Demolition Order for Construction Site Buildings at METU Campus

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It has been three months since the students of Middle East Technical University (METU) in Ankara started their Kavaklık Resistance against the construction of a state dormitory on poplar woods at their campus.

The teams of District Municipality of Çankaya went to the METU campus in the capital yesterday (August 9), taking down minutes for the demolition of unauthorized buildings constructed in the area.

As reported by Dilek Yeğin from the daily BirGün, the district municipality is taking action to demolish the related construction site buildings and to remove the fences put up around the construction site of Higher Education Credit and Hostels Institution (KYK) dormitory.

The construction was sealed and closed 30 days ago. As the time allocated to the construction to receive a licence expired yesterday, the municipality teams went to the construction site. Taking down minutes to start the process of demolition, the teams also informed the METU Presidency, Governorship of Ankara and Ankara Metropolitan Municipality.

What happened?

On the 55th day of Kavaklık Resistance, which has been put up by METU students against the construction of a state dormitory on forty-decare poplar woods, police intervened in and forced the students and lecturers to leave the area. One person who had been detained earlier on July 8 was released later in the day. Trees started to be cut down after the intervention.

Some MPs came to the METU campus to support the students in morning hours. After negotiations with METU President Verşan Kök, it was announced that the cutting of trees was halted.

The District Municipality of Çankaya confirmed that the construction of the state dormitıory did not have a license and attempted to lock up and seal it; however, the police did not allow. Çankaya Mayor Alper Taşdelen announced that the construction did not have an excavation permit, either. Minutes were taken down by the municipality regarding the issue.

The Chamber of Architects Ankara Branch also appealed to the Supreme Council of Education (YÖK), requesting that the Council launch an investigation against METU President Verşan Kök.

After the METU Presidency announced the reason for the construction as "there was a need for dormitories, but the university could not afford it", METU Alumni Council made a statement and said that they would express solidarity for a new METU dormitory. (AÖ/SD)