Call from Urban Movements Istanbul / HIC-Habitat International Coalition Network To the World Public and the World Press: A government who seems totally unaware of the concept of conscience and who definitely lacks any proper perception of humanity has been putting on an act of utmost violence in almost all parts of the city since last night. This dark page has unfortunately thus been added to the already known and very much debated human rights record of Turkey. History will certainly not forgive this government; this government with its brutal police, its incompetent governors, its dishonest media and its false jurisdiction! Cruelty beyond comprehension for even war time situations is being systematically applied. While the government has been openly overruling all norms of human rights in front of the whole world, its spokespeople and the governor of Istanbul have chosen to address the national and international public in a reckless manner, creating stories about “marginal groups” and “vandalism”. Never before have dignity and pride been so brutally vandalized! Last night, “robocops” programmed to kill without making a distinction between women, children, old people and the sick have attacked the peaceful crowd which had festively gathered all day long at the Gezi Park. Gas bombs have been thrown at hospitals and at houses in which helpless people took refuge. The wounded who were brought into the makeshift infirmary at the nearby Divan Hotel have been re-bombed countless times. Rubber bullets and water cannons have been used in addition to the gas bombs and as the water sprayed by the cannons contained an unknown chemical substance of acidic nature, many people with rashes and itches, skin allergies and open skin lesions have been observed among the wounded. To this moment, the exact composition of the water spray has remained unknown. In short, last night in Istanbul, savageness unequaled even by the atrocities of a war time environment has become the ruler. We would now like to ask: If this is not vandalism, what is? We would also like to ask the sovereigns whose mode of ruling comprises of polarizing people, increasing all tensions and forcing everybody to limits; is this what you call “peace”? Can peace only be attained by carrying out whatever the government orders? What kind of a government do you call yourselves if your answer to these questions is “yes”? Is this your understanding of democracy? This is our call to all the governing and/or opposing members of the parliament who have now become a part of this brutality by remaining silent, to the segment of media that has accepted the language of this cruelty as its own mode of expression and to the members of the police force who, openly violating all rules of human rights, have turned into barbarian “robocops” which think they will not have to account or stand trial for their actions: In the name of humanity, first listen to the voice of your conscience! We would also like to address the world public and in particular all the international human rights mechanisms Turkey is also a part of with this message and ask them to help us in making our voices heard in our protest of this government which has adapted cruelty and savageness as a mode of approach towards its people. Please hear our voice and take the necessary steps to stop these atrocities! Cihan Uzuncarsili Baysal Spokesperson of URBAN MOVEMENTS ISTANBUL
Posted on: Sun, 16 Jun 2013 13:13:38 +0000
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