People of Dikmen Escape Official Plunder
Ankara Metropolitan Municipality turns down a urban transformation project in Dikmen district following a four year long struggle by the people.
Lawyer Ender Büyükçulha, who worked to defend the rights of the people affected by the project, told bianet that the latest decision was given on May 15th and declared on June 7th. Those who were paid for the expropriation of their houses should pay back the money they received and the district will be turned back to the way it was before. The municipality failed to state a reason for the decision.
Around 2 thousand 350 houses are present in Dikmen. On February 2006, the people were told to leave their houses for a luxury apartment project, of which the plans were kept secret. Following the action, around 1800 property owners signed contracts through pressure and left the district. Others decided to confront the officials.
Büyükçulha said those who joined the resistance were mostly the poor, who lacked official papers for their property. Besides financial pressures, faced with the threat of losing their homes everyday, the residents faced psychological problems, Büyükçulha contended.
"This decision is an acknowledgment of the mistake. Now, what the people want is a guarantee that such would not happen again."(BÇ/AGÜ)