Police target journalists during social upheaval interventions. This is my story of being beaten up by the riot police while I was on my way home following the commemoration gathering at Taksim Square.
The events which began yesterday evening, right after the police intervention in Taksim square during the commemoration gatherings, continued until late at night. However, the huge crowd dispersed almost completely, leaving the ground for small groups of protesters. It was quite calm around Galatasaray and Tünel. At 21:30, after sending our news report to the paper we wanted to get some rest and sit at a cafe.
As the events cooled down at around 1:00 am, we decided to head back home, together with two friends. As we were going towards the direction of Kurtuluş, we planned to walk down İstiklal Street towards Taksim Square, and then to continue towards Harbiye. However tear gas fired on İstiklal Street changed the whole course of events.
As a TOMA (Riot Intervention Vehicle) approached the Hüseyinağa Mosque, the crowd began dispersing into the side streets. We ran into Sadri Alışık street to protect ourselves from tear gas. But we suddenly noticed that another group of 20-30 riot police entered and circled the street completely. We were stuck in between…
The Police began beating some 30-40 demonstrators who were almost paralyzed from the tear gas and ‘arresting those parting from the crowd. At that moment, I came face to face with the first group of police coming in through the corner. After the first stick blow from a cop with a vivid expression of anger on his face, I said quite loudly that I’m from ‘Press!’. He answered with abusive language and more stick blows.
When I fell down, I was a target for any cop passing through the street. Anyone turning the corner wouldn’t go into the street without hitting me. As the kicking and beating started to diminish I could hardly rise up and get myself into a small restaurant on the other side of İstiklal Street. Leaving the place, we again came across another round of tear gas being fired. The Tear gas being fired was aimed at people passing by, really close. We again found refuge in back streets of Tarlabaşı.
Finally, I got back home with a swollen left eye, bruises on my right hip, scars on my back and waist caused by the force of the blows delivered by the police and their sticks. One of the riot police who jumped on me, a lucky one, managed to leave his boot print on my back.
Alpbuğra Bahadır Gültekin – bahadir.gultekin@radikal.com.tr / Archive
Source: http://www.radikal.com.tr/hayat/gelen_vurdu_giden_vurdu-1138794
23 June 2013
This post is also available in: Turkish