Democracy And The Law

"Our security forces put up a successful and extremely patient struggle against the acts of violence by remaining within the limits set by democracy and the law."
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan

Clearly, Turkey's prime minister is pleased with the careful restraint he has exhibited in the face of persistently irritating protests by bands of youthful revellers, challenging his authority for the juvenile joy of besmirching their country's reputation as a bastion of democratic rights. They are nothing but criminal miscreants quite earning his description of them as 'terrorists', obviously.

The lack of respect for him as a leader of irreproachable repute, and their unwillingness to recognize just how meaningfully he and his Justice and Development Party have managed to enrich the country is testament to their inexcusable ignorance. He despairs over the state of moronic stupidity of the youth of Turkey.

Their commitment to what they think of as the superiority of secularism over theocratic rule reflects a condition that they have been comfortable with, but one which did not necessarily lead to the country's economic benefit. It took the Islamist-rooted Justice and Development Party to manage the affairs of the country to bring it out of backward poverty and into the world of modernity.

The protesters are prepared to turn their backs on all of that. And in their hysterical fervour in denouncing both him and the party they have infuriated their Prime Minister, impelling him to call on them to cease and desist, compelling him to authorize the riot police to use whatever means they can to quell the unruly gatherings.

The tender sensitivities of the outside world eager to look on so critically and deciding to favour the protesters against the rights and obligations of the duly constituted government comprises yet another intolerable provocation. It is the fault of the foreign press, portraying the Turkish prime minister as a haughty autocrat with plans to totally convert the country to fundamentalism that has further inflamed the protests.

Or at least that is the belief of the Prime Minister of Turkey, and this belief is what he finds so infuriating. That he could be heralded as living proof that an Islamist government can be compatible with the parameters of democracy one day and the following day be held as living proof that in the final analysis the experiment has failed.

It is frustration and arrogance both that have resulted in the bellicose response of Mr. Erdogan in the face of massive demonstrations taking place in cities across Turkey. He has given Turks prosperity, full employment, health, education, opportunities, respect in the wider international community, and this is the way they repay him.

They are wilfully ignorant of their heritage and he was planning to restore history to its properly acknowledged place in the heart of the country, and that plan was interpreted as a ploy to return the country to a full theocracy. Would that be so destructive of the prosperity and security of the country, after all? Turks should have respect for their past, as far as he is concerned.

Turkey's doctors' association is undertaking an investigation into the death of a protester whom they claim died as a result of over-exposure to tear gas. The country's law association is expressing its dismay and indignation at the arrest of their members; that would not have occurred if they'd exercised proper self-respect as far as Mr. Erdogan is concerned. And the same goes for all those journalists now incarcerated.

Homes and offices of suspected trouble-makers were raided by police and almost a hundred people suspected of having been involved in violent acts were arrested. As far as Mr. Erdogan is concerned, riot police have behaved without reproach, exercising restraint where it was merited. He is considering increasing their powers of arrest and apprehension.

What appears irrelevant is that over 7,800 people have been injured, six in critical condition. Eleven people have lost their eyesight as a result of having been hit by flying objects. Something that they have brought on themselves. Who told them to protest, after all?

Labels: Crisis Politics, Human Rights, Islamism, Turkey

posted by Pieface @ Thursday, June 20, 2013