Turkey: May Day with over 52,000 police officers in Constantinople – 384 arrests of demonstrators
Hundreds of arrests of demonstrators were made by Police in Turkey as part of the strict measures taken to avoid marches and demonstrations in the emblematic Taksim Square in Constantinople.
The Prefecture of Constantinople announced that 384 arrests of protesters were made, and 52,656 police were mobilized. Some opposition media and organizations, however, are now raising that number up to 400, including nine lawyer. The arrests were mainly made in the areas of Metzidigioi, Sisli and Besiktas on the European side of Constantinople.
Historically, Taksim Square remains in the collective memory of Turkish public opinion a symbol of May Day, as more than 34 protesters were killed in 1977, according to some sources 42.
Closed until night the roads leading to Taxim
From very early in the morning all the roads in the center of Constantinople, on the European side of the city, were excluded. Some roads have begun to be launched at noon, but most roads, especially those leading to Taksim Square, will remain closed until late at night on a large area throughout the center of Constantinople on the European side, as well as the metro stations.
On the Asian side was excluded from Chalkidona (Cantikoi), where the central gathering of left -wing trade unions (workers) and Kesk (public workers) took place, leftist organizations and parties. In Kartalimi (Kartal) the gathering of pro-government trade unions were gathered under Turk-Is.
Snapshot of a demonstration
Constantinople Prefect Davut Gul said demonstrations were allowed in the districts of Chalkidona and Happy on the Asian coast.
These rallies were also the president of the Republican People’s Party (CHP), Ozgur Ozel, referring to the government’s authoritarianism. He stated, inter alia, that « if squares like Taxim are hostage, excluded, then there is authoritarianism in that country. Looking at Taxim Square today, the insecurity of the government seems to be. «
