"Not a Turkish Spring" Wednesday

For the past 5 days, major and minor cities around Turkey have been embroiled in civic unrest over police brutality committed against peaceful protestors in opposition to the development of Gezi Park in Istanbul's Taksim Square. Residents of Ankara, the seat of the Turkish government, have actively joined the many thousands of protestors in Istanbul in solidarity, occupying Kizilay Square and taking on waves of tear gas and water cannons since the initial confrontation in Taksim Square took place last Friday.

Turkish citizens from all gradients of the political spectrum have come together in fierce opposition to what they say is increasing authoritarianism and Islamisation on behalf of Prime Minister Erdogan's administration. Having attended Sunday night’s demonstration in the Tunali district of Ankara, I could see for myself that all ages were reflected in the crowd (even though youth were overwhelmingly overrepresented.) Even more surprising are media accounts of Turks and Kurds joining forces to oppose the administration, perhaps a case of unusual bedfellows taking up the same banner to effect political change.

But what does all of this mean for a foreigner in residence? First, there is the obvious safety concern to consider. The effects of tear gas are miserable for the eyes and respiratory system, and my colleague and I both have been impacted by fumes carried downwind from the political action. At night, protestors come into close contact with cars in an effort to redirect traffic and shut down main thoroughfares like Ataturk Boulevard, exposing themselves to already chaotic driving patterns. In fact, one of the two reported deaths across the country was automobile-related.

 

Aside from the security situation, it seems important to consider what my role as an intern for an organization that supports government operations for Syrian refugees means. While all Red Cross and Red Crescent societies abide by the principles of neutrality and impartiality, there is the unavoidable association with government structures and administrations, which are not at all neutral or impartial, to keep in mind. While the government’s role in providing shelter for Syrian refugees – and, Syria would argue, rebels – is not cited as a direct cause of the unrest, many commentators agree that Turkey’s position on the conflict is a source of dissatisfaction for many Turks. This could very easily expose the Turkish Red Crescent to some degree of criticism from individuals who may not be intimately familiar with the IFRC mission, which is to provide aid without asking questions about political sensitivities.

As an intern, I am an agent (if only temporarily) of a movement that is very directly involved in managing the influx of Syrian refugees in Turkey. Because this particular operation bears significant political risks for the government, I am finding myself straddling a razor-thin line between what can and should be written about daily experiences here and what could result in calculated manipulation of observations by parties who would like to see the Syrian connection fade out completely.

All in all, it is becoming clear to me what considerations are necessary as both an individual living in a politically volatile place and an agent working for an organization that is connected to a conflict that has become anathema to many host country nationals. It will be important to not only keep in mind the tasks ahead of me, but to also (re)examine the much larger socio-political picture and the role that the Turkish Red Crescent plays in it.

Summer Field Program is supported and organized by the Georgetown Conflict Resolution Program. Please visit our website at http://conflictresolution.georgetown.edu.