Turkey’s future hangs in the balance as Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan has pledged to crush the massive anti-government protests. His uncompromising stance has the potential to goad activists into more violence as they call for Erdogan’s resignation.
The prime minister was greeted
with thunderous applause from supporters during a speech in which
he pledged to end the “illegal” anti-government protests. He also
vowed to continue with plans to demolish an art center on Taksim
Square, potentially triggering a further escalation in
tensions.
Upon returning from North Africa, Erdogan addressed thousands of
supporters, encouraging them to disassociate themselves from
“dirty games” and “lawless protests.”
The crowd responded enthusiastically, pledging to die for the
Turkish prime minister and crush Turkey’s worst spate of unrest
in over a decade. At least three people have been killed in the
protester violence over the past week, including one police
officer,with thousands more injured. Activists have condemned the
heavy-handed tactics of the police.
“I call for an immediate end to the demonstrations, which have
lost their democratic credentials and turned into vandalism,”
Erdogan said in a speech at the Istanbul airport, he earlier
branded the demonstrators as “extremists.” He went
on to state that he was elected by the majority of Turks and
would not step down.
Erdogan will meet with European Union Enlargement Commissioner
Stefan Fule to discuss Turkey’s EU candidacy. A number of
countries, including the US, have voiced concern over the recent
unrest.
Members and supporters of Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party
(AKP) blocked roads leading to the airport, and waited for the
prime minister’s arrival well into the night. He eventually gave
his address at 2:00am local time (23:00 GMT).
Thousands of opposition activists also gathered in Taksim Square
for Ergodan’s return, with some calling for the prime minister to
resign. They have barricaded themselves in the center of the
square using paving slabs and street signs.
“It’s all up to Erdogan and what he says right now. He will
decide the fate of this resistance, whether it will calm or
escalate,” ship captain Mehmet Polat, 42, told Reuters.
Erdogan’s aggressive stance towards the protests has raised
concerns over the political situation in Turkey — particularly
his vow to press on with a controversial plan to demolish the
Ataturk Cultural center in Taksim Square. The dilapidated
building, located in Istanbul’s most bohemian district, has
become a symbol of the anti-government protests across Turkey.
RT’s Irina Galushko called the building a symbol of “protest
and resistance,” and the political heritage of Kumal Ataturk,
the founder of the Republic of Turkey and its first president.
The proposed demolition of the building runs the risk of inciting
further violence and unrest.
Demonstrations began last Friday when a sit-in against the
construction plans for Taskim Square turned into violent protests
over the perceived authoritarian rule of Prime Minister Erdogan
and his Islamist party.
Since then, protesters have taken to the streets of Istanbul
every night to show their anger over Erdogan’s rule. The use of
teargas and water cannons, coupled with the heavy-handed police
tactics, has injured more than 4,000 people, according to
Turkey’s Doctors’ Union.
This article originally appeared on: RT