Brutal Crack Down on Peaceful Environmental Protest
Jun 15th, 2013, 08:23 AM
#241
OC - Turkey has rather slipped off the radar with the BBC in the last few days, at least on the radio which is my main source of news rather than the TV. I think that they may be realising that they've not got it right this time, perhaps because the troubles in Syria have been featuring large.
wishing you a peaceful and productive weekend.
wishing you a peaceful and productive weekend.
Jun 15th, 2013, 08:56 AM
#242
The PM has promised his followers at the Ankara rally that if the Taksim Gezi Park is not vacated by tomorrow evening, His security forces have their instructions and orders.
I expressly forbid all family members,friends, visitors, acquaintances, tourists, good people, babies, stray dogs and cats to get within half a mile of Taksim Square and Gezi Park.
This covers an area between Besiktas and the cruise ship docks on the sea front. Area surrounding and directly behind Marmara hotel extending down Siraselviler to Firuzaga mosque.
Istiklal Street between Taksim and Galatasaray at a minimum, including side streets.
The hotel area near Gezi Park including Divan Hotel.
I expressly forbid all family members,friends, visitors, acquaintances, tourists, good people, babies, stray dogs and cats to get within half a mile of Taksim Square and Gezi Park.
This covers an area between Besiktas and the cruise ship docks on the sea front. Area surrounding and directly behind Marmara hotel extending down Siraselviler to Firuzaga mosque.
Istiklal Street between Taksim and Galatasaray at a minimum, including side streets.
The hotel area near Gezi Park including Divan Hotel.
Jun 15th, 2013, 11:13 AM
#246
StCirq,
The PM put together a rally with supporters and municipality workers, contractor and subcontractors in Ankara today, transported by municipal buses, where he said "Who are these people who are telling me what I can do and cannot do. Only God can give me instructions or orders."
This tells you more of the situation than anything else.
Tomorrow he has a rally planned in Istanbul also where he expects a million or so. I believe he is looking forward to a clash between that group and a flash mob of people against police brutality tonight and past weeks, just as Nero would.
Something like that, or even the semblance would provide him with justification to call in the military and get special emergency powers from the Parliament where he rules his large majority with an iron fist.
Latest news :
- Large crowds gathering at six or more spots in Istanbul, including the Asian side and in other cities in Turkey in solidarity with the protesters.
- The first aid center in the park was also attacked and the injured and the medical personnel have also suffered and some may have been arrested.
- There were a number of children in the park and some had gotten separated from their parents but that was solved, although one kid was injured and needed B+ blood as per twitter message.
- Divan Hotel near the park opened doors to help injured and was promptly gassed, hurting people eating at restaurants and those staying in rooms. People moving to upper floor rooms.
Facebook and twitter messages including ours say :
"Do not fall into this trap. Refrain from rioting or causing any damage to any property, and to AKP supporters."
"Silent and patient but obstinate protest, possibly with clapping, biting humor, irony, sarcasm, peaceful meetings, international meetings and communications with NGOs, etc. and finally preparing in the best way posible for the next elections so that these guys cannot cheat their way into power again., are the things that need to be done to make them look stupid, ignorant and dictatorial.)
The PM put together a rally with supporters and municipality workers, contractor and subcontractors in Ankara today, transported by municipal buses, where he said "Who are these people who are telling me what I can do and cannot do. Only God can give me instructions or orders."
This tells you more of the situation than anything else.
Tomorrow he has a rally planned in Istanbul also where he expects a million or so. I believe he is looking forward to a clash between that group and a flash mob of people against police brutality tonight and past weeks, just as Nero would.
Something like that, or even the semblance would provide him with justification to call in the military and get special emergency powers from the Parliament where he rules his large majority with an iron fist.
Latest news :
- Large crowds gathering at six or more spots in Istanbul, including the Asian side and in other cities in Turkey in solidarity with the protesters.
- The first aid center in the park was also attacked and the injured and the medical personnel have also suffered and some may have been arrested.
- There were a number of children in the park and some had gotten separated from their parents but that was solved, although one kid was injured and needed B+ blood as per twitter message.
- Divan Hotel near the park opened doors to help injured and was promptly gassed, hurting people eating at restaurants and those staying in rooms. People moving to upper floor rooms.
Facebook and twitter messages including ours say :
"Do not fall into this trap. Refrain from rioting or causing any damage to any property, and to AKP supporters."
