READ & WATCH! I was there yesterday - Part2

[bigOz]

Here are couple of other video scenes from the events of yesterday.

Soldiers from a nearby camp arguing with the police using gas canisters:
http://www.milliyet.tv/video-izle/-Bura ... pVnIH.html

No comment!
http://www.milliyet.tv/video-izle/-Oran ... FL7f8.html

LATEST; Soldiers have distributed masks to the demonstrators

High Court has ordered the construction work to stop!

Other links given previously just in case you missed them:

http://www.milliyet.tv/video-izle/Taksi ... uCqrK.html

http://www.milliyet.tv/video-izle/Istan ... jVDLh.html

http://www.milliyet.tv/video-izle/Istan ... ec3Uh.html

http://www.milliyet.tv/video-izle/Polis ... jt0qQ.html

[bigOz]

go back next to other topic!

[PapaBravo]

Wow! Some frightening stuff in the videos.

[bigOz]

PapaBravo; "frightening" it was, even more so if you could hear the gas grenades explode loudly around you and smell that terrible acrid chemical in the air. When you are witnessing unarmed civilians run away like headless chicken, but still being attacked by the chasing police, the adrenalin kicks in and you are now in "resistance" mode, with fear being replaced by anger and finding a way of doing something in return.

Well it happened all night the night before and yesterday, with thousands of demonstrators now throwing back stones and bottles at the police, smashing and burning police posts in their path. The result? Special Forces Police pulled out of Taksim area completely, as well as the Gezi Park in question, where they spent the day before using steel meshed fences to block all entry-exit!

People are now back in Taksim Square as well as the Gezi park in their thousands, without a police in sight and enjoying a peaceful day. Definitely a great VICTORY as the result of a courageous stand by the Turkish people in Istanbul against any intended fascism and dictatorship that any members of Erdoğan's party had in their minds!

[Marions]

are you hearing anything about the outcome of the other cities where protests took place? Not much about them on the news here.

[bigOz]

yes Marion. Unfortunately, protests have been going on in ankara and especially in Izmir and Antalya. Mostly due to the fact that special forces police have not moved out in those areas.

In Izmir especially, 10,000 people gathered in city centre and things got out of hand when police decided to shoot pepper gas grenades to disperse the people. The crowd attacked the police and physical clashes took place where some demonstrators actually mounted the police armoured vehicles, smashed up their screens and water cannons. A lot of stone and brick throwing took place. Similar scenes took place in the Atatürk park in capital Ankara after police decided to use gas and water cannons to disperse those gathering in the park to air their voice.

Erdoğan is taking his time retreating because he is finding it difficult to accept the reality and the seriousnes of the situation. In yesterdays speeches he stuck to his hard line attitude, but today he seems to have lowered down his tone a lot. Nevertheless, he did not do himself any favours when addressing the events as an act by "a few vagrants in rsponse to provocation by the main opposition party leader".

I think although the police and the leaders in Istanbul realised they cannot win and didi the right thing by pulling the special forces out, it may take few days for the rest of the hotspots in some other cities to calm down. Apparently, yesterday there had been near enough 300 demonstrations in around 70 cities and towns in Turkey!

[Marions]

wow. apparenlty there were two here - one in baris Park in Girne and another at Lefkosia. But I don't know any more, plus of course there was one in Hyde Park London. Storng feelings around. Obviously the trees were the final, straw, and I think it is more to do with the imposition of a more fundamentlaist islam which seems a complete contrast to Ataturk's reforms.

But I need to read up a lot more on it.

Areyou feeling a bit more comfortable now?

[rocking]

Dreadful experience for you Oz. friends are calling with updates there in Turkey, but there is no news about what is going on on their tv except one channel called Ulsal. We have been through all Turkish channels - nothing. hope he doesn't close Ulsal down. Thank goodness they can call up things on Internet. Those people interviewed say news blocked on TV showing nothing.

[CatalkoyChris]

All this is NOT being reported widely in America (I have been told).
Not much coverage in the uk either, but a lot of photos and personal accounts appearing on Facebook.

Hurrah for social media, and the power to report our own news rather than relying on the big news institutions

[woodspeckie]

Being shown on all BBC and Sky News in UK.

[bigOz]

It has been reported worldwide especially in Europe and USA but only after the day I was there (31st May) when things got out of hand. Large crowds demonstrated in America and UK in support.

The protest were/are continuing in other towns such as Izmir and Ankara, as well as thousands still occupying the Taksim Square and the Gezi Park nearby in Istanbul. Demonstrators have climbed on to the roof of Ataturk Cultural Centre where they are displaying a huge poster saying "Do not give in". The cultural centre is another hot spot which the AKP party is planning to demolishand build anew one instead(?). Here is the video:

http://www.milliyet.tv/video-izle/Taksi ... CFdC5.html

If you can understand Turkish, you would also have noticed that the excitement amongst the crowd was against some Kurds who opened up a poster of the terrorist leader Ocalan next to the Turkish flag. The demonstrators started chanting "this is Turkish Republic" and later on sang the national anthem (not shown here but on TV news earlier).

Here is the latest video showing what has been happening in Izmir yesterday where more than 5000 demonstrators were out on the streets chanting "we are the soldiers of Mustafa Kemal (Atatürk)" and "everywhere is Taksim Square, resistance is everywhere!":

http://www.milliyet.tv/video-izle/Izmir ... lB0l9.html

Another video shows an event in Beşiktaş part of İstanbul last night where a home camera recorded the police firing a gas grenade into a house

http://www.milliyet.tv/video-izle/Evin- ... zl3G0.html

This one shows the events in Beşiktaş in the early hours of the morning;

http://www.milliyet.tv/video-izle/Besik ... niPzs.html

BTW. Perhaps if you let me teach Turkish you will understand a lot more of what is going on (in Turkish) through the media

[sophie]

I was watching someone being interviewed on BBC World this morning and, whatever the rights and wrongs of the present crises, it got me thinking. She said President Erdogan always had a very fine line to tread because he was President to all the Turkish people, who were so diverse. He is a religeous man but we tend to see and hear the more western, educated, travelled, cosmopolitan, voluable Turkish people, but there is another side to Turkey (which is a huge country after all) and they are the less educated and possibly unheard majority. The President is is President of them as well and he has to keep them happy. There is some truth in this isn't there?

