People of Doğanşehir: Eczacıbaşı is looking for gold and silver in the forest while we cannot cut a branch
Esan Eczacıbaşı company started mining drilling in a completely forested area in the middle of 4 villages in Doğanşehir. The residents of Doğanşehir are worried about the pollution of their water and the impact on agriculture and animal husbandry.
Mine destruction in Doğanşehir
Photo: Universal
Ozer AKDEMIR
Esan Eczacıbaşı company started mining drilling in the middle of four villages in Malatya Doğanşehir. The villagers are concerned that the works started in a forested area, 1 kilometer away from the bird’s flight, will adversely affect drinking water, agriculture and animal husbandry.
Doğanşehir Border villagers, who visited our İzmir office in the past days, talked about the uneasiness they experienced. Noting that Esan Eczacıbaşı company has obtained permission for mineral exploration activities, the villagers stated that all four villages in their region are against mineral exploration.
DRILLINGS IN THE MIDDLE OF VILLAGES
Stating that the company reduced the number of boreholes from 46 to 5 after their protests, Hudut Village Headman Ali Ordu said, “Company officials say, ‘We have obtained the necessary permissions, we have a permit from the Forest and Governorate, your opposition will not do any good’.
Stating that they filed petitions to the Governor’s Office and Doğanşehir District Governorate that they did not want the mining drillings and that they were damaged, Ordu said, “The company started drilling a week ago. Boreholes are drilled in five different locations, each 200 meters deep. These boreholes will definitely damage our water. We are villages that live on sheep and apricot farming. These drillings and any subsequent mining will completely destroy our livelihoods. Where are we going to migrate from now on,” he said.
Doğanşehir residents who visited the İzmir Representative Office of Evrensel Newspaper
Photo: Universal
“GOVERNMENT REMEMBER US ONLY FOR BILLS”
Indicating that the entire area where the mining areas are located is forest land, Muhtar Ali Ordu said, “We do not understand how they allow the company to search for mines when we cannot cut branches from the forest. If we protest a little, if we raise our heads, the gendarmerie will be right above us. The government is of no use to us! After all, the government only remembers us when they come to collect electricity and water bills. Apart from that, the state does not like us very much because we say equality, justice and law.”
The army said that they filed a lawsuit against the prospecting as villagers and that they wanted the drilling permits to be stopped.
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