Ecotopia 2008 : Shocking repression in Turkey !

Par benkamorvan le Dimanche 24 août 2008, 22:36 - Lien permanent

Greens, environmentalists, peace and nature supporters, and NGO's from all over the World gathered on the 9th of August to join the 20th international Ecotopia gathering being held at Sarikum nature reserve in Sinop, Turkey. Ecotopia gatherings promote sustainable ways of living, harmony with nature, and discuss social justice issues. This year, Ecotopia has supported local anti-nuclear groups, raised consciousness of nuclear issues and promoted alternative energy sources. However, for the last week, local police have been exerting supression on the camp by making regular visits, and following and intimidating participants outside of the camp.

On Wednesday 20th August, 6 internationals and 5 Turkish people were placed under custody while staging a peaceful vigil outside the Atomic Energy Agency (TAEK) in Sinop. Police have also shown supression towards locals of Gerze town who approached the Ecotopia camp to request solidarity against the Thermal Coal Plant planned for construction in their town. Today, the 22nd August, approximately 10 armed officers, ordered by the governor of Sinop, raided the Ecotopia camp to threaten forceful eviction if the sıte was not emptied within 3 hours. In summary, 2 days before our legal permit for he site ends, it has been forcefully demanded that we shut down activities immediately.

In Turkey, where democracy is regressing, the authorities do not tolerate the advocacy of their people to lıve a safe, sustainable and healthy life.

In addition, authorities in the Turkish state and Sinop (where it it planned to build one nuclear technology centre and 3 Thermal Coal plants) are dısturbed by the increasing local attention on these projects, and are reluctant to allow people's awareness and knowledge to grow independently.

As participants representing more than 30 countries, we are asking for your solidarity, and request you to send the following text to the Turkish authorities using the contact information given below.

For a nuclear-free world and a more democratic Turkey, let's block the phones and faxes of the Turkish authorities.

Ecotopia 2008 participants

EYFA (European Youth For Action)
SINYAD (Sinop Nükleersiz Kent ve Yaşam Derneği)

To whom it may concern, We have been informed that the Ecotopia meeting being held at Sarikum nature reserve in Sinop, which was announced and received approval of its permit many months ago, is now undergoing a period of intense police suppression. This event is legitimate and legal, and we are demanding that the pressure is released. We will keep ourselves informed on how this situation develops and will follow up on this request if necessary.

Name/organization: Country: Signature:

CONTACTS:

Türkiye Cumhuriyeti İçişleri Bakanlığı (Ministry of Internal Affairs) Telefon: +90 (312 )425 72 14 Fax: + 90 (312) 418 12 60 e-mail: basin@icisleri.gov.tr

Türkiye Cumhuriyeti Sinop Valiliği ( Governership of Sinop) Tel : 0(368) 261 15 00 - Fax: 0368 261 15 02 - 261 55 05 - e-mail: valilik@sinop.gov.tr, webmaster@sinop.gov.tr