[bigOz]

Yes Sophie, but those of us who know the past of Erdoğan and where the money for his party really comes from, are also aware that, underneath lies a dangerous secret agenda; Anti secular, pro fundamentalist Islamic, Sheria Laws inevitably leading to Dictatorship as has been seen from the developments over the past year or so.

Everyone in Turkey irrespective of their religion (except a small number of fundamentalist Muslims) love and respect Atatürk - the founder of todays Turkey. Fundamentalists cannot stand him because he removed all the Kadı's (muslim priests acting as judges) and replaced the laws in par with that of European nations using judges, prosecutors and solicitors. That is something they hate, and recent laws Erdoğan has been trying to impose are more in line with those in Saudi Arabia and nearby Sheria run states.

This is the same guy who in a speech declared "Democracy is like a train! We shall use it until we reach the station we want and then get off"! He openly swore at Atatürk and ayt times finds it very difficult to address his own people as "my fellow country man". He often prefer to use "my muslim brothers" (?)

many who are ware of Erdoğan's past and who suspect a secret agenda keep a close watch on what he does and says. Recent events have developed as a result of a culmination of things and Gazi park was an excuse to trigger an all out stand against Erdoğan not just by the opposition but quite a few of his supporters!

The problem with all dictators is, they cannot keep their camouflage forever. A time comes when the megalomania takes over their brains, and they start getting more and more daring, believeing just because they are an elected leader, they can dictate to people anything they like. Well, I hope he has learnt his lesson on this occasion

[sophie]

That's certainly an interesting and informative point of view and obviously you are much more well informed than I but it does beg the question, or rather questions (1) was Turkey a "better place" when the military were in power AND (2) where is Gul in all this, surely he's not just a figure head - or is he?

[Soner]

I too find it hard to believe that Gul is not responding to the situation. The only thing I heard was that he said "the riots were worrying".

[bigOz]

Sophie! You are talking as if the other alternative is a military rule. We have not had a coup in Turkey for many decades, and the military gave up interfering with politics long time ago. In fact, Erdoğan has taken swift revenge on many generals, most of who are now in prison to the dismay of many Turks. The charges were all plastic, the hidden agenda was to get back at those generales who constantly cleared the military of fundamental Islamists - many were thrown out of the army because of what they were trying to preach. So the army got hit by Erdoğan for not allowing Turkey to be another Iran!

Gül did have his say! It was upon his meeting with Erdoğan the next day (1st June) after the big clashes in Istanbul, that Erdoğan decided to change his tone as well as the police withdrawing from the scenes in Istanbul.

Today, Gül accepted a meeting with the main opposition leader to discuss the situation. Putting aside the fact that Gül belonged to AKP and was the prime minister before Erdoğan took over, when he became the President, Gül has no power to order people around when there is a parliment who does that. But he is clearly not happy the way things have been running and with Erdoğans attitude.

As it happens, Erdoğan set off on a 4 day tour of Africa today, at a time when the country is boiling over!

[banjo]

Today Gül said 'we have received the message'.
Kanal D, ATV, NTV, Show TV all are having reports to night, latest about Ankara and Izmir and what happened there today. CNN, BBC, Euronews, Al jazeera are all following the demonstrations.
On facebook you will be able to follow some of 'the stories'. Have a look at Protect Karpaz.
Facebook was closed some hours yesterday in Turkey.
A week or so ago there was a small debate about alcohol restrictions in Turkey. I wanted to answer, but sort of gave up.
In my view the Turks has had enough, and I believe it all started with lifting the ban on headscarf in public life, meaning government offices, schools etc.
The park In Istanbul is just the final straw.
Perhaps, or let us hope, The Turkish Spring is coming now, would be nice though if it could be peaceful.
It has always been a wonder to me, that Erdoğan was elected. He has been to prison 3 or 6 month for insulting Atatürk and was it Inönü?
A secret wish: that he is not returning from Africa

[rocking]

Gul and Edogan not gone on for some time. Their wives are also at loggerheads. Have a friend here prof. (Ret) at university of Istanbul in took with all over there trying to organise doctors etc to work from houses and many other help. She thinks 3 people have died one of these she knows. A reporter from reuters today tied erdgan up with her questions, and she was scarved up. He did say he could bring his supporters out and was rather threatening as usual. Referring to Araturk and Inonou as drunks has sent people mad. All good luck to these brave people trying mot to have a fundamentalist country. There are more journalists locked up in turkey than china, that is a fact.

[sophie]

BigOz: just goes to show how subjects can be misinterpreted in an Email. My question was meant as "did the average Turk feel more at ease/safer (call it what you will) under the Generals!. I can assure you the very last thing I'm advocating is military rule. Like rocking, the number of imprisoned journalists is of huge concern, but try as the authorities may, like the Chinese they will not be able to shut down all social media. After watching TV yesterday, it appears that SOME of the problems are being stirred up by teenages out just to make trouble and the big picture becomes blurred by their actions.

One of the original few who were objecting to the destruction of the local park, said yesterday, "we didn't expect this to happen" i.e. what occured on the second day. Obviously we can only give our opinions on what we see on English speaking TV, whether it be BBC or Al Jazeera