Greek Riots

I wanted to share some photos I found from Press Agencies of the Greek riots. I already talked about this event on my other blog, concerning the death of Alexis (Alexandros) Grigoropoulos, a 15 year old kid killed deliberately (according to the Chief of Police) by a special guard of the Greek Police, following an altercation between police and a group of youths in the Exarcheia district of Athens, Greece.

The interesting thing is that all the European polices are affraid that this movement will spread to the rest of Europe. For example, High School students were in the streets to oppose the government's decision to reform the school system and for the first time since PResident Sarkozy is here, the government drew back and decided no to do the reform. According to the medias the government was scared that the events in Greece could spread to the demonstrations in France.

Greek riot police spray tear gas to keep protesters out of the parliament building during a demonstration in central Athens, Greece, Friday Dec. 12, 2008. (AP Photo/Bela Szandelszky)

















Athens' giant Christmas tree burns in front of the Greek parliament in Athens December 8, 2008. Protesters set fire to a major department store in central Athens and torched the city's giant Christmas tree outside parliament as anti-government protests worsened. (REUTERS/John Kolesidis)














A riot policeman is immersed in fire from a thrown molotov cocktail after a demonstration in central Athens on December 12, 2008. (Kostas Tsironis/AFP/Getty Images)














Students demonstrate in front of the police headquarters of Athens, on December 15 2008. Riot squads ringed Athens police headquarters as Greek protesters targeted state institutions, while the right-wing government faced new headaches with the re-emergence of a landswap scandal. (OLIVIER LABAN-MATTEI/AFP/Getty Images)














A man's hand drips blood as he stands in front of riot policemen during a demonstration in Athens December 9, 2008. (REUTERS/John Kolesidis)













A protester throws a stone at riot police during a demonstration outside of a regional government ministry office in the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki on December 10, 2008. (DIMITAR DILKOFF/AFP/Getty Images)














Protesters, unseen, aim a green laser pointer at riot policemen during clashes between protesters and riot police in Athens, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2008. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)














Protesters clash with riot police during a demonstration in central Athens on December 12, 2008. (OLIVIER LABAN-MATTEI/AFP/Getty Images)














A Greek protester runs from tear gas used by riot police while guarding the parliament building during a demonstration in central Athens, Greece, Friday Dec. 12, 2008. (AP Photo/Bela Szandelszky)

May Day

Most of the demonstrations happened on the main road and some side streets between Taksim Square and Mecidiyeköy. Demonstrators were trying to march toward Taksim Square. The police are pushing back the crowds with armored vehicles, pressurized water guns and gas bombs.
Interior Minister Beşir Atalay and Labor Minister Faruk Çelik held a press conference yesterday concerning May Day celebrations. Atalay said Taksim Square has not been designated for any meetings, demonstrations or marches since 1977 (where 34 people were killed). "This decision has well-grounded justifications, this has to be understood. Taksim Square is a crowded place that has many entrances and exits and it is hard to control. It is the center of traffic flow to certain areas in Istanbul. A demonstration there would seriously affect the daily life of our citizens", Atalay said. So why would they shut down all transportations leading to Taksim Square, that I wonder. The ferries, the subway, the tramway, the buses... It is actually a way for the city to prevent demonstrators to reach the Taksim area
Once again, the Turkish police has shown that it was unable to control itself. They over used the use of tear gas. Used it indistinctly on demonstrators, old men and women, elementary school children, people going to work...
I believe that if the Police had let the demonstrators had their meeting in Taksim, Nothing would have happened. Because if you look at the other meeting that took place in Kadiköy, everything went fine.
All pictures taken from press agencies, no copyrights.



























































I was supposed to work today, but it was canceled, the office is right there on the right. Taksim.









Why would they use colored water ?


















































Taksim Square














































Coincidently the city cams showing the Taksim and Mecidiyeköy area were turned off during the demonstrations, due to 'technical difficulties'.












Here are some videos that will show you a hint of what happened.

No Movies Today

This morning I was supposed to go see 'The Inner Life of Martin Frost' but I couldn't. As I came to Dolmabahce I got stuck in the traffic. There is never traffic jam at this place. So I told the cab driver to go all the way around, but it was the same. It was worse than when the Olympic flame was here last week. Anyway, I decided to go by foot and saw that the police everywhere. They had shut down the Whole Taksim Square and its area. But why ? Because they were celebrating their 163rd anniversary. They already celebrated something like that last Sunday and paralyzed the whole Mecidyekoy-Taksim area.
Once I got there, I couldn't cross the square, so I waited and took pictures.

I was also supposed to go see another movie ('Paris') but got a call this morning telling me I was working today. So here I am, at the office.

Enjoy the pics.






























Standing still during the national anthem


























































This poor guy is waiting for the signal to let those balloons free















































The Governor is here, as well as the Mayor of Istanbul