic agenda.
Amnesty International said some protesters had been left blinded by the massive quantities of tear gas and pepper spray used by police.
Amnesty's Europe director John Dalhuisen said "the excessively heavy-handed response to the entirely peaceful protests in Taksim has been truly disgraceful."
Human Rights Watch said the number of injured was higher than official figures suggested and that one protester had lost an eye after police shot him with a plastic bullet.
Turkey's NATO allies Britain, France and the United States have all urged the Erdogan government to exercise restraint.
They were joined Sunday by the European Union. The EU's foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton released a statement condemning the "disproportionate use of force" used by Turkish police.
"Dialogue should be opened to find a peaceful solution to this issue," she said.
Turkey's southeastern neighbour Iraq on Sunday warned of the implications for the region.
"We are worried about the security fallout of the situation in Turkey," said Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki in an emailed statement.
"Adopting violence will cause it to spread, which will affect the situation in the region. We call for restraint and for avoiding violence."
Erdogan's populist government is often accused of trying to make predominantly Muslim but staunchly secular Turkey more conservative.
A controversial new law introduced by his ruling Justice and Development Party aims to restrict the sale and advertising of alcohol.
"It's not about the Gezi Park project anymore. It has become a movement against the government which is interfering more and more in our private life," said Hamdi, a protestor in Ankara who would not give his family name.
The government has also been criticised for its crackdown on opponents including Kurds, journalists and the military establishment.
"They call me a dictator," Erdogan said in a speech on Sunday. "If they liken a humble servant to a dictator, then I am at a loss for words."
Source : Sapa-AFP /ma
Date : 03 Jun 2013 04:16
Police fired tear gas and water cannon Sunday at protesters who marched on Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's offices in Istanbul and Ankara.
"Dictator, resign!... We will resist until we win," yelled the crowds, in the latest of a string of protests that have by some accounts left hundreds injured.
Police had withdrawn on Saturday from Istanbul's main Taksim Square, the symbolic heart of demonstrations that started over an unpopular building project nearby and boiled over into a general protest against the government.
Crowds of whistling, flag-waving protestors continued to cover Taksim Square but the flashpoint shifted late Sunday to the area near Erdogan's nearby Istanbul base.
AFP reporters there saw police disperse thousands of demonstrators and incidents continued into early Monday.
Interior Minister Muammer Guler said earlier that more than 1,700 people had been arrested in the unrest nationwide, though most have since been released.
He said 58 civilians and 115 security officers had been injured over several days of protests, although rights groups have put the number of injured higher.
A doctors' union in Ankara said more than 400 civilians had been injured there including some with serious head wounds.
Rights groups have complained about what Amnesty International described as a "disgraceful" heavy-handed response by police to the demonstrations.
Turkey's Western allies have appealed for restraint.
The unrest began as a local outcry against plans to redevelop Gezi Park, a rare green spot near Taksim, but after a heavy-handed police response it quickly snowballed.
Accused by critics of pushing an increasingly conservative and authoritarian agenda, Erdogan's government is facing the biggest protests since it took power in 2002.
Erdogan on Sunday renewed his call for an end to the disturbances.
"If you love this country, if you love Istanbul, do not fall for these games," he said in televised comments.
-- Protests 'harm Turkey's reputation' --
Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu warned in a Twitter message: "The continuation of these protests... will bring no benefits but will harm the reputation of our country which is admired both in the region and the world."
Guler estimated the cost at more than 20 million liras (eight million euros, $10 million).
The prime minister had insisted on Saturday that his government would press ahead with the park redevelopment, although he said it may not include a shopping mall, as protesters fear.
He also admitted "some mistakes" in the police response and called off the police from Taksim on Saturday after an outcry.
He confirmed on Sunday however a plan to build a mosque on Taksim Square -- a sensitive move as he faces growing accusations of trying to impose an Islamic agenda.
Amnesty International said some protesters had been left blinded by the massive quantities of tear gas and pepper spray used by police.
Amnesty's Europe director John Dalhuisen said "the excessively heavy-handed response to the entirely peaceful protests in Taksim has been truly disgraceful."
Human Rights Watch said the number of injured was higher than official figures suggested and that one protester had lost an eye after police shot him with a plastic bullet.
Turkey's NATO allies Britain, France and the United States have all urged the Erdogan government to exercise restraint.
