Written by Russel Johnsen   

The USA backed Islamist government of Turkey has run into huge trouble that began as demonstrations began over a Gezi Park in Istanbul being selected to be turned into a parking mall.

This park, as it turns out, is one full of history and it represents the many types of people living in the cosmopolitan city of Istanbul and the very secular country up to now. The secular and the cosmopolitan nature of Istanbul was well represented by the various peoples joining the demonstrations. It looked like a world event with a variety of colour and looks represented.

The demonstrations, it is now being reported that the demonstrators were preventing workers from cutting down over 600 trees in the park. This park is the last of the green areas in this large commercial area. A quiet refuge from the city for many working in this area.

It is also reported that the violence was started by the use of tear gas being shot by the police/government at the protesters. Also, trying the people are the changes in laws restricting people's behaviour in common areas such as the display of affection - a quick kiss is to be illegal. The sales of alcohol is being more and more restricted and the fear is that the country is getting closer and closer to being governed by Sharia law.

However, the Turkish government struck hard with water canons blowing people off their feet, quite often, and sending the skidding along the pavement of the streets surrounding the park. Tear gas was in heavy use too.

The demonstration quickly changed from one protecting the park into an anti-government rally that began to grow and to fill the streets of, not only Istanbul but of other cities in Turkey. This was/is no small demonstration as tens of thousands came out to join the protests in a dozen or more cities throughout the country. Other cities, world wide took up the protests, too. Such cites as Boston, London, Amsterdam . Today the rallies are much quieter having been put down by the Turkish government.

The President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, reacted angrily calling the protesters marauders among other names and said the park would be changed and perhaps not into a parking mall. He then claimed that a big mosque was in the plans for the centre of the park.

This is probably more of a challenge to the people of Istanbul than the horrors and devastation of paving over an important land mark of the park. Istanbul is very cosmopolitan and wants to keep the secular nature of this city and their country alive. They fear the present government is overstepping its mandate and that this will continue.

Worries are strong, though there is a present calm in the air in Turkey at the moment, that Turkey may be taking the road down to a state of anarchy that has been noted throughout the Middle East/North Africa in the past few years. It's difficult to say what the next action will be as the government does not intend to back down on this park destruction and the people believe that the intent of the Islamist government will push Turkey into a state of cruel government control.

Turkish President Abdullah Gul is doing nothing to sway the pendulum of feelings in the opposite direction as he rants on in a hateful manner regarding the demonstrators. Turkey seems to be moving into a police state very quickly with the attitude of the government keeping feeling intense.

The USA has, as usual, reacted in an obtuse manner:

"In Washington, State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the U.S. was concerned about the number of people injured as police dispersed protesters."

It's a continued oddity that the USA expects better behaviour from other states, at least in words, than it does in its own country which is very much noted for harsh put downs of demonstrators in past years.

Further from the USA:
"“We believe that Turkey’s long-term stability, security and prosperity is best guaranteed by upholding the fundamental freedoms of expression, assembly and association, which is what it seems these individuals were doing,” she told reporters. “These freedoms are crucial to any healthy democracy.”"

The American democracy theme is getting tiresome as the USA does not, in its deeds and actions support democracies in our world. One only needs to note the dictatorships and the authoritarian rule that it really does support.

Reporters With Borders has noted that the injured journalists, Ahmet Sik and others were purposely targeted by the Turkish police and this does include a Reuters' photographer trying to capture images of the intense put down of the protesters.

The put down is more harsh than the put downs by the government of Canada at the G-20 demonstrations but very similar in nature as the demonstrators were not allowed to voice their opinions thus escalating the intensity of doubt of the government in charge.

Turkey's Minister of the Interior, Muammer Guler, as made a statement the the polices had detained over 900 protester in over 90 demonstrations country wide. No news as to the number released as yet.