[Archived] Istanbul - please help- media blackout out here

[diziet2]

Hi,

I am asking for you help. Ok I was a cock and on the windup about Rhodes but this is very serious. You probably don't know that at present I live and work in Istanbul. There is massive defiance against the prime minister who is now simply dictating what people must do and how they should behave.

Te media have been lent on, Christ CNN Turkey were showing penguin documentaries while battles were being fought throughout Besiktas and Taksim.

There was around a million people out in Taksim last night and still nothing on the tv news! The word needs to be spread as far as possible.

I have been updating the Hddersfield website (DATM) with events this is my thread:

http://downatthemac.proboards.com/thread/84339/updates-istanbul-tear-proper-keany

A people right now are fighting to stop the country turning into a version of Iran. Erdoğan has to be reigned in.

This was me filming the standoff last night

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=YJAGN2u_sJo

any myself recovering from the tear gas

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=aImVH8Maxmw

Thanks for your help. Admins please let this stay on the main board for a couple of days, This is people fighting to save their way of life.

This is the reason for the explosion of rage against the government. Sums it up nicely

www.huffingtonpost.com/hasan-turunc/turkey-protests_b_3379544.html

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Co-authored by Dr. Mehmet Muderrisoglu, Omer Cavusoglu, Karabekir Akkoyunlu and Ozan Sakar

Ongoing protests in Turkey represent a popular outburst against gradual encroachment on civil liberties and suppression of dissenting views by the Islamist-rooted government of Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The culmination of the following issues have created discontent among sizable portions of society and led to spontaneous uprisings comprising people from every walk of life and a wide range of political affiliation.

Freedom of speech and media: The number of jailed journalists in Turkey tops China and Iran. Moreover, a growing culture of self-censorship in the mainstream media resulting from sustained government pressure and a prioritization of corporate interests over those of the public has meant that mainstream media outlets have lost their independence and credibility. At the height of the events, Turkish TV channels were running their regular broadcasting.

Monopolization of power: There are growing concerns over the independence of the judiciary following what appears to be politically motivated appointments to key judicial positions by the governing Justice and Development Party (AKP), as well as an expressed desire by Prime Minister Erdogan to create a 'super presidency' that undermines the democratic separation of powers for the sake of political efficacy. Utilizing its numerical majority in the parliament, the AKP passes laws without recourse to public debate or engaging in meaningful dialogue with other political parties. Democracy has been reduced to elections.

Imposition of a conservative morality: An openly articulated mission to mold society in the party's own vision of a conservative Sunni morality threatens civil liberties, pluralism and the accommodation of different life styles. Recent cases in point are the controversial education reforms that emphasize religious instruction, growing curbs on the sale and use of alcohol, suggested limitations on abortion and public announcements in subway stations to 'obey the rules of morality'.

Unrestrained development drive: Signs of a slowdown in GDP growth has led the AKP government to rely heavily on mega-infrastructure and construction projects to sustain growth rates. These include the construction of an artificial canal next to the Bosphorus Strait, the world's largest mosque on Istanbul's highest hilltop, a controversial new bridge over the historic Golden Horn that has drawn criticism from UNESCO, hydroelectric dams that threaten to destroy sensitive ecosystems and submerge hundreds of villages and cultural heritage sites, as well as countless urban regeneration projects that destroy historical neighborhoods, cause mass displacement and environmental degradation. Of growing concern to many citizens, such plans are routinely developed, tendered, contracted and carried out without due public consultation or scrutiny.

On May 29, on the same day with the ground breaking of the third bridge over the Bosphorus that risks decimating Istanbul's shrinking green belt, Prime Minister Erdogan's announcement that plans to raze Gezi Park, one of the last public green spaces in Istanbul, to make way for a shopping mall would go on unabated despite sustained opposition proved to be the straw that finally broke the camel's back.

At dawn on 31 May, as a peaceful sit-in entered its third day in Gezi Park, police raided the grounds with excessive force using tear gas and pressurized water to disperse the sleeping crowd. Coming on the back of a long series of incidents involving police brutality against unarmed citizens, the raid has triggered a public outrage that has quickly turned into the most dramatic upheavals in modern Turkish history.

Social media penetration in Turkey -- among the highest in the world -- allowed the protesters to mobilize at a dizzying pace. In a matter of hours, protests spread to more than 30 cities across Turkey. Hence, in an interview on Sunday, Prime Minister Erdogan said "(t)here is now a menace which is called Twitter, the best examples of lies can be found there. To me, social media is the worst menace to society."

The prime minister was quick to label the protestors as marginal groups and radicals. On the contrary, the protests have brought together an exceptional mix of people from diverse political backgrounds, including liberals and socialists, environmentalists and LGBT activists, secularist Kemalists, Turkish nationalists and Kurdish activists, not to mention the large number of previously apolitical citizens enraged by the physical and political suppression of legitimate demands.

Solidarity between the demonstrators and general public has been impressive, with stories of public bus and garbage truck drivers blocking roads to prevent a police assault on demonstrators, pharmacies handing out liquid solution against tear gas, volunteer medics attending to injuries, luxury hotels, humble cafes as well as ordinary people offering safe haven to protestors fleeing from police violence.

