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My question is, how long before the peaceful demonstrators turn hostile? If I were there, I would feel like the government has crossed the line into violence an

by swombat 13y ago

My question is, how long before the peaceful demonstrators turn hostile? If I were there, I would feel like the government has crossed the line into violence and that therefore the crowds have no choice but to defend themselves. Soon enough, Turkey won't look that different from Syria, if the police keep that up.

ludwigvan 13y ago
The situation has more or less calmed down, police has started to behave more carefully. The PM has gone abroad, and the deputy PM yesterday made a somewhat warmer speech, recognizing some part of their mistakes. The president has also given a speech saying the message was taken. The media has started covering the issues finally. I would say there is an air of happiness among us, protestors now. We feel strong and united. What the protestors now want in the short term, is an apology from the PM himself, but that's probably not very likely. We'll see when he returns from Algeria. (Isn't it stunning by the way that he went abroad while the protests were at their peak, in effect ignoring the protestors?)
JamisonM 13y ago
Saying that "Turkey won't look that different from Syria" is not really a sensible statement. My understanding is that other than the Kurds in the south Turkey does not really have "factions" in it population beyond the normal urban/rural divide. It is not primed for any kind of civil war. While one could argue that another Arab Spring nation could provide a parallel situation I do not think that any are very similar. Turkey has a history of repression by authority but it has relatively free and fair elections and it is not governed by anything resembling a brutal dictator. What it does have as I understand it is a government that has its base in the rural population and thus does not reflect the interests of the urban population very well.
- ludwigvan 13y ago
  That's right. Turkey had its "spring" in 1920-1930s actually, what is going on is more or less trying to preserve and improve that nature.

by swombat 13y ago

ludwigvan 13y ago

The situation has more or less calmed down, police has started to behave more carefully. The PM has gone abroad, and the deputy PM yesterday made a somewhat warmer speech, recognizing some part of their mistakes. The president has also given a speech saying the message was taken. The media has started covering the issues finally. I would say there is an air of happiness among us, protestors now. We feel strong and united. What the protestors now want in the short term, is an apology from the PM himself, but that's probably not very likely. We'll see when he returns from Algeria. (Isn't it stunning by the way that he went abroad while the protests were at their peak, in effect ignoring the protestors?)

JamisonM 13y ago

Saying that "Turkey won't look that different from Syria" is not really a sensible statement. My understanding is that other than the Kurds in the south Turkey does not really have "factions" in it population beyond the normal urban/rural divide. It is not primed for any kind of civil war. While one could argue that another Arab Spring nation could provide a parallel situation I do not think that any are very similar. Turkey has a history of repression by authority but it has relatively free and fair elections and it is not governed by anything resembling a brutal dictator. What it does have as I understand it is a government that has its base in the rural population and thus does not reflect the interests of the urban population very well.

ludwigvan 13y ago
That's right. Turkey had its "spring" in 1920-1930s actually, what is going on is more or less trying to preserve and improve that nature.