İYİ Party Delegation Visits Sekü Village, Vows to Bring Mining Dispute to Parliament

A delegation from Turkey's İYİ Party, led by Deputy Chairman Hüseyin Raşit Yılmaz, has thrown its support behind the residents of Sekü Village in Giresun who are protesting a controversial mining operation. The mine, reportedly owned by AKP Member of Parliament Cantürk Alagöz, has drawn fierce opposition from locals who claim it is devastating their environment and livelihoods.

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This mining operation benefits neither this geography nor these people. Everyone is suffering, their drinking water has become unusable. Our citizens in the village coffee house share the same complaints.

During their visit, İYİ Party officials met with villagers, hearing firsthand accounts of the detrimental effects of the mining activities. Residents expressed deep frustration, stating that their drinking water sources have been contaminated and their agricultural lands rendered unusable. One villager lamented, "We can't even drink the water from our gardens anymore. They diverted the water from the drilling to our land. They told us 'nothing will happen,' but they brought the machines at night. They deceived us."

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We can't even drink the water from our gardens anymore. They diverted the water from the drilling to our land. They told us 'nothing will happen,' but they brought the machines at night. They deceived us.

The villagers' concerns extend beyond water contamination. They report a lack of peace, with parts of the village being sold off due to the ongoing operations. Hasan Ayaz, a Sekü resident who previously voted for the ruling AKP, declared his disillusionment, stating, "I voted for AK Party, but never again. From now on, I am a communist. If they are going to punish me, let them; I am ready to go to jail for 10 years for my village." This sentiment highlights a growing discontent among citizens who feel their environmental concerns are being ignored by the government.

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Our main problem is the mine, but we can't explain our problem. The quarry has been operating for years below the village, half the village has been sold. In 10 years, this village will move down. No water, no peace. Some of us are sick, some have diabetes. God gave us this nature to protect, but we cannot protect it. I voted for AK Party, but never again. From now on, I am a communist. If they are going to punish me, let them; I am ready to go to jail for 10 years for my village.

İYİ Party officials assured the Sekü villagers that they would not be left alone in their fight. "This fire will not be extinguished," declared Mesut Yılmaz, a young resident involved in the ongoing protest. The party has pledged to bring the matter before the Turkish Parliament, ensuring that the villagers' grievances are heard at the national level and demanding accountability from those responsible for the environmental damage.

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Our struggle has been going on here for 13 days. We won legally, but we couldn't stop the machines. The state set up a barrier in front of us with its own gendarmerie and took that machine up the hill at night. Since that day, we have been lighting a fire here. That fire has been burning for 8 days. That fire will not go out until this machine leaves here. The people of this village will realize the danger, but it will be too late. That's why we are here. We will grow this fire. I will shout until my voice gives out. They will hear from the other side of the world. This fire will not go out.