Intervention with tear gas and one detention in Akbelen forest resistance
Photos: Diyar Saraçoğlu
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Today was the tenth day of resistance against the tree-cutting that started for the expansion of a coal mine in Milas, Muğla, into the Akbelen forest.
Today, the activists (August 2), just like yesterday, woke up to the noises of saws and sounds of the gendarme.
The gendarme surrounded the site of the resistance yesterday and placed police barricades around it in the evening.
While the activists are now staying and organizing forums on land that is private property, the gendarme is also entering this area.
Jammers are brought to the area, hindering internet communication. The trees that are cut down are being cut into logs in order to be carried away.
The Governorship of Muğla made an announcement on August 30, where they said "The work that started on August 24 has ended as of today."
Muğla 1st Administrative Court has, on the other hand, rejected for the third time on August 28 the request made in order for the tree-cutting in the Akbelen Forest to be stopped.
Today while the forum was being held on one side, the gendarme raided on the activists on another side using tear gas. It was reported that one person was detained during a brawl
Solidarity of Mount Ida activists with Akbelen activists
The Association for the Protection of Natural and Cultural Assets of Mount Ida issued a statement today supporting the Akbelen forest activists where they asked for the Muğla Governor to be removed from duty.
Orhan Tavlı, who was the Çanakkale Governor between 2016-2020 when 350 thousand trees were cut in the Kirazlı Gold Mine Project owned by Alamosgold in Çanakkale is now the Muğla Governor.
"We know Orhan Tavlı, the Muğla Governor well," the statement by the association says and recalls that 350 thousand trees have been cut in 2019 in Çanakkale "wiping off a huge forest ecosystem."
"Mount Ida has not forgotten Orhan Tavlı and neither will Akbelen" the statement added and called for the governor to be removed from duty.
The lower side of the area where trees have been cut was enclosed with barbed wires.
* The jammers on Gendarma vehicles
Representatives of several trade unions visited the site of resistance in the Akbelen forest today.
(DS/AÖ/PE)
