Ankara getting ready for 'chapulling' party as police takes extra measures

ANKARA

Protesters in Ankara are the most steady 'chapullers' of Turkey. AA photo

Turkish capital is getting ready to host thousands of Gezi Parkı protestors for the "chapulling party” at the city’s Kuğulu Park, in the Çankaya province, a night after the police harshly intervened in peaceful demonstration at the same park. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had described protesters as “marauders” (Çapulcu in Turkish), which was quickly adopted by the Gezi Park supporters for referring to themselves.

The party is set to begin at 10.00 p.m. local time but there are also reports that the police will get extra measures to prevent the demonstrations to turn into violence. Protests in Ankara have started last Friday and continued throughout the week in the Kuğulu Park and Kızılay Square. Lawmakers from oppositional parties are also expected to be present at the party.

Police sprayed pepper gas on the protestors late Wednesday although the demonstrators had no intention to turn their protest into a violent one. There are reports that the protestors have already started to gather in the Kuğulu Park and Tunalı Hilmi street.