Turkish protesters are soon entering into the third week of protest and violent clashes with police that have left three people dead and thousands injured. What started as a small sit-in against urban over-development has quickly turned into a nationwide protest against what is seen as increasingly authoritarian and conservative government by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the majority Justice and Development Party, AKP. The protesters draw from various parts of society, including significant support from the labor movement, which has launched a two-day “warning strike.” Many of the demonstrators are young people who balk at what they view as the government’s intrusion into their private lives, for example, condemnation of the consumption of alcohol and the public display of affection.
Though the White House has criticized Turkey for what they call heavy-handed and oppressive tactics, they dare not be too critical of Erdogan’s policies for fear of upsetting the longstanding, mutually beneficial relationship between the U.S. and Turkey. Long an ally of the U.S., Turkey served as a bulwark against Soviet expansionism during the Cold War. Currently Turkey accommodates U.S. nuclear weapons at its Incirlik air base, and its geographic proximity to the Middle East has served U.S. military and geopolitical interests.
Mass arrests and jailings combined with a condemnation of Twitter and other social media, are strong examples of the Turkish government’s oppression and heavy-handedness. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, the Turkish government has waged one of the world’s biggest crackdowns on press freedoms. Thousands have been investigated on charges such as “denigrating Turkishness” and a large number of journalists have been arrested using charges of terrorism and anti-state activities.
The protests increased dramatically in breadth and depth as the police employed oppressive tactics such as the widespread use of teargas, rubber bullets, pepper spray, and water cannons, as well as the beating of non-violent protestors. The Turkish government has taken a page out of the U.S. security state’s playbook by labeling those who protest against its policies as “terrorists” and “extremists.” These policies are reminiscent of U.S. police reactions to the Occupy movement protests of 2011-12, as well as the violent suppression of the trade and pro-democracy protests of Seattle, Washington D.C., and Miami, as well as Minneapolis, Philadelphia, and New York City, among many other communities.
Though Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc issued an apology to protestors on Tuesday, the apology seems to be a calculated effort, and carries little meaning when repressive policies continue. The White House is said to have welcomed the apology, however the only real purpose it serves is to allow the U.S. to let Turkey off the hook. This empty gesture, which ignores the ongoing violations of human rights and democracy by an “ally,” is unfortunately typical of U.S. foreign policy.
The Green Shadow Cabinet ardently supports the right of the people of Turkey to peacefully protest and calls upon Prime Minister Erdogan to stop the police violence against the protesters. Additionally, we call for the immediate release of journalists and protesters who have been arrested and jailed, as well as restitution for the violation of their rights. We urge the U.S. State Department to condemn the police brutality and anti-democracy policies of the current government in Ankara, Turkey, in the strongest terms. The longer the U.S. fails to promote civil liberties and democracy in Turkey, the more likely this situation is to end badly for the people of Turkey.
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http://greenshadowcabinet.us/statements/us-should-strongly-condemn-suppression-protests-turkey