Gassed & beaten up on May Day in Turkey

Publicado: 1 Mayo 2008
Google translate: 

Also read: http://www.turkishdailynews.com.tr/article.php?enewsid=103248

News update: Police Terrorism on May 1st in Istanbul






The city of Istanbul is closed today, roads are blocked and helicopters are watching over since early this morning. Is a new war raging? Or some Hollywood movie they are shooting?



No. It’s actually a peaceful union demonstration that put every policeman of the city on alert.



Thousands of trade unionists and demonstrators gathered in many places around the city, some of them came from another regions on the joint 1st May CALL of the three National Centres (Turk-Is, DISK, KESK,) to then walk from Sisli Square over to Taksim square for a quiet demonstration.



However, in very early in the morning the police attacks began. In front of the DİSK Headquarter, a police barrier immobilized them there. People are locked into the buildings (about 200 workers) whilst about 2’000 protesters outside are getting beaten up and some of them are taken into custody.



UNI’s Adriana Rosenzvaig flew down to Istanbul to meet with affiliates and join them in person, in solidarity, on May Day. She’s currently stuck in one of the National Centres’ buildings and witnessing the extreme violence of police forces.



The police started projecting water at demonstrators caught inside the buildings, but as tensions have risen, they are now gassing both people in and outside.



The police attacks have continued for each of the groups and trade unions' corteges,  all were blocked and witnessing extreme violence of the police. They were not allowed to gather at Sisli Square and walk over the Taksim Square.