Brutal Crack Down on Peaceful Environmental Protest
Jun 30th, 2013, 12:53 PM
#282
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Thanks for the update OC. I am now linked up with a local Turkish family who post updates. I think we are all wondering why the government response was so over the top especially with the prospect of joining the EU. And Erdogan seems to have done so well in some respects: I saw a lot of new infrastructure in Eastern Turkey where things are obviously being opened up. So why all this heavy-handedness?
Jun 30th, 2013, 02:00 PM
#283
gertie, Hitler also improved the infrastructure in Germany, industrialized the country and built things. If that is what you call "doing well", Erdogan's similarity does not stop there.
Do you know how many students, writers, journalists, lawyers, military officers including the former chief of staff under Erdogan's command are in jail for the trumped up charges of being terrorists?
This is a country where fear reigns supreme. All telephones are tapped, all opponents are under threat and the boss controls the security forces, the intelligence agency, the military and the judiciary.
Another thing is that all the building has been done either by borrowed money (mostly from the Gulf) and from sale of national assets to foreign investors (mostly to the Gulf and Saudi Arabia again)
Production and exports based on local resources have plummeted to be replaced by production using imported materials and cheap local labor, made possible by over valued local currency. Once money stops coming, the delusion will crumble and Turkey will be in very dire straits.
We are going to the philosophy conference again, starting tomorrow. I doubt that the speakers will somehow relate Nietzsche's writings to current Middle Eastern Politics, but I may try to heat things up a bit.
Do you know how many students, writers, journalists, lawyers, military officers including the former chief of staff under Erdogan's command are in jail for the trumped up charges of being terrorists?
This is a country where fear reigns supreme. All telephones are tapped, all opponents are under threat and the boss controls the security forces, the intelligence agency, the military and the judiciary.
Another thing is that all the building has been done either by borrowed money (mostly from the Gulf) and from sale of national assets to foreign investors (mostly to the Gulf and Saudi Arabia again)
Production and exports based on local resources have plummeted to be replaced by production using imported materials and cheap local labor, made possible by over valued local currency. Once money stops coming, the delusion will crumble and Turkey will be in very dire straits.
We are going to the philosophy conference again, starting tomorrow. I doubt that the speakers will somehow relate Nietzsche's writings to current Middle Eastern Politics, but I may try to heat things up a bit.
Jul 7th, 2013, 06:34 AM
#286
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The latest news from La Repubblica..Thousand of demonstrators tried to get to Gezy Park.
http://video.repubblica.it/dossier/t...51?ref=HRER1-1
http://video.repubblica.it/dossier/t...51?ref=HRER1-1
Jul 7th, 2013, 07:40 AM
#288
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Jul 7th, 2013, 08:30 AM
#289
We are at Nicea again after our rather boring philosophy conference where the teachers of philosophy taught each other what Nietzsche said for the umpteenth time and congratulated each other on how well they have understood Nietzsche, although most have difficulty understanding living people.
The events at Taksim again yesterday show the fear of the Turkish authorities after the coup in Egypt. Turkey was the first and until today one of only three countries to call for the return of the Moslem Brotherhood and Morsi to power, because they believe that they are very similar.
Both the Morsi and the Erdogan governments are after more islamization of the judicial system and the life styles of the people.
Like all dictators, Erdogan is also consorting to increased violence against the people, gassing protesters, fining and scaring the media, jailing students, reporters, lawyers, professors, writers.
What started as a peaceful environmental protest of a handful of people resulted in millions demonstrating in 79 cities, over 1000 injured, some badly 4 dead and millions disappointed, including some of their former supporters. Polpularity of the party is still high but now down to 36% from the 52% they had only a few months ago.
Right now, there is a protest gathering of hundreds of thousands with concerts interspersed with slogans and chanting for the government to resign.
New York Times downplays the events in Istanbul and the rest of Turkey.
