Cyprus-Forum.com

[Tim Drayton]

About 2,000 people marched in Izmir yesterday in protest against the arrest of Gezi resistance activists.



Despite the defeat of 16 June, when the regime took back control of Gezi Park itself, this thing keeps on boiling away under the surface.

http://www.radikal.com.tr/turkiye/izmir ... su-1139006

[Kikapu]

I'm really confused by the below statement.

How can a prosecutor offer defence to a suspect in a killing by saying that the killing occurred in self defence by the police officer? Surely that is the job of the defence lawyer and the job of the prosecutor is to seek the maximum penalty, or reduce murder charges in a plea bargain to something less if proven by the defense that it was not an intentional murder, and if proven in court to be a self defence killing by the defence lawyer, for the prosecutor to drop the case or for the accused to be found innocent of all charges, but the prosecutor cannot arbitrarily play both rolls as a prosecutor and a defense lawyer. Conflict of interest and corruption comes to mind as starters. Is this the way Turkish law and court systems work in Turkey? Really?

Prosecutor: Fatal shooting of Gezi protester was an act of self-defense

A police officer who allegedly shot a demonstrator during the early days of the Gezi Park protests was released on June 24 by a court in Ankara, with the prosecutor in charge of the investigation ruling that the shooting was “within the limits of self-defense.”

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/prosec ... sCatID=341

[Tim Drayton]

I'm really confused by the below statement.

How can a prosecutor offer defence to a suspect in a killing by saying that the killing occurred in self defence by the police officer? Surely that is the job of the defence lawyer and the job of the prosecutor is to seek the maximum penalty, or reduce murder charges in a plea bargain to something less if proven by the defense that it was not an intentional murder, and if proven in court to be a self defence killing by the defence lawyer, for the prosecutor to drop the case or for the accused to be found innocent of all charges, but the prosecutor cannot arbitrarily play both rolls as a prosecutor and a defense lawyer. Conflict of interest and corruption comes to mind as starters. Is this the way Turkish law and court systems work in Turkey? Really?

Prosecutor: Fatal shooting of Gezi protester was an act of self-defense

A police officer who allegedly shot a demonstrator during the early days of the Gezi Park protests was released on June 24 by a court in Ankara, with the prosecutor in charge of the investigation ruling that the shooting was “within the limits of self-defense.”

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/prosec ... sCatID=341

The above isn't entirely accurate. The prosecutor, having interviewed the suspect, took him before Ankara Penal Court of the Peace No. 13 to apply to have him remanded in custody (although the charge was not 'murder' but 'causing death by exceeding the bounds of legitimate self-defence' - an offence I have never heard of in Turkey,or anywhere else!). It was the judge who denied this application, and released the suspect pending trial. The following paragraph explaining why the court ruled that this act 'may have been within the bounds of self-defence comes from the court's decision, essentially the judge's opinion because these are single-judge courts:

Following examination of all of the evidence present in the file and the CD records, it was ascertained that the suspect, who was part of the security forces in what are known as the Gezi Park protests, had become trapped by the protestors behind a prefabricated hut and was being stoned by a large group; at this time the suspect took the revolver from his waist and fired three shots into the air and, at this moment, the deceased suddenly fell to the ground; the suspect turned round and continued to run away from the group; while doing so, the stones that were thrown continued to hit his waist and back; and the possibility exists that the suspect's action while firing into the air remained within the bounds of legitimate self-defence.

Dosyada bulunan tüm deliller, CD kayıtlarının incelenmesi sonucu Gezi Parkı adı verilen eylemlerde güvenlik güçlerinin arasında bulunan şüphelinin, göstericiler tarafından prefabrik bir kulübenin arkasında sıkıştırıldığı ve kalabalık bir grup tarafından taşlanmaya maruz bırakıldığı, bu sırada şüphelinin belinden tabancasını çıkardığı ve havaya doğru 3 el ateş ettiği bu esnada maktülün aniden yere düştüğü, şüphelinin arkasını dönerek grubun aksi yönünde koşmaya devam ettiği, bu sırada beline ve sırtına atılan taşların isabet etmeye devam ettiği, havaya ateş etme sırasında şüphelinin eyleminin meşru müdafa sınırları içinde kalma olasılığının bulunduğu anlaşılmıştır.

http://haber.sol.org.tr/devlet-ve-siyas ... beri-75247

[Kikapu]

I'm really confused by the below statement.

