Massive Police Intervention against Anti-AKP Demonstrators

Several people were injured in clashes between demonstrators and the police on Tuesday (31 May) in Hopa, a district of Artvin at the eastern tip of the Black Sea coast. The demonstrators protested against Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan who paid a visit to the region the same day. 54-year old retired teacher Metin Lokumcu died of a heart attack when the police intervened against the demonstrators with the massive use of tear gas.

One casualty, many wounded

PM Erdoğan held a meeting at the Republic Square as part of his campaign for the parliamentary elections on 12 June. Democratic mass organizations and members of different political parties had posted a banner on a prominent building on the square reading "Get out of here, AKP", referring to the ruling Justice and Development Party. A huge flag of the Republican People's Party (CHP) had been hoisted at another building.

Hundreds of people had gathered on the square, among them members of the Socialist Party of the Oppressed (ESP), the Community Centres, the Freedom and Solidarity Party (ÖDP), the Equality and Democracy Party (EDP) and the CHP. Hakan Vayiç, ESP District Chair, read out a press release criticizing the quota on tea as one of the main agricultural products of the region, Hydroelectric Power Plants (HES) and the looting of areas of life.

The police intervened against the demonstrators by the extensive use of tear gas and water cannons. Retired teacher Metin Lokumcu lost his life as the result of a heart attack he suffered after gas bombs had been thrown by the police. Many demonstrators and policemen were injured and had to be taken to hospital.

The demonstrators reacted to the police intervention by shouting slogans and throwing stones. More than a thousand policemen were brought to Hopa from neighbouring provinces such as Rize, Erzurum and Erzincan.

Two injured people in severe condition

EDP District Chair Cesur Çağaloğlu assessed the situation in an interview with bianet. He reported that the tension in the district was running extremely high. The police threw gas bombs in most of the streets, he said.

"We started gathering in the city centre at around 11.00 am to protest Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The police intervened against the people and clashes occurred. (...) Apparently, many demonstrators and policemen were injured. A wounded student is said to be in a severe condition".

"When the convoy of the Prime Minister passed by, his bodyguards got out of the cars and shot in the air continuously. We did not lift our heads from the ground", Çağaloğlu recalled.

"We got to know later on that one of the bodyguards fell off the car and was seriously injured".

(EKN/VK)