Traders didn't want it, municipal police cut the festival's power

A fashion and shopping festival held in many provinces across Turkey has been disrupted in Sivas. Traders who traveled from various provinces for the festival were left stunned by the cancellation of the fair.

According to allegations, certain non-governmental organizations in the city pressured the Sivas Municipality to cancel the festival on the grounds that it could negatively affect local traders.

Sivas Municipality municipal police teams arrived at the site, cut the power cables, and prevented citizens from entering the fair. The festival traders, who were left deeply disappointed, protested, stating that they had suffered financial losses.

"SIVAS SAID 'DON'T COME HERE'"

Süreyya Kuyupınar, a trader and organizer, stated that they had experienced something like this for the first time, saying, "We advertised on billboards and social media platforms. We made an agreement for this place. We were going to hold a Women's Clothing Festival here. We were going to sell products like bags, accessories, and clothing. They said, 'There is no problem, come.' We came and have been setting up stands in the area here since Monday. Up until that time, there was nothing.

Yesterday afternoon, they told us, 'This place has no permit.' We obtained our permit from the owner of this place, and we came based on that. In our meeting with the mayor and his deputies, they said they closed the place due to complaints from the heads of the chambers. We said, 'Let us do whatever is necessary regarding this and continue.' A queue had formed since the morning hours.

Citizens also showed a strong reaction. What three or five people said under the guise of protecting local traders was actually a hindrance to the public. The traders here came from different provinces. No official notification was served to us organizers. We experienced such an event for the first time here. Sivas officially said, 'Don't come here.' Even if this incident is resolved, we will not come again. Because coming here is now a very big risk," she said.

"I HAVE NEVER SEEN SUCH HOSPITALITY"

Stating that Sivas did not leave a good impression at all, Tülin Altuniğne said, "The point that saddened me the most was that the municipal police cut the cables instead of just turning off the breakers. The ice cream seller's entire stock melted. I see these actions as inhumane. They set up barricades here.

They told people to leave. Sivas did not leave a good impression at all. I have never seen such hospitality. Nothing happened to anyone, but it happened to us. My loss is very great. The other trader friends are the same. I do not forgive them.

I am also calling out to the mayor of Sivas; I wish you had come and seen our state. You should not have allowed the municipal police to act like guards here, shouting and yelling while doing their job. If he had listened to us and stood by the people, no one would have said anything to the mayor. But none of that happened," she said.

News Source: 12punto