How can a prosecutor offer defence to a suspect in a killing by saying that the killing occurred in self defence by the police officer? Surely that is the job of the defence lawyer and the job of the prosecutor is to seek the maximum penalty, or reduce murder charges in a plea bargain to something less if proven by the defense that it was not an intentional murder, and if proven in court to be a self defence killing by the defence lawyer, for the prosecutor to drop the case or for the accused to be found innocent of all charges, but the prosecutor cannot arbitrarily play both rolls as a prosecutor and a defense lawyer. Conflict of interest and corruption comes to mind as starters. Is this the way Turkish law and court systems work in Turkey? Really?

Prosecutor: Fatal shooting of Gezi protester was an act of self-defense

A police officer who allegedly shot a demonstrator during the early days of the Gezi Park protests was released on June 24 by a court in Ankara, with the prosecutor in charge of the investigation ruling that the shooting was “within the limits of self-defense.”

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/prosec ... sCatID=341

The above isn't entirely accurate. The prosecutor, having interviewed the suspect, took him before Ankara Penal Court of the Peace No. 13 to apply to have him remanded in custody (although the charge was not 'murder' but 'causing death by exceeding the bounds of legitimate self-defence' - an offence I have never heard of in Turkey,or anywhere else!). It was the judge who denied this application, and released the suspect pending trial. The following paragraph explaining why the court ruled that this act 'may have been within the bounds of self-defence comes from the court's decision, essentially the judge's opinion because these are single-judge courts:

Following examination of all of the evidence present in the file and the CD records, it was ascertained that the suspect, who was part of the security forces in what are known as the Gezi Park protests, had become trapped by the protestors behind a prefabricated hut and was being stoned by a large group; at this time the suspect took the revolver from his waist and fired three shots into the air and, at this moment, the deceased suddenly fell to the ground; the suspect turned round and continued to run away from the group; while doing so, the stones that were thrown continued to hit his waist and back; and the possibility exists that the suspect's action while firing into the air remained within the bounds of legitimate self-defence.

Dosyada bulunan tüm deliller, CD kayıtlarının incelenmesi sonucu Gezi Parkı adı verilen eylemlerde güvenlik güçlerinin arasında bulunan şüphelinin, göstericiler tarafından prefabrik bir kulübenin arkasında sıkıştırıldığı ve kalabalık bir grup tarafından taşlanmaya maruz bırakıldığı, bu sırada şüphelinin belinden tabancasını çıkardığı ve havaya doğru 3 el ateş ettiği bu esnada maktülün aniden yere düştüğü, şüphelinin arkasını dönerek grubun aksi yönünde koşmaya devam ettiği, bu sırada beline ve sırtına atılan taşların isabet etmeye devam ettiği, havaya ateş etme sırasında şüphelinin eyleminin meşru müdafa sınırları içinde kalma olasılığının bulunduğu anlaşılmıştır.

http://haber.sol.org.tr/devlet-ve-siyas ... beri-75247

Thanks for the clarification, Tim.

Still, for the judge to make such determination without hearing the case is a strange legal system to say the least.

[B25]

Anything is possible in a Kangaroo court. After all, this is Turkey we are talking about.

[Demonax]

Big crowds are pouring into Taksim Square.

[repulsewarrior]

...here you have it, in these crowds, our friends in arms; Turks, not "Turks"

[Tim Drayton]

Big crowds are pouring into Taksim Square.

There were (largely peaceful) demonstrations in various places against the Ethem Sarısülük affair, including the one in Taksim attended by tens of thousands of people. It is going to take a couple of million people to achieve anything, though.

[bill cobbett]

The news for tonight...

