Fines imposed on İkizköy villagers

Villagers protesting the mining site to be opened by the Yeniköy-Kemerköy Energy company in place of the forested area cleared in the Akbelen forest, located in the Milas district of Muğla, have been fined. Following the process that began when YK Energy first arrived to cut down trees on April 1, 2021, and was met by the women of İkizköy, the villagers and nature defenders who set up tents in the area on April 24, 2021, began a vigil.

MANY PEOPLE WERE GIVEN A "BAN ON ENTERING MILAS"

According to the report by the Mezopotamya Agency, hundreds of nature defenders from many cities flocked to Akbelen during this process to prevent the tree felling. Road checks were increased to prevent citizens from reaching the area, identity checks were conducted, and soldiers attempted to disperse the protesters numerous times with armored police vehicles (TOMA) and tear gas. Dozens of citizens were detained during these attacks, and many were given judicial control measures such as a "ban on entering Milas."

After the trees were cut down, the company continued to remain in the region, while dynamite blasting and drilling operations continue in areas close to the homes of the İkizköy villagers who did not sell their land. The company, which also began digging the soil with heavy machinery, has completely removed the vegetation in the region. While the entire area has been fenced off under the protection of soldiers, the outpost established by the soldiers on private property also continues to exist.

203 THOUSAND 445 TL FINE

While the villagers are being intimidated through investigations and interrogations, pressure is now being applied through fines to make them take a step back. The villagers were issued various fines on the grounds of entering the forest to protect the trees during the felling, as well as for banners hung in the vigil area and tents set up. The fines issued by the Milas District Gendarmerie Station were served to the villagers.

Villagers Ali Güler, Ahmet Atar, Nejla Işık, Zülfikar Yakar, and Haydar Demir were each fined 40,189 TL. Subsequently, villager Eyüp Çukur was fined 1,300 TL for setting up a tent in the vigil area, and Esra Işık was fined 1,200 TL for entering the forest without permission.

IŞIK: THEY WANT TO INTIMIDATE US, WE ARE NOT GIVING UP

Nejla Işık, one of the fined villagers, stated that they are defending Akbelen, their land, their olives, and life in İkizköy. Emphasizing that they want to intimidate them for doing this, Işık continued: "Despite all the evil, pressure, unfairly imposed high fines, dynamite blasted every day, and heavy machinery working 24/7, we continue our struggle without tiring or giving up. We will not sacrifice the values we possess, our water resources, our olives, the land from which we earn our living, and our past and future to coal. We will continue the struggle with the strength we draw from our righteousness as much as we can. We are not giving up on Akbelen or our village. This case will not end until we say it is over."

News Source: 12punto