MAY DAY ISTANBUL 2013
“Police Casted Gas Bomb on Purpose"
Fehmi Oral Meşe was severely damaged due to a gas bomb casted by police on May Day this year.
From his hospital bed in Şişli Children's Hospital, Meşe told bianet that police was only at a 10-15 meter distance and aimed straight to his face.
“Scores of gas bombs from the bridge"
"I am currently unemployed," said 21 year-old Meşe who was trained as electrician. He was among the many who wished to celebrate May Day in Istanbul.
"As soon as my friends and I came to Mecidiyeköy from Okmeydanı, we were stopped by the police. They said it was forbidden to go any further. When we resisted, they threw gas bombs from the bridge. There were also people who had nothing to do with May Day and who were just trying to go to work. They were casting scores of gas bombs from the bridge.
"I was on the other side of the barricade. Police was only at a 10-15 meter distance and I saw that they aimed straight to my face. The first thing I felt was a massive headache. Then my friends came to the scene and took me in a car to take me to the hospital."
He added that they were refused by two different hospitals saying that brain surgeons are operating other patients.
"I still have headache," complained Meşe who spent 6 hours in surgery. "There was a sick that I could lose sight in one eye, but now it is OK. Doctors said that I might have side effects related to temperament.
Meşe will remain in hospital for another 10 days and might suffer from headaches for a month, doctors said. It is yet unknown whether any permanent side-effects will occur.
Lawsuit against Turkey's top officials
On May 2 Contemporary Lawyer Association filed lawsuits against Turkey's top officials including PM Erdoğan, Interior Minister Muammer Güler, Istanbul Governor Avni Mutlu, Istanbul Police Commissioner Hüseyin Çapkın and those police officers who got involved on May Day interventions.
On May Day, demonstrators Çağdaş Büyükbaş, Dilan Alp, Zafer Yolcu, Meral Dönmez, Serdal Gül, Zeynel Sabaz and İbrahim Akal were severely wounded. While Gül, Dönmez and Alp still remain hospitalized, Akal lost sight in one of his eyes due to a gas bomb that hit his head. (AS/BM)