Did 3,000 hectares burn in Bergama because of this? Firefighting helicopter crisis exposed

Burak DEMİRBAŞ-12punto.com.tr /EXCLUSIVE

Şükrü Durmuş, President of the Agriculture and Forestry Workers' Union, pointed out that there have been delays in responding to forest fires in İzmir, Muğla, Antalya, Adana, Balıkesir, Hatay, and many other parts of the country because payments have not been made for the aircraft rented for firefighting and the fuel used by these vehicles.

Making striking statements to 12punto, Durmuş said the following:

'IF THEY HAD TAKEN OFF ON TIME, THAT MUCH AREA WOULD NOT HAVE BURNED IN BERGAMA'

"When the General Directorate of Forestry opened the tender for aircraft 3 years ago, a company called MGI (MGI Defence Uluslararası Tic. Ve Ltd. Şti) committed to providing 55 aircraft and won the tender. However, especially this year, and last year as well, while they were required to have 40 percent of the aircraft in their inventory, they had 2-3 or no aircraft at all. They rent helicopters from Russia, Ukraine, and Spain and start the job. They do not pay these companies on time. For about a month, the Bergama and Balıkesir helicopters have not been taking off.

The company cannot bring the aircraft it committed to this year because it did not make the payments last year. The problem here lies with the OGM. This year, during the fires in Bergama two weeks ago, the aircraft did not take off. They say, 'They didn't pay me, so I'm not taking off.' Yet, if they had taken off on time, that much area (3,000 hectares) would not have burned in Bergama.

'TANKERS ARE NOT BEING PAID'

Durmuş stated that while the Bergama fire was ongoing, 4 helicopters landed at Koca Seyit Airport in Edremit and could not receive fuel for 1 day because payment was not made, adding, "As of today, as of last night, 55 tankers in Turkey have declared that they will not carry out transport work because they have not received a single penny for about 45 days."

900 MILLION LIRA PAYMENT EXPECTED'

Durmuş continued his words as follows:

"Until noon today, no fuel transfer could be made to any part of Turkey. The Ministry intervened, they made a commitment for tomorrow, and the company committed to continuing transport until tomorrow. It is stated that a payment of approximately 900 million lira has not been made.

While the OGM should be doing this business directly with the supplier companies, whoever the helicopter is bought from, they are doing it with an intermediary firm called MGI, which we call a 'bagman.' According to the Public Procurement Law, for a company to enter a tender, it must own 40 percent of the vehicles it commits to, but this is not the case. They enter and win the tender with a low price without a single penny.

The age of the helicopters and similar details are in the contract, and despite being committed to, those criteria are not met, the helicopters do not take off on time, and there is not enough intervention. Here, while the General Directorate used to make direct contracts with the relevant companies until 3 years ago, now it makes them with crony companies.

CRIMINAL COMPLAINT AGAINST THE GENERAL DIRECTOR OF FORESTRY

Durmuş stated that they filed a criminal complaint two weeks ago against the General Director of Forestry (Bekir Karacabey), who holds primary responsibility regarding the fires and the measures that were not taken.

MINISTRY INTERVENED

Pointing out that even helicopter pilots have not been able to receive their salaries, Durmuş concluded his words regarding the payment crisis as follows:

"Today, someone from the Ministry intervened and gave a promise until tomorrow. Because there is a fire in the İzmir region. He said that transport is committed for today, but if payment is not made tomorrow, they will finish it completely."

'DEPARTURE TO ABROAD WILL NOT BE PERMITTED'

12punto also obtained a letter signed by Mahmut Okudan, Head of the Aviation Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, General Directorate of Forestry, regarding the "continuation of aircraft support for the remainder of the 2024 fire season."

In the letter, it was seen that it was stated, "Our letter has been forwarded to the authorized authorities of our country regarding the procedures for sending the helicopters belonging to your companies, which have engaged in negative actions, abroad, and departure to abroad will not be permitted without the permission of our General Directorate."

Here is that document:

News Source: Burak Demirbaş