It is also wrong that a group tried to enter the Gezi Park. All the group wished was to hold a press conference at the entrance to the park and read the court decision to stop all construction on the project dated June 6th.
Unfortunately, NYT repeats the official Turkish government press release.
Neither the European Human Rights or the Turkish constitutional human rights allow the police to stop citizens from gathering any where they wish and protesting.
The Istanbul governor stated that he is the sole authority on who gathers where and when, against all laws, and called the protesters illegal.
Although there could not be a military coup in Turkey because almost 40% of the armed forces command structure are in prison on trumped up charges, the popular demand to have a more democratic country is growing and scaring the government.
The events at Taksim again yesterday show the fear of the Turkish authorities after the coup in Egypt. Turkey was the first and until today one of only three countries to call for the return of the Moslem Brotherhood and Morsi to power, because they believe that they are very similar.
Both the Morsi and the Erdogan governments are after more islamization of the judicial system and the life styles of the people.
Like all dictators, Erdogan is also consorting to increased violence against the people, gassing protesters, fining and scaring the media, jailing students, reporters, lawyers, professors, writers.
What started as a peaceful environmental protest of a handful of people resulted in millions demonstrating in 79 cities, over 1000 injured, some badly 4 dead and millions disappointed, including some of their former supporters. Polpularity of the party is still high but now down to 36% from the 52% they had only a few months ago.
Right now, there is a protest gathering of hundreds of thousands with concerts interspersed with slogans and chanting for the government to resign.
New York Times downplays the events in Istanbul and the rest of Turkey.
It is also wrong that a group tried to enter the Gezi Park. All the group wished was to hold a press conference at the entrance to the park and read the court decision to stop all construction on the project dated June 6th.
Unfortunately, NYT repeats the official Turkish government press release.
Neither the European Human Rights or the Turkish constitutional human rights allow the police to stop citizens from gathering any where they wish and protesting.
The Istanbul governor stated that he is the sole authority on who gathers where and when, against all laws, and called the protesters illegal.
Although there could not be a military coup in Turkey because almost 40% of the armed forces command structure are in prison on trumped up charges, the popular demand to have a more democratic country is growing and scaring the government.
Jul 7th, 2013, 02:11 PM
#291
The events at Taksim again yesterday show the fear of the Turkish authorities after the coup in Egypt. Turkey was the first and until today one of only three countries to call for the return of the Moslem Brotherhood and Morsi to power, because they believe that they are very similar......Like all dictators, Erdogan is also consorting to increased violence against the people, gassing protesters, fining and scaring the media, jailing students, reporters, lawyers, professors, writers.>>
you're right OC, this is what dictators do, but it's counter-intuitive, isn't it? you'd think they'd want to distance themselves from what is happening in Egypt, not invite comparisons.
Sadly the BBC seem to have forgotten about Turkey, and there is little coverage at present. perhaps they sent all their cameras to Cairo.
you're right OC, this is what dictators do, but it's counter-intuitive, isn't it? you'd think they'd want to distance themselves from what is happening in Egypt, not invite comparisons.
Sadly the BBC seem to have forgotten about Turkey, and there is little coverage at present. perhaps they sent all their cameras to Cairo.
Jul 8th, 2013, 12:27 AM
#293
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"congratulated each other on how well they have understood Nietzsche, although most have difficulty understanding living people"
LOL, the views from the ivory towers make other people appear like ants.
LOL, the views from the ivory towers make other people appear like ants.
Jul 8th, 2013, 01:32 AM
#294
Thanks all,
and great perspective from our kind of ivory tower that encapsulates most of the world from a height of possibly one inch, Croesus.
Here is a very long program on BBC Radio 4 on those who control Turkish security and judiciary. (Last year but still valid)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIYuXMCK3eg
and great perspective from our kind of ivory tower that encapsulates most of the world from a height of possibly one inch, Croesus.
