Turkish minister says use of tear gas was ‘modern’

ISTANBUL - Hürriyet

Interior Minister Muammer Güler has said the Turkish police’s recent use of tear gas was “modern” and the police interventions during protests were “proportional.” AA photo

Interior Minister Muammer Güler has said the Turkish police’s recent use of tear gas was “modern” and the police interventions during protests were “proportional,” in response to a parliamentary question from main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) deputy Sezgin Tanrıkulu.

“Tear gas weaponry and equipment are used by trained personnel under supervision of the related authority, just as is done in every other security structure of all modern countries,” Güler said.

He also said the pressurized water used by police during protests was the same as that used by firefighters, refuting claims that water was mixed with tear gas.

“Police use the same water as firefighters. In cases where it is needed, the water is mixed with food coloring and OC gas solution,” Güler said, adding that the “proportional” use of force comes only as a last resort.

Gezi medicine on display

Meanwhile, the Istanbul provincial Health Directorate put on display medicine confiscated from infirmaries that served the wounded during the Gezi Park protests.

The counting and recording of the medicine finished in late July, according to an official statement released by the directorate.

The statement said over 500 boxes of medicine belonged to various hospitals and carried stamps that prevented any sale profits from being made.

The boxes have been moved to a medical storage facility in Bakırköy, the directorate added.