Army may step in to stop protests if need be: Deputy PM Arınç

ANKARA

Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınç has given almost unconditional support to the police, adding that the remaining protests will be suppressed immediately by the police. DHA photo

Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınç has given almost unconditional support to the police, while affirming that environmentalist protests have ended and the remaining protests will be suppressed immediately by the police. He added that if the police do not suffice, the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) could take on the responsibility.

“What is required of us is to stop it if there is a protest against the law. There is the police, if that's not enough there's the gendarmerie, if that's not enough there is the TSK. These authorities exist in the laws,” Arınç said today in a televised interview.

“They [the police] will use all the authority given to them. Nobody should complain about the police,” Arınç said in a live show on A Haber new channel, while claiming that those who criticize the police are the ones who vandalize cities.

“Demonstrations have gone out of a Gezi protest. They have gone out of being legal. These can continue on the streets, in districts. They will be immediately suppressed and legal process will be commenced about those responsible. I think the innocent demonstrations that began 20 days ago have completely ended,” Arınç said, hinting at yet more police intervention.

I have not called military for support: Interior minister

Meanwhile, Interior Minister Muammer Güler said the military had not yet been called to help end the 20-day-long street protests in Turkey.

“I have not called on the military for support,” he said.

The minister was responding to a question about gendarmerie support of police forces during the protests. Technically, the gendarmerie operates under the Interior Ministry, unlike the rest of the military forces.

Güler also said that using the gendarmerie in such instances was "quite normal."