İpek Güney / Çanakkale, Nov 4 () - In Ayvacık district of Aegean province of Çanakkale, environmentalist group opposed a private company’s gold mine project, having intervened the meeting for informing the locals, held by the company.

The company failed to hold the meeting within environmental impact assessment process, as tension grew between protesters and gendarmerie.

Hunderds of villagers and activists from Çanakkale’s center, districts and villages flocked to the kahvehane [traditional coffee shop] at Kısacık Village.

The environmentalists have not been allowed to attend the meeting, which sparked tension among villagers and activists against the gendarmerie, supported by back up teams during the incident.

Main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) Çanakkale MP Muharrem