Worryingly, Prime Minister Erdogan's uncompromising and defiant response to the demonstrations so far has encouraged further use of excessive force by the police whilst fueling the protestors' anger.

In summary, increasing monopolization of power, patriarchal approach to government and a feeling of disenfranchisement by a significant portion of society in the absence of proper public deliberation and dialogue on a number of critical issues have caused massive public outrage.

We hope that you will find this text informative during this conflicting reporting from Turkey.

Yours sincerely,
Dr. Hasan Turunc, Dr. Mehmet Muderrisoglu, Omer Cavusoglu, Karabekir Akkoyunlu and Ozan Sakar

Hasan Turunc is London-based researcher. He completed his PhD in politics and international relations at Royal Holloway, University of London.

Mehmet Muderrisoglu is a London-based free-lance researcher. He completed his PhD on secularism and Islam in Turkey, at the University College London.

Omer Cavusoglu is a researcher and project manager in urbanism, and has received his MSc. from the London School of Economics.

Karabekir Akkoyunlu is a PhD candidate at the London School of Economics researching social and political change in Turkey and Iran.

Ozan Sakar is a London-based investment banker covering Europe, Middle East and North Africa.

The opinions expressed in the letter are solely those of the signatories and do not represent the views of any organisation or institutions that signatories are affiliated with.

[ABBEY]

Keep safe .. Thanks for pm and puts my upcoming holiday into perspective.

[Stuart]

Like Abbey said, stay safe Ben.

If it's any consolation it's never been off the news over here.

[des]

yes stay safe and keep firm to your values

[RibbleValleyRover]

Keep your head down and stay safe Ben.

[diziet2]

yes stay safe and keep firm to your values

Yep... sticking to my values... did I ever say that Jordan Rhodes wouldn't be sold to a divisional rival

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The running battle on Sunday night down in Besiktas. the main football firms have become the heros of the city as they are on the front lines battling the police to protect the others.

Its never been seen before in the city. Besiktas, Galatasaray and Fenerbache crews are all together fighting as one against the police brutality.

In the uk this is the equivalent of West hams ICF, Mıillwalls bushwakcers and the Chelsea head hunting all banding together and protecting the rest of london from the police. Quite something to witness

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4dxVILiJrw&feature=youtu.be

[diziet2]

this pretty much sums up why it kicked off.

A bunch of ordinary people want to keep a park and the police going like this. To be clear tear gas should never be sprayed directly into someones face. Its a girl in a summer dress, whats the problem?

The picture sums it up but it was the 5am brutal police raid that people were sickened by. Full frontal assault with water cannon and Huge amounts of tear gas including tear-gas bomb drops from helicopters and the setting fire to tents and sleeping bags with people inside them. Shocking stuff!

The Besiktas Carsi (the ultras) lead the organisn at fight back and kept the park for the people. Thats why the police for the last 3 nights have been taking it out on the Besiktas area. They are going up the main street and lobbing tear gas into every cafe and shop. No interest as to who is in there.

That's what then lead to the march across the bridge by thousands of people to join the postests and support in Taksim and Besiktas

[diziet2]

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more prepared for the tear gas tonight. New goggles brought (nice pair of speedo ones), other goggles sealed and both dowsed in lemon juice. I've taken a shower and then whacked lemon juice all over my body. I smell very fresh! lets see what is happening down Besiktas and Taksim tonight. Back with videos later...

[Guest Norbert]

Well done for giving a ground level view of things, I doubt I'd be that brave. No doubt the PM's party will be hammered in the next elections, providing there is no funny business. From what little I know of Turkey, they seem pround about being politcally secular, yet a Muslim country. Good to see the ultras uniting, and not just having a rumble whilst this is going on.

[ABBEY]

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more prepared for the tear gas tonight. New goggles brought (nice pair of speedo ones), other goggles sealed and both dowsed in lemon juice. I've taken a shower and then whacked lemon juice all over my body. I smell very fresh! lets see what is happening down Besiktas and Taksim tonight. Back with videos later...

ARE YOU MAKING PANCAKES?

[diziet2]

Things are calmer tonight. The government has been trying to ease the situation apologizing for police brutality but there is also a general strike tomorrow.

Up in Taksim its at a stalemate. All the roads have been barricaded by the protesters and its like a music festival up in Taksim. The Carsi and the football lads are keeping a watchful eye on the Police but are not confrontational tonight. THe police are hanging arouns in front of Dolmabahce palace and are not looking to advance. It seems everyone is have a rest day until tomorrow to see what a general strike brings...

Here's a video of the defense of Taksim tonight:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AH8SpegFMo0

[diziet2]

A summing up of the battle for Taksim from Friday night through to Monday Morning.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5r_sifQgXs

[Glenn]

I've been trying to get in contact with Baris, who many of you remember organised our amazing welcome in Ankara back in 2003 for the Genclerbirligi game (sadly we lost touch many years ago). Whilst he's not responded, I believe I've found his Facebook page and assuming it's him, he seems to be very much involved with the protests in Ankara (and like Ben, spends his evenings in swimming googles, cycle helmet and riggers gloves) and given what an organisationally and ideologically sound individual he was, it comes as no surprise.

