Dozens
arrested as Turkish police raid private addresses in Ankara, Istanbul
Turkish
police are conducting raids on left-wing groups in Istanbul and
Ankara, making dozens of arrests. The unrest that has gripped the
country for over two weeks shows little sign of abating, and the
government has threatened to deploy the military.
18
January, 2013
Police
in Ankara made 25 arrests on Tuesday in multiple raids at addresses
across the Turkish capital, local media reported. In a similar
crackdown in Istanbul officers took 66 activists into custody, as
well as 13 in the western city of Eskisehir.
Clashes
erupted once again on Monday as police in Istanbul sought to disperse
striking trade union workers who were demanding an end to police
violence. Officers used teargas and water cannons on protesters who
scuffled with police at different points around the city. Separately,
a number of demonstrations were held across the country in solidarity
with the ‘Occupy Gezi Park’ movement.
The
Turkish government condemned the unrest on Monday, and said it may
deploy the military to bring the anti-government protests under
control.
“Our
police, our security forces are doing their jobs. If it’s not
enough then the gendarmes will do their jobs. If that’s not enough…
we could even use elements of the Turkish Armed Forces,” Turkish
Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc told state TV. He decried the
unions’ strike as “illegal,” and warned that further protests
would not be tolerated.
Arinc’s
words echo the government’s increasingly strong rhetoric against
the protesters. During an AK party rally on Sunday, Prime Minister
Tayyip Erdogan told supporters that the activists were being
manipulated by terrorists and dismissed accusations that he was
behaving like a dictator.
In
a strong rebuke of the European Parliament’s condemnation of recent
Turkish police brutality, he stated the institution had “no
honesty” and needed to “learn its place.” Erdogan has defended
the police’s use of pepper spray against protesters, calling it
their “natural right.”
He
added that the protests have now caused around $60 million of damage.
The
protests first began on May 28 over a plan to redevelop Gezi Park,
located on Taksim Square, and have now snowballed into national
movement against a government that activists regard as overly
“authoritarian.” Many have criticized Erdogan for his autocratic
approach to government, and for impressing conservative Islamist
values on a secular society.
The
violent unrest sweeping Turkey has so far left over 5,000 people
injured and at least four dead. In the last 48 hours, police have
taken over 500 people into custody.
Turkish
PM says police will get more power
Turkish
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Turkish
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has announced plans to increase
the police’s powers to deal with anti-government protests.
18 June, 2013
In
an address to parliament in the capital Ankara on Tuesday, Erdogan
said that riot police had acted with restraint against the violent
demonstrators and that their powers would be increased.
"Our security forces put up a successful and extremely patient struggle against the acts of violence by remaining within the limits set by democracy and the law," he stated.
Erdogan's defiant stance came amid unrelenting demonstrations in Istanbul and Ankara.
The unrest in Turkey began on May 31 after the police broke up a sit-in held at Istanbul's Taksim Square to protest against the proposal to demolish Gezi Park.
Over the next several days, tens of thousands of anti-government protesters held demonstrations in 78 cities across the country.
According to the Turkish Human Rights Foundation, five people have died, including a policeman, and about 7,800 people have been injured in the protests.
Six injured protesters are in critical condition and 11 people have lost their eyesight during the police crackdown.
The protesters say Gezi Park, which is a traditional gathering point for rallies and demonstrations as well as a popular tourist destination, is Istanbul's last green public space.
Erdogan has been harshly criticized for the way he has handled the crisis, and Amnesty International has censured the Turkish police for using excessive force against peaceful protesters.
According to a number of political analysts, the popularity of the ruling AK Party -- which has won three straight elections -- could decline if Erdogan does not resolve the crisis in a way acceptable to the general public.
"Our security forces put up a successful and extremely patient struggle against the acts of violence by remaining within the limits set by democracy and the law," he stated.
Erdogan's defiant stance came amid unrelenting demonstrations in Istanbul and Ankara.
The unrest in Turkey began on May 31 after the police broke up a sit-in held at Istanbul's Taksim Square to protest against the proposal to demolish Gezi Park.
Over the next several days, tens of thousands of anti-government protesters held demonstrations in 78 cities across the country.
According to the Turkish Human Rights Foundation, five people have died, including a policeman, and about 7,800 people have been injured in the protests.
Six injured protesters are in critical condition and 11 people have lost their eyesight during the police crackdown.
The protesters say Gezi Park, which is a traditional gathering point for rallies and demonstrations as well as a popular tourist destination, is Istanbul's last green public space.
Erdogan has been harshly criticized for the way he has handled the crisis, and Amnesty International has censured the Turkish police for using excessive force against peaceful protesters.
According to a number of political analysts, the popularity of the ruling AK Party -- which has won three straight elections -- could decline if Erdogan does not resolve the crisis in a way acceptable to the general public.
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