31/07/2023 | Writer: Selma Koçak
Direnişin Renkleri İzmir reports from the Akbelen Forest in order to be in solidarity with İkizköy people against the ecological destruction in Akbelen forests.
Direnişin Renkleri (Colors of Resistance) İzmir reports from the Akbelen Forest in order to be in solidarity with İkizköy people against the ecological destruction in Akbelen forests.
Colors of Resistance İzmir spoke of the solidarity and resistance in Akbelen to KaosGL.org as follows:
“We arrived at Akbelen around five in the morning. We entered the guard area without having any problem, probably because we came too early in the morning. However the entrance to the area was barricaded by the gendarmerie. Friends on guard duty were awake, so we firstly visited them and waited for the day to lighten up with them. At around 7 am in the morning, we heard the sound of cutting, then we learned that the sound was caused by the process of shrinking the trees they had cut down before. To sum up, we woke up to a morning without blockade and detention. Only journalists and other people who wanted to broadcast live in the cutting area were prevented by justifying the ban order of the district governorship, thus as approved groups we occasionally enter the cutting area to check the region.”
“It is tragic o see the trees cut down”
While the Colors of Resistance İzmir was telling the on-goings on the resistance of İkizköy people, slogans began to be heard from behind:
“There is a strong solidarity here, it is provided by both the villagers and those who came outside of the village. We prepared banners and placards today. We listened to music and chanted slogans. Witnessing this unity and solidarity makes us really feel good. This unity and solidarity is amazing, however it is tragic to see the trees cut down. They aim to intimidate us and to say ‘we have already cut down the trees we need to clear so you have no reason to stand here’. Gendarmerie and the riot police are continuously waiting at the guard area. Unfortunately the gendarmerie and the police protects LİMAK Holding, which is backed by Justice and Development Party (AKP) and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), against the citizens in order to make the holding owners more money. We know both the gendarmerie, the police and the violence used by them very well from many experiences. The struggle of the people of İkizköy which has been going on for years is invaluable, and it is evident that they are not going to leave the area under any circumstances.”
Tags: life
