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E-mail Xinhua, June 7, 2013
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A wounded policeman is seen during clashes in Izmir, Turkey, June 2, 2013. Clashes erupted between demonstrators and the police when thousands of people held demonstration to protest the demolition of Istanbul's Taksim Gezi Park in cities across Turkey on Sunday. [Xinhua photo] |
The Turkish government would not yield to the nationwide protests, but is likely to "maneuver" its way out of this crisis, analysts predicted.
"It was not surprising that (Prime Minister Recep Tayyip) Erdogan decided not to yield into the demands of protesters. Judging from his character, he will keep fighting to the end," Dengir Mir Mehmet Firat, former deputy chairman of governing Justice and Development Party (AK Party), told Xinhua.
The Turkish government has been differentiating violent groups from peaceful protesters in the nationwide demonstrations, comparing the "extremists" in the protests to the "terrorists" who attacked U.S. embassy in Ankara in February.
Both Erdogan and his ministers have been trying to amplify the extent of violence and damage perpetrated by protesters. Interior Minister Muammer Guler said in a press briefing in Ankara that the government will not tolerate illegal demonstrations that destroy public and private properties.
According to Guler, protesters have damaged 80 shops, 103 police vehicles, 259 privately owned cars, one residential building, one police station, 12 buildings belonging to political parties, and other infrastructure such as traffic lights.
Turkey's EU Minister and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis also mentioned that terrorist groups were involved in violent demonstrations across the country.
"Erdogan is a veteran politician, and he will figure out how to ride out of this storm," said Huseyin Kocabiyik, political analyst and aide to former prime minister Tansu Ciller.
Firat warned, however, that there might be a political price for Erdogan to pay for his hardened position against protesters who defy government ban on rallies in public places.
Although the opposition tried to capitalize on the protests to beat the ruling AK Party, their attempts appeared to be futile so far, said political analyst Orhan Miroglu.
With achievements in economic success, political reforms and the Kurdish issue, the AK Party is still a popular party in Turkey with some 50 percent of voters favoring it over the opposition parties, said Miroglu.
"Over the next decade, the role of Erdogan and the AK Party will not diminish; that role will become more influential and determinative," Miroglu said.
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