Resistance against the stone quarry in İkizdere is growing

Özer AKDEMİR

Resistance against the stone quarry in İkizdere is growing. Previously villagers hurt by the military police whilst trying to restrain their resistance were later taken into custody. Upon their release the villagers came together in front of the site which is planning to be used as a stone quarry to show their dissatisfaction with the planned works. The neighbouring villages are also supporting their protest. Whilst this was happening, Metin Külünk, a member of the AKP party has said that the protesters were being provoked by American president Biden through the HDP.

THE QUARRY FIRM WANTED TO EXPLOIT THE LOCKDOWN RULES

In relation to the quarry wanted for the planned construction of the logistic port in Ikizdere by Cengiz Construction, a subsidiary of Cengiz Holding, the area was nationalised in an urgent presidential decision in March. Following this decision by the government the residents of İkizdere opened up tents at the entry of the planned site to show their resistance. Following the determined resistance by the locals, the firm had to call back their industrial vehicles from the site. However, using the recent lockdown announcement of 23rd April as an opportunity, the firm wanted to bring the industrial vehicles back onto the site. The company, who wanted to work with protection from gendarmery police, were faced with locals who had walked to the site and women and children formed a barricade in front of the machinery. The gendarme intervened using teargas and batons, arresting 6 locals and injuring other locals.

THE MILITARY POLICE FORMED A BARRICADE TO STOP THE LOCALS

The solicitor defending the locals, Yakup Okumuşoğlu said that the police have installed barricades 500 metres before the site to prevent the locals entering. He said, “the people have gathered in tents under rain. The police are stopping people from entering the quarry”. He further said that the locals hurt as a result of the most recent police action will be seeking legal protection and will take those officers responsible for their abuse to court. “All this is because Cengiz İnşaat wants to build a port in İyidere. However, the vehicles entering the site belongs to a subsidiary organisation. But we know that the vehicles are there under the instruction of Cengiz Construction”. He further declared that this is the third quarry operation by Cengiz Construction in the area. “Our court battle will continue. We are waiting for a decision to halt the works”....

THE AREA INTENDED FOR THE WORKS IS AMONGST THE 200 VALLEYS WHICH NEEDS TO BE PROTECTED IN THE WORLD.

The area where the planned works are taking place is amongst the most precious valleys in the world. It is a preservation area. The intended stone quarry will destroy the natural beauty and natural life in the area. It is said that 16 million tonnes of stone is required for the construction of the port in İyidere.

AKP USING EXTERNAL FORCES LIE AGAIN

President Erdogan has claimed that resistance was fuelled by the HDP and Biden. Metin Külünk, a member of the AKP central committee Tweeted “We are exposing Biden’s Black Sea plan”. Külünk wrote:

“Biden wants to manipulate Turkish politics through the HDP.  The USA is not only providing the PKK-PYD arms in Syria, it is also sharing plans and information with the HDP…. Furthermore, this is the reason why the CHP is dependent on HDP, because of the USA’s insistence on the HDP. Hence, we need to see the presence of HDP Izmir MP Murat Çepni in the area within the wider context of provoking locals by trying to preventing the Ikizdere logistic area construction to gain political ground. Moreover, like the 3rd airport and other strategic projects, the constructions of Ipekyolu is a significant commercial investment and is important strategically, this is an attempt to stifle these plan and slowly build up the attempt through an environmental concept. We would like to send a reminder that we will not permit any provocation by HDP-Biden forces to stop big projects which will help take the country forward”.

ÇEPNİ: KÜLÜNK SHOULD COME AND SPEAK DIRECTLY TO THE PEOPLE OF İKİZDERE!

Responding to Külünk’s accusations HDP MP Murat Çepni, said that “Külünk’s accusations were nonsense”. “Külünk should explain these to the local people here”. The resistance in İkizdere is simply the mere act of people trying to defend their villages. This is something which Metin Külünk will find hard to understand. The only people who are working in unison with Biden in this country are the ones who have been waiting for his phone calls for months. Metin Külünk is trying to criminalise the local’s legal right to resist. He is trying to arouse provocation using my name and the HDP. He has no chance of success. I have been in the area for days. I have heard such accusations during my time here. However, each time they faded away with the force of the locals' rightful resistance. Such provocations will not succeed. We are supporting the local’s justified resistance. We will not let the AKP working together with Canadian quarries, and Arab capital to tear this land away and leave the people in poverty”.