People of Göle unite against cyanide gold mine: 'Don't let Göle become İliç'

Following the landslide that occurred on February 13 at the mining site operated by Anagold Madencilik Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş. in the İliç district of Erzincan, 9 workers were left trapped under the debris.

The 'Don't Let Göle Become İliç' campaign, which gained momentum following the disaster in İliç and began with an announcement by Ardahan TV, was joined by Göle associations from Istanbul and Ankara.

According to a report by Çiğdem Koçak from Ardahan Haber, Journalist Ömer Turan organized a panel in the village of Büyük Altunbulak regarding the dangers of the project in question. The Göle associations participating in the program voiced their opposition to the cyanide gold exploration project.

Journalist Turan, who delivered the opening speech of the panel, recalled the mining disaster in the İliç district of Erzincan.

While journalist Mustafa Küpeli moderated the panel, geological engineer Kadir Işık provided information about the project. The locations where the ore will be extracted and how this process will affect Göle were discussed. Lawyer Cömert Uygar Erdem informed the participants about the legal dimensions of the project and the litigation process.

The panel organized for the cyanide gold mine project in the village of Büyük Altunbulak was attended by the Istanbul Göle Federation, the Istanbul Büyük Altunbulak Village Association, the Istanbul Durucasu Association, the Istanbul Çakırüzüm Association, the Ankara Koyunlu Village Association, the Ankara Büyük Altunbulak Association, CHP Ardahan Deputy Özgür Erdem İncesu and his advisor Erkan Taşdemir, CHP District Chair Recai Özalp, CHP Mayoral Candidate Gökhan Budak, DEM Party District Chair Özgür Tanış, DEM Party Mayoral Candidate Sinan Yılmaz, New Welfare Party (Yeniden Refah Partisi) District Chair Murat Öngel, New Welfare Party Mayoral Candidate Akın İsmailoğlu, Göle Chamber of Agriculture General Secretary Sinan Cem Budak, village headmen (muhtars), provincial general assembly and municipal council member candidates from political parties, environmental activist Ali Turan from Ankara, Lawyer Yaşar Kaya, and village residents.

News Source: 12punto