Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has rallied thousands of his supporters in Istanbul, just hours after a crackdown on anti-government protesters in Taksim Square.
The rally came as riot police continued to fire tear gas and jets of water at pockets of demonstrators determined to regroup after being evicted from Gezi Park.
Some six miles away from Taksim Square, buses unloaded loyal supporters of Mr Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party (AKP) for an election rally billed as a show of strength.
Tens of thousands of supporters of Mr Ergodan have rallied in Istanbul
“May the hands that touch the police be broken … the people are here, where are the looters?” the supporters chanted.
The show of force by supporters of Recep Tayyip Erdogan came as police launched a violent crackdown on protesters opposed the government in another part of the city, using tear gas, water cannon and rubber bullets to disperse crowds.
The renewed unrest began overnight when police moved in forcibly to clear the camp at Gezi Park in Istanbul which has been the focus of anti-government protests. Within hours, large crowds took to the streets in support of the protesters, converging on the adjacent Taksim Square from all over the city…. As he spoke, across town police were firing tear gas at anyone who set foot in the streets around Taksim.
Yesterday the Turks were out in full force in Sydney . They brought out their kids , their teens , their grannies who all had their meanest twisted little faces on . The big boys were pushing them out in front of the cameras. Turkish flags were flying .
Oh yeah what were they protesting?
in May , the NSW state government unanimously acknowledged the Ottoman massacres of Greeks & Assyrians 1915-22 . It re affirmed it’s 1998 Armenian Genocide Declaration .
There was not one sign or comment about anything happening in Istanbul. So I can conclude that these are real Turks – given the chance to live in a non ottoman / secular state & this is their primary concern.
The evidence is overwhelming .You are being fooled. All Turks are Ottomans .
Looking at those pics – I would like to borrow some of those police. I have decided not to renew a lease held by Turks & I don’t expect to have an easy time.
Don’t be fooled by the size of the Erdogan support crowd. Part of it is genuine, much of it is paid for. “Astroturf” applies overseas as well. They were handing out government money to get people in.
I have family there, and they say there is not slowdown in Istanbul of the nightly pot-banging outside the windows and car-honking, all to signify Erdogan must go. (Not much sleep either, until the noise subsides)
I don’t feel it will end well, but the populace and opposition are wide awake, and even some Erdogan supporters (either with a conscience or a modicum of common sense) are not happy with his tactics. At every chance to defuse the situation, he amps up the rhetoric.
There is open talk of Erdogan as a “wounded bear”, very dangerous in his current state, and great concern as to what he is driving at – almost as if he wants the situation to escalate so he can flex his muscle further.
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Nice roundup, William!
I got you linked up, with additional video: ‘Crackdown in Instanbul’.
Yesterday the Turks were out in full force in Sydney . They brought out their kids , their teens , their grannies who all had their meanest twisted little faces on . The big boys were pushing them out in front of the cameras. Turkish flags were flying .
Oh yeah what were they protesting?
in May , the NSW state government unanimously acknowledged the Ottoman massacres of Greeks & Assyrians 1915-22 . It re affirmed it’s 1998 Armenian Genocide Declaration .
There was not one sign or comment about anything happening in Istanbul. So I can conclude that these are real Turks – given the chance to live in a non ottoman / secular state & this is their primary concern.
The evidence is overwhelming .You are being fooled. All Turks are Ottomans .
Looking at those pics – I would like to borrow some of those police. I have decided not to renew a lease held by Turks & I don’t expect to have an easy time.
Looks to me that democracy is rapidly disappearing in Turkey and headed the way of Egypt.
Another “ally” not worth a hoot…
Don’t be fooled by the size of the Erdogan support crowd. Part of it is genuine, much of it is paid for. “Astroturf” applies overseas as well. They were handing out government money to get people in.
I have family there, and they say there is not slowdown in Istanbul of the nightly pot-banging outside the windows and car-honking, all to signify Erdogan must go. (Not much sleep either, until the noise subsides)
I don’t feel it will end well, but the populace and opposition are wide awake, and even some Erdogan supporters (either with a conscience or a modicum of common sense) are not happy with his tactics. At every chance to defuse the situation, he amps up the rhetoric.
There is open talk of Erdogan as a “wounded bear”, very dangerous in his current state, and great concern as to what he is driving at – almost as if he wants the situation to escalate so he can flex his muscle further.
Stay tuned.
Fine by me . Hope this new Turkey is so fantastic my tenants go back.. It is very difficult to get rid of Muslims.
Do you have any hints.