“Gezi Park is Safe Until Police Comes”

Gezi Park Resistance is on its 17th day. Following a general cleaning of the park, Gezi Parkers had their breakfasts and welcomed a new day. Some others were still sleeping after a long night.  

bianet interviewed Gezi Parkers on the possible referendum and claims of Governor Mutlu and Interior Minister Güler that the park is unsafe. 5 people who were ages between 16 and 28 told bianet that the park is a safe place as long as police ha no presence inside and none seemed favorable to a referendum on the future of Gezi Park

“It is wrong to talk about Gezi Park without being there” 

Some of the highlights from interviews included:

“There are some manipulations in elections. They might do such things to get what they want in the referendum.” 

"Hasan [Kaçan, one of the representative who met PM] said there was no food here. How come? People never starved here. People are very conscious here. Those who are not hungry don’t grab any food. It is wrong to talk about Gezi Park without being there.” 

“I have been here since the beginning. Don’t believe what they tell you. Gezi Park is safe. Parents shouldn’t have any reason to worry as their children are maybe safer here than home.”  

“Referendum is only to say that democracy is all about majority. [By having a referendum,] PM aims to reframe what’s going on here, without not giving a clue to his voters as he does on media all the time.”    

“Until police comes, it is safer here. It is safe until provocation, staged attacks and gas bombs.”

“Referendum is a good thing but we also fear that the result will be a “yes” in the end. Gezi Park is very safe without police presence, We will still here till the end."

“I have been here for 9 days, I am a medicine major… It is very safe here except police beatings. My family told me to stay here and not come back home." (BK/BM)