Tayfun Kahraman, chairperson of Chamber of City Planners Istanbul Branch last night read a statement on behalf of Taksim Dayanışması, a group set up to defend Gezi Park in Taksim.

Kahraman spelled out the demands of the group:

- Gezi Park, will remain as a park. We will not allow neither Topçu Barracks project, nor anything else that would violate the nature and our living areas.  

- All officials - including Istanbul governor Police Commissioner - who prevented people from using their democratic rights, who gave oppression orders, who executed these orders,  who caused several injuries must resign immediately. Use of tear gas bombs must be banned. 

- Our friends who were detained all across Turkey to join the resistance must be released immediately and all charges must be dropped. 

- All public demonstration bans especially in Taksim Square but also throughout Turkey must end.