TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A new style of protest initiated by Erdem Gunduz has given rise to a new wave of demonstration in Turkey. After being involved in a confrontation with the police, Erdem opted to stand silently in the center of Taksim Square, Istanbul. His action was meant to protest against the policies of Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's governance.
Gunduz's action was then copied by a number of other protesters. Beside and behind Gunduz, many people also stood in silence to passively protest against Erdogan. The new movement was not only brought out in Taksim Square, but also spread to other cities in Turkey.
Gunduz did not release any announcement before he committed the action. All of a sudden, on Monday night, Turkey time, he paused in front of Taksim Square and stood in silence. He rested his hands in the pockets of his black jeans and stood for hours facing the picture of Turkey's founding father, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.
The Turks now know him as "Duran Adam" (The Standing Man). He did not move from the spot for hours before on Tuesday morning, the police brought him and the other protesters to their office. He was then released hours after.
"He's completely courageous," said American journalist Patrick Adams. He desribed Gunduz as a performer and dancer from Izmir, Turkey's third largest city. The protest was one of a form of his street performance acts. Towards Adam, Gunduz confirmed that he was fine after the arrest. "He is now at his home," said Adam.
"He (Gunduz) started up a very great movement," said Ozgur Volkan, a protester who joined in the standing act in Taksim. He stated that the Turks owes the man a gratitude, because his action has inspired another wave of protest against Erdogan all around Turkey.
Erdogan has been reported to be angry over the action, and ordered the police to empty Taksim Square. His reaction was contradictory with his previous statement, where he promised he will only act repressively against radical protest actions.social tolerance declination.
AP | INDEPENDENT | ANDI PERDANA
