Séisme : affrontements à Van – 10 novembre 2011

Tear gas used to disperse quake protesters

irishtimes.com

Friday, November 11, 2011

VAN, Turkey – Riot police fired tear gas and used batons to disperse protesters angry at the state’s relief efforts after the second earthquake in eastern Turkey in three weeks killed at least 12 people in the city of Van.

Rescue teams searched for survivors after the 5.7 magnitude tremor on Wednesday night heaped misery on the predominantly Kurdish region where more than 600 people died following a major quake on October 23rd.

“How can you fire pepper spray on people who have already suffered so much?” said Abdulrahim Kaplan (32). He had gone to the crisis centre for a tent when police began firing tear gas, he said.

“Our people are freezing. We are sleeping outside – all seven of my family … Some people take five tents, some 10 and others get nothing. This is wrong.”

Thousands of families are living in makeshift camps with temperatures falling to freezing. The government says there are enough tents for anyone who needs them.

About 200 demonstrators called for the resignation of the provincial governor in a rally close to two city-centre hotels that collapsed during the latest quake. read more…