There have been reports in the States of confrontation at Taksim with rock throwing by the protestors.

I am not sure how many Americans realize how modern much of Turkey is and that until recent attempts by Erdogan that the government is secular.

The rock throwing was done by plainclothesmen as I may have mentioned earlier, to give cause for a massacre.


Just received two calls from doctor friends at gezi Park.

Gas bombs were lobbed into the medical first aid stations as well as other parts of the park.

They were crying for help and aid, for supplies of bandages and dressings and oxygen.

This is a massacre of innocents for sure.

I even saw some people trying to run away with children clutched to their chests and one man in a wheel chair trying to wheel away in front of the attacking policemen.

So, this is the final crack down as I feared, ordered by the same Governor who promised no attacks to the Park earlier today. A lesson in ethics!!!

One TV has a doctor at the Taksim first aid station, live, we helped a few days ago. Says they helped more than 160 injured so far. They were all injured by pepper gas canisters shot directly at their bodies.

This is no game. This government has no compassion and no fear of God either despite the fact that they call themselves devout moslems. Give me an honest and compassionate atheist anytime.

Thanks for the update.

Our daughter got out yesterday. The last couple of days she was very worried about the police being extremely aggressive. She'll be back to see how her Turkish friends are doing.

otherechelebi, I hope that you didn't mind mind that I posted some video in you previous threads..

I wonder what is going to happen to the lady in red....

I saw her photo few days ago and I hope that the government is going to leave her alone..but everything is possible in these days.

more photos..http://video.repubblica.it/dossier/t.../131574/130081

kismetchimera, the lady in red is working at one of the first aid stations as far as I know and has not been harassed by the police so far.

The police is conducting their third attack since 8:15 PM local time, using up incredible amounts of pepper gas on the square and possibly also in the park.

The people on the square are better prepared and disappear quickly to reappear in growing numbers to taunt the police.

But the kids in the park are very naive and innocent. They really had no idea why anyone would attack them. there were even some young mothers with babies there.

This is not Tahrir Square as in Egypt, It is like Tiananmen or even worse.

My biggest fear is that the police will move in to Gezi Park towards dawn to clear the kids and burn their tents while burning the trees and blaming the kids for the trees as well as the dead and injured among the kids.

Yes, is a very tragic situation...Erdogan is losing face and he will use any available means to stop the demonstrations.

I do appreciate your reports. We visited Istanbul in 2009 and loved your city and the people. We hope that the people prevail.

OC, DH and BIL will not go back to Taksim! We just got back to our flat and can smell the tear gas quite strongly. Guess we are in for the night. Visiting Blue Mosque tomorrow. Hope this increased determination by police doesn't ruin the rest of our time here and pray the kind people of this lovely city are safe.

Tragic and infuriating.

Very latest from CNN - This does not look good.
I hope OC and friends are safe.

http://www.cnn.com/2013/06/11/world/...sts/index.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-22866043
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-22795193

may interest

The American media is covering the situation quite a bit more. They have lots of film from Istanbul and reporters (with face masks hanging around their necks) on the ground but mention the other cities where there are protests only in passing.
I heard one reporter today say that the PM had offered an olive branch yesterday, hoping to resolve matters, but from my other readings and posts here, I knew that was the most optimistic way possible to interpret his actions.

Are you capuling yet?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013...puling-erdogan

The Guardian has several articles/videos going at the same time, as well as live coverage by "feet-on-the-ground" reporters.

This particular article is on how people are not only mounting a peaceful demonstration but are fighting violence with humor. What a novel idea!

Morning news is that, the police attacks ceased at about 2:30 AM local time at Taksim.

Currently there is some traffic on the square, mostly taxis and a few delivery vans, while municipality is cleaning debris from last night.

The governor gave an interview to CNNTurk late last night, smiling and saying they could easily have moved the protesters out of the park.
There were calls to the president of Turkey to intervene by the opposition party and opinion leader, to no avail.

The main opposition party had an emergency midnight meeting of its central board last night.

The government interviews on CNN International last night show that they stick to their blatant untruths. Amanpour could not dislodge or even ruffle them. I found her rather meek and ineffective, as if she was allowing them propaganda time. intentionally.

We had a board meeting of The Insurance Practitioners Association yesterday afternoon amongst all this, and now I have to prepare the panel and workshop structure for our Fourth International Insurance Conference in Istanbul October 3-4, 2013 within just one day and grade nine term papers for my graduate class which I have been putting off.

The Police went to the Court House and arrested the lawyers of the demonstrators accusing them of terrorism..

http://video.repubblica.it/dossier/t...93?ref=HRER2-1

The 43-49 lawyers arrested yesterday were not lawyers defending the demonstrators. They were just showing solidarity with them.

The police came with no warning, and used force to grab those they could among 100 and took them to the station. They were released after their individual information was taken and filed for future reference.

today there were bigger lawyer protests at Istanbul and Ankara but no police intervention,,,,,,yet.

11 of the 15 or so selected by the PM as supposedly concerne citizens related to the protests or connected to peaceful NGOs are meeting the PM at this time.
The local leader of Green Piece, the other major environmental NGOm Tema Foundation, and a few others refused to meet the PM in view of the violence perpetrated just yesterday by the police and his hate speeches.

Taksim is quiet today.
Lots of police
Some traffic
Sent some first aid and food supplies to the Park with a young lady passing by our house.

My SIL in Chicago sent a very thoughtful and touching mail. Both Eser and I are proud of him and feel lucky to have such an intelligent and caring SIL. However, I may reserve final judgement until after Father's Day. -:)

Here is Stephen Colbert's take on Turkey. The first is some schtick, the second is an interview.

http://www.colbertnation.com/the-col...-week---turkey

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45o89DTcpx8