Overwhelming public response in support of Bank Asya

A public outcry against the raid and temporary management takeover of Bank Asya has seen countless customers depositing their money in support.

Solidarity campaigns against the Banking Regulation Supervision Agency’s (BDDK) decision to have the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF) temporarily take over the management of Bank Asya have been springing up across the nation.

The raid and management take over, conducted amidst the heavy presence of police and water cannons on shaky legal grounds, was intended to scare customers into withdrawing their money and sinking the bank. Instead scores of customers across the nation visited their local branches and deposited their earnings to defy the BDDK.

Police efforts to further intimidate by recording those who participated in the solidarity campaigns were ignored by the loyal customers who responding by waving at the cameras pointed at them by the security forces.

One such solidarity campaign took place in Gaziantep, with citizens arriving in front of the bank early in the morning to protest the BDDK decision and deposit their money. One participant, Sema Kömürcü, told Bugün “We’re not here just to support Bank Asya but in support of the entire Turkish economy. It isn’t just about standing up for Bank Asya, it’s about standing up for Turkey, about standing up for democracy.”

Another loyal customer was retiree Muhammet Nami Güzeler from the southeastern city of Malatya, who said he had already sold his apartment in the city center and come to the bank to deposit the money. He added he was also trying to sell his two cars so he could deposit that money as well.

Published on BGNNews, 10 February 2015, Tuesday

Related

• Context, fact and law: demystifying the Bank Asya takeover
• History of politically motivated assault on Bank Asya