Trouble in Istanbul or just precautions?
Oct 12th, 2015 | 11:14 PM
#1
Original Poster
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 6,166
Likes: 1
Trouble in Istanbul or just precautions?
I'm currently in Istanbul (Wonderful place, trip report to follow- eventually). Something happened yesterday that aroused my curiosity.
We were in Kadakȍy, eating a meal, when we noticed all the outside tables in the street were being moved inside. new customers were being turned away, some places were closing up (This was around 6pm) and the waiters were politely dissuading people from ordering extra courses and suggesting it was time to leave as soon as convenient. Several businesses displayed photocopied signs reading "Bariş mitingine yapilan alçak saldiriyi kiniyoruz!".
The waiter hinted at some sort of demonstration coming along this street. There was a smallish group of women protesting a little further down , handing out leaflets that read "Bariş için Kadin Girişimi’nden Greve Çağri"
Down near the ferry terminals, the police were out in force - some in full riot gear, and police armoured vehicles with water canon were also present.
By googling the Turkish phrases I am guessing that :
The photocopied signs were a general condemnation of the weekend's Ankara bombings
The group of protesters were a women's peace initiative group (? possibly affiliated to the victims in Ankara?)
The small number (aprox 20) of women didn't seem to merit the heavy security presence, so I wondered if there was some other demonstration planned?
I have no political purpose in posting this - I have neither the knowledge nor the right to make any judgements, but I was curious as to whether trouble was expected, whether this was a normal preparation for a demonstration, or if it might have been heavier than normal in response to allegations that the Ankara meeting had been insufficiently protected.
We were in Kadakȍy, eating a meal, when we noticed all the outside tables in the street were being moved inside. new customers were being turned away, some places were closing up (This was around 6pm) and the waiters were politely dissuading people from ordering extra courses and suggesting it was time to leave as soon as convenient. Several businesses displayed photocopied signs reading "Bariş mitingine yapilan alçak saldiriyi kiniyoruz!".
The waiter hinted at some sort of demonstration coming along this street. There was a smallish group of women protesting a little further down , handing out leaflets that read "Bariş için Kadin Girişimi’nden Greve Çağri"
Down near the ferry terminals, the police were out in force - some in full riot gear, and police armoured vehicles with water canon were also present.
By googling the Turkish phrases I am guessing that :
The photocopied signs were a general condemnation of the weekend's Ankara bombings
The group of protesters were a women's peace initiative group (? possibly affiliated to the victims in Ankara?)
The small number (aprox 20) of women didn't seem to merit the heavy security presence, so I wondered if there was some other demonstration planned?
I have no political purpose in posting this - I have neither the knowledge nor the right to make any judgements, but I was curious as to whether trouble was expected, whether this was a normal preparation for a demonstration, or if it might have been heavier than normal in response to allegations that the Ankara meeting had been insufficiently protected.
Oct 13th, 2015 | 01:50 AM
#3
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 396
Likes: 0
It looks like the Women's Initiative for Peace (Barış için Kadın Girişimi) were having a conference in Karaköy:
http://www.barisicinkadinlar.com/bar...sp?haberID=670
http://www.barisicinkadinlar.com/bar...sp?haberID=670
Oct 13th, 2015 | 04:39 AM
#4
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 5,330
Likes: 4
Many NGOs and establishments announced a period of mourning and closed down shops Saturday evening and partially Sunday, with all concerts and entertainment postponed.
There was also possibility of some demonstrations and the restaurants probably did not wish to participate in the public showers the police provided for the demonstrators.
Turkey has the second largest per capita police force in the world, and they appear in huge numbers against any public demand for human rights. Yet, they had disappeared before the explosions on Saturday, only coming back a half hour afterwards, to tear gas and wash down the wounded and the dead before the ambulances could push through.
The governor of Istanbul banned all demonstrations and marches in the major streets with the excuse of traffic problems on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Some schools and some business are closed today. Some labour unions are on strike.
The Prime Minister said yesterday that they have identified other suicide bombers but cannot apprehend them until they take action because this is a country of law and order! (They have apprehended journalists and common folk for criticizing the president on Twitter or Face Book though.)
There was also possibility of some demonstrations and the restaurants probably did not wish to participate in the public showers the police provided for the demonstrators.
Turkey has the second largest per capita police force in the world, and they appear in huge numbers against any public demand for human rights. Yet, they had disappeared before the explosions on Saturday, only coming back a half hour afterwards, to tear gas and wash down the wounded and the dead before the ambulances could push through.
The governor of Istanbul banned all demonstrations and marches in the major streets with the excuse of traffic problems on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Some schools and some business are closed today. Some labour unions are on strike.
The Prime Minister said yesterday that they have identified other suicide bombers but cannot apprehend them until they take action because this is a country of law and order! (They have apprehended journalists and common folk for criticizing the president on Twitter or Face Book though.)
