Cyprus-Forum.com

[Tim Drayton]

Basically, what Erdogan wants to do with the Presidential system if it should get that far, just as it happens in other undemocratic Muslim countries, is the have the Erdogan family Dynasty rule Turkey for the next few hundred years . This is where he wants to take Turkey.

I think you are right, and at the very last minute the Turkish people - especially the younger generation - have put their foot down. It is not going to happen. They can't force people to live like they do in Saudi Arabia, either. It is now politically impossible in Turkey.

It is good for the Turkish Cypriots, as well, because the Turkish regime was starting to view their staunch secularism with great suspicion. That was one of the next targets.

Hey, Erdogan already called us TCs as being "kept Parasites"!

But some TCs here on the forum still believe in Erdogan.

I know a fair number of TCs in person, and none of them is a fan of Erdoğan. Perhaps it is just the company I keep.

Have you noticed that a few right-wing TC politicians have started going on the pilgrimage to Mecca and making sure that this fact is given media coverage? This is obviously in the effort to insinuate themselves with the new Ankara elite. They may have wasted their time.
Bloody fools.

[Tim Drayton]

By the way, if the news reports suggesting that the police are close to breaking point is true, this could be very bad news for Erdoğan. The police force was the Islamists first target and they infiltrated and took it over by the end of the 1980's. The police are on their side. The military, on the other hand, has been very quiet but I cannot see them lifting a finger to save Erdoğan's bacon. The advantage that Erdoğan has is that he was genuinely elected; the disadvantage he has compared to Gaddafi, Mubarak and Assad is that he does not have the army on his side.

Given the way that he is refusing to compromise in order to defuse tension, my guess is that America will orchestrate an in-party coup to replace him with a leader more able and willing to broker a deal with the protesters.

[Maximus]

Recent quotes from Erdogan;

"Don't you see this? How can you attack my police? There are those who side with those swearing against the prime minister of this country. We are going to show patience, but patience has a limit as well. Those who hide behind the protestors should first learn what politics is,"

"They have entered the Dolmabahçe Mosque with their beer bottles and their shoes on. They have insulted my headscarf-wearing daughters and sisters. And they haven't stopped at that,"

Erdogan said he would not allow another coup to take place. "Everybody should know that today is not May 27, 1960. Today is not September 12, 1980. It is not February 28, 1997,"

"Those who tried to let the stock exchange collapse: Tayyip Erdoğan has no money there, if it collapses you will also collapse with it. The moment we discover stock exchange speculation, we will ram it down your throat".

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/patien ... sCatID=338

[bill cobbett]

More on the football...

In this Skynews vid, fans from Besikstas, Fenerbache and Galatasaray, normally sworn enemies, come together to protest against Erdogan.

The particularly passionate "Ultras" from these clubs fill the sky with their flares and smoke bombs towards the end... very impressive sights.

Oh... and it's in English... except for the shouting ... which is in Turkish...

[bill cobbett]

More for football fans...

Just been told by a friend that the Carsi fans section of Besikstas FC are prominent in the demos.

Here's the start of the wiki about them...

...Beşiktaş Çarşı Grubu (shortly Çarşı) (the Group Carsi) is the best known supporter group of BJK history. They locate themselves on Kapalı (Covered Stand) in the football matches and known for their expressed common views on up-to-date topics, organized way of acting, and genuine manner of chanting.[1]
There are lots of catch-phrases of the group, “Çarşı, her şeye karşı!” (English: ‘’Çarşı is against everything!”') being probably the most famous one.[2] Çarşı's symbol refers to the symbol of anarchism and has a common fame for the left-leaning character of its supporters who may be counted as anti-racist, anti-fascist, anti-sexist, pluralist and ecologist.
In May 2008, Çarşı disbanded unexpectedly.[2] However, the post-breakup discussions are still continuing, due to intellectual conflict between the supporters...

What an interesting bunch of, well, presumably nihilists.

Çarşı, her şeye karşı!

[Kikapu]

By the way, if the news reports suggesting that the police are close to breaking point is true, this could be very bad news for Erdoğan. The police force was the Islamists first target and they infiltrated and took it over by the end of the 1980's. The police are on their side. The military, on the other hand, has been very quiet but I cannot see them lifting a finger to save Erdoğan's bacon. The advantage that Erdoğan has is that he was genuinely elected; the disadvantage he has compared to Gaddafi, Mubarak and Assad is that he does not have the army on his side.

Given the way that he is refusing to compromise in order to defuse tension, my guess is that America will orchestrate an in-party coup to replace him with a leader more able and willing to broker a deal with the protesters.

Maybe more than just breaking point, Tim.

This is actually a very sad story.

Six Turkish policemen commit suicide during Gezi protests, union head says

“The violence you see at the end is the reflection of the violence suffered by the policemen. They are not just subjected to violence by protesters, but by 120-hour consecutive working periods, stale bread and food. The police are already subjected to violence within the establishment,” Sezer said.

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/six-tu ... sCatID=341

[MGCN]

From May 18 Economist

IN A recent sermon Fethullah Gulen, Turkey’s most powerful Muslim cleric, preached against hubris. Delivered in rural Pennsylvania, where Mr Gulen lives in self-imposed exile, it was broadcast from his website with an electrifying effect. Was the holy man alluding to Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey’s increasingly authoritarian prime minister?

http://www.economist.com/news/europe/21 ... fight-back

it also goes on to talk about prosecutors being Gulenist not so much AKP, what do you think Tim?

