I was interviewed by Dalibor Zíta for 23.6. edition of Student plus - programme of the Czech radio made by students for students...and here is what I had to say about the situation in Istanbul. The original interview was in Czech language so I made English translation for you.
Why did such widespread demonstrations appear across all Turkey when it all started with a small demonstration against
demolition of the park?
The people
are tired with the authoritative style of governing. They are always told what
will be done and there is not much space to show another opinion. When the
people start peaceful demonstration, police is sent against them. Gas and water
canons are used. And this time the people said stop, we’ve had enough.
Allegedly the protesting people are destroying
cars and they are behaving like vandals, PM himself suggested there are terrorist
groups who joined the protests. What is your opinion?
I find this
totally absurd. Majority of the protests are peaceful. I saw the people who
took dust bins after the first weekend of clashes with police and they cleaned
Istiklal and Taksim so well, that you could „eat from the ground“ how clean it was.
Yes, of course there are individuals who commit acts of violence. But those
are exceptions of the rule, because truly the majority of the protests are peaceful.
Of course, when you have actual clash with police the people react somehow.
But again, mostly the protests are peaceful, the biggest thing people do is that they shout the
slogans. You can also see the new way of protest which is just standing still and
silent.
You have been studying in Turkey for a few months;
did the unexpected start of the protests surprise you? Because I was myself in
Turkey about a month ago and it didn´t look like something similar to this is going to
happen.
Well, there
already were big demonstrations on the first May, although from totally
different reasons. And yes, I was very surprised. Even in the practical way
because I was in the city close to
Taksim, on Friday evening when the massive protests broke out. So yes, I can
say I was very much taken by surprise.
How do the protests
influence the life in the city right now?
In most of
the city parts you don’t realize something is going on. The protests are
concentrated to Taksim and Besiktas, some peaceful demonstrations take place in
other parts of the city also. Now the protests changed place and they take place
in city parks, people sit on the grass, music is playing. The life goes on. The
fears of tourists are ungrounded. There is absolutely no reason at all to
cancel your holidays. If you avoid places like Taksim, you won’t even notice
something is happening.
Now the protests
take more silent and peaceful form. People gather in parks, they sit. Instead
of clapping hands they wave fingers in the air so that they can’t be accused of
disturbing public order. At first sight the situation calmed down. But the protests
go on and the people join them with the same energy as before.
I can see
that there are less people supporting the protests indirectly – for example by
making noise with spoons and pans after nine o clock in the street, it is not
as loud as it used to be. But the
protests still go on.