Protest With Lights in Cerattepe

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In Cerattepe region of Artvin, a group consisting of  almost 5,000 persons have protested against the planned copper mine and the intervention of the security force

The group has switched on the lights on their cell phones and have chanted slogans against the mine company.

“They have exposed the people to gas like insects”

Green Artvin Association President Nur Neşe Karahan has noted;

“An unprecedented attack has been carried out on our people devoted to Artvin and their country. Responding to an environmental protest which has been driven only by scientific criteria and the love for Artvin with plastic bullets and excessive pepper gas constitute an indescribable oppression of its own people.  

“Also the ones who create social tension by using the public hand in order to cut out our way to judiciary can obviously be recognized. The security forces in our country behaving like the staff of the mine company, exposing its own people to poisonous gas like insects and oppressing them without differentiating between the elder and younger is the most clear demonstration of  how it thinks of the nature and takes side with moneybags instead of its people”.

“We will deliver our response legally”

“Whatever happens, our watch in Cerattepe will continue and our determination of protecting Artvin at the costs of our lives will grow. We will respond legally to the ones who want to draw us to unlawfulness and overcome this attack. This resistance is not only for the protection of the mountains, waters, trees [...] but also for the 25,000 people living with honour in Cerattepe and Artvin”.  

Attorney of the Green Artvin Association; Bedrettin Kalın has announced that they have launched the judicial process and only taken a step back but their struggle to avoid the construction of the mine would continue and grow stronger.

Following the statements, the protesters have started marching with banners reading “We will not surrender Artvin to plunderers”. Also the Republican People’s Party (CHP) Artvin MP Uğur Bayraktutan has attended the demonstration.

Struggle of 20 years

Cerattepe is one of the most important 41 sites in Turkey, all of Artvin’s drinking water come from Cerattepe. There is Hatina National Park next to it, and Kafkasör Tourism Conservation and Development area under it. The area hosts 2,000 plant forms, 124 endemic forms, hundreds of animal forms.

First drilling works were launched in the area in 1987, people reacted against opening of the first gallery, and Green Artvin Association was found in 1995.

Ministry of Environment and Urbanization expressed a positive opinion to Environmental Impact Assessment’s (ÇED) second report in 2013.

Rize Administrative Court overruled ÇED’s positive report in January 2015. However, the company has received another positive report from ÇED despite the ruling. A criminal complaint has been filed with the signature of 750 people and that examination of panel of experts has been awaited in these days. (NV/DG)

* Photograph: Bayram Sarayoğlu/Anadolu News Agency (AA)