[bill cobbett]

Yes and we can add one "policeman" shot by another "policeman" with a plastic bullet in an accidental shooting to that.

In keeping with the pattern over the past few days, clashes increase as night falls.

This the latest from indy media... unconfirmed...

[Adana] Intensity of the clashes in Adana decreases. A police officer got injured by an other police officer who shot with rubber bullets.
00.14:
[Ankara] The number of demonstrants in Kennedy Avenue has reached five thousand. Just as it has been in several days, the demonstrants barricade (in this avenue) 200-300 meters far away from the US Embassy. They are shouting "Taksim everwhere, resistance everywhere", "Hurray for our Kizilay-resistance" and "Dictator, resign!" slogans.
00.01:
[Ankara] It is the 11th day of the resistance in Ankara.
23.53:
[Istanbul] One of the spokesmen of çArşı fan group, Bülent Ergenç was lightly wounded as a result of an attack with knife. Note: The incident has not occured due to Turkish-Kurdish tension as it is passed on the social media, it happened as the Taksim Solidarity agreed on to get the barrowmen out of the park and çArşı, just like other organizations, was in an attemptt to apply the decision.
23.45:
[gezipark.nadir.org] We would like to recommend this interview with Radyo Gezi (in english): “We don’t want them to decide how we live” – Interview with Radyo Gezi
23.32:
[Istanbul] The clashes continue in Gazi Neighborhood.
23.14:
[Antalya] From the tribune of people in Antalya: Photo Photo Photo
23.04:
[Ankara] Clashes spread in the Kurtuluş square. Scorpions throw gaz bombs to groups who want to get together in the square. Armored police vehicles (TOMA) also came in the area
23.00:
[Tarsus] Despite all efforts for pressure and intimidation, in Tarsus there are 10 thousands people in the street calling the government to resign.
23.00:
[Istanbul] The libraries of Gezi Park need books. Support them.
22.59:
[Ankara] The police targeted the workers of the press in Kizilay recently. Hasan Akbas, reporter from Evrensel newspaper, tweets as follows "#resistAnkara The police targeted journalists. We, the reporters from Radikal, Evrensel, DIHA, BirGun, Bianet, reacted to these attacks. Then, the police attacked as with threats. Firstly, they apologized, but right after that, they threatened to shoot us in our feet. They said "Don't forget us. We are not going to forget you as well". The police came with the reason of their nervous behaviour that they didn't sleep in many days.
22.57:
[Istanbul] Clashes have started to occur in Gazi district. While a group of demonstrators are fighting (with the police force) the other part keeps giving speeches.
22.57:
[Ankara] It is getting crowded in Kennedy Avenue. The demonstrators errected a barricade and expect police attacks.
22.54:
[Ankara] The march of Dikmen cortege towards Kuğulupark continues.
22.53:
[Edirne] A free-speech lectern was set up at the Zübeyde Park in Edirne. After the thousands' march, Edirne is still standing-up.
22.49:
[Ankara] A part of the group that demonstrates in Kızılay has started to march towards Kennedy and Tunali Hilmi Avenues. Police keeps attacking them here as well. It is reported that the protestors get arrested in the back streets of Tunalı Hilmi Avenue.
22.36:
[Istanbul] Speeches at people's lectern continue in Gazi district. Korkmaz Aslan says "This is a resistance of people who are against the politics of city transformations that aim at destroying our homes, at those who have to live with minimum wages and who are left to death without health care"
22.25:
[Ankara] In Ankara,the Olgunlar Street is attacked by the police with gas bombs.
22.20:
[Kocaeli] An opening ceremony for a new park took place in Yenikent, Kocaeli. People are walking around the Yenikent district
22.17:
[Ankara] Thousands of people from İlker ve Dikmen and Dikmen Avenue, as well as people from Sokullu are marching from Sokullu Avenue
22.15:
[Ankara] Police announces that it will disperse the groups that came from Kuğulupark.
22.13:
[Ankara] More than one thousand people are marching from Kuğulupark towards Kızılay.
22.11:
[Adana] In Adana there is another police attack in Akkapı
22.05:
[Istanbul] People created a podium at Gazi neighborhood. They are taking a speech Photo
21.57:
[Ankara] Çağdaş Ersoy member of the Collective Executive Board is under detention. Many people are in detention as police attacked in the side streets such as Konur, Karanfil, Selanik.

[bill cobbett]

Whilst almost all of the Turkish media has imposed a censorship and sometimes a black-out of news of the protests, it has to be acknowledged that a very small number have been brave enough to publish reports and criticisms.

Hurriyet amongst this noble latter.

So, here's a report from Hurriyet criticising Chemical Erdy for his condemnation of social media... http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/occupy ... sCatID=374

[Tim Drayton]

Whilst almost all of the Turkish media has imposed a censorship and sometimes a black-out of news of the protests, it has to be acknowledged that a very small number have been brave enough to publish reports and criticisms.

Hurriyet amongst this noble latter.

So, here's a report from Hurriyet criticising Chemical Erdy for his condemnation of social media... http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/occupy ... sCatID=374

Radikal and Cumhuriyet are hardly reporting anything else, though, and the protesters have got their own TV station now, as well.