Scenes showing Turkish reporter falling due to water cannon raises eyebrows

ISTANBUL

Hüsna Sarı, a female reporter for Ulusal TV, is sent flying by a blast from a water cannon during a police attack. AA Photo

Images that show a reporter falling after being hit by a water cannon during a demonstration in Ankara have caused reactions to the Turkish police’s harsh interventions.

The police used tear gas and water cannon to disperse a group of around 3,000 protesters on Feb. 13 when they gathered to protest the Ergenekon and “Balyoz” (Sledgehammer) coup trials and controversial specially authorized courts (ÖYM).

The police violently intervened against the crowd and cameras captured moments when water cannon targeted the group, driving the journalist and the protesters away due to the pressurized water.
The journalist was identified as Hüsna Sarı of the Ulusal television channel.

“It was a peaceful demonstration. We couldn’t predict that an incident was likely. When I was standing in front of the police barricade, the police started to use tear gas and the water cannon without warning,” Hüsna Sarı told Doğan News Agency on Feb. 14.

“At that moment, I was recording in front of my cameraman. I was caught in the crossfire. By showing my microphone, I tried to explain to the police that I was a journalist. The water hit my back severely. I remember how I flew and fell down. I tried to stand up, but I was targeted by the water cannon again for a few more times. I felt intense pain in my ribs. My friends took me to a hospital. I believe the police intentionally target members of the press,” Sarı added.

Some foreign media organs shared the images on their websites, underlining the violent police intervention occurring in the country.

The protestors wanted to march on Parliament over reports that the limit of five years for detentions without convictions would not be applied in the Ergenekon and Balyoz trials.
Twelve protesters were detained by the police.