Visiting Exciting Turkey in the Throes of Restoration
Jul 28th, 2015, 01:26 AM
#221
Turkish F-16s are bombing mostly Kurdish PKK positions in Northern Iraq, although they also sent a few rockets towards ISIS controled areas in Northern Syria in addition to cannon volleys towards Kurdish (PYD) forces again in Northern Syria.
The turkish president or the government still does not single out ISIS as an enemy, continuing to name it among many other terrorist groups including the Kurdish PKK.
Domestically, the security forces clamped down on known ISIS and PKK cells, arresting about 1,000 but releasing quite q few of them after questioning. There is no response to the question why these people were not arrested before if they were already known to the police and intelligence agencies. The British paper, The Guardian, has an interesting article on that subject.
It seems that, the Turkish government is trying to avert any attacks against Turkish targets by ISIS and is being successful so far.
The escalating violence has been in the Southeastern regions and the Alevi and Kurdish outlying district of Istanbul where the PKK has a strong presence and the ability to mingle with the population or escape to the mountains, and it has all been against the police or the armed forces except for the attacks against construction equipment and trucks.
So, the previous warning is still strongly in force till further notice:
- Stay away from area to East of line drawn from Mersin to Artvin in Northeastern Turkey.
- Stay away from protests, demonstrations.
- Stay away from gatherings of security forces and their vehicles if you come across them.
- Stay away from embassies and consulates and large imposing government buildings, police stations and their ilk.
I will post immediately if I hear of any threats by ISIS against civilians and or tourists anywhere in Turkey.
To repeat, PKK does not pause a threat to the public or to travelers except as an innocent bystander in areas mentioned above.
The turkish president or the government still does not single out ISIS as an enemy, continuing to name it among many other terrorist groups including the Kurdish PKK.
Domestically, the security forces clamped down on known ISIS and PKK cells, arresting about 1,000 but releasing quite q few of them after questioning. There is no response to the question why these people were not arrested before if they were already known to the police and intelligence agencies. The British paper, The Guardian, has an interesting article on that subject.
It seems that, the Turkish government is trying to avert any attacks against Turkish targets by ISIS and is being successful so far.
The escalating violence has been in the Southeastern regions and the Alevi and Kurdish outlying district of Istanbul where the PKK has a strong presence and the ability to mingle with the population or escape to the mountains, and it has all been against the police or the armed forces except for the attacks against construction equipment and trucks.
So, the previous warning is still strongly in force till further notice:
- Stay away from area to East of line drawn from Mersin to Artvin in Northeastern Turkey.
- Stay away from protests, demonstrations.
- Stay away from gatherings of security forces and their vehicles if you come across them.
- Stay away from embassies and consulates and large imposing government buildings, police stations and their ilk.
I will post immediately if I hear of any threats by ISIS against civilians and or tourists anywhere in Turkey.
To repeat, PKK does not pause a threat to the public or to travelers except as an innocent bystander in areas mentioned above.
Jul 28th, 2015, 02:07 AM
#222
thank you, OC, for the updates.
it is difficult to see a logical reason for the government to be taking on the PKK and ISIS simultaneously when the PKK could be their ally against ISIS.
but I think that you have shown us that logic does not necessarily apply in such situations, and the Turkish government is hardly alone in that.
it is difficult to see a logical reason for the government to be taking on the PKK and ISIS simultaneously when the PKK could be their ally against ISIS.
but I think that you have shown us that logic does not necessarily apply in such situations, and the Turkish government is hardly alone in that.
Jul 28th, 2015, 11:43 AM
#225
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Other Chelebi. Just discovered this thread today. Heading to Izmir and Istanbul in mid September so following current events. Thanks so much for your postings. Glad to get news from on the ground. Keep it up!
Jul 29th, 2015, 08:28 AM
#227
Thank you all who show interest.
It does motivate me and I appreciate your posting here.
Today, lots of empty words aired on Grand National Assembly (parliament) TV. Coalition negotiations continue.
Some more security force and terrorist deaths in the Southeast.
Hot weather in Istanbul abating for a few days from tomorrow but will probably come back. Currently 86 F in the shade at 19:20 at our balcony. Was just slightly higher earlier in the day.
Here's a group of photographs from some of our trips and from our balcony at my wife's blogs:
https://www.blogger.com/profile/13777888122227948100
It does motivate me and I appreciate your posting here.
Today, lots of empty words aired on Grand National Assembly (parliament) TV. Coalition negotiations continue.
Some more security force and terrorist deaths in the Southeast.
Hot weather in Istanbul abating for a few days from tomorrow but will probably come back. Currently 86 F in the shade at 19:20 at our balcony. Was just slightly higher earlier in the day.
Here's a group of photographs from some of our trips and from our balcony at my wife's blogs:
https://www.blogger.com/profile/13777888122227948100
Jul 29th, 2015, 06:28 PM
#230
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oh my Otherchelebi, I have only read some of this post but I am overwhelmed by your generosity of time and expertise to help those of us elsewhere understand the complexities of what is happening. I must admit I am looking at it from the selfish viewpoint of a would be tourist - but I so appreciate the nuanced discussion. It is a sad reality that US news sources so rarely give us a full picture of events in other parts of the world. I will continue to follow your thread with great interest. Thank you
Aug 1st, 2015, 03:26 AM
#231
New annual thread started as follows :
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...s-or-chaos.cfm
Thank you again for all your appreciation.
I hope I have kept this thread free of sarcasm, a habit Eser frequently warns me to drop, and have not been too verbose.
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...s-or-chaos.cfm
Thank you again for all your appreciation.
I hope I have kept this thread free of sarcasm, a habit Eser frequently warns me to drop, and have not been too verbose.
