Turkey: Central Istanbul Residents and Merchants Glad IMF Meeting is Over

From the perspective of those inside the conference hall, the just-concluded Istanbul annual meeting of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank was a success. But for thousands of Turks who live and work near the conference venue, it was an ordeal.

The protests surrounding the IMF meeting were the root cause of much emotional and physical suffering. Masked protesters caused widespread property damage during a multi-day vandalism spree. Police used tear gas, water cannon and plastic bullets to contain the demonstrations.

For some of those caught in the middle, it was a harrowing experience. One lottery ticket seller caught between the police and protestor lines on Istiklal Caddesi, the busiest shopping street in Europe said this about the protesters; "they were out of control, I thought I'd die."

Meanwhile, a local cafe owner insisted he wasn't worried that his business would be targeted for destruction. "They were only after those who represent all that has brought our country into poverty," the cafe owner said, referring to the masked mischief-makers. At the same time, the IMF gathering represented a personal financial disaster. "I've lost so much business because of the IMF," the owner said. "I shut the shutters down while they threw bricks because they could hit us by accident."

It was the second time that Istanbul had hosted the IMF gathering, the previous occasion coming way back in 1955. Ask some Turks, and they'll say they wouldn't mind if it's five centuries, not five decades, before Istanbul hosts another IMF conclave.

"It has made us look like fools abroad, the tourists will stay away because they'll think Turks are barbarians," said one resident in Istanbul's Tarlabasi District.

Another Istanbul resident, however, took all the mayhem in stride. "The damage is minor, windows will be replaced in a week and we'll know nothing about it," he said.

Crowd control at times appeared to pose a challenge for security forces, but law-enforcement officials said they were pleased with how things went. "We were expecting much worse given the [intensity of] protests in other countries [in previous years]," said one Istanbul riot police officer near central Taksim Square.

As for the long-term benefits of hosting the IMF meetings, one resident was particularly upbeat, saying that since the damage done during the IMF meeting wasn't off the charts, "it's a great reference for Istanbul. Now we can go and get the Olympics."