Istanbul: Here we go again
A few thousand people converged on the square, with the aim of entering Gezi Park, whose redevelopment plans sparked anger and morphed into nationwide anti-government protests in June. Organizers had planned to serve notice to authorities of a court decision that has annulled redevelopment plans for Taksim and break through police cordons.Maybe the 'moderate Muslims' who want to live in the 21st century are finally re-emerging in Turkey.
The park has been sealed off since June 15, when police routed environmentalists who occupied it amid around three weeks of widespread demonstrations against Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government. His opponents say he has become increasingly authoritarian since coming to power a decade ago - charges the government rejects.
The nationwide protests have largely dwindled although thousands of demonstrators have been gathering at Taksim every Saturday for the past three weeks - mostly demanding justice for a protester who was killed by police - before police intervened.
This time, some protesters argued with police over their rights to enter Gezi park before officers in riot gear pushed protesters away from the square with pressurized water and tear gas. They then chased protesters down two main streets off Taksim, again firing tear gas and water cannons. Police later barricaded an entrance to the square.
Private Dogan news agency footage showed one man, with a bloodied face, being helped inside an ambulance. An Associated Press journalist saw a dozen protesters being detained.
An Istanbul court in June ruled against the redevelopment plans that included building a replica Ottoman-era barracks at Gezi. The court's decision, however, is not final and is expected to be appealed at a higher administrative court.
Labels: Istanbul, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkish spring
posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 8:22 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home