Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ISTANBUL155
2009-05-04 14:14:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Consulate Istanbul
Cable title:
AUTHORIZED MAY DAY DEMOSTRATORS MARCH ON TAKSIM
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHIT #0155 1241414 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 041414Z MAY 09 FM AMCONSUL ISTANBUL TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8929 INFO RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 8223 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASH DC RUEKJCS/DIA WASHDC RHMFISS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEUITH/ODC ANKARA TU RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHDC
UNCLAS ISTANBUL 000155
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TU PGOV ELAB PHUM
SUBJECT: AUTHORIZED MAY DAY DEMOSTRATORS MARCH ON TAKSIM
REF: 08 ISTANBUL 208
1 (U) May Day related violence diminished for a second year
in Istanbul. According to Istanbul Governor Muammer Guler,
108 protestors were detained May Day 2009, compared over 500
arrests the previous year (reftel). Two labor unions )
Confederation of Turkish Labor Unions (Turk-Is) and Hak-Is
received last minute permission to march on the Ataturk
Monument in Taksim Square. This was the first authorized
march on Taksim Square by union supporters since May Day
1977, when 36 people were killed. Following the two labor
unions, rally, about 5,000 other union supporters were also
able to march on Taksim Square without much incident. This
group included members of parliament from both the opposition
Republican People,s Party (CHP) and the pro-Kurdish
Democratic Society Party (DTP),including its leader Ahmet
Turk. Violence did break out on some of the side streets
leading to Taksim Square with reports of protesters throwing
rocks at the police and shop windows. Also there was a
single report of a Molotov cocktail used in an area near
Taksim. The police used water cannons and pepper gas to
control the crowd. Similar to 2008 and 2007, the city halted
public transportation in areas surrounding Taksim Square in
an effect to limit access to the area. Legal demonstrations
also occurred in Kadikoy, an opposition held district in
Istanbul on the Asia side of the city, Cagalayan, and
Kazilcesme.
¶2. (SBU) Comment: Violence was likely curbed this year by the
government,s recognition of May Day as a national holiday
along with approval for a &reasonable8 number of union
supporters to reach the monument at Taksim Square. Last year,
these demands from labor union leaders were rejected by the
Istanbul Governor (a Ministry of Interior appointee.) This
year, the governor reversed his position. The ruling AKP
government also appeared to favor unions that wanted a day
off at the expense of business groups who suffered
productively losses because of the holiday. However, even if
May Day had remained a workday, productivity would have
likely dropped significantly in Istanbul due to strong
security measures necessary to control the crowds.
Wiener