Mersin’s march against MIP was not allowed!

The fight against the attempt to destroy Atatürk Park, also known as the lungs of Mersin, with the expansion project of Mersin International Port Management Inc. (MIP) continues effectively in the city.

Mersin Environment and Nature Association (MERÇED), which is the pioneer of the struggle, is facing obstacles in its counter-fight against the acceleration of the expansion project, as the lawsuits filed against it are rejected by the Constitutional Court on procedural grounds.

MIP accelerated, MERÇED decided to increase actions

While Mersin is preparing to take the fight to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), MIP company, which is 40 percent owned by Singapore, 40 percent by a fund from Austria and only 10 percent by the local Afken Holding, has accelerated its work without waiting for the judicial process.

As a reaction to this, MERÇED decided to strengthen the activism movement. The association, which organized a series of action events, made preparations to meet with the city dynamics at the Özgür Children’s Park on December 9 and march in front of Port A gate.

The governorship did not allow the march

MERÇED management, who applied to the Mersin Governorship with a written petition regarding the march, was rejected. Mersin Governorship did not allow the people of Mersin to march against MIP.

Mersin does not give up the fight

However, the association management decided to continue their actions even if the march was not permitted. In this context, MERÇED called on labor and democracy forces to meet at the Özgür Children’s Park on December 9, 2023 and ask for support for the press release.

“Atatürk Park will be filled with containers”

MERÇED President Sabahat Aslan said that there have been serious attacks on living spaces, especially green areas, in the city recently.
Explaining that the attacks, which increase day by day, pollute the environment and cause deterioration in health, Aslan said, “MIP’s start to expand the existing port towards Ataturk Park is unlawful and an attack on urban life. This project will cause the destruction of Atatürk Park. It is clear that with the port expansion works, the entire Atatürk Park will be occupied and completely filled with containers. The filling area to be constructed is unscientific and will cause serious damage to urban life. “The port expansion works, which were carried out against the planning principles, were carried out by ignoring the public interest and prioritizing the profit of the company,” he said.

“Atatürk Park is the symbol of the city”

Explaining that Atatürk Park, known as the Lungs of Mersin, is the symbol of the city, Aslan continued as follows: “Atatürk Park, which comes from history and is a value in Mersin, has always been in public use. Port expansion works will prevent the use of Atatürk Park by the public. The port expansion project in Atatürk Park will increase the existing port capacity in the area by 50 percent. “It is obvious that the dredging and filling area will cause marine pollution, deterioration of the ecosystem, increase in traffic load in the city center, air pollution, violation of everyone’s right to equal and free use of the coasts, and will be contrary to the principle of public interest.” (Mersinhaberci)