Fistfight Erupts in Turkish Parliament over Constitutional Changes

[rmstock]

Violent brawl at Turkish parliament as MPs 'debate' constitutional amendments
by RT , Published on May 3, 2016
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gX1ldPNcWT0
  "A Turkish constitutional committee meeting descended into chaos when a
   verbal argument between the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP)
   and oppositional Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) spiraled out of
   control into a brawl.
   READ MORE: http://on.rt.com/7bma "

FISTFIGHT ERUPTS IN TURKISH PARLIAMENT OVER CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGES

by John Hayward 3 May 2016
http://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2016/05/03/turkish-parliament-brawls-constitution/

  "The Turkish parliament dissolved into shoves, punches, and even a few
   wrestling-style dives during a debate over proposed changes to the
   national constitution.
   
   This is hardly the first time punches have been thrown during a Turkish
   legislative committee, but this time the stakes were high, and the
   parliamentary pummeling mirrored the conflict playing out on the
   streets of Turkish cities. In fact, another fistfight over the same
   legislation erupted last week.
   
   As CBS News explains, the bill that caused this fight to erupt would
   strip legislators of their traditional immunity to prosecution, "a move
   that could pave the way for the trial of pro-Kurdish legislators on
   terrorism-related charges."
   
   The bill was drafted by the ruling AKP party of President Recep Tayyip
   Erdogan and was viewed by the pro-Kurdish HDP Party as an attack on
   them, given that Erdogan has accused the HDP of being in league with
   the violent separatists of the outlawed PKK party.
   
   Erdogan has called for the prosecution of some HDP leaders on those
   grounds. CBS notes the current co-leaders of the HDP, Selahattin
   Demirtas and Figen Yuksekdag, could both face prosecution for
   supporting Kurdish self-rule in Turkey, after their immunity is lifted.
   
   For its part, the HDP denies it is working as the political arm of the
   PKK and has called upon Erdogan's government to ease off anti-PKK
   operations in southeast Turkey to make room for renewed peace
   negotiations.
   
   ABC News reports that one pro-Kurdish lawmaker stormed out of the room
   during the fight, after declaring that he and his colleagues "would not
   be part of this theater that is being staged."
   
   "They are attacking our legislators in order to prevent the process.
   They are trying to show parliament as a place for fighting, chaos and
   deadlock," said Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, blaming pro-Kurdish
   deputies for starting the brawl.
   
   HDP leader Selahattin Demirtas responded in kind, accusing the ruling
   part of "trying to shape Turkey through violence, arms, bullying."
   
   Demirtas also suggested that if HDP leaders are arrested, the party and
   its allies might quit to form their own parliament.
   
   Reuters reports that the bill passed its committee, so the parliament's
   general assembly will now debate the measure. AKP deputies want the
   debate to begin on May 16.
   
   "The bill will need the support of at least 367 deputies in the
   550-seat assembly to be passed directly. It would go to referendum if
   it wins 330 votes but falls short of the 367," Reuters writes.
   
   There would appear to be enough support for the bill to pass it
   directly, although Reuters speculates "many members of the main
   opposition could vote against it" during secret ballots."

[rmstock]

Violent brawl at Turkish parliament as MPs 'debate' constitutional amendments (VIDEO)
Published time: 3 May, 2016 05:02Edited time: 3 May, 2016 13:20
  "https://img.rt.com/files/2016.05/57284627c46188cc538b459f.mp4?event=download

   A Turkish constitutional committee meeting descended into chaos when a
   verbal argument between the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP)
   and oppositional Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) spiraled out of
   control into a brawl.
   
   https://www.facebook.com/RTvids/videos/1207721242571460/

   The feud is believed to have been sparked by a comment from Justice
   Minister Bekir Bozdağ who blamed the pro-Kurdish HDP for instigating a
   similar scuffle on Thursday. The remark immediately drew the ire of the
   HDP's MP Garo Paylan who labeled it "slander".
   
   

   
   The deputies who were captured on video can be seen exchanging punches,
   standing on the tables and throwing water bottles at one other.
   
   

   
   At the center of the debate stand proposed amendments to the country's
   constitution, aimed at stripping Turkish lawmakers of legal immunity.
   The motion is viewed by the HDP as an attempt by the authorities to
   pave the way for the prosecution of opposition MPs.
   
   Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been accusing HDP of ties to
   the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). In its turn, HDP blames
   PKK for an ongoing crackdown on the Kurdish population in the southeast
   of the country which the government has been conducting since August
   2015.
   
   The previous round of punches prevented lawmakers from debating the
   legislation, meaning the meeting had been rescheduled for Monday. The
   Thursday row took a violent turn after LHDP rejected the amendments and
   demanded that the government withdraw forces from the embattled
   country's southeast where it imposes strict curfews and allegedly
   deploys heavy artillery against the civilian population in a hunt for
   Kurdish militia fighters.
   
   Read more
   
   Turkish parliament, Istanbul streets erupt in clashes as Ankara continues crackdown on Kurds (VIDEO)
  "

[rmstock]

Turkish parliament, Istanbul streets erupt in clashes as Ankara continues crackdown on Kurds (VIDEO)
Published time: 30 Apr, 2016 00:35 Edited time: 30 Apr, 2016 01:49
https://www.rt.com/news/341427-turkey-kurds-parliament-clashes/
  "
   

   
   Ankara's ongoing military crackdown on Kurds has sparked yet another
   fierce brawl between the ruling AKP and the pro-Kurdish HDP opposition
   MPs. In the meantime the streets of Istanbul witnessed violent clashes
   between police and youths sympathetic to the PKK.
   
   Deputies threw punches, pushed and tried to restrain each other in the
   assembly on Thursday in a row over military operations targeting
   Kurdish militants in Turkey's largely Kurdish southeast.
   
   

   
   Initially the session of the Constitutional Committee of the Turkish
   Parliament convened to discuss the controversial proposal by the ruling
   Justice and Development Party about the possibility of removing
   immunity from deputies, which could potentially translate into mass
   prosecution of pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP)
   parliamentarians. HDP deputies have been under the eye of Turkish
   President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for having links to the outlawed
   Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).
   
   RT's petition on Change.org: We urge UNHRC to investigate alleged mass
   killing of Kurds in Turkey
   
   After the start of the discussions, those opposing the ruling party's
   proposal to strip immunity began arguing with the proponents of new
   motion against such a move. Instead the HDP, which denies direct links
   with the PKK, called on the government, to stop fighting against the
   Kurds in the southeast and resume peace efforts.
   
   The debate became heated and lawmakers threw punches at opponents.
   Three ruling-party and two HDP lawmakers sought medical help after the
   brawl, Dogan news agency reported.
   
   

   
   Anger over the ongoing Kurdish crackdown has spilled over onto the
   streets in Istanbul's famous Giza district, where members from the
   Patriotic Revolutionary Youth Movement (YDGH), a youth group
   sympathetic with the PKK, clashed with police.
   
   Throwing Molotov cocktails and fireworks at police, the Security forces
   responded with water cannon and tear gas.
   
   The parliamentary debate on the controversial constitutional amendment
   was delayed until next week, following Thursday's violent culmination –
   as well as an earlier brawl, which also paralyzed the parliament. On
   Wednesday an HDP member accused the government of "massacres" against
   Kurds. In reply the ruling MPs were heard shouting, "terrorist,
   terrorist!"
   
   Turkish security forces have been conducting a massive crackdown on
   predominantly Kurdish areas in the country's southeast since the
   mid-2015, imposing indefinite curfews in many Kurdish districts and
   waging battles against PKK fighters, who are considered terrorists by
   Ankara.
   
   All this time the Turkish government is preventing foreign journalists
   or inspectors from assessing the situation on the ground. Heavy
   artillery has been deployed against a predominantly civilian
   population. The violence has also spilled over into neighboring Syria
   with sporadic cross-border shellings.
   
   HDP and Pro-Kurdish activists have accused Turkish forces of numerous
   violations of human rights, including extrajudicial killings of
   civilians, torture and other crimes. According to the International
   Crisis Group, 1,262 people, including at least 250 civilians, were
   killed in Turkey between July and April 2016.
   
   Fearing that the civilian death toll could be much higher, last month
   RT launched a petition under the hashtag #JusticeForKurds, calling for
   a UN Human Rights Council-led investigation into claims of the alleged
   massacres of Kurdish civilians.
   
   

   
   Read more
   
   Mass killings' of Kurds in Cizre reported to UN "

[MikeWB]

I think they beat out the last semblance of democracy out of politicians.