Translate

Search This Blog

Monday, June 3, 2013

PROTESTS | More than 1,700 arrested in three days Charge against demonstrators Erdogan rejects accusations and dictator

For the third consecutive day of demonstrations in Turkey continue shouting "Government resign". Clashes between protesters and police have reoccurred afternoon in Ankara and Istanbul. The Turkish police have repressed with tear gas and water cannonsto thousand protesters who tried to approach the headquarters of the Turkish government. The authorities try to forcibly disperse the nearly 10,000 people who are concentrated in a central square in the capital of Turkey. The strength used by Turkish police seems somewhat smaller than vivid Ankara on Saturday, when 30 students were injured, some of them seriously. In Istanbul the situation appeared calmer, with thousands of activists gathered in the central Taksim Square and the nearby park Gezi, but tension has begun to notice the afternoon.

'Excessive' police violence

In the two previous days, clashes have resulted from "excessive" violence by the authorities. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan acknowledged that "there were errors" in policing and has ordered the Interior Ministry to investigate abuses. In any case, Erdogan rejects accusations of authoritarian rule with and ensured that not bow to opposition protests . "No I have nothing more to say if someone called dictator who is a servant of the people", said the president. In the three days of fighting, more than 1,700 people have been arrested , although most already released, as explained by the Minister of Interior. Several human rights organizations have denounced police violence.Amnesty International reports that at least two dead and over a thousand injured, although the numbers have not been confirmed and the Ministry of Interior has denied dead. The EU has also expressed its opposition to the "disproportionate" use of force by the Turkish Police in the violent wave of protests in the country and asked the government and the protesters communicate and put an end to the fighting. The EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said in a statement his "deep concern" about the shocks recorded during the protests in Istanbul and other Turkish cities. The High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy of the EU "deplores the disproportionate use of force by members of the Turkish Police" and believes that "should engage in dialogue to find a peaceful solution" to the conflict, sparked by protest in Istanbul to prevent the destruction of a downtown park.

Videos of protests

Some videos posted on social networks about the protests show as a police van runs over a protester or as a detainee is beaten up by the police. Faced with the official figure of 79 wounded, the medical school Eurasian country reported that there has been a total of 414 people were injured -15 of them seriously-in the violent demonstrations. Feyzioglu Metin, chairman of the chamber of lawyers in Turkey, today told a local television after visiting some hospitals in Ankara that the Interior Ministry "should not underestimate the number of casualties". "Only in a private hospital (Ankara) have seen more than 80 injured, with broken legs, with burned limbs " , said the lawyer, one of the legal authorities in the country. Feyzioglu confirmed that a young protester in critical condition with head injuries , while another has lost an eye by a police bullet. Erdogan called on the demonstrators "put an immediate end" to the protests and warned that the police would not withdraw from Taksim , which eventually had to order given the violence in the street. In fact, last time the streets were filled with a festive atmosphere as demonstrators were considered winners pulse with the prime minister maintained. The protests continued last night in Istanbul and Ankara where protesters burned containers and vehicles, although the intensity was lower than in previous days. Hundreds of protesters set fire in the district of Tunali, Ankara, while the riot police threw tear gas and pepper spray to restrain young people throwing stones near the office of Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul.

Protests? Few trees?

Erdogan has rejected the work being undertaken in the square are related to the construction of a replica of the barracks Topcu or supermarket, but has argued that the projects are carried out. " It's unfair to the Government tick counter environment . want my nation see the game you are playing some circles in the country, "he said, before highlighting that while everyone has a right to demonstrate, no one has to occupy a public space. "Nobody has the right to increase the tension in the country stating that trees are being cut. Everyone should know that Turkey is a country where there is a parliamentary system . All different method is undemocratic elections, "he argued. "I do not mean that the government will not be held accountable or you can do what you want, but, as you can not press a majority to a minority, a minority can not impose its will on the majority," he argued Erdogan. Moreover, the prime minister has warned "those who marched with honest feelings that have been manipulated by illegal groups". In this sense, described the demonstrations as "ideological" and accused the opposition of "manipulating" the protests. President Abdullah Gul has called this Saturday the government and protesters to use "common sense" and "maturity" to end the tension in the town, as reported by the Turkish newspaper 'Today's Zaman'. "In a democratic society, the reactions should be allowed under the law without any abuse . Similarly, ls authorities to exert efforts to listen to different opinions and concerns, "he argued. So, has indicated that the demonstrations "have reached a level of concern" and called on the security forces "to pay the utmost attention and act in a balanced way."

Almost 1,000 detainees

Turkish Interior Minister, Muammer Güler, has reported that there have been 939 arrests in more than 90 demonstrations have been held in Turkey on Saturday to protest against the repression of protesters in Taksim Square in Istanbul. "There have been 939 arrests in different cities. Some of those arrested have been released," said Güler told the press broadcast on Turkish state television. Protests have also resulted in a total of 79 wounded, according to Güler. Protesters have packed Taksim Square chanting 'Shoulder to shoulder against fascism' or 'Government resign " . Most of the protesters were young men and women, many with scarves or surgical masks to avoid breathing tear gas so abundantly used during the day Friday. Police have charged back against protesters, who have used Facebook or Twitter on their mobile phones to regroup in nearby streets. Some groups have responded by throwing stones at the police and lighting fires. There was also a demonstration in Ankara, where riots have also occurred in the central district of Kızılay. A helicopter launched tear gas against protesters and riot police have used electric batons. This is the second day of rioting after police yesterday harshly were employed to evict the protesters from Taksim Square. The protest began after learning of the intention of the authorities to build on the Park Plaza shopping center and housing. Police used water cannons, pepper gas and charged with batons to evict the protesters, prompting outrage from the Turkish public. Himself Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan acknowledged Saturday that the police made an "excessive" use of force.

After the murder of British soldier l Blair says that 'there is a problem within Islam'

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair says the brutal murder of soldier Lee Rigby evidence that there is a "problem within Islam." In an article published in the 'Mail', Blair urges governments to "be honest" and admit it. "He has a problem with Muslims in general. Most of them will be horrified by the murder of soldier Lee Rigby. But there is a problem within Islam, with the followers of an ideology that is a strain within Islam. And we to put that on the table and be honest about it, "said the former president. Some see Blair's call to halt the spread of "the seeds of future fanaticism and terror" seized an opportunity to try to justify the intervention in Iraq, as recorded by 'The Telegraph'. "Prepare the way for peace is not always a peaceful process" , Blair claims in his article makes constant references to the close link between religion and politics. Blair intends to educate children about the rightful place of religion in society. Islam, he says, "is based on a point of view on religion and on the interaction between religion and politics that is not compatible with plural societies, liberal and open-minded." "We must educate our children about faith," he says. "Today more than ever we must be strong and strategic."