The statement of TEVITOL alumni

An announcement to the attention of the authorities and the general public on behalf of the TEVITOL alumni:
We have been following the events that have been taking place at Taksim Gezi Park and in other parts of the country since 31 May. A sizeable part of our nation has been conducting their peaceful protest and trying to voice their requests regarding the rearrangement of Gezi Park for days.
Organizing demonstrations and meetings for this purpose is an indisputable right in a democratic system and is protected by Article 34 of the Constitution of the Republic of Turkey.
In the events that we have been witnessing for days, the use of unwarranted force by the police force against the protestors is extremely grave and concerning. The use of baton, pepper gas and other chemicals in attacks against the protestors and arbitrary detentions display the severity of the
violence by the police. These scenes, which have inexplicably been excluded from the broadcasts of the national media, managed to reach a wide audience through social media channels and through international media.
The latest events reemphasize the perception that the police force has forgotten its responsibility to protect the citizens’ security and peace. In addition, at this critical juncture in the nation’s history, one would expect that the responsibility of the government officials is to make efforts to appease the
situation. In contrast, we watch today in despair that the statements of the government officials are more of a provoking nature.
Our requests from the authorities are as follows:
1) The violence against the protestors should stop and the protestors who have been detained without reason should be released
2) In all the cities where violence by the police have taken place, the mayors and heads of police who have not managed to fulfil their responsibilities and did not manage to appease the situation should be released of their duties
3) The members of the police force who have violated human rights and used excessive force should be identify and prosecuted
4) In order to prevent the occurrence of such violations going forward, the laws regarding the rules and responsibilities of the police force should be redrafted

5) The use of pepper gas and other chemicals against the protestors should be prohibited and the implications and limits of “use of proportional force” should be clearly defined
6) The prohibition against gatherings and meetings in Taksim Square (Istanbul) and Kizilay
(Ankara), among other places across the country, should be lifted.
7) A platform that provides attention to the rights and requests of the protesters that take part in the Gezi Park resistance should be created with haste.
8) The people’s opinion, who are the true owners of public spaces, should be taken into consideration
regarding projects that aim to organize public spaces.

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