Here is a very long program on BBC Radio 4 on those who control Turkish security and judiciary. (Last year but still valid)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIYuXMCK3eg
Jul 8th, 2013, 05:05 AM
#295
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When I spoke of ants, I hadn't read this:
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/don...=238&nid=48374
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/don...=238&nid=48374
Jul 8th, 2013, 11:23 AM
#296
Croesus, that statement by FG shows his insidious perspective, calling us depraved and lost, although I am not much younger than he is, only more educated. (he has an elementary school diploma, which apparently qualified him for an Islamic preacher position)
Anyway, his police forced 300 people who were sitting around in the park today when they decided that these people looked like potential protesters, using shields and a bit of pepper gas as dessert. They then continued to empty Taksim Square of another few hundred and started moving down Istiklal, spraying everyone
By the time they reached the Cicek Pasaji, Fish Market area where people were also drinking beer or other alcoholic drinks , they started shooting plastic bullets at them.
About 15 minutes ago, the governor of Istanbul came on TV from his imperial throne room and threatened fire and brimstone to anyone who ever considered gathering at Taksim or at Gezi Park despite any constitutional guarantees of freedom of demonstration, expression or opinion. He considers the whole thing a vendetta and says that all the hotels, restaurants and shops in the area are losing business because of the protesters. Then he says that there were no problems at the meeting on the Asian side yesterday when maybe half a million people had gathered, because they had the necessary permit.
This showed that the only reason there are problems in Taksim is because the police intervene. When left alone, the people are very peaceful, just as on the days and nights we went up to Taksim and the park to take photographs.
Only two TV channels provide live coverage of the events and only two others will try to give objective coverage. All the others are either owned by pro-islamists, by Gulen or are in terrible fear of the government and Fethullah Gulen's police and cannot really show any significant footage or speak.
The written media is a bit better, with five national daily papers which oppose the government and one or two objective ones.
Anyway, his police forced 300 people who were sitting around in the park today when they decided that these people looked like potential protesters, using shields and a bit of pepper gas as dessert. They then continued to empty Taksim Square of another few hundred and started moving down Istiklal, spraying everyone
By the time they reached the Cicek Pasaji, Fish Market area where people were also drinking beer or other alcoholic drinks , they started shooting plastic bullets at them.
About 15 minutes ago, the governor of Istanbul came on TV from his imperial throne room and threatened fire and brimstone to anyone who ever considered gathering at Taksim or at Gezi Park despite any constitutional guarantees of freedom of demonstration, expression or opinion. He considers the whole thing a vendetta and says that all the hotels, restaurants and shops in the area are losing business because of the protesters. Then he says that there were no problems at the meeting on the Asian side yesterday when maybe half a million people had gathered, because they had the necessary permit.
This showed that the only reason there are problems in Taksim is because the police intervene. When left alone, the people are very peaceful, just as on the days and nights we went up to Taksim and the park to take photographs.
Only two TV channels provide live coverage of the events and only two others will try to give objective coverage. All the others are either owned by pro-islamists, by Gulen or are in terrible fear of the government and Fethullah Gulen's police and cannot really show any significant footage or speak.
The written media is a bit better, with five national daily papers which oppose the government and one or two objective ones.
Jul 8th, 2013, 11:38 AM
#298
The police shot a gas grenade over the wall to the grounds of the British Consulate near Istiklal Street.
The consulate is at a location where it is almost impossible for this to be an accident.
The Consul General for Trade, etc, photographed it and tweeted. :
http://t.co/hEW294Gf3C
The consulate is at a location where it is almost impossible for this to be an accident.
The Consul General for Trade, etc, photographed it and tweeted. :
http://t.co/hEW294Gf3C
Jul 8th, 2013, 01:21 PM
#299
Al, I read somewhere that speaking more than one language means a more agile mind. I think speaking less than one language would require an even more agile mind in order to survive. In that case school would be the corrupting force, and possibly the family.
