Code name: Urgent
World television channels are airing the footage of the young girl who is sobbing because of the tear gas used in Istanbul’s Beşiktaş district for long periods of time. This is one of the reasons that news stories from Turkey were distributed with the “urgent” code on May 1.
This code urgent is spreading fast to other fields; as a matter of fact, with the joint decision of the world.
In the effectiveness of the labor market, Turkey stands at 130th place among 148 countries. On Labor Day, it is not a coincidence that the largest city, Istanbul, where labor is centered was attacked by tear gas.
In judicial independence, Turkey is on the 85th place, together with Liberia, Timor-Leste, Morocco, Kazakhstan and Vietnam. The Lighthouse (Deniz Feneri) case is being shelved. Those who were detained because of bribery claims on Dec. 17, 2013 were decided to be proceeded no further; however, officers, admirals and generals who do not know what they are charged with have been in jail for years. I would say 85 out of 148 is not at all bad.
On the other hand, in the effectiveness of the legislative body, Turkey is at the 19th spot. Oh, this is not a surprise; whatever the government says, the Parliament does. Thus, Parliament looks effective.
The World Economic Forum holds a survey with the outstanding 15,000 executives in the world every year. The last survey was about information, competition power, law and social fields. Turkey went tumbling down in those areas. For example, in the quality of math education, it was at the 101st place.
Lemons and goggles
Turkey is walking around with the “urgent” tag from information technologies to press freedom. In this Turkey, on May 1, police discovered two new tools for crime: lemons and goggles.
On May 1, the police searched people on the streets and whoever had lemons and goggles in their bags were questioned: “You have lemons; you have goggles. You are carrying these to protect yourselves from tear gas. You have ill intentions. Come here.”
Lemons and goggles are added to children’s sobs and those sieged by steel barriers, then the “urgent” code is complete: de facto state of emergency.
Isolated country
There is another country where children are exposed to tear gas, where handicapped people are dragged on the ground and where squares are off-limits: Cambodia.
Not in Greece, where the country is fighting economic issues. Not in Ukraine, where the country is trying to find its direction. Not a South American country, where there is always turmoil. Not an Asian or African country far away – they are all celebrating May 1 in peace.
Here is a country that is fighting with its neighbors, which has continuous issues with America and Europe, where its “brotherly” relations with Arab countries are always shadowed. Each report issued by institutions of the world, each diplomatic relation pushes the “authoritarian and quarrelsome” Turkey to a deeper, lonelier place.
Addresses in the publication
“His death was caused by remorselessness, injustice and disloyalty.”
Upon the death of Naval Colonel Mural Özenalp in prison, who was detained in the Balyoz (Sledgehammer) case, an announcement was given to daily Hürriyet. It was extremely striking, almost a summary of what we are going through. The announcement was given by “Brothers at Maltepe Military Prison.” The announcement was dramatic; the death was dramatic.
