Taksim under police blockade
İSTANBUL (DİHA) - Banned the May Day celebrations in Taksim, Istanbul Governor closed to traffic not only in Taksim and it’s around, but also in many points in Istanbul. Along with the roads leading to Taksim Square, the vicinity of Beşiktaş, Şişli, Mecidiyeköy, Okmeydanı, Dolmabahçe, Kabataş, Karaköy were closed to vehicle traffic as well. Also, several services in public transportation were cancelled.
Istanbul’s iconic Taksim Square is set to be on lockdown today to prevent celebrations of May Day, but opposition parties and some unions have announced that they are determined to march to the square. Authorities in Istanbul have tightened security ahead of the national holiday, with iron barricades already erected in the city center.
Police encircles HDP building
The provincal building of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) in Tarlabasi district was encircled by police. Police closed all the roads to Taksim.
While taking pride in declaring May 1 as an official holiday in Turkey during the government’s rule, Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu indicated that any attempt to stage mass celebrations in Taksim Square would be interpreted by the government as an attempt to create chaos.
The HDP released a call for the May 1 celebrations, saying they would hold rallies for democratic and economic rights as well as to protest the ban on Taksim Square. “We will hold rallies to say ‘No’ to the ban on Taksim Square,” said the statement, while also calling on Davutoğlu to lift the ban on Taksim.
Istanbul police stationed around 10,000 police officers on and around the square on May Day. Water cannon (TOMA) and police officers will be waiting on the touristic İstiklal Avenue and other crowded streets leading to Taksim such as Tarlabaşı, Gümüşsuyu and Sıraselviler streets. TOMAs will also be stationed before DİSK’s building in Istanbul’s Şişli district, Beşiktaş square and Dolmabahçe.
The Istanbul police blocked to traffic as of 6 a.m. on May 1, saying many streets in the Taksim, Şişli, Mecidiyeköy, Beşiktaş and Okmeydanı areas would be blocked and that drivers would be directed to alternative routes.
The metro running between Yenikapı and Hacıosman will be working between Hacıosman and Levent. The Kabataş-Taksim funicular line will also not function on May 1, as part of the precautions taken to prevent workers from reaching the square.
The May Day Organizing Committee, consisting of the Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions (DİSK), the Union of Chambers of Turkish Engineers and Architects (TMMOB) and the Turkish Medical Association (TTB), has called union members and members of the public to meet in Taksim. DİSK Secretary General Arzu Çerkezoğlu said on April 30 that there was no legal ground to block Taksim to May Day celebrations.
“May 1 is not an action day, it’s a celebration day. The government’s decision to block Taksim is unlawful. Our celebration area is Taksim Square and we are prepared to celebrate May Day in Taksim,” Çerkezoğlu, adding that they were going to continue the dialogue with the Istanbul Governor’s Office until the last minute to remove the block.
(nt)
