“Huseyin Avni Mutlu, the governor of Istanbul, said in a Twitter message that the police would remove banners and posters. He said the activists who have been occupying Gezi Park for more than two weeks would not be affected.
“Gezi Park and Taksim will never be touched,” he said. “This morning you are in the safe hands of your police brothers.””
“Despite that assurance, a group of police officers made its way into the park to pull down posters and banners. They were met with protesters chanting, “Everywhere Taksim, everywhere resistance,” but no confrontation ensued.
Television footage showed at least eight protesters standing behind metal shields against the pressure of water cannons, and CNN Turk reported that some demonstrators in Gezi Park had tried to persuade others outside to stop throwing rocks at the police. Other footage showed hundreds of activists inside the park wearing gas masks or swimming goggles and spraying soothing liquids into the eyes and mouths of people who had been affected by the tear gas around Taksim Square.”
Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/12/world/europe/disputed-square-in-istanbul-turkey.html?hp&_r=0
11 June 2013
