I sit here,
writing this entry sat on my balcony on the 9th of June 2013. All I
can see and hear around me is the flickering of apartment lights on and off and
the sound of the banging of pots and pans. Many have said that Turkey has woken up, has
been reformed by resistance of the people. For me, Turkey will be a memory in 4 days time as I
head back to England. However, the events that have taken place here in the
last 10 days have taught me so much about belief, solidarity, resistance, undeterred
will and general bad-assness. These past
10 days have taught me more about the diversity of the Turkish people, the
politics of a State in balancing
secularism within a population of 90% Muslim, and the kindness of the Turkish people; their
very firm stance of brotherhood and sisterhood within a culture. It has also
taught me that no matter how many things stand in your way, it is absolutely
vital to stick to the causes that are important to you, whether this may be as
an individual or as a collective unit. It has also taught me how to deal with
teargas, that 12 years in power can thwarp a mind, and milk and lemons is
essential to any protest in Turkey.
Plus, when it is your friends that are out there, putting themselves in
danger, it moves the politics of a situation from your brain to your heart.
A brief explanation
of what the hell I’m talking about;
- For those of you who have not have access too, have has biased reports of, or are just plain ignorant too the happenings in Turkey in the last 10 days, I shall provide a brief summary. Please remember whilst reading this that is just my understand of things, which may not be complete, or may have some falsities. In this part, I shall try and remain impartial - for the rest, I won’t. Stannard Storm may be imminent.
- For those of you who have not have access too, have has biased reports of, or are just plain ignorant too the happenings in Turkey in the last 10 days, I shall provide a brief summary. Please remember whilst reading this that is just my understand of things, which may not be complete, or may have some falsities. In this part, I shall try and remain impartial - for the rest, I won’t. Stannard Storm may be imminent.
On the 31st
of May 2013, Gezi Park’s peaceful protests were abruptly ended by the Turkish police. People, who had occupied the park in protest
to the Prime Minister’s plans to destroy the last space of greenery in central
Istanbul , were gassed in the middle of the night. These people had conducted
themselves peacefully, conducting book readings and playing music. Force was
not on the agenda for them, until it was used against them. However, let us not
obsess over the issue of the park. The park, was indeed the straw that broke
the camels back (if you will allow such a cliché).
So, if it is
not about a park – then what it is all
about? As a foreigner, the superficiality of my understanding may be apparent
as I attempt to discuss these dissatisfaction which have led to 10 days of
protest, once more let me reiterate that in no way am I claiming to be an authoritative
voice on the matter, but to offer my 2 cents on the situation. Working at the
Turkish Parliament, and being a student of Politics and IR may give me some
credential, however this is weakened by the fact I look like a bush baby and
struggle to walk in a straight line on a daily basis.
The general
line of argument may be perceived as followed: Turkey is a secular nation.
Attaturk built Turkey to be a secular Nation, and grounded it’s republicanism
on this. Everybody loves Attaturk, he is the boss. Recep Tayyip Erdogan, is
the leader of the AKP Party. He has been Prime Minister since 2002. In the last
3 consecutive years the AKP Party has received over 50% of the vote. Voting is compulsory
in Turkey, however namely unpunished if not conducted. Many have commented on Erdogan’s growing ego,
exercise of power and detachment from the populace. Many are also afraid of a
creeping islamification of the secular state, under Erdogan himself. This can
be expressed in his very public admittance that he thinks everyone who drinks
Alcohol is an alcoholic, and that Ayran is the national drink of Turkey.
However, statements like this regularly are regurgitated as rhetoric which shed
no light of political analysis.
Yet, there is a sign of growing conservative influence.
For example in Ankara, a couple were scorned for showing “immoral” behaviour
for kissing on the Underground. This was answered with a “kissing protest” on
the Metro. In addition, previous to the Gezi Park Spark (I like that, it has a
ring to it) a law was passed banging the selling of alcohol from 10pm-7am. Now,
this may seem reasonable, however, Turkey does not have a health issue with
alcohol, so claims that it is done as a concern for public health is invalid. Another
example are proposals that Turkish Airlines have redrafted their female staff’s
uniform to be an ankle length skirt, and wrist length sleeve – a stark contrast
to the mini skirts that we see today. These are only a few examples, but
reflect the increasing consensus of the growing influence religion may be
having on the Government. Correlated with Erdogan’s growing use of force, and a
mind-set which could be described as authoritarian it provides a hotbed of
concern for the Turkish populace.
