Student protests continue in Turkey
Efor | 23/12/2012
Hundreds of students demonstrated on 18th December 2012 at the Middle East Technical University (METU) in Ankara, Turkey, against a visit by the Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan at their university.
Erdogan and his governmental-party AKP have been pushing forward the privatization and economization of higher education for a couple years. The reason for the visit was the launch of the satellite «Gokturk2» of the Turkish government and the Turkish military. Since 2001 Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his ruling party put fascist and racist system on government and these days he tries to invade Middle Eastern countries such as Syria.
The protest however was mainly directed against Erdogan and his «national and international policies of the authority.» On the front banner it was written: «Seller of science and imperialist war market-barker Tayyip get out of METU.»
The 1000-person strong demonstration started to walk at 15:50. At 16:15 the demonstration was attacked without warning by the 3000 police with rubber bullets, irritant gas and 8 water-canon tanks. Two students were severely injured. One of them, Barış Barışık is still in mortal danger. Dozens of other students have been injured during those clashes lasting several hours.
Police Brutality Hits METU Campus
Police fired 2000 tear gas canisters, used 80 sound bombs and 8 water cannon tanks to disperse the protest at the university, where Erdogan went to watch the launch of a Turkish earth observation satellite into orbit aboard a Chinese rocket.
Around 50 protesters were injured, and police detained 12 students after the clashes, according to local media
One of the protesters, Baris Barisik, suffered a brain hemorrhage after a gas bomb hit him in the head during the protest
Ankara Police Raids Apartments, Detains Students
The police crackdown sparked outrage among academics and opposition parties, which accused the AKP of authoritarianism.
Anti-terror police teams raided several apartments this morning, detaining 11 students who protested against PM Erdogan during Göktürk 2 satellite ceremony at METU on Tuesday evening.
Authorities said detained students who have been charged with assault on police and violation on protest and gathering regulations, were not allowed to meet their lawyers due to on going operation.
Many university students (METU, Hacettepe, Ankara University) marched to the Prime Minister’s office in Ankara on Friday to protest a police crackdown on university students , in Ankara.
Around 500 protesters chanted slogans blasting Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, unfurling banners reading “Set Free Detainees” — referring to students who were arrested Tuesday after protesting the prime minister’s visit to Middle East Technical University (METU).
A group of METU academics boycotted classes Thursday to protest police violence and detentions, which were also criticised by the mainstream media and a rights group.
“Police was casting tear gas bombs at students every 30 seconds. They were even attacking harshly as students were retreating. Police might be seeking revenge from previous student protests,” METU Professor Ferdan Ergut told bianet. “Professor gathered on the steps of University President’s Office until police left campus at 7:30 pm.”
The human rights group Amnesty International called on Turkish officials to launch a “speedy, comprehensive and neutral investigation into the incident … where police used excessive force against peaceful protesters at the METU campus.”
Prime Minister got angry to university professors,scientist,students
Speaking in a televised program aired in the NTV channel later on Friday, Erdoğan dismissed criticism in the media leveled against him about violence in METU campuse,he said ”The children of this country, engineers have done such a design, you need to follow.(He mention about Gokturk 2 satellite) But they protesting (He thinks that people protesting satellite,but they were not) What rector, what’s academics. Thats what they say without shame, ‘we do not want police in our the university ” They are not entering classes (He means boycott)I don’t care.If you become scientist or not become scientist.Your student is protestors ,these students are educated by you .If these college students are educated by you,our country failed”
A list of detained students included Mert Atmaca, Mustafa Bozkurt, Hasan Koç, Hüseyin Koç (readers of Kaldırac magazine), İlhan Aslan (Socialist Democracy Youth), Can Kaya (Hacettepe University,Students Collective), Cem Dursun, Batuhan Demirci (Youth Federation), Güven Kazım Altunkaya, İlhan Şen, Sercan Çınar (METU Mountain and Winter Sports Club,Greens and Left Future Party) and Bedirhan Şen.
Sources: Βanoosh.com, Αktifhaber.com
By //http://eagainst.com/articles/student-protests-continue-in-turkey/