Habibe Eren/ JINHA

ARTVİN - For 20 years now, the people of Artvin, Turkey have been resisting the environmental devastation planned by the Cengiz Holding corporation, known for its links to the ruling AKP. Now, the people of Artvin are in all-out resistance for the threatened ecosystem of the Cerattepe region. At the forefront of the resistance are women, who say that "when the state attacks, they see women's rage."

Since 1996, the people of Artvin have been resisting the environmental devastation of "mining activity" planned for the Cerattepe region. Over the last three days, the Turkish state has been violently attacking the resistance.

The Cerattepe region of Artvin is known for its old-growth forests, many endemic species, rich wildlife, beautiful mountaintop views of forests and valleys, national parks, protected areas and water resources. Cerattepe is among the most important hotspots in the world for environmental protection.

The planned mining activity in the 5000-hectare area have raised concerns that runoff and pollution will devastate the unique nature area. The area's old-growth forest (the only part of the Caucasian ecosystem within the borders of Turkey) is a way station for migrating raptor species and home to many other forms of wood life. The planned mining activities could lead to erosion, the cutting of millions of trees and the contamination of the water in the area.

While the people of Artvin have been struggling to protect the area for over 30 years, they are now, for the first time ever, facing police and soldiers. A vigil has been ongoing in the area for 243 days. Now, police have been deployed to the area from seven provinces, and have the town center under total blockade.

As we set out for Cerattepe along with women environmental advocates from the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), police cut us off. The local people, whose homes are in the blockaded Cerattepe region, look at the police blocking the road with anger.

"You're not our police," they say. "We fed you in our homes and now you attack us in the worst way possible." The people say that for 30 years they've treated police kindly but now, "no police is our friend anymore." The people say that now, they understand why the Kurdish people react with anger to the state and the partisan pro-AKP media, as attacks by police and soldiers continue in the Kurdistan region.

The women of Cerattepe, most seeing tear gas canisters for the first time in their lives, have been at the forefront of the resistance. The women may be surprised by the police violence, but they are quickly learning to throw stones and defend themselves. The women have lit stoves in the vigil's small shack against the snowy weather. They cook and distribute food communally, and carry away the wounded to their homes. They have witnessed many pass out from the thick tear gas.

"If Cerattepe goes, we'll lose our breath. Artvin will be destroyed," say the women. They say they will not abandon their land or their struggle.

One of the women taking part in the resistance from the beginning is Aydan Yerlikaya, of the Artvin Women's Platform. For 20 years, she has gone from house to house in Artvin organizing meetings of women.

Aydan explains that the struggle for Cerattepe was a legal one until recently. Since June 21, 2015, the people have been holding a 24-hour vigil to protect Cerattepe--with women taking the night shifts.

"While men made the food, women chopped the wood and stood watch," says Aydan. She explains that since the vigil began, the Artvin Women's Platform began to hold its meetings at the vigil site.

The Artvin Women's Platform plans to be at Cerattepe on March 8, International Working Women's Day. There, they will continue their resistance.

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