Report:
A tent watch has been ongoing in İkizköy, located in the Milas district of Muğla, for more than two years to prevent the expansion of the mining area in Akbelen Forest. In the early hours of this morning, residents of İkizköy and defenders of life were confronted by gendarmerie and slaughter teams. Nejla Işık, a resister from İkizköy, provided details of the morning raid in Akbelen Forest to Cumhuriyet TV. Işık stated that they tried to prevent those who came to support İkizköy and explained, “They entered around 5-5:30 in the morning. First, they surrounded the area with 4-5 cannons, 10 soldiers, and law enforcement forces. Similarly, 2 years ago, we faced the disproportionate force of the gendarmerie, but this time there was no intervention, the place was completely surrounded. Our phones did not receive any reception, a jammer was installed here, we could not reach anyone, people coming from outside were blocked, and the roads were blocked. People coming here were blocked in different parts of the highway. “People started to come in droves, but here the soldiers are holding us back, and on the other side, in Akbelen, they started cutting right in front of the mine, unfortunately,” he said, conveying what happened.
Işık called for support for Akbelen Forest and continued his words as follows: “We have been on guard here for 2 years, not only for ourselves but also for our air, water, and land. We said that water crises will occur here. While we should be planting trees, they are cutting down dozens of them right now. We are helpless here. Our deputy Süreyya came, we wanted to show the cut to the deputy. The gendarmerie tells us, ‘There is a ban on entering the forests.’ It is not forbidden for the company, it is forbidden for the villagers who protect it here. The company is currently cutting down our trees without any hesitation. It will cause irreversible damage here. We want everyone to come here in droves. Urgently, district governorship, Muğla Metropolitan Municipality, Milas Municipality, Bodrum Municipality, Turkey, protect your Akbelen, your breath, your water, your air! Stop Akbelin’s massacre and murderers. The ones who will be hindered here are not the villagers, the defenders of life, but the ones who kill the trees and the murderers. We urgently need support here, that’s the only way we can stop this company. “We expect all political parties and NGOs who have been coming here for 2 years and saying ‘We will not give Akbelen’ to support Akbelen today and now.”
Making claims about the attitude of the Victory Party leader, Ümit Özdağ, and the company, Işık said, “We are waiting for all the press because this company said ‘You will not make news about Akbelen’ until a week ago, and Ümit Özdağ said ‘Akbelen’ at the Swiss Hotel in Izmir. We know that he said, ‘Don’t come to Turkey, there are marginal groups there,’ that the trees that will be cut down are 40-year-old trees, and that political parties are blocked by the company. How long will we be exiled from our living spaces? Aren’t we citizens of the Republic of Türkiye? Why doesn’t the government see us? “Irreversible death pits are being opened,” he said. “We will not give up our struggle, we will defend our lands until the end. They think, ‘If we cut Akbelen, these will go away on their own.'” Işık added, “We will not leave here, we will die in these lands, but we will still not abandon these lands. Together. We have to be.”
ESG Risks:
– Environmental Risk: The expansion of the mining area in Akbelen Forest poses a risk to the environment, including air, water, and land.
– Social Risk: The actions of the company and law enforcement forces create tension and conflict with the local community, potentially leading to social unrest.
– Governance Risk: The government’s lack of response and protection towards the villagers and their concerns raises questions about governance and the protection of citizens’ rights.
Vulnerable Groups:
– The villagers of İkizköy who are defending their land and the environment.
– Local communities impacted by the potential environmental damage caused by the mining activities.
Organizations:
– The mining company responsible for the expansion in Akbelen Forest.
– Law enforcement forces, including the gendarmerie and slaughter teams.
– Political parties and NGOs who have been involved in the issue.
Regions:
– İkizköy, Milas district, Muğla, Turkey
Sectors:
– Mining sector
Keywords:
– Akbelen Forest
– Mining expansion
– İkizköy
– Environment
– Water crisis
– Deforestation
– Government response
– Social unrest
– Villagers’ rights
– Protection of land and environment
– Political parties
– NGOs