SOLIDARITY WITH KURDS ON TAKSIM BY TURKISH PEOPLES MOVEMENT

ISTANBUL – Reuters – 29.6.2013 –  Thousands of protesters marched to Istanbul’s Taksim Square on Saturday chanting slogans against the government and police after security forces killed a Kurdish demonstrator in the Kurdish region in southeastern Turkey (Northern Kurdistan).

The protest had been planned as part of larger unrelated anti-government demonstrations that have swept through the country since the end of May, but became a voice of solidarity with the Kurds after Friday’s killing.

“Murderer police, get out of Kurdistan!” some protesters chanted. “This is only the beginning, the struggle continues. The murderer state will pay!”

Around 10,000 protesters descended on Taksim, which has been the centre of weeks of anti-government demonstrations, but were prevented from entering the square by riot police. Many in the crowd sat in the roads leading to the square after being denied entry. “Long live the brotherhood of the people!” people shouted in both Turkish and Kurdish.