This is an urgent call from
human rights defenders, activists, NGOs, professional chambers, grassroots,
neighbourhood associations and Istanbulites.
Since the 27th of May,
Istanbulites from all social and political backgrounds and ages and from all
over the city had been continuing a peaceful resistance in Gezi Park, the
city’s largest public park, soon to be demolished due to a renewal project.
According to the project, decades old trees in the park will be cut down and a
big mall in the replica of the once Ottoman Artillery Barracks (Topçu
Kışlası) will be erected, as you can see here and here.
The police intervened in the
park 3 times, each more violent than the other. The first intervention was in
the morning of May 28th, a crowd of about 50 protestors were tear-gassed directly
on their faces.
To give solidarity to the
protestors, hundreds arrived in the evening and the occupation movement got
larger. Right afterwards, the second intervention came early in the morning of
May 30th at 5 am, the riot police set fire to the tents and tear gas and pepper
sprays were used incessantly, causing serious injuries, as you can see here and here.
Against this inhumanity and
extreme violence, the reaction was the occupation of the park, this time by
thousands.
And this morning proved to be
the culmination of violence and barbarism that no words can describe, with an
unproportional use of force.The exit of the park was blocked, the group
was thus locked in the park and was taken under the crossfire of tear gas and
pepper bombs, choked to death. The only way was by breaking the walls and many
were wounded.
At the moment brutal
interventions against protestors continue, after the press call, while the
group was leaving, it was pepper sprayed and tear gased once more!
At the moment, some of the
group is in Divan Hotel at Elmadag.
Literally, almost all
parts of Taksim (where Gezi Park is) is tear gassed and pepper gas sprayed
especially the streets around Taksim are under clouds of gas.
The
resistance for democracy and human rights will not be terminated; we are
determined to continue our struggle against a government determined to crush
each and every opposition, a government that can not tolerate even a peaceful
opposition for saving trees.The Turkish government, has violated all
international human rights conventions and mechanisms it is a party to.
Your
valuable support and solidarity will indeed fortify our determination and
resistance. Please share it, name it and shame it and blame it so that this
insanity and brutality practiced against human rights defenders can be
terminated through international pressure.
Call to the International Olympic
committee
This is also a call to the IOC
to take Turkey out of its list of 2020.
If Olympics means friendship,
if Olympic Games mean peace and companionship, these videos are enough proof of
how the government violates the ideals of Olympics. Having Istanbul on the list
will be tantamount to pepper gasing these ideals.
* To read more, click here.