JINHA

RİZE –The Ministry of Environment and Urbanization gave the positive EIA report to the mining company (Cengiz Holding). A case was opened against this decision. The decision trial of Cerattepe case took place today. The lawyers of the Green Artvin Association left the trial by stating that the court commission was not objective due to extraordinary circumstances and demanding for recusation of the judge. Lawyers, who made a statement in front of the Courthouse, said, “There are no meaning to ask justice without ensuring the right of access to justice. We thought that there would not be a justice while our clients weren’t in the trial.

The decision trial of action for nullity against the positive EIA report to the mining company (Cengiz Holding) given by the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization was held in Rize Administrative Court. The trial continued after a short break. The press wasn’t taken to the trial after the break.

The trial began with the opinion of faculty member Prof. Dr. İbrahim Kabaoğlu of Marmara University relating to the subject. İbrahim presented his 12-page legal assessment to the court and said the positive EIA report should be cancelled. He said, “We expect the court will implement the minimum requirement of the law. I wished the court could have granted a motion for stay of execution while the judicial process continued.”

Doğan Kantarcı began to speak after İbrahim Kabaoğlu. Doğan said, “The EIA and expert’s reports are unacceptable both in terms of scientific ethics and value. Will we sacrifice Cerattepe and its environment for gold?” The Republican's People Party (CHP) MP Uğur Bayrakturan, meanwhile, said, “Does the Artvin Governor know the court decision? Then, why are there aggravated circumstances of the state of emergency in Artvin?”

The lawyers of the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization claimed that the positive EIA report was according to law.

One of lawyers of Green Artvin Association, Bedrettin Kalın took the floor and said, “There are quite number of police in Artvin. They know what will be the decision and bring here many police in order to suppress the reaction. All judges, who overruled the positive EIA report, were dismissed. We know the reasons of these dismissals. We think the court is not objective anymore and we refuse your commission.”

The lawyers of Green Artvin Association left the trial by stating that the court commission was not objective due to extraordinary circumstances and demanding for recusation of the judges.

As the trial was ended, the court commission is expected to make a decision in 15 days.

(ek/sy/gd)