Editor: last update 6 April 1997; asia; index

Subject: CALL FOR ANTI-NUKE SOLIDARITY From: Osman K. Ozkaracalar, March 1997

The Turkish government finally gave a go-ahead for plans to build the country's first nuclear power plant. The deadline for bidding has ended last weekend. The four applicants are 1) Westinghouse of USA in possible consortium with Mitsubishi of Japan. 2) AECl of Canada in possible consortium with Hitachi of Japan 3) NPI of France-Germany 4) Ansaldo of Italy with either GE of USA or Toshiba of Japan.

Background of the project: Turkey first announced plans to build a nuclear power plant almost 20 years ago, but the project was shelved until a few years ago when preparations were began to start the bidding process. These immediately raised protest from local people as well as local and international environmentalist/Green groups and the previous government did not act too fast. However the new Islamic fundamentalist-dominated government finally gave the go-ahead.
The site of the planned plant is in a region where local people live on agriculture and fishing. There is a promising tourism potential. A large city, Mersin, is also in the region.
Nuclear power is dangerous everywhere under all conditions but worse, Turkey is a country where democratic institutions has not yet been fully established to ensure transparency and accountability. For example, previous governments have always acted irresponsibly in nuclear issues, such as the complete ignorance and cover-up of the effects of Chernobil on Turkish soil.
(Additional but unconfirmed info: There were reports in the press that the military, the real power behind the scenes in Turkey, was fully behind the project and pushing for it. There are rumours that the officials intend to possess nuclear weapon capabilities. Extreme right-wing groups have always publicly called for this)

Background of protests: In 1994, Turkish Greens visited the village closest to the planned construction site and informed the peasants on the risks. The peasants and the Greens then marched right into the site in protest. That year a convention was held in Ankara for joint action of anti-nuke groups who had collected more than 100,000 signatures for a petition.
Meanwhile foreign Greenpeace activists and their Turkish Green allies chained themselves to the state electricity company in Ankara. The police broke up the demonstration by detaining all of the protesters. In the summer of 1995, anti-nuke groups and local peasants held a festivity near the planned project site and marched to its gates where they staged a sit-in when stopped by the security forces. Meanwhile, several municipal officials from the region representing various shades of the political spectrum visited the then Premier and said the local population opposed the project. Last summer, a mass protest rally was held in Mersin, city closest to the site, and a festivity was held in the village. [I was personally involved in all of the above activities except in the first march in 1994. Liberty & Solidarity Party (ODP), which was founded only a year ago as an alliance of socialists, left-wing feminists and left-wing Greens, was a major participant in this summer's protests.]

Current situation: The government wants to start the construction this summer. The Chambers of Electrical Engineers, which was neutral on nuclear issues until recently when they opted for an active anti-nuke stand (and whose leadership includes several ODP members) is planning to lead in organizing a major convention in Ankara on the issue (I will aid them in this task). Our party is planning to publish and distribute anti-nuke posters and leaflets. Plans are being considered in several circles, including local branches of ODP, to organize activities in the region.

Call for international solidarity: Spread the word, preferably including in the Internet. Any kind of non-violent action abroad is welcome. Contact us at ozkaraca@bilkent.edu.tr for further discussion
Kaya Ozkaracalar
co-spokesperson of the Environment & Ecology Commission of ODP
vice-spokesperson of the Green faction of ODP