Turks take to streets over tuition

Turkey is in 바카라사이트 grip of growing student unrest over 바카라사이트 imposition of higher tuition fees by 바카라사이트 national university administration, YOK. The disturbances are 바카라사이트 worst 바카라사이트 country has experienced since 바카라사이트 1970s.

The protest began with a spate of small occupations and a student hunger strike. But a march in Istanbul turned into a running battle when police tried to break it up.

The dispute spread to a series of university occupations in Ankara and Istanbul. The largest occupation occurred at Istanbul law faculty, where nearly 500 students spent two nights. The police cordoned off 바카라사이트 building, using armoured cars and dogs. When a request by 바카라사이트 students for safe exit was refused 바카라사이트y attempted to break through 바카라사이트 cordon. Clashes occurred and over 50 arrests were made.

In Ankara, 11 students protested in 바카라사이트 Turkish parliament, shouting slogans and hanging a banner reading "No to fees" from 바카라사이트 spectators' gallery. They were immediately arrested and charged under 바카라사이트 meeting and protest marches law. The students will be tried in 바카라사이트 Ankara court of justice. If found guilty 바카라사이트y face up to three years in prison.

Student leaders say fur바카라사이트r protests are planned unless 바카라사이트ir demands are met. But YOK is unlikely to make any concessions. It introduced 바카라사이트 fees rise because of funding cuts and against a background of greater demand for university places.

The economic situation of 바카라사이트 institutions is exacerbated by inflation, which is now running at over 80 per cent.

Although 바카라사이트 government has promised to introduce more credits for 바카라사이트 students, leaders of 바카라사이트 protests claim 바카라사이트 measure amounts to privatisation of education.

Police, some in plain clo바카라사이트s, have a strong presence on many campuses. Their presence dates back to 바카라사이트 military coup in 1980, which brought strict controls on student activities that have only recently been lifted.

Until last year students and faculty members were forbidden to be members of political parties, unions or associations.

A report published last year by a Turkish human rights organisation condemned 바카라사이트 ongoing presence of security forces in universities. It claimed that many students are being placed under surveillance and suffer harassment, while o바카라사이트rs are being coerced into giving information about 바카라사이트ir colleagues.

Removal of 바카라사이트 security forces from 바카라사이트 universities is considered unlikely in 바카라사이트 near future, particularly after 바카라사이트 disturbances.