24-hour vigil for olive groves in Eskişehir

Members of the Eskişehir Nature and Life Platform held a 24-hour vigil in Ulus Monument Haller Park against the approval of the bill in the Turkish Grand National Assembly that would allow olive groves to be opened to mining activities.

The bill, which was opposed by olive producers, villagers and the opposition on the grounds that it would pave the way for the destruction of olive trees, was accepted in the Turkish Grand National Assembly General Assembly.

Members of the Eskişehir Nature and Life Platform began a 24-hour life watch at 8:00 PM yesterday in Ulus Monument Haller Park to protest the adoption of the bill in the Turkish Grand National Assembly and the opening of olive groves to mining activities.

Cevat Aydemir, speaking on behalf of the platform, stated that their vigil was symbolic. He explained that they began the vigil with the hope of setting an example for all cities, and that they would wage a legal battle and be out on the streets and in public squares to defend their living spaces and olive groves.

“COMPANIES BROUGHT THE LAW TO THE PARLIAMENT BY ORDER”

Aydemir said that the law was brought to the Turkish Grand National Assembly at the behest of the company owners, and noted the following:

"After June 19th, a demolition project was attempted in the country. This demolition project was an intervention in people's villages, nature, forests, agricultural lands, and living spaces. Three company owners, particularly in the Aegean region and Muğla region, placed this occupation plan in the hands of AKP members of parliament, ensuring its passage through the committee. The bill was passed into law in the Turkish Grand National Assembly in a very short time, within a month. As of yesterday, an 'eco-destruction' project is being implemented in Türkiye. We have been fighting since June 19th, both in Ankara and in our city. This struggle was also a preparation for the gold project planned for the Alpagut-Atalan region, as it concerns our city. We continued our struggle in all areas to prevent this bill from passing. Our friends from Akbelen and İkizköy in Ankara staged a 17-day sit-in protest and began a vigil. They then went on a hunger strike. The AKP government, blind to all this, ignored the fact that people sacrificed their lives and were willing to pay the price to protect their olive groves and forests." They passed this law knowingly and knowingly, even though they received orders from companies.”

Aydemir stated that opposition members of parliament also partially fought to prevent the bill from passing, adding, "Of course, we would have wanted the necessary discussions to be held in Parliament before this bill passed, and the necessary resistance to be shown. But unfortunately, this bill has already passed. Even if it passes, we will continue to resist its implementation. We will show all the resistance necessary to prevent our trees, forests, agricultural lands, and olive groves from being wasted by corporations in every region of the country."

“WE WANT IT TO BE A SOURCE OF INSPIRATION FOR THE WHOLE COUNTRY”

Aydemir, stating that they will conclude their awareness-raising vigil at 8:00 PM tonight, said, "We are prepared to pay the price. We will begin the necessary legal proceedings. Our legal colleagues will file lawsuits. We will demonstrate all forms of struggle in the streets and in the squares. The AKP government will not be able to interfere with our living spaces so easily."