Police, Dozers Leave As Deputy Arrives in Taksim Gezi Park

Police and dozers have left Taksim Gezi Park - one of the only remaining green spots in downtown Istanbul that is reportedly under the risk of a mall construction - as Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) deputy Sırrı Sureyya Önder and Republican People Party (CHP) Assembly member Gülseren Onanç arrived to the construction area demanding proper deconstruction licenses. 

Beginning from last night, dozers and construction vehicles attempted to enter Taksim Gezi Park, an attempt that was blocked by a group of Taksim Gezi Park Association members who campaigned against a reportedly mall construction in the area. 

Group members initiated a “vigilance” act - which involved patrolling around the park and watch out for dozers from the early hours of the morning. 

At 1:30pm local time, dozers and construction vehicles started their engines and resumed to their work. Taksim Gezi Park Association members attempted to prevent the destruction, an act that was intervened by police with tear gas and pepper spray. 

A handful of protestors including deputy Önder and politician Onanç managed to leave behind the police barricade and confronted dozers. The group asked the operators to show proper documentation for their deconstruction work - a document that required approval from City Preservation Council.

Onder and Onanc said they would refuse to leave the area until the documentation would arrive. Later on, police and dozers left the park. 

Önder: They can’t tear down if everybody is here 

Deputy Sırrı Süreyya Önder made an appeal through twitter, saying that they have stopped the dozer by standing against it. “They can’t tear down if everybody is here,” he wrote.  

Under police supervision, the deconstruction left 3 trees de-rooted and a wall partially damaged. 

After the police withdrawal, demonstrators remained in the park, calling for another demonstration at 7 pm local time. (BK/HK/BM)