Izmir Court Decides the Bergama Mine Should Close

Press Release - Izmir Third Administrative Court Decides the Bergama Mine Should Close

6 March, 2002

Izmir Third Administrative Court has recently decided that the gold mine in Bergama should be closed immediately or otherwise the consequences likely to arise due to the hazards of mining cannot be compensated for later. Oktay Konyar, the spokesperson for the villagers said that the villagers expected that the authorities would carry out the decision made by the court at once (Feb 27, 2002 Radikal Turkish News Paper).

Although there was a Council of State Ruling in 1998 which banned the use of cyanide for health and environment reasons, Australian gold mining company, Normandy [merged with Newmont in 2001], had received permission from the Turkish Government authorities. Finally, they started up a one year test operation 10 months ago.

Chairman of the Izmir Bar, Mr. Noyan Ozkan, organized a press release with some civil rights organizations on Feb 26, 2002 and he stated that Normandy had a one year temporary test permission from the Ministry of Health. Normandy claimed that precautionary measurements for any possible cyanide disaster were carried out. However, local people went to the court to cancel the process. Mr. Ozkan continued that this was the second ruling on this matter. "We informed the Ministry of Health and Izmir Governorship about the decision immediately. We are waiting for them to carry out the court ruling in one week's time". The court decision says "The risk caused by cyanide was tried to be removed by Normandy, however, the method is apparently the same, Cyanide Leaching".

Bergama community gathered in front of the Ministry of Health building. When Bergama community heard the decision, they went to Ankara and gathered in front of the Ministry of Health building and shouted "We are right! We will get our rights! We will fight against cyanide based gold mining in our region!". They requested to see the Minister. Their leader, Oktay Konyar, said "we have brought a court ruling from the Izmir Third Administrative Court and a lock for Normandy Mining". They had difficulties with the police to see the Secretary of Health Department. After that, they went to the Head of State to discuss the court decision. The secretary of the Head of State listened to them kindly and Oktay Konyar and one spokewomen Resmiye Kural stated that they wanted the decision to be carried out as soon as possible. They tried to make an appointment to see the Head of State.

(27 feb 2002 Evrensel Turkish Newspaper)

Emet Degirmenci

Further info:
sos_pergamon@yahoo.com .au
http://www.geocities.com/siyanurlealtin/foreignlinks.html