These fears of authoritarianism were spearheaded during
the destruction of Gezi park’s protested. These people were met with such
force. With no warning. Treated like criminals by the agents of their own
government, merely for exercising their right to protest. And this is why we
are in the situation where we are today… this is why I cannot distinguish if I
can hear gun shots or fireworks from my window.
What has happened?
And so, the people of Turkey took to the streets. First,
in Istanbul – where blood stained the Oxford Street of Turkey. Secondly,
Ankara,Izmir,Eskishehir and other large cities. The ethos was this; Everywhere
is Taksim Square. Everyone in Turkey feels the brutality of the Gezi Park extradition,
everyone is united against a potentially tyrannous government.
And so, people rallied. Those who were too terrified of
the brutality of the police stood on their balconies, flashed their lights and
banged their pots and pans together. Those who did not agree with this way of
thinking, sat in silence for the time being, but this was to change. As my
experience has been in Ankara, I will focus on the happenings of my city; but
in no way undermine the severity in other Turkish cities. Her Yer Ankara, Her Yer Direniş.
GuvenPark has been the Taksim Square on Ankara, on the
1st of June, as many woke up to the news of Istanbul (most likely
from foreign sources as the Turkish media attempted to marr these happenings –
will be discussed later) people congregated. Many were chanting along the lines
of, we are all in Taksim, at this point the overtly anti-Erdogan chants were perhaps
a minority, but this was to increase as the days ticked by and the violence
increased. As the people showed their force, so did the Police, however the
latter reflected a force of brutality, whilst the former reflected a force of a
collective satisfaction, the will of the people and so on.
The brutality by the Police is something that a
European could not comprehend. You hear stories of such brutality, but seeing
the bandages and people on crutches at your university the next day hammers it
home. Although official reports admit that 4 people have died and 70 people
have been injured in Ankara, I know for a solid fact that the numbers are far
far far higher. Images, in their crass reality our perhaps the best way to
express this;
And so, this situation continued; the police trying to
quell any form on congregation with pre-emptive tear gassing. Reports have
suggested that the tear gas was infused with derivatives of “Agent Orange.”
Police, violent in their manner rounded people up and tear gassed them until
they could not see or breathe. They viciously beat people protesting. One
friend told me of a story where a girl was placing milk in strategic positions
(known to help quell the effects of the gas) as police were trying to remove
this milk. She questioned the police officer, claiming that the milk belonged
to her and he had no right to move it, they argues for five minutes, until he
sprayed the gas in her face from a proximity of a few metres.
And yet, the people still came to the streets, understandably
more angry than when they had began. There have been days where the police have
allowed for the protests to remain peaceful, with minimal action. Kugulu Park
has turned into a make shift library, with people congregating and sharing
knowledge and information. But predominately, these protests may be defined as
this: The battle of determination of brutality of the Police and the equal
determination of the Turkish people in not being intimidated by said brutality.
Check below sources;
And so, the situation and it’s conclusion remains
unclear. Still, on the 10th night the streets of this city are full
with those defending their democratic right. Many urge for Erdogan to step
down, to end his authoritarian rule. However, increasingly those whom support
Erdogan have been present in a street, fighting alongside the police. There
have been stories of the AKP Youth Branch attacking lone protestors and beating
them to a pulp. Many of these pro-AKP supporters chant slogans along the lines
of “If they raise their hands to the police, we will break their arms” and “We
will die for you Tayiip.” The situation of a possible civil war is increasingly
becoming more and more realistic.
The reaction of officials have been infuriating. The
Mayor of Ankara has been seen on TV saying things along the lines of “You
should be glad that we live in Democracy, or you all would be crushed…we can
drown you”. Erdogan also was reported to have said, reffering to the Gezi Park
Spark, that “if you love the tree’s so much, perhaps you should hang from them”
To quote my friend, Firat Senol – to understand Erdogan
may be seen in this way;
“To understand Erdogan one must first understand a Turkish
concept; the “Kabadayi”. Roughly translated as “rough uncle” it is a term used
to describe those who society hasn't quite polished. While it is an insult in
educated circles in Turkey it tends to bemore of a back-handed compliment amongst the majority of Turks. It is
someone, who while rough around the edges, doesn't have time to deal with the
niceties of society.
