Erdogan pledges to up police force

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that the government will be increasing the intervention force exercised by the police, regarding possible incidents related to the ongoing Gezi protests.

“Within the authority the law provides, from now on, our police will not overlook any lawlessness, will continue to fulfill its duty. We will further strengthen our police. We will strengthen further in every way. So that we will increase the intervention power against these events,” Erdogan said on June 18 in a speech at his ruling Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) parliamentary group meeting,

Regarding the widespread criticism of the police’s vast use of tear gas, Erdogan responded, “It is their most inherent right, they will. You will see that in the EU acquis communautaire. When you do not obey, the police use this authority.”

Erdogan took a step further in siding with the police. “What did they do? Did they shoot bullets? Use bullets? No,” adding that the accusations of police violence were unfounded.

He also said they would be inquiring into who was behind the Gezi protests, arguing that it was all a massive conspiracy, prepared very professionally in collaboration with social media, companies, the interest rate lobby, media and some “internal traitors and external collaborators.” He added that their true colors had now been revealed.


/HurriyetDailynews.Com/