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NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH: EYES ON ISTANBUL AS TAKSIM SQUARE PROTESTS SPREAD
News | 04.06.13 | 16:06
By Siranuysh Gevorgyan
ArmeniaNow reporter
Analysts in Armenia have their watchful eye on the dramatic events
unfolding in Turkey. Political changes in the neighbor country with
which Armenia has no diplomatic relations, can nonetheless have a
direct tangible impact on the whole region.
Enlarge Photo Ruben Melkonyan
Expert in Turkish studies Ruben Melkonyan says the spontaneous small
act of protest held by a group of young environmental activists last
week in Turkey has turned into a large-scale political turmoil, which
has even spread to Turkey's "younger brother" Azerbaijan. Melkonyan
says all the developments in Turkey commonly find their reflection
in Azerbaijan, although in a more provincial and primitive manner.
Last week's peaceful sit-in to protect one of Istanbul's last public
parks rapidly spread to 44 of Turkey's 80 states and became a huge
wave of protest against the authorities. Malkonyan says the active
leftist sector of Turkey's Armenian community is also part of it.
Despite the fact that the movement against Turkish Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan does not have an obvious political leader,
Melkonyan says, it clearly indicates the conflict and discord between
the Islamist-rooted authorities and the ruling military and the
supporters of more secular government.
Analysts are cautious to call these developments a "Turkish spring
or Turkish summer" (as in the "Arab spring"), however the revolt of
people out in the streets now is met with rather brutal treatment by
the police, with grave consequences: more than 3,000 demonstrators
have been detained, hundreds more have been wounded, two young men
(20 and 22 years old) have died.
"Turkish 'democracy' has revealed its true face once again,"
says Melkonyan, in reference to the actions of the policemen which
have undergone numerous EU-sponsored trainings, but are now acting
merciless, and adds with conviction that these events are a mighty
card to play against Turkey for the countries opposing its potential
EU membership.
As opposed to President Abdulla Gul, who viewed the protest as an
expression of democracy, premier Erdogan has demonstrated arrogance
towards the protestors, calling them liars. Prior to leaving for
Morocco on Monday, he said accusing outside forces in supporting the
protest that the Turkish intelligence service is now searching for
connections between the demonstrators and foreign forces.
Melkonyan, in fact, does not rule out the role of western forces
in the Turkish turmoil, as a restrictive measure against Turkey's
aggressive policy.
"Turkey has become too active in the region recently and even resorts
to political unruliness, meaning it uses tough tones when talking
not only to the region's other countries, but also to its sponsors -
the West, the USA. Hence, I view this as the West's sobering blow
against the Turkish authorities, by which it might be sending a
message to restrain themselves a little bit, and to remind that the
Turkish society has many weak spots and is vulnerable, and problems
can arise at any minute," says Melkonyan.
http://armenianow.com/news/46608/riots_turkey_taksim_erdogan_occupygezi
News | 04.06.13 | 16:06
By Siranuysh Gevorgyan
ArmeniaNow reporter
Analysts in Armenia have their watchful eye on the dramatic events
unfolding in Turkey. Political changes in the neighbor country with
which Armenia has no diplomatic relations, can nonetheless have a
direct tangible impact on the whole region.
Enlarge Photo Ruben Melkonyan
Expert in Turkish studies Ruben Melkonyan says the spontaneous small
act of protest held by a group of young environmental activists last
week in Turkey has turned into a large-scale political turmoil, which
has even spread to Turkey's "younger brother" Azerbaijan. Melkonyan
says all the developments in Turkey commonly find their reflection
in Azerbaijan, although in a more provincial and primitive manner.
Last week's peaceful sit-in to protect one of Istanbul's last public
parks rapidly spread to 44 of Turkey's 80 states and became a huge
wave of protest against the authorities. Malkonyan says the active
leftist sector of Turkey's Armenian community is also part of it.
Despite the fact that the movement against Turkish Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan does not have an obvious political leader,
Melkonyan says, it clearly indicates the conflict and discord between
the Islamist-rooted authorities and the ruling military and the
supporters of more secular government.
Analysts are cautious to call these developments a "Turkish spring
or Turkish summer" (as in the "Arab spring"), however the revolt of
people out in the streets now is met with rather brutal treatment by
the police, with grave consequences: more than 3,000 demonstrators
have been detained, hundreds more have been wounded, two young men
(20 and 22 years old) have died.
"Turkish 'democracy' has revealed its true face once again,"
says Melkonyan, in reference to the actions of the policemen which
have undergone numerous EU-sponsored trainings, but are now acting
merciless, and adds with conviction that these events are a mighty
card to play against Turkey for the countries opposing its potential
EU membership.
As opposed to President Abdulla Gul, who viewed the protest as an
expression of democracy, premier Erdogan has demonstrated arrogance
towards the protestors, calling them liars. Prior to leaving for
Morocco on Monday, he said accusing outside forces in supporting the
protest that the Turkish intelligence service is now searching for
connections between the demonstrators and foreign forces.
Melkonyan, in fact, does not rule out the role of western forces
in the Turkish turmoil, as a restrictive measure against Turkey's
aggressive policy.
"Turkey has become too active in the region recently and even resorts
to political unruliness, meaning it uses tough tones when talking
not only to the region's other countries, but also to its sponsors -
the West, the USA. Hence, I view this as the West's sobering blow
against the Turkish authorities, by which it might be sending a
message to restrain themselves a little bit, and to remind that the
Turkish society has many weak spots and is vulnerable, and problems
can arise at any minute," says Melkonyan.
http://armenianow.com/news/46608/riots_turkey_taksim_erdogan_occupygezi