A kabadayi would never back down from a fight. Never admit that he was wrong. Just bull through everything and anything, deaf to any naysayers and haters. He has created a belief in himself that he is always right, a belief that sustains his very sanity during his rampages. A delusional belief that prevents him from seeing his real role in society; that of a self absorbed bully.
What happens when the kabadayi has a personality so strong that it projects this belief of “right”? Then we have what Turkish politics has become. Erdogan left to another country during the protests to send a message; 'I'm not worried about these loser and neither should you be.' His belief that this would blow over before he came back was just that too. He has attempted, semi-successfully, to convince the foreign media that this is just a phase, that the protesters will get over it.
That is why for the last few days Erdogan, rather than attempting to apologise, has just tried to roll over said protests. It has why he has branded a group that includes some of his former supporters as vandals, terrorists, extremist, separatists, and insisted that they are marginal groups.
Yet one can, using a bit of thought, use this to describe the government and those opposing the protests themselves. The tear gas canisters that damaged all the cars on my street were just lobbed down the street. Vandalism. The way the police have attacked protesters and created an atmosphere of fear, killing some of them in the process and illegally kidnapping others while threatening further retaliation. State terrorism. The slogan chanted at his speech “give us guidance and we'll go, go crush Taksim”. The insistence between “us” and “them”in his speech. Separatism.
This is, however, why he is so popular. He doesn't try, like the ineffective opposition, to say things that apply to all citizens of the republic. He doesn't give politically correct speeches. He talks to a section of the country that has dedicated themselves to his rhetoric. He makes them feel something that they haven't been able to feel under the secular elite; that they are the ones ruling the country. He gives them an opponent to unite against. Which is beginning to backfire. It was all fine when those protesting were university students or members of the opposition party. Now there is no leadership to blame. The is no ethnic, religious, political, or ideological divide amongst the protesters. Without the usual clumsy flailing of the opposition the government's separatist tendencies have been brought to the fore.And this is scaring some of their supporters. The resignation of one of their lawyers in Igdir is just the beginning of an intellectual leak from the AKP. People are finding their confrontation remarks, their warlike demanor, and their towering arrogance hard to stomach. Even the head of the police union (Emniyet-Sen) has asked the people not to blame the police for following orders; but the government for issuing them.I'm not so convinced. If a policeman offers me his hand; I'll shake it. I don't think I'll ever trust them again. Not after Wednesday. Not after protesters were caught completely unaware and unprepared. I don't give credence to people's fear that this will just die down as a result of the police attempting to exercise constraint. I think the fact that Erdogan can't travel without an enormous police escort while Assad is capable of walking through Damascus with minimal bodyguards a true sign of what our Prime Minster believes about the will of the people; not what he says. The fact that they had to postpone his flight and send out messages to gather enough people for him to give his speech shows how much his popularity has waned.”
A kabadayi would never back down from a fight. Never admit that he was wrong. Just bull through everything and anything, deaf to any naysayers and haters. He has created a belief in himself that he is always right, a belief that sustains his very sanity during his rampages. A delusional belief that prevents him from seeing his real role in society; that of a self absorbed bully.
What happens when the kabadayi has a personality so strong that it projects this belief of “right”? Then we have what Turkish politics has become. Erdogan left to another country during the protests to send a message; 'I'm not worried about these loser and neither should you be.' His belief that this would blow over before he came back was just that too. He has attempted, semi-successfully, to convince the foreign media that this is just a phase, that the protesters will get over it.
That is why for the last few days Erdogan, rather than attempting to apologise, has just tried to roll over said protests. It has why he has branded a group that includes some of his former supporters as vandals, terrorists, extremist, separatists, and insisted that they are marginal groups.
