Cyprus-Forum.com

[Lit]

Unions march in Turkey as Erdogan threatens military force

8:12 a.m. EDT June 17, 2013
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/worl ... t/2429697/

ISTANBUL -- Turkey's government warned Monday it may deploy the military against protesters who continue to defy officials by taking to the street in what the interior minister called "illegal" demonstrations.

Riot police are spraying water cannon and tear gas in Istanbul to disperse pockets of protesters on the sidelines of a demonstration called by labor groups.

"First, if necessary we will deploy the police," Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc said on Monday. "If that's not enough we will call on the (riot police). But if events still require further action, and the governor so wishes, we will resort to calling on the military to contain these protests."

Arinc said further street action is unlawful and that security forces would have a free hand to quash demonstrations.

Monday is the first time the Islamist-rooted government has mentioned use of the military to restore public order. The military establishment traditionally has been seen as a bastion of secularism in Turkey and the natural foe of past Islamist political figures.

The threat comes as five major unions representing public sector workers, doctors, engineers and architects have called their rank-and-file out on a one-day strike and march in city centers across Turkey.

One analyst said it would be a "major move" if the Turkish government were to involve the military in its attempts to control the protests.

"This government has prided itself on getting the Turkish military out of the political equation and has actually emphasized civilianization of the Turkish political scene which it argued from the outset was overly dominated by the military," said Bulent Aliriza, a Turkey expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.

"It would be ironic if the Turkish military were to be reintroduced to the equation on the request of the Erdogan government."

In Ankara overnight, riot police fired tear gas and water cannons against thousands of protesters, the latest violence in a more than two-week standoff that started as an environmentalist rally but later morphed into a broader protest against the government of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Five people, including a policeman, have died and more than 5,000 have been injured, according to a Turkish rights group.

Riot police on Saturday emptied Istanbul's Gezi Park, next to Taksim Square, ending an 18-day sit-in by protesters against plans to redevelop the park.

"The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) government has launched an offensive against the nation, who refuse to give up their rights and freedoms by staging an insistent resistance," the unions said in a statement.

The strike was called in response to a violent police crackdown that evicted thousands of protesters from Istanbul's Gezi Park on Saturday.

A peaceful movement to save the park from demolition for a commercial development has since evolved into a wider anti-government against perceived authoritarianism that's led to widespread unrest across Turkey.

Doctors groups say more than 7,500 have been injured and at least four have died - including a police officer since the unrest began on May 31.

As well as threatening protesters with military intervention, the interior minister also issued a warning against public sector workers who participate in the walkout strike.

"I am calling on public workers and labourers to not participate in unlawful demonstrations - otherwise they will bear the legal consequences," Interior Minister Muammer Guler said.

This weekend Erdogan held a pair of massive rallies in Ankara and Istanbul where he rejected any criticism and blamed "terrorists" and outside forces for the unrest that's been the largest challenge of his decade-long rule.

[Cap]

Told ya.

[Demonax]

But for how long will the Turkish troops stay once they go in to restore peace?

I think what Turkey needs is a two-state solution.

Where is the UN when you need them?

I propose Alexander Downer as UN mediator.

[B25]

The protesters should have 50% power share, a veto and 45% of the land, starting from Constantinople moving east.

They want 50% share of Turkeys Natural wealth, pay no taxes and make the majority pay for their medicals, pensions, free schooling etc.

Sounds about right. Have I missed anything VP, Freddie Halil et al.

[Paphitis]

Yeh right!

I can see the Military doing that to their Secular Supporters!

The might do a Peace Operation on the Turkish Parliament or Erdogan's Residence.

[Maximus]

Give them political equality in a tri zonal federation and weapons so they can defend themselves.

[Demonax]

Facts on the ground. The police cannot carry on like this for the whole summer. They are already at stretching point and Erdogan is bussing in more police from the East. The AKP are in panic mode. Resorting to the army is a desperate move that could backfire if, say, only part of the army backs Erdogan. Then things could get very complicated...

[GreekIslandGirl]

What does President Gul have to say about all this?

Eerily quiet from that department ...

[kurupetos]

What does President Gul have to say about all this?

Eerily quiet from that department ...

I don't expect much. He's Erdo's vassal.