Mayor Accused of Undermining Environmental Protest Against Ordu Gold Mine Project

A planned joint press conference aimed at protesting a gold mine drilling project in the ecologically sensitive Aybastı Perşembe Plateau region of Ordu has been abruptly canceled. The cancellation stems from contentious conditions reportedly set by Aybastı Mayor İzzet Gündoğar, who allegedly demanded the exclusion of key environmental organizations, including the Ordu Environment Association (ORÇEV) and the Aybastı-Korgan-Kabataş Plateaus Platform, from the announcement. This move has sparked accusations of collusion with the mining company and an attempt to undermine the local environmental movement.

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We have strong information that İzzet Gündoğar met with the representatives of the mining company, and there are photos he shared on social media and later deleted.

Ertuğrul Gazi Gönül, President of ORÇEV, stated that the decision to cancel was made after Mayor Gündoğar imposed these exclusionary terms. Gönül further alleged that the mayor had met with representatives of the mining firm, Taşzemin Madencilik, citing strong rumors and even deleted social media photos as evidence. According to Gönül, the mayor also stipulated that other local mayors and politicians should not be present, a condition seen as an attempt to politicize and fragment the unified environmental front.

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He also put forward conditions such as 'The mayor of Korgan, the mayor of Kabataş, politicians, and deputies will not be present.'

Environmental activists interpret the mayor's actions as a deliberate effort to obstruct the resistance against the mining project. They accuse Gündoğar of feigning opposition while secretly engaging with the mining company, thereby discrediting those who are genuinely fighting to protect the plateau. The activists emphasize that their struggle is non-partisan and focused on preserving the natural heritage for future generations, contrasting this with the mayor's alleged attempts to politicize the issue for his own gain. The situation highlights a deep division between local governance and environmental advocacy in the region.

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İzzet Gündoğar is making it political by saying 'I will come if this happens, I will come if that happens.' He took that seat for five years, he will leave in five years. But these plateaus belong to all of us, this struggle belongs to all of us.