They were joined Sunday by the European Union. The EU's foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton released a statement condemning the "disproportionate use of force" used by Turkish police.
"Dialogue should be opened to find a peaceful solution to this issue," she said.
Turkey's southeastern neighbour Iraq on Sunday warned of the implications for the region.
"We are worried about the security fallout of the situation in Turkey," said Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki in an emailed statement.
"Adopting violence will cause it to spread, which will affect the situation in the region. We call for restraint and for avoiding violence."
Erdogan's populist government is often accused of trying to make predominantly Muslim but staunchly secular Turkey more conservative.
A controversial new law introduced by his ruling Justice and Development Party aims to restrict the sale and advertising of alcohol.
"It's not about the Gezi Park project anymore. It has become a movement against the government which is interfering more and more in our private life," said Hamdi, a protestor in Ankara who would not give his family name.
The government has also been criticised for its crackdown on opponents including Kurds, journalists and the military establishment.
"They call me a dictator," Erdogan said in a speech on Sunday. "If they liken a humble servant to a dictator, then I am at a loss for words."
Source : Sapa-AFP /ma
Date : 03 Jun 2013 04:16
My friends in Turkey are upset. They say that the conservative government is trying to implement religious based morality into government. Everyone (outside of the middle east ) knows when religion and government mix theres a serious **** up.
LazyLion
King of de Jungle
Very valid reason to be fearful!
LazyLion
King of de Jungle
Turkey's crackdown on opposition protesters that reports said left at least two dead and more than 1,000 injured was "truly disgraceful," Amnesty International said Sunday on a third day of the demonstrations.
"It is clear that the use of force by police is being driven not by the need to respond to violence - of which there has been very little on the part of protesters - but by a desire to prevent and discourage protest of any kind," said John Dalhusien, director of Amnesty International for Europe.
The London-based human rights group accused police of targeting protesters with excessive amounts of tear gas and keeping those arrested confined without food or water for up to 12 hours.
Turkish police arrested 939 people in more than 48 cities, Interior Minister Muammer Guler said Saturday.
Several videos in circulation on the internet appeared to show unarmed demonstrators being mistreated by Turkish police. Pictures posted to Facebook also showed protesters with facial wounds said to be from plastic bullets.
Activists said police had deliberately fired tear gas grenades at protesters at close range, leaving several seriously injured.
Demonstrations against the Islamic-conservative government of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan began Friday when a police crackdown against a peaceful sit-in staged by environmentalists angered over a development project in Istanbul escalated into larger battles between law enforcement and demonstrators.
Clashes continued into the early hours of Sunday in several Turkish cities even after police withdrew Saturday from Istanbul's Taksim Square.
The longtime hub of political protests was filled again early Sunday evening as thousands continued the protests, waving flags and calling for the resignation of Erdogan's government.
The protests there went ahead peacefully Sunday, but police and demonstrators clashed in Ankara. Authorities used tear gas and water cannon in the capital against the protesters, who set fire to a police car and tried to storm one of Erdogan's offices, media reported.
Activists also reported clashes in the Besiktas district of Istanbul.
Erdogan admitted Saturday that some of the tactics used, including pepper spray, were a "mistake" but warned protesters "if they gather 100,000 [people], I will bring 1 million from my party."
He dismissed accusations that he had an authoritarian style of governing: "If they call someone a dictator who is a servant of the people, I have nothing more to say."
EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton deplored the "disproportionate use of force" by the police. She called on all sides to exercise restraint: "Dialogue should be opened to find a peaceful solution."
The president of the European Parliament, Martin Schulz, called the use of force by police "completely inappropriate."
Demonstrations in support of the protesters took place around the world, including Germany, where thousands gathered in Frankfurt and Berlin.
In Essen, a protest by several hundred people led to clashes with police provoked by youth who waved banners of the leader of the outlawed separatist Kurdistan Workers Party (Pkk), Abdullah Ocalan.Authors: Carsten Hoffman, Simon Bone, Florian Schmidt, Sophia-Caroline Kosel, Claus Haffert
Source : Sapa-dpa /ma
Date : 03 Jun 2013 02:02
"It is clear that the use of force by police is being driven not by the need to respond to violence - of which there has been very little on the part of protesters - but by a desire to prevent and discourage protest of any kind," said John Dalhusien, director of Amnesty International for Europe.
