Government expressions of anger at public protests boiled over today as riot police attacked central Istanbul, firing tear gas and stun grenades at the tens of thousands of demonstrators in Taksim Square.
The latest crackdown comes as a surprise, since Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan had promised only yesterday to meet protesters, something that was supposed to be happening on Wednesday.
Instead, police moved heavily into the areas where the protests were taking place. Smaller crackdowns were also reported in Ankara and elsewhere across the nation, as Erdogan declared grimly that there would be “no more tolerance” for dissent.
As for the meeting, that appears to still be scheduled, though officials released a list of who Erdogan would be meeting with and it included a handful of celebrities that are seen as favorable to his rule. Indications are that any protest leaders who had been willing to meet with him before no longer are.
The demonstrations began over a week ago, as environmental activists criticized a plan to demolish a park and replace it with a shopping mall. The brutal reaction to the relatively small rally has ignited nationwide protests against Erdogan’s increasingly authoritarian rule.
Erdogan responded by condemning the protesters as “terrorists.” He has gone on to dismiss charges of abusing his power by saying he is the prime minister and the protesters are not.
Exact casualty figures as police move against the protesters are impossible to come by, but are believed to be significant, as footage from the scenes in Istanbul show a heavy cloud of tear gas across much of the center of the city.
These dictators are not the people's people nor peoples politicians.., they follow orders set by their masters.., the say one thing doing the exact opposit.., they should not be trusted at any given words or action that they promise. Just look at what Obama or the EU governments are been promising their people.., this is the new era in Neo fascism to stop the people's demand for a functioning democracy.., Erdogan is not an exception, nor the not so angel The German chancellor Angela Markell.
Pure Karma !
Erdogan was quick to judge the uprisings in Syria and offer his advice from the tip of his nose. Then he went as far as actively supporting the so called Free Syrian Army. He helped fan the flames of his neighbours house and now his house is on fire. The Turkish people are mostly muslim but they are a wise and moderate people who deserve better than this. Erdogan arrogance has cost him…will he be stupid enough to destroy his country or will he see the writing on the wall and resign ?
Erdogan is the best thing which could happen to Turkey since Turgut Özal. I am livin in Istanbul Sirkeci and i can tell you that besides those 800 Protesters in the Gezi Park the rest are most of all looters and rioters. My UNcle has his shop shut since 1 Week now because of the looters. We is the fairness to those ordinary people?
Slowly the Modd is changing in Taksim and the resindets are getting angry with the protestors. If this will happen it will end very ugly because at the moment only 0,01 % people are demonstrating in Turkey and Istanbul has 15 Million people!
It's very dissapointing that some newspapers compare these demonstrations with Egypt or Tunisia which is very different. Erdogan has been elected three times from the people. In his last Election he has almost the majority in parliament. The only way for those people to get want they want is by political action and not looting and rioting.
The park is to be replaced by a Mosque, not a mall.
The American Empire…… no tolerance for freedom or democracy. King George III would be so proud.