Labor Day 2008 Istanbul

Sigh...last year was the first time I came face to face with Istanbul's version of labor day. Unknowingly, naive, I walked into Taksim Square, looking for a man (who later became a friend) to take to my new job, working on the Asian side. As I went up the hill, lo and behold hundreds of police barricades, news reporters , no buses, no metro's. Hmm imagine my surprise, as I chat to a reporter, asking what is going on, he gave me a look of disbelief! It's May day! Be careful, there can be riots, protests, molotov cocktails etc..OK..so, I find Michael very easily as we are the only two idiots to be wandering around the streets with our mouths open, (so to speak) as we continue walking trying to meet up with the chauffeur, we come across tanks! and people walking trying to get to work.
Well, that was one year ago, and yes there were protests and riots. This year the government who is trying to portray itself as very pro-European Union, democratic, pro-human rights,etc.. Labels the working class (in a sense no direct translation)as nothing but "lower classes, who are they to dictate what we will do". They wanted to meet in Taksim Square, however instead of finding a way to come to terms with the unions, his government, the mayor etc, restricted any protests, changed the name of the day and said if any one decides to demonstrate they will use force. And that is exactly what they have done! IF this was any country during the communist era I could understand this type of action however this is not! They have barrackaded the building where one group of workers were supposed to start their walk,(about 600 people) and if any happen to leave the building they are pelted with tear gas, water and paint..there are hundreds of police walking around in groups a show of force!. Taksim Square is completely cut off from any kind of transport and people- literally a bird cannot fly through there. It is surrounded by police which have been brought from around Turkey, of course with sharpshooters standing by on rooftops! This is a main touristic area, with hotels and restaurants, poor tourists! Don't misunderstand me, this is NOT a terrorist organization just workers old and young who wanted to celebrate this holiday, ok, sometimes there are small groups of other organizations who protest as well, but usually they are small enough to contain. However this is a show of power and brute force! the police are pelting people whether or not, they are protestors, they have even entered some of the hospitals, which of course baffled some of the doctors inside.
It's sad and unbelievable, I couldn't go to work today, because of the closure of the roads and transport, as well as the fact that my parents would have worried about me, but I must say we got off easy last year with Micheal, this year I wouldn't be so sure.
These actions will have repercussions, no one has the right to be treated this way, these are your workers, your people, not terrorists! Bully tactics never work. However, this is another fine example of this goverments tactics, they only do what is best for them...sigh..."What is to be done"? as the title of Chernyshevsky's 19th Century novel asks...