Türkiye, hundreds of arrests at the May 1st demonstration

At least 370 people they were arrested Friday at Istanbul during the celebrations of First of May. This was reported by an association of lawyers present on site. “All 14:00 (the 12 in Italy), according to our information, the number of people in the state of stopped had reached altitude 370“, the organization said human rights CHD are X.

Thousands of protesters participated in the celebrations of May Day in Türkiyedespite the massive deployment of police in the capital, Ankaraand so on Istanbulcompletely blocked. According to theCHD Bar Associationpresent on site, in the early afternoon “la police he made use of tear gas con riot control vehicles against the crowd.”

Taksim Square at the center of the protests

The security forces they aimed to prevent the protesters to reach Taksim Squareepicenter of protests Of Istanbulclosed to gatherings since 2013year of a series of anti-government demonstrations.

A union leader arrested

And union leader, Basaran Aksuwas arrested after denouncing the blockade: “You cannot close a square to workers from the Türkiye. Everyone uses Taksim Square for official ceremonies and celebrations. Only the workers, the workers, the poor come excluded“. The images broadcast by the opposition channel Halk TV they also showed the president of Workers’ Party of Türkiye, Erkan Buswhile he was attacked with the pepper spray. “Il government speaks 365 days per year, so let’s let i workers talk about the challenges they face for at least one day a year,” he said.

I unions and the associations they had called demonstrations with the slogan “Bread, Peace, Freedom“, enters theinflation official remains above the 30% – and even to 40% a Istanbulaccording to Chamber of Commerce – and the authority regularly carry out waves of arrests against theparliamentary opposition and the press.

Preventive arrests and hunger strike

From the beginning of weekdiverse dozens of people were arrested in view of First of May. Ad Ankarathe hundred coal miners that gives nine days they were in hunger strike to claim payment of salary were cheered as they joined the marciaparticularly numerous, composed of young and manned by a large contingent of police.

Istanbul in lockdown and demonstration authorized

As usual, Istanbul was put in lockdown starting late at night, with i central neighborhoods on the European side completely surrounded by metal barriers and the suspension of lines metropolitan, bus e tram. At the same time, one authorized event on the Asian side of the Bosphorusannounced by unionspeacefully gathered several thousands of people.