The London-based human rights group accused police of targeting protesters with excessive amounts of tear gas and keeping those arrested confined without food or water for up to 12 hours.
Turkish police arrested 939 people in more than 48 cities, Interior Minister Muammer Guler said Saturday.
Several videos in circulation on the internet appeared to show unarmed demonstrators being mistreated by Turkish police. Pictures posted to Facebook also showed protesters with facial wounds said to be from plastic bullets.
Activists said police had deliberately fired tear gas grenades at protesters at close range, leaving several seriously injured.
Demonstrations against the Islamic-conservative government of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan began Friday when a police crackdown against a peaceful sit-in staged by environmentalists angered over a development project in Istanbul escalated into larger battles between law enforcement and demonstrators.
Clashes continued into the early hours of Sunday in several Turkish cities even after police withdrew Saturday from Istanbul's Taksim Square.
The longtime hub of political protests was filled again early Sunday evening as thousands continued the protests, waving flags and calling for the resignation of Erdogan's government.
The protests there went ahead peacefully Sunday, but police and demonstrators clashed in Ankara. Authorities used tear gas and water cannon in the capital against the protesters, who set fire to a police car and tried to storm one of Erdogan's offices, media reported.
Activists also reported clashes in the Besiktas district of Istanbul.
Erdogan admitted Saturday that some of the tactics used, including pepper spray, were a "mistake" but warned protesters "if they gather 100,000 [people], I will bring 1 million from my party."
He dismissed accusations that he had an authoritarian style of governing: "If they call someone a dictator who is a servant of the people, I have nothing more to say."
EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton deplored the "disproportionate use of force" by the police. She called on all sides to exercise restraint: "Dialogue should be opened to find a peaceful solution."
The president of the European Parliament, Martin Schulz, called the use of force by police "completely inappropriate."
Demonstrations in support of the protesters took place around the world, including Germany, where thousands gathered in Frankfurt and Berlin.
In Essen, a protest by several hundred people led to clashes with police provoked by youth who waved banners of the leader of the outlawed separatist Kurdistan Workers Party (Pkk), Abdullah Ocalan.Authors: Carsten Hoffman, Simon Bone, Florian Schmidt, Sophia-Caroline Kosel, Claus Haffert
Source : Sapa-dpa /ma
Date : 03 Jun 2013 02:02
LazyLion
King of de Jungle
EU foreign policy supremo Catherine Ashton condemned police violence in Turkey as anti-government protests in dozens of cities there entered a fourth day Monday.
A statement issued by her office Sunday said she had "expressed deep concern at the violence that occurred in Istanbul and some other cities in Turkey, and regrets disproportionate use of force by members of the Turkish police."
She wished all those injured "a speedy recovery", it continued.
Calling for restraint on both sides and an end to the violence, Ashton added: "Dialogue should be opened to find a peaceful solution to this issue."
Turkey's Islamist-rooted government is facing growing pressure after angry demonstrators clashed with police for a third night on Sunday in a nationwide wave of protests.
Police fired tear gas and water cannons Sunday at protesters who marched on Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's offices in Istanbul and Ankara.
Britain, France and the United States have already urged the government to exercise restraint.
Source : Sapa-AFP /ma
Date : 03 Jun 2013 01:06
A statement issued by her office Sunday said she had "expressed deep concern at the violence that occurred in Istanbul and some other cities in Turkey, and regrets disproportionate use of force by members of the Turkish police."
She wished all those injured "a speedy recovery", it continued.
Calling for restraint on both sides and an end to the violence, Ashton added: "Dialogue should be opened to find a peaceful solution to this issue."
Turkey's Islamist-rooted government is facing growing pressure after angry demonstrators clashed with police for a third night on Sunday in a nationwide wave of protests.
Police fired tear gas and water cannons Sunday at protesters who marched on Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's offices in Istanbul and Ankara.
Britain, France and the United States have already urged the government to exercise restraint.
Source : Sapa-AFP /ma
Date : 03 Jun 2013 01:06
MyWorld
Executive Member
http://www.reddit.com/r/worldnews/comments/1fjyaj/human_rights_activist_ethem_sarısülük_was_shot_in/
The unrest seems far from over.
The unrest seems far from over.