"Silent and patient but obstinate protest, possibly with clapping, biting humor, irony, sarcasm, peaceful meetings, international meetings and communications with NGOs, etc. and finally preparing in the best way posible for the next elections so that these guys cannot cheat their way into power again., are the things that need to be done to make them look stupid, ignorant and dictatorial.)
Jun 15th, 2013, 12:35 PM
#247
This is an emergency call to all tourists who have a flight out of Istanbul tomorrow Sunday June 16.
Get to the airport as early as possible in case some routes or even most possible routes are blocked by protests rallies and/or police.
You can always pay a few bucks to spend time in a lounge rather than risk the possibility of missing your flight and making it more costly.
A large radius, now extending to a mile or so around Taksim Square and the area on the coast road between the city walls and Yedikule Gates and Bakirkoy may be the major trouble spots. tomorrow.
I am hearing news of large groups setting towards Istanbul from places near the Black Sea on the Asian side and many squares of the city also. So this looks big.
Also two large labor unions have called for a general strike.
Get to the airport as early as possible in case some routes or even most possible routes are blocked by protests rallies and/or police.
You can always pay a few bucks to spend time in a lounge rather than risk the possibility of missing your flight and making it more costly.
A large radius, now extending to a mile or so around Taksim Square and the area on the coast road between the city walls and Yedikule Gates and Bakirkoy may be the major trouble spots. tomorrow.
I am hearing news of large groups setting towards Istanbul from places near the Black Sea on the Asian side and many squares of the city also. So this looks big.
Also two large labor unions have called for a general strike.
Jun 15th, 2013, 12:44 PM
#248
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This is the latest video from la Repubblica...
http://video.repubblica.it/dossier/t.../132127/130648
http://video.repubblica.it/dossier/t.../132127/130648
Jun 15th, 2013, 12:50 PM
#249
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Few hours after his speech giving 24 hours to leave Gezi-Park the police went into action..
http://video.repubblica.it/dossier/t.../132130/130651
http://video.repubblica.it/dossier/t.../132130/130651
Jun 15th, 2013, 01:50 PM
#250
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I get all my latest news and videos from La Repubblica an Italian newspaper.
The news in the US about the uprising in Turkey are short and succinct.
I am very sorry of what is happening in your country OC.
The news in the US about the uprising in Turkey are short and succinct.
I am very sorry of what is happening in your country OC.
Jun 16th, 2013, 03:22 AM
#251
Good luck, OC, and I wish your family well. I, too, am very sorry to see what's going on in your country.
I live in NYC; yesterday, my husband and I walked by Zuccotti Park, home of Occupy Wall Street, and discovered that there have been multiple demonstrations ("peaceful international solidarity events" in solidarity with Turkey over the last several weeks.
The situation is heartbreaking to read about, and I so appreciate your keeping us all up to date what is going on.
I live in NYC; yesterday, my husband and I walked by Zuccotti Park, home of Occupy Wall Street, and discovered that there have been multiple demonstrations ("peaceful international solidarity events" in solidarity with Turkey over the last several weeks.
The situation is heartbreaking to read about, and I so appreciate your keeping us all up to date what is going on.
Jun 16th, 2013, 06:20 AM
#252
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Another brutal video in Ankara at the funeral of a young man that was shot and wounded by a policeman and later died.
Many people suspect that the police is using some type of chemical .
What a tragic situation for everyone.
http://video.repubblica.it/dossier/t...90?ref=HRER3-1
Many people suspect that the police is using some type of chemical .
What a tragic situation for everyone.
http://video.repubblica.it/dossier/t...90?ref=HRER3-1
Jun 16th, 2013, 07:34 AM
#254
thursdaysd,
the PM has the military higher command fully under his control after arresting about five hundred generals, admirals and colonels on drummed up charges based on false evidence.
So he has 500,000 soldiers and 250,000 police plus MIT, the intelligence agency which reports to him directly as does the telecommunications institute.
I have decide to take a rest from the very intense situation and have moved from our home very near Taksim Square to our small Summer home on Iznik lake.
Unfortunately, I cannot get away fully. I am listening to the PM's lies and rhetoric to a large group of supporters. He compares his lackeys to the protesters.
Has no understanding that the protesters are asking for democracy while his supporters are there just to be nice to him. They have no wishes demands or desires from him. They have no idea what human rights and freedoms are, and they could not care less. Most of them were gathered by party leaders and municipalities and brought to meeting area by freely provided public transport.
the PM has the military higher command fully under his control after arresting about five hundred generals, admirals and colonels on drummed up charges based on false evidence.
