#turkish spring

[hcworldservice]

Turkish spring: BBC reporters 'intimidated' by authorities

British broadcaster BBC has complaints of intimidation campaign against its reporters by Turkish authorities. BBC has made an independent coverage of protests in Turkey, BBC Turkish service's reporter Selin Girit was described as "English agent" on Twitter by Mayor of Istanbul, Ibrahim Melih Gokcek. He launches a Twitter campaing against her on social network. In reponse, Twitter's users launches a counter-campaign against him and in favor of Selin Girit. Ibrahim Melih Gokcek is a ruling AK party member. Mr.Gokcek don't likes democracy.

[hcworldservice]

Turkish spring: government says it may use army to end protests

In interview for Turkish TV channel Harber TV, Deputy PM Bulent Arinc says  state would use "all its powers" and the armed forces if necessary to "establish peace". It's a first time,  ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party has raised the prospect of deploying troops. Later, Arinc complained that his comments had been taken out of context. On Sunday, PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan  told hundreds of thousands of supporters at a rally in Istanbul that the protesters had been manipulated by "terrorists". Really, i never seen terrorist urges democracy and protesting on Turkey.

[hcworldservice]

Turkish spring: government freezes Gezi Park project

After late-night talks, Turkish government officials and activist of group Taksim Solidarity reach a deal over redevelopment of Istanbul's Gezi Park. The project are frozen until a court ruled it.The government spokesman said there would be no attempt to start the project until a court decided on its legality. If the court backed the government, it would be put a popular vote. It's a victory of activists against PM Erdogan. Definitively, he loses the patience.

[hcworldservice]

Turkish spring: Erdogan meets Gezi Park's activists

Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan meeting members of umbrella group Taksim Solidarity on next days. Two members are among the delegation meet the PM in a capital Ankara. It's first time, Erdogan meets with activists who are against the project of redevelopment of Istanbul's Gezi Park. One of activists, Canan Calagan said the discussions would be "meaningful". "The language developed so far has, unfortunately, not been suitable," he told the Associated Press news agency. "We hope after this meeting that empathy will prevail." Earlier, speaking after meeting of his ruling AK Party, Erdogan said "Our patience is at an end. I am making my warning for the last time."  He added: "I say to the mothers and fathers, please take your children in hand and bring them out," he added, going on to say that the park belonged not "to occupying forces but to the people." It's a Turkish way to say shut up and go home.

[hcworldservice]

Turkish spring: ruling AK Party may hold a referendum on park

Today, Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan meets with a group of protesters to dicuss a redevelopment of Istanbul's Gezi Park. Ruling AK party deputy chairman, Husein Celik says  it is open to the idea of a referendum on controversial plans to redevelop it.  He hoped the "gesture of goodwill" would clear the area occupied by them since June 1st. "We might put it to a referendum... In democracies only the will of the people counts," Celik said. "We think that after this gesture of goodwill, people will decide to go home." It's AK party way of keep protesters calm and quiet.

[hcworldservice]

Turkish Spring: Erdogan meets protesters on Wednesday

Turkey's Deputy PM, Bulent Arinc has announced the meeting between PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan and protesters group on Wednesday. Arinc said Erdogan would "listen to their thoughts", but added that illegal protests would not be allowed. In statement, he said: "The prime minister gave an appointment to representatives of some of the groups that have been organising these protests - he will meet some of them on Wednesday upon their request and he will meet other groups in the coming days." It added: "They will be briefed on the facts and our prime minister will listen to their thoughts." After a meeting between Erdogan and his cabinet, Deputy PM said the government would follow the guidance of the courts over Gezi Park. The protesters say plans to redevelop of the park are in violation of a court ruling. Arinc has warned of 'Illegal demonstrations will not be allowed anymore in Turkey." Its an Erdogan way of pragmatism to solve this crisis.

[hcworldservice]

Turkish spring: PM Erdogan rejects EU criticism

After his arrival in Istanbul's Ataturk airport, where he was cheering by his supporters, Turkey's PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan rejects criticism from EU's enlargement commissioner Stefan Fuele during EU-Turkey conference. EU commissioner said the EU had no intention of giving up on Turkey's accession, but Turkey had to maintain values of freedom and fundamental rights. In response, Erdogan accused the EU of double standards, saying police in Europe and the US used the similar methods. It's an Erdogan way of defence himself.

[sdpipakistan-blog]

SDPI Special Lecture on Turkish Spring Iranian Winter   (Seminar)

Chair Person / Moderator:  Ambassador (Retd) Shafqat Kakakhel, Chairperson, SDPI Board of Governors, and Former UN Assistant Secretary General

Speaker(s):   

Mr Raza Naeem, Social Scientist and Literary Critic, Lahore

Discussant:

Professor Dr Lubna Abid Ali, School of Politics and International Relations, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad

Date: 10 Jun 2013

Venu: SDPI, Islamabad

Time: 3:00-5;00 pm