Every since our trip in 2003 (and many subsequent holidays to Turkey), I've heralded Turkey as a shining example of how a predominantly Muslim country can also be fiercely secular, but it seems that that doesn't exempt you from having a self-serving censorship-happy government and aggressive police force. Thankfully whilst they can easily control the mass media, citizen journalism means the real story of real events will get out.

For those looking for an impartial view of a brit in Istanbul, I encourage you to follow @LeighTurnerFCO on twitter.

As big fan of V for Vendetta, this has to be my favourite footage of the "riots" so far.

A revolution without dancing is a revolution not worth having

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jc90_SIQygo

[blue_n_white99]

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/woman-red-becomes-leitmotif-istanbuls-female-protesters-215621314.html#1F681DI

What have some of those dancers got on their heads...condoms?

[philipl]

Well done Ben.

Wishing you safety and support.

[diziet2]

Taksim last night, must have been over half a million, as Gezi park was packed as was the rest of taksim and the istiklal. So much just being extremists and a few fringe drunks. The Turkish prime minister returns hope later this evening and depending on what he says this will either erupt over Friday and the weekend (talking possible civil war) if he does not back down or the government backs down and the protesters demands are met...



This a short film of the arrival of the Carsi up into Taksim. Would would have thought that a football crew would be held up as heros. Yet it is they how to the gas canisters and the beatings to hold Taksim on Friday night/Saturday Morning. Take a look...

songs

" oohhhh Mustafa Kamal" (Ataturk founder of Turkey, secular and made Turkey a Modern state)

" Takism is everywhere"

"tayyip istifa, istifa tayyip" (Tyyip resign, Resign Tyyip) (the Prime minister)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDBV_guKQA4

[diziet2]

Istanbul is going to explode tonight and tomorrow.

The prime minster Tayyip Erdogan has just said that a bunch of hippies, the middle class and football fans who are making up this protest are terrorists influenced from foreign counties and the Taksim redevelopment will go ahead.

He has just thrown a match n a bonfire that is dowsed with petrol!

I am going nowhere near Taksim tonight. otherwise I might be deported.

[Majiball]

I am going nowhere near Taksim tonight. otherwise I might be deported.

To be fair after watching those vid's I'd be favouring deportation.

[Glenn]

Do you have any recommended reliable (ideally English) outlets of accurate info on what's happening? I'm currently using a mixture of an activist friend's facebook page (translated by google), the British Embassy / FTO in Ankara and BBC Turkey but I imagine there are some great, trusted, reporters within the protesters who are putting everything online as it happens?

Stay Safe, Stay Strong and Good Luck.

[ABBEY]

Istanbul is going to explode tonight and tomorrow.

The prime minster Tayyip Erdogan has just said that a bunch of hippies, the middle class and football fans who are making up this protest are terrorists influenced from foreign counties and the Taksim redevelopment will go ahead.

He has just thrown a match n a bonfire that is dowsed with petrol!

I am going nowhere near Taksim tonight. otherwise I might be deported.

be safe fella ,i want a beer in july with you

[diziet2]

incredible.. everyone shows their support for the protest buy banging pots and pans with wooden spoons. Make a lot of noise.

I live in a quiet conservative area on the asian side of the city and right now this is the loudest I have heard them.

All he had to do was just give a little bit and these protested would have faded.. tomorrow is friday night. it all depends on what the immans say in their Friday sermon. If it is to go and attack the protestors/secularists then it is going to be street battles and wars all across Istanbul. If Istanbul goes then so will the whole country.

[Stuart]

Surely the immams will only preach peace?

[DE.]

The Turkish police deserve to go down for the disgusting brutality they've treated the protesters with. Hope that the aftermath of this is total reform within the police force and severe punishments for those who administered or allowed unnecessary violence.

[diziet2]

The Turkish police deserve to go down for the disgusting brutality they've treated the protesters with. Hope that the aftermath of this is total reform within the police force and severe punishments for those who administered or allowed unnecessary violence.

the police numbers have been built up massively over the last 10 years by Erdogan to counter balance the Army.

The Army is the defender of the secular ideals of Ataturk ( founder of turkey). They are not perfect though and the generals could be a law unto themselves (4 coups). He had the top generals and officers jailed in 2003 on trumped up charges. most poeple liked this ( including secularists) because it removed the armed forces from playing politics.

Erdogan boosted the numbers of police basicaly so the army even without the generals would not try to overthrow him. However most of the new police are from rural very poor areas in the east of the country (think cumbria but still with horse and cart) . They are all followers of Erdogan and the islamists. In effect they are Erdogan's bootboys.

You can see though that they are poorly trained and have no idea what they are doing "here's a tear-gas gun, right go stop those people over there"

Its the reason you see the shocking brutality. THey don't really know better as they have not been trained.

[DE.]

Some of the footage and pictures I've seen are beyond excuses - punishment should be forthcoming, training or not.

I do agree that those at the top should be the ones to take the brunt of the fallout, though.