News Center- The residents of İkizköy and environmental defenders have been resisting the destruction of nature by the Limak and IC İçtaş Holding to expand a coal mine in Akbelen Forest, located in the İkizköy village of Muğla’s Milas district for five days.

Many people from Muğla and other cities of Turkey come to the village to support the resistance of the villagers and environmental defenders.

In the morning, Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, the leader of the Republican People's Party (CHP) and a delegation from the CHP arrived in the Akbelen Forest. Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu listened to the demands of the villagers. Necla Işık, member of the İkizköy Environmental Committee, said that they demand the destruction of nature be ended.

“Isn't the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry responsible for protecting forests? Does it have to sell forests to greedy companies? The destruction of Akbelen means the destruction of Mount Kaz (Mount İda). Stop cutting down trees. You do not know what we have been going through for four days. There are people using tear gas and truncheons against 80-year-old women. We are innocent people, trying to protect our nature. We will resist to the end and we will not leave our forest.”

Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu: I stand by you

Listening to the demands of the villagers and environmental defenders, Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu said, “I came here to give you an opportunity  so that you can tell what you want and what you face. There are not only trees in this forest but also many thousands of living creatures. We have to protect all. You resist here to protect them. I stand by you.”

After his speech, Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu and the CHP delegation got into their cars. When the villagers and environmental defenders protested, they went to the area where trees had been cut down along with the villagers and environmental defenders.

Near the area, the gendarmes attacked environmental defenders and villagers by using tear gas and truncheons. Green Left Party İzmir MP Burcugül Çubuk was beaten by the gendarmes. The gendarmes tried to detain her but then release her after they understood that she is a MP.