Gasman Erdogan's "police" continue to attack peaceful assemblies of protesters in Ankara with TOMAs and CS Gas.

Claims that journalists are being targeted.

Indymedia report for the last few hours...

02.22: [Ankara] The number of people detained has increased to 10.
02.20: [Ankara] It's been reported that a Sözcü reporter has also been injured during the police attack in Dikmen.
01.41: [Ankara] TOMAs, armoured police vehicles and the riot police are still lined up at Dikmen Boulevard, Sinan Street and Ziraat Bank Junctions. The streets are under total police blockade.
01.34: [Ankara] 6 people have been detained at Mimar Street.
01.27: [Ankara] Police has completely blocked off Mimar Street and continue their attacks here. There are reports that people are being taken into custody.
01.19: [Ankara] One person has been detained on Dikmen Boulevard close to the Polisevi Junction. There are about 100 riot police, 5 armoured vehicles and one TOMA in the area.
01.15: [Ankara] Exits off of Sinan Street have been blocked by TOMAs. Armoured police vehicles and riot police have entered Mimar Sokak. A demonstrator reports from the area: "Police have blocked all entry and exit points. They are literally slaughtering people."
01.06: [Ankara] Police attacks also continue on Sinan Street.
01.04: [Ankara] Tear gas and stun grenades are being shot at Ziraat Bank Junction. A considerable number of riot police has also arrived at the scene. The police continue their attacks.
00.58: [Ankara] Journalists are once again being targeted by the police. Evrensel newspaper's reporter Hasan Akbaş was directly targeted by a TOMA and was reported injured.
00.42: [Ankara] Two TOMAs and an armored police vehicle have been positioned at the Ziraat Bank Junction. Two other armored vehicles are shooting tear gas at the side streets. Additionally, there is again a black out on Dikmen Boulevard.
00.24: [Ankara] Ankara police force continue testing their new weapons on the demonstrators. Pressurized water canon TOMAs in Dikmen are throwing a foamy substance. Breathing difficulties are reported in the areas, where the foamy substance is used.
00.17: [Ankara] Riot police has covered not only Dikmen Boulevard but also the side streets under thick tear gas. The people show resistance.
00.11: [Ankara] Tear gas is being shot at the demonstrators.

Troubles in this Dikmen area of Ankara confirmed by the Graudien at ... http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/ju ... des-ankara

..."Hundreds of protesters have taken to the streets in a residential area of the Turkish capital, setting up barricades and lighting small bonfires.

Weeks of often violent anti-government protests have mostly died out in Istanbul and the centre of the capital, Ankara, but daily demonstrations have continued in its recently developed working-class Dikmen district.

The protesters, numbering no more than 1,000, blocked Dikmen's main road with makeshift barricades and started small fires late on Wednesday, some chanting anti-government slogans..."

[Demonax]

Armed police and riot control vehicles coming to the occupied areas:

Self-styled police's uniforms to become the same with the ones in Turkey:

Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (27.06.13) reports that the efforts for assimilating the "police" of the breakaway regime to the police in Turkey have been intensified. Afrika notes that the first action of Prime Minister Erdogan [in this direction] had been to assign a "general coordinator" to the "police" of the regime, who had more rights and authorities than the "general director of the police" himself. The appointment was made two years ago. According to information obtained by the paper, this "coordinator" was the "father of the idea" of purchasing the known Vehicles for Interfering in Social Incidents (TOMA), which the Turkish police used during the recent incidents at Istanbul's Gezi Park.

Noting that uniforms similar to the ones of the Turkish police had been prepared for the "police" of the breakaway regime, Afrika writes that these uniforms will be presented to the press tonight at the "police" headquarters. Afrika recalls that since the British colonial rule the uniforms of the Turkish and Greek Cypriot policemen have been prepared according to the same rules.

According to the paper, the aim of AKP government with the change of uniform is to "disconnect" the "police" of the regime from the police of the Republic of Cyprus, to maintain in occupied Cyprus a "police" organization, which is depended on Turkey and to further instigate separation.

http://www.hri.org/news/cyprus/tcpr/201 ... .tcpr.html