Istanbul on alert for symbolic Gezi protest anniversary

Istanbul is on alert ahead of the first anniversary of the massive Gezi protests May 31 as calls were made for street action in the flashpoint area of Taksim Square, which was the heart of last year’s demonstrations.

In its latest measure, the Istanbul police have canceled all holidays and increased the shifts of police officers to 12 hours until a second order.

The umbrella association which initiated last year’s protests against the cutting down of trees at Gezi Park, the Taksim Solidarity Platform, has called for gatherings on May 31 to remember victims who died following brutal police crackdowns across Turkey. The group also called for commemorations of Elif Çermik, a 64-year-old woman who became the latest victim of police violence on May 30 as she died after spending 159 days in coma due to a heart attack triggered by tear gas.

The Confederation of Public Sector Trade Unions (KESK) also called on its members to participate in the demonstrations. May 31 marks the first anniversary since a dawn crackdown to remove activists from the park sparked national outrage, leading to protests in other cities.

But officials signaled that no demonstration would be allowed in Taksim and even in other parts of Istanbul, as the police ordered a sweeping deployment to crush any attempt of protest.

Tension is high as some 25,000 police officers, 50 water cannon trucks (TOMAs), a large number of armored vehicles, as well as helicopters, will be dispatched to prevent any gathering at Taksim Square and its environs. Public transport to the square, including metro lines, will be canceled while police will not allow any gathering in the roads connecting to the area. Access to Gezi Park will...