May Day Statement From Vice PM: Police Will Intervene

Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınç reiterated that the government will not allow  any May Day celebrations in Taksim Square. 

Following a cabinet meeting, press members asked Vice PM Arınç on what measures the government will take as “especially unions are insisting to be in Taksim Square on May Day” 

“Not all unions insist for Taksim”

Arınç came up with the following response: 

“The topic didn’t come up during our meeting. I personally asked our Internal Affairs Minister about the current situation on this issue.

“First of all, the sentence “Unions are insisting to be in Taksim Square on May Day” is incomplete. For example, Türk-İş accepted to do their meeting at Kadıköy.

“DİSK and unions tied to them would like to create an argument atmosphere, a battle and a scene which would remind past years’ Taksim experiences with disappointing examples.” 

Maltepe or Yenikapı

“There are law on this issue. According to Public Gatherings and Demonstrations Law and the ruling of İstanbul Governer’s Office, it is clear that Taksim is not reserved for May Day. For gaterings and demonstrations, we have designated areas both at Maltepe and Yenikapı. We’ve told them that they can do their gatherings at the reserved areas if they apply as soon as they can.” 

“But they insisted on this discussion, flamed it and kept their attitude on Taksim no matter what the cost will be.” 

“No demonstration in pedestrianized zone"

“We had a pedestrianization project in Taksim. It is not a demonstration area.
“According to the previous security reasons, our governor decided on one more thing. We may have tolerated this in the past. You know that our government is the first government that accepted May Day as holiday.

“This could be understood as we are open to any kind of gatherings or demonstrations if it is appropriate to the Public Gatherings and Demonstrations Law.”

We may allow a “meaningful gesture” 

“We may allow if a small group representing unions will come up to leave flowers or read a statement as a meaningful gesture.

“But there will be no tolerance towards big crowds demonstrating there all day. If this situation occurs, police forces will interfere no matter what, and since it will be an illegal act, organizers of it will face legal investigations.” 

* Photo credit: Murat Kaynak / AA

* Click here to read the article in Turkish.