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Turkish Leader Deplores Unrest, Calling Demonstrators ‘Fakers’ Turkish Leader Deplores Unrest, Calling Demonstrators ‘Fakers’
(about 1 hour later)
ISTANBUL — Breaking his silence, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday condemned as “fakers” protesters who have been demonstrating across Turkey since Tuesday night, when a 15-year-old boy who had become a symbol of civilian resistance died after months in a coma.ISTANBUL — Breaking his silence, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday condemned as “fakers” protesters who have been demonstrating across Turkey since Tuesday night, when a 15-year-old boy who had become a symbol of civilian resistance died after months in a coma.
Mr. Erdogan said the protesters were trying to stir chaos before local elections set for late this month.Mr. Erdogan said the protesters were trying to stir chaos before local elections set for late this month.
“These are fakers, fakers,” Mr. Erdogan said at an opening ceremony for a subway line in Ankara, the capital. “They have nothing to do with being democrats.”“These are fakers, fakers,” Mr. Erdogan said at an opening ceremony for a subway line in Ankara, the capital. “They have nothing to do with being democrats.”
“They do not believe in the ballot box, and can foresee their future, March 30, from now,” he said. “And because they do, they say, ‘Let’s inflict chaos; we may get results,’ but they will not.”“They do not believe in the ballot box, and can foresee their future, March 30, from now,” he said. “And because they do, they say, ‘Let’s inflict chaos; we may get results,’ but they will not.”
The boy, Berkin Elvan, was caught up in a demonstration on June 16 and struck in the head by a police tear-gas canister while out fetching bread for his family. After his death, thousands of people hit the streets in more than 15 Turkish cities. In Istanbul, scores of people were injured when the police used tear gas to stop them from reaching Taksim Square, the center of protests that began last May and were prompted by a government-backed plan to scrap Gezi Park, a beloved green spot, for a shopping mall.The boy, Berkin Elvan, was caught up in a demonstration on June 16 and struck in the head by a police tear-gas canister while out fetching bread for his family. After his death, thousands of people hit the streets in more than 15 Turkish cities. In Istanbul, scores of people were injured when the police used tear gas to stop them from reaching Taksim Square, the center of protests that began last May and were prompted by a government-backed plan to scrap Gezi Park, a beloved green spot, for a shopping mall.
On Wednesday, rage and grief during the funeral procession for Berkin led to other mass confrontations with riot squads in Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir. An Istanbul man was shot dead in clashes between political youth groups late Wednesday night, and a police officer died of respiratory problems during protests, news outlets reported.On Wednesday, rage and grief during the funeral procession for Berkin led to other mass confrontations with riot squads in Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir. An Istanbul man was shot dead in clashes between political youth groups late Wednesday night, and a police officer died of respiratory problems during protests, news outlets reported.
“First they tried with Gezi; they could not succeed,” Mr. Erdogan said in a televised campaign speech. “Then they started the Dec. 17 coup attempt, and could not succeed.”“First they tried with Gezi; they could not succeed,” Mr. Erdogan said in a televised campaign speech. “Then they started the Dec. 17 coup attempt, and could not succeed.”
He was referring to a graft inquiry that has ensnared his close political and business allies, which he has called a coup attempt by his rival’s allies in the judiciary and the police force. “Now they try to reach results by provoking, terrorizing the streets,” he said.He was referring to a graft inquiry that has ensnared his close political and business allies, which he has called a coup attempt by his rival’s allies in the judiciary and the police force. “Now they try to reach results by provoking, terrorizing the streets,” he said.
Mr. Erdogan and Fethullah Gulen, a cleric who leads a rival Islamic movement from his base in Pennsylvania, were allies and supporters of a legal campaign against the army, staunchly secular circles and critics of the government, until they broke ties during a power struggle last year.Mr. Erdogan and Fethullah Gulen, a cleric who leads a rival Islamic movement from his base in Pennsylvania, were allies and supporters of a legal campaign against the army, staunchly secular circles and critics of the government, until they broke ties during a power struggle last year.
Responding to a question on a pro-government TV channel, Mr. Erdogan said he did not believe that the latest unrest would hurt the economy. After a dip in the stock market on Wednesday morning, “rates got back on track” in the afternoon, he said.Responding to a question on a pro-government TV channel, Mr. Erdogan said he did not believe that the latest unrest would hurt the economy. After a dip in the stock market on Wednesday morning, “rates got back on track” in the afternoon, he said.
Mr. Erdogan has never mentioned Berkin or any of the eight other civilians who were killed by the police violence during last spring’s protests, or sent condolences to families. However, he praised the security forces’ performance in containing the gatherings.
Many critics have pointed out that the death of a 17-year-old Egyptian girl, Asma Balgaty, who was killed by security forces in Cairo last August, brought Mr. Erdogan to tears during a television interview, yet he has seemed indifferent to the killings of Turkish youths.