Yet one can, using a bit of thought, use this to describe the government and those opposing the protests themselves. The tear gas canisters that damaged all the cars on my street were just lobbed down the street. Vandalism. The way the police have attacked protesters and created an atmosphere of fear, killing some of them in the process and illegally kidnapping others while threatening further retaliation. State terrorism. The slogan chanted at his speech “give us guidance and we'll go, go crush Taksim”. The insistence between “us” and “them”in his speech. Separatism.
This is, however, why he is so popular. He doesn't try, like the ineffective opposition, to say things that apply to all citizens of the republic. He doesn't give politically correct speeches. He talks to a section of the country that has dedicated themselves to his rhetoric. He makes them feel something that they haven't been able to feel under the secular elite; that they are the ones ruling the country. He gives them an opponent to unite against. Which is beginning to backfire. It was all fine when those protesting were university students or members of the opposition party. Now there is no leadership to blame. The is no ethnic, religious, political, or ideological divide amongst the protesters. Without the usual clumsy flailing of the opposition the government's separatist tendencies have been brought to the fore.And this is scaring some of their supporters. The resignation of one of their lawyers in Igdir is just the beginning of an intellectual leak from the AKP. People are finding their confrontation remarks, their warlike demanor, and their towering arrogance hard to stomach. Even the head of the police union (Emniyet-Sen) has asked the people not to blame the police for following orders; but the government for issuing them.I'm not so convinced. If a policeman offers me his hand; I'll shake it. I don't think I'll ever trust them again. Not after Wednesday. Not after protesters were caught completely unaware and unprepared. I don't give credence to people's fear that this will just die down as a result of the police attempting to exercise constraint. I think the fact that Erdogan can't travel without an enormous police escort while Assad is capable of walking through Damascus with minimal bodyguards a true sign of what our Prime Minster believes about the will of the people; not what he says. The fact that they had to postpone his flight and send out messages to gather enough people for him to give his speech shows how much his popularity has waned.”
The
Turkish Media
In
addition, the Turkish Media’s dealing of these events have been very
interesting as a foreigner. On the first few days, caught in the confusion of
anarchy and without a proclaimed direction for the resistance, many Turkish
News Agencies simply had very limited coverage of the events. As it grew very
evident that this wasn’t going to just fizzle away, the Government owned,
controlled or indebted too reflected a very thwarted view of the events. Even
the BBC reflects the protests as somewhat barbaric and unimportant – I have
never been so ashamed of my national media as I have been in the reporting of
the events in Turkey. Social Media has been the agent to which I have received
ALL my news and events – and pray for one day an impartial media body… which is
impossible.
The Future?
As it
stands, the future for Turkey during these days on unrest is very unclear. The
issue being, Erdogan – was democratically elected as the leader of the AKP. The
parliamentary system of the Turkish Parliament allows ruling parties to express
pretty much absolute power over the parliament, teamed with being in charge for
12 years the ego-ism is perhaps understandable, if not justified. Many argue
that there is not a worthy alternative to form a strong Government, which is
arguably what Turkey needs as a growing economy at a stage of transition. However,
what can not and must not be ignored is the reasons behind these protests.
These dissatisfactions are deep, divisive and could conclude in the diversity
of Turkey to become a bloody conflict, rather than a peaceful multiculturalism.
Whatever happens…
Whatever
happens, however, one thing must be remembered. The undeterred bravery of the
Turkish People. Their passion and drive is something I have never seen anywhere
else, and has affected me to my core. The compassion and will of those who are
willing to put themselves in danger night after night is something I whole
heartedly admire. These people do NOT fuck about. I have never seen such
solidarity, such compassion and such heart as I have in those that face the
brutality of the police.
For me, I
will leave Ankara in just a few days time. The situation in Ankara, in Turkey
will continue. This will not be forgotten, whatever the outcome. To my friends
that continue to fight for your cause, thank you for gracing with the knowledge
that nothing is impossible, and through bravery, will and knowledge… resistance
is never futile. We are the people, and thus we are the power. To all those who have risked themselves, I thank you for once more shifting politics from my head, back into my heart.
Taxi drivers protecting people from TOMA water cannons.
Turkey –
Seni Seviyorum. You will never be alone.
Her Yer Turkiye, Her Yer Direniş
No comments:
Post a Comment
Leave a comment..