İngiliz The Guardian gazetesi yazar Elif Şafak'ın Türkiye'deki son gelişmeleri değerlendiren bir yazısını yayımladı.
CNNTürk'ün haberine göre Şafak, " Türkiye 'nin güç savaşını kim kazanırsa kazansın, demokrasi şimdiden yara aldı" başlığı ile yayımlanan yazısında daha önce polis tarafından işkence gördüğü ve bu nedenle polisten korktuğu için intihar ettiği iddia edilen Onur Can ve oğlunun acısına dayanamayarak kendisini öldüren anne Hatice Can'ı hatırlattı.
Ailenin sorumlu polis memurlarını yargı önüne çıkarmak için verdikleri uğraşlardan hiç bir sonuç alınamadığını hatırlatan Şafak, "Bu hafta da Türkiye Berkin Elvan'ı gömdü" diye yazdı.
Berkin Elvan'ın cenaze töreni sırasında polisin yaslı insanlara karşı gaz bombası ve basınçlı su kullandığını belirten Şafak, film yönetmeni Ümit Ünal'ın bir twitinde bu şiddet ve üzüntü sarmalını, "Bu ülkede yaşamak acı veren bir anlamsızlığa dönüştü" sözleriyle dile getirdiğini yazdı.
Şafak, Türkiye'nin ana akım gazeteleri ve TV kanallarının bu trajedileri tam olarak haberleştirmekten kaçındıklarını ileri sürdü ve halkın öfkesini internette dile getirdiğine dikkat çekti.
"Milyonlarca kişi sinemaya gitmek ya da arkadaşlarıyla yemeğe çıkmak yerine bilgisayarlarını açıp internete bağlanarak son skandalları öğreniyor" diye yazan Şafak, hem Erdoğan'ın destekçilerinin hem de rakiplerinin bunun AK Parti 'nin 11 yıllık iktidarının şimdiye dek karşılaştığı en büyük sorun olduğunda hemfikir olduklarını belirtti.
Şafak şöyle devam etti: "Çocukluktan beri, Türkler devlete saygı gösterir, hatta o kadar ki insanlar çocuklarına 'Devlet' adını verirler. Bugün artık devlete karşı saygı şimdiye kadar görülmüş en düşük düzeyde. Güç savaşı şiddetlendikçe, Türkiye halkı kendisini ihanete uğramış ve terkedilmiş hissediyor. Filler savaştığında olan çimlere oluyor. Hangi taraf kazanırsa kazansın, Türkiye'nin demokrasisi şimdiden yara aldı."
ORJİNAL METİN İÇİN: www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/mar/13/turkey-democracy-power-struggle-democracy-youtube-facebook-twitter
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WHOEVER WINS TURKEY'S POEWR STRUGGLE, DEMOCRACY IS ALREADY A CASUALTY
With mainstream media reluctant to cover it, the unfolding turmoil is being played out on YouTube, Facebook and Twitter
People protesting about the death of teenager Berkin Elvan at his funeral ceremony in Istanbul. His death has brought a wave of new protests and clashes across Turkey. Photograph: Imago/Barcroft Media
In the continuing political turmoil in Turkey, the suicide of Hatice Can might have gone unnoticed. Hatice's son, Onur, was a talented young architect – a graduate of one of the leading universities. In 2010 Onur was taken into custody on suspicion of selling drugs. He was allegedly tortured, verbally and sexually abused and, on his release, put under pressure by police to become an informer. After weeks of anguish the architect jumped from the balcony of his home, ending his life. This month his 57-year-old mother followed suit. The family's efforts to bring the police officers responsible for Orun's death to justice had all come to nought.
This week Turkey also buried Berkin Elvan. The 14-year-old was on his way out to buy bread last year when he was hit in the head by a gas canister fired during a police crackdown on anti-government protesters in Gezi park. After months in a coma, he became the eighth victim of the brutality used by police to put down last year's unrest.
Tens of thousands of people turned out for Berkin's funeral but the police used teargas and water cannon on the mourners. So his death has brought a wave of new protests and clashes across the country. Two people died in the trouble on Wednesday night. As the film director Umit Unal tweeted of the vicious spiral of violence and grief: "Living in this country has turned into an agonising futility."
While Turkey's mainstream papers and TV channels are reluctant to give full coverage to these tragedies, the internet is awash with public anger. Via YouTube, Facebook and Twitter, Turkey's young, urban population are increasingly voicing their discontent and frustration. An irreversible transformation is taking place as corruption scandals involving government officials, businessmen, and even prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his family are brought to light.
Every day a new tape recording is leaked, usually in the evening when internet use is at its peak. Millions of people, instead of going out to movies or to eat with friends, turn on their computers and go online to learn about the latest scandal. Both Erdogan's supporters and opponents agree that the AK party is facing its biggest challenge in 11 years of power.
Among the leaks was a tape that allegedly involved the prime minister talking to his son about meddling in elections for the chairmanship of Fenerbahce, one of the top football clubs. In another tape, Erdogan is heard discussing the continuing trial of media giant Dogan with the justice minister. Erdogan has not only confirmed but defended the conversation, saying it was natural for him to follow the matter, even though it is being seen as interfering with the judicial process.
If the tapes are shocking, the way in which they have been obtained is also problematic. It is now claimed that officers close to the Gulen movement, inspired by US-based Muslim preacher Fethullah Gulen,Erdogan's chief adversary, have secretly and illegally tapped thousands of phones, and recorded thousands of conversations over the years. Pro-government newspapers are publishing details of the tapping, which in itself is another scandal.
Erdogan and Gulen, allies in past battles against the Turkish military, are now embroiled in an epic feud. It first surfaced in 2010 after Gulen attacked Erdogan's handling of the Gaza aid flotilla crisis, but Erdogan now blames Gulen for whipping up an anti-government plot. Already divided between conservatives and secularists, Turkey is facing yet another polarisation. But Turks themselves are increasingly tiring of this battle of wills. People from different ideological and cultural backgrounds are now united in profound distrust of their rulers.
From childhood, Turks learn to hold the state in high esteem, so much so that some people even name their children "Devlet"– state. Respect for the state today is the lowest it has ever been. As the power struggle rages, the people of Turkey feel betrayed and forsaken. When elephants fight it is the grass that suffers. Whichever side wins, Turkey's democracy is already a casualty.