So he has 500,000 soldiers and 250,000 police plus MIT, the intelligence agency which reports to him directly as does the telecommunications institute.
I have decide to take a rest from the very intense situation and have moved from our home very near Taksim Square to our small Summer home on Iznik lake.
Unfortunately, I cannot get away fully. I am listening to the PM's lies and rhetoric to a large group of supporters. He compares his lackeys to the protesters.
Has no understanding that the protesters are asking for democracy while his supporters are there just to be nice to him. They have no wishes demands or desires from him. They have no idea what human rights and freedoms are, and they could not care less. Most of them were gathered by party leaders and municipalities and brought to meeting area by freely provided public transport.
Jun 16th, 2013, 09:38 AM
#256
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OC, having visited Istanbul only this past April with plans to return in September, I have been following your accounts closely, and have found your commentaries and photos most compelling. I am glad to know that you are safe and hope that you will enjoy your respite at Iznik.
I still have no plans of cancelling my trip in September and do hope the city will be safe by then.
I still have no plans of cancelling my trip in September and do hope the city will be safe by then.
Jun 16th, 2013, 10:53 AM
#257
Thanks Big Al and Laverendrye.
If someone had asked me the probability of these events a month ago, I would have smiled haughtily and declared him unworthy of a response. Hence, another Black Swan rises.
And, as usual in these cases, the perpetrator is not aware of the circumstances, being fed what others think he would like to hear and see. Most of the media having been paid and scared by the government and/or owned by the religious sects who support him, play down the events.
The other night my wife could not explain the situation objectively to another taxi driver who had memorized the standard government rhetoric and kept on repeating irrationality and lies.
A panelist on TV right now, says, "I do not understand why such a powerful PM feels that he has to tell lies, hold big rallies, never give in to any legal requests of common folk, and thinks he will be even stronger by using force on the people and hurting them physically, intellectually and emotionally."
Anyway, we are fine. We fed 8-9 ducks, Pasha the guard dog and a neighbor who walked by.
The news is that the police has been using great amounts of gas in Istanbul and Ankara.
There are groups who have set up barricades at the upscale neighborhoods of Nisantasi and sisli and one end of Galata Bridge.
We apparently did the right thing to come here directly from Eser's father's home because we found out that all routes were blocked to our home by police who refuse to let anyone go through because the government said that anyone wanting to get close to Taksim is a Terrorist. One of my nieces had to go to a friend's house on the Asian side because she could not get through from any street or direction.
Some doctors and nurses at the German Hospital near Taksim were arrested for administering first aid to injured protester.
The new 5 Star Divan Hotel was gassed (use of pepper gas indoors is illegal in all civilized countries) and Istanbul Hilton was forcefully entered by the police to threaten people inside, last night.
If someone had asked me the probability of these events a month ago, I would have smiled haughtily and declared him unworthy of a response. Hence, another Black Swan rises.
And, as usual in these cases, the perpetrator is not aware of the circumstances, being fed what others think he would like to hear and see. Most of the media having been paid and scared by the government and/or owned by the religious sects who support him, play down the events.
The other night my wife could not explain the situation objectively to another taxi driver who had memorized the standard government rhetoric and kept on repeating irrationality and lies.
A panelist on TV right now, says, "I do not understand why such a powerful PM feels that he has to tell lies, hold big rallies, never give in to any legal requests of common folk, and thinks he will be even stronger by using force on the people and hurting them physically, intellectually and emotionally."
Anyway, we are fine. We fed 8-9 ducks, Pasha the guard dog and a neighbor who walked by.
The news is that the police has been using great amounts of gas in Istanbul and Ankara.
There are groups who have set up barricades at the upscale neighborhoods of Nisantasi and sisli and one end of Galata Bridge.
We apparently did the right thing to come here directly from Eser's father's home because we found out that all routes were blocked to our home by police who refuse to let anyone go through because the government said that anyone wanting to get close to Taksim is a Terrorist. One of my nieces had to go to a friend's house on the Asian side because she could not get through from any street or direction.
Some doctors and nurses at the German Hospital near Taksim were arrested for administering first aid to injured protester.
The new 5 Star Divan Hotel was gassed (use of pepper gas indoors is illegal in all civilized countries) and Istanbul Hilton was forcefully entered by the police to threaten people inside, last night.
