Turkish Security Directorate to purchase gas solutions, smoke bombs
Turkey’s Directorate General of Security, the police force responsible for law enforcement, is set to hold tenders to acquire 40 tonnes of gas solutions to be used in gas capsules and armoured water cannons, Birgün news site reported on Saturday.
The directorate will hold four
separate tender auctions between March 10-17, Birgün said, with 3,000 units of
pepper spray, 20,000 smoke bombs and 5000 riots shields also being on the
directorate’s shopping list.
The report follows an announcement
by the Turkish Gendarmerie on the pending purchase of 17,000 metal handcuff.
A governmental decree published
last month in the Official Gazette amended some articles of the Regulation of
Moveable Properties of the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK), the Directorate General
of Security and the National Intelligence Agency (MİT). The decree said arms
and vehicles belonging to the TSK can be handed over to the police or the
intelligence services by approval of the Defence Ministry during public events
deemed as "threatening public order".
Human rights groups often accuse
Turkish police of using disproportionate force to break up demonstrations and
authorities in the country frequently impose bans on public demonstrations or
gatherings, citing security concerns.
Earlier this month, President
Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced an 11-point human rights action plan aimed at
fortifying freedoms and legal protections after years of democratic backsliding
under his government.
Erdoğan vowed to assure freedom of
expression, assembly and peaceful protest as part of the action plan.
