Turkey protests: Clashes continue despite PM’s warning

Author (Corporate)
Series Title
Series Details 12.06.13
Publication Date 12/06/2013
Content Type

Continuing reports of the outbreak of social unrest and protests in Turkey, June 2013 (see ESO: Background information related url for earlier developments).

Demonstrators accused Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan of becoming increasingly authoritarian and trying to impose conservative Islamic values on a secular state.

Turkish riot police used tear gas to disperse thousands of anti-government demonstrators who gathered on Taksim Square in Istanbul on the 11-12 June 2013, after a further day of sporadic clashes and increasing impatience from Mr Erdogan. He defended the police action, saying that an environmental movement had been hijacked by people who wanted to harm Turkey.

EurActiv reported that the members of the European Parliament expressed grave concern on the 12 June 2013 about the Turkish government’s response to the Gezi Park protests that have polarised the country over the last three weeks. There was less consensus on whether speeding up EU accession negotiations could help the democratisation process in Turkey.

Deutsche Welle wrote on the 12 June 2013 that the Turkish government in its latest attempt to quell nearly two weeks of public protests had hinted that it might hold a referendum on the redevelopment of a popular park in the concrete jungle of Istanbul.

Members of the European Parliament the 13 June 2013 urged the Turkish government to stop police brutality against protesters gathering for the second week in Istanbul.

Source Link Link to Main Source http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-22866238
Related Links
ESO: Background information: Defiant Turkish PM Erdogan urges end to protests http://www.europeansources.info/record/defiant-turkish-pm-erdogan-urges-end-to-protests/
Deutsche Welle, 11.06.13: In Focus: Turkey's growing wave of protests http://www.dw.de/turkeys-growing-wave-of-protests/a-16863770
France24: Tag: Turkey: Protests http://www.france24.com/en/category/tags-th%C3%A9matiques/protest
France24, 12.06.13: Turkey's Gezi Park protesters keep watch overnight http://www.france24.com/en/20130612-holed-gezi-park-protesters-keep-watch-overnight
EUObserver, 12.06.13: Turkish police clash with Taksim protestors http://euobserver.com/foreign/120462
Süddeutsche Zeitung, 11.06.13: All together behind the establishment? (via PressEurop) http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/article/3868451-all-together-behind-establishment
Spiegel International Online, 12.06.13: 'Everyone Is Afraid': Erdogan Regime Cows Embattled Media http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/media-repression-in-turkey-intimidates-and-imprisons-journalists-a-905164.html
Spiegel International Online, 12.06.13: World From Berlin: Turks 'Have Simply Had Enough' http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/german-press-review-police-crackdown-on-turkish-protesters-a-905309.html
Spiegel International Online, 12.06.13: Violence in Istanbul: Protesters in Gezi Park Refuse to Give Up http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/gezi-park-demonstrators-in-istanbul-refuse-to-leave-a-905257.html
BBC News, 13.06.13: Turkey protests: Ruling AK party may hold vote on park http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-22882460
Spiegel International Online, 13.06.13: Turkey's Gamble: Crackdown Threatens EU Accession Talks http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/erdogan-crackdown-could-threaten-eu-membership-talks-a-905344.html
EurActiv, 13.06.13: Concerned about Turkey, MEPs debate speeding up EU ta http://www.euractiv.com/enlargement/meps-concerned-turkey-discuss-sp-news-528525
BBC News, 13.06.13: Turkey protests: Erdogan in 'final' warning http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-22889060
Deutsche Welle, 12.06.13: Turkish government moots referendum on Gezi Park http://www.dw.de/turkish-government-moots-referendum-on-gezi-park/a-16877383
Blog: Public Service Europe, 13.06.13: Turkey's tolerant protests: a window into the future? http://www.publicserviceeurope.com/article/3588/turkeys-tolerant-protests-a-window-into-the-future
EUObserver, 13.06.13: Turkish PM defies EU calls to stop police violence http://euobserver.com/foreign/120491

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