Dangerous Standoff Between Turkish Labor Unions And AKP Government

In a televised press conference on Monday, the Governor of Istanbul Muammer Guler rejected the demands of Turkey’s major labor unions to hold May 1 celebrations in Istanbul’s central Taksim square and said that such an attempt would constitute a crime. He said that the security forces would diffuse any illegal demonstrations by use of force, if necessary. The Governor also said that a legal complaint was filed with the court against those who announce and invite the public to unlawful events.

Major unions such as KESK and DISK that represent over three million people reiterated their determination to celebrate May Day in Taksim. KESK Chairman Ismail Hakki Tombul reacted to Governor Guler’s statement by saying that use of police and force to avert the celebrations cannot be reconciled with democracy and freedom. He added that AKP embraces values of democracy and freedom only when it affects their party and their views, and urged them to act responsibly.

Observers say that the government is reluctant to lift the ban due to its concerns that the celebrations would turn into a massive anti-AKP rally following the recently amended, controversial social security law.

Source: Hurriyet, Milliyet, Turkey, April 29, 2008

Posted at: 2008-04-29

Latest MEMRI Turkish Media Project Reports: 

Iraqi Kurdistan Province President Mas'oud Al-Barazani Warns Turkey Not to Interfere Over Kirkuk, Declares: I Support The Rights Of The Palestinian People, But... I Am Against Driving Israel Into The Sea

Tensions in Turkey in Advance of Presidential Elections (II)

Turkish Radio and TV Council Issues Warning to Turkish Radio Stations for Broadcasting Islamist Messages and Calling for Jihad

Tensions Rise in Turkey in Advance of Presidential Elections 

Secular Turks Criticize U.S. Ambassador for Dismissing Warnings Against Rising Islamism in Turkey 

** VIEW ALL MEMRI REPORTS ON TURKEY

MEMRITV COVERAGE OF TURKISH PROTESTS
View Turkish Protest Footage from Al-Jazeera on YouTube 

If you would like to donate by mail, please send check or money order to:
	MEMRI P.O. Box 27837 Washington DC 20038
Telephone: 202.955.9070 Email: donate@memri.org

As a reader of MEMRI, you are familiar with our continuing efforts to expand our work to monitor more media outlets in more countries, research more subjects, and translate into more languages.

At this crucial time, as the war on terror continues, with the escalation of conflicts in the Middle East, and with reformists in the region needing help to make their voices heard, we are introducing The MEMRI Blog.

The MEMRI Blog is a new service, provided by The Middle East Media Research Institute, which will operate in conjunction with MEMRI.org, MEMRITV.org, and MEMRIFilms.org.

While MEMRI regularly provides translations from editorials and sermons, as well as expert analysis, The MEMRI Blog will specifically highlight brief NEWS ITEMS from Arabic, Persian, and Turkish language media sources.