Opposition MP: Democratic process at work in Gezi protests

Opposition Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) lawmaker Sirri Sureyya Onder said "democratic processes are at work" to solve Gezi Park protests. Speaking to reporters following his separate meetings with Turkish President Abdullah Gul and Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc on Tuesday, Onder said, the meetings convinced him that "democratic processes" were deployed. Onder said, "I explained my opinion about the nonsense, excessiveness and apathy in state violence," adding that Istanbul Governor Huseyin Avni Mutlu was the primary person to be investigated immediately for responsibility. "The event started as a simple democratic reaction against a violation of law. It reached this stage as the government refused to involve public in decision-making process, insisted to get its own way and to suppress every objection by violence," added Onder. Onder expressed that the police forces had to review its entire structure, claiming that the police see the incident as a personal issue, and behaves the protesters as if they were enemy. Defining the events as "a historic milestone for Turkish history of thought," Onder said, "From now on the protests should continue in a festival mood." He called on the protestors to not harm public property, and said, "Such actions overshadow the noble cause of the issue." Responding to opposition National Movement Party (MHP) Devlet Bahceli's criticism's of Onder's involvement in the Gezi Park protests, Onder said, "I am involved in the Gezi Park protests for the same reason with my involvement in the solution process. There I wanted to save the lives of our children, here I wanted to save our trees." Onder took active role since the beginning of Gezi Park events in Istanbul's Taksim Square. He stopped the uprooting of the trees twice, and was hospitalised as a pepper gas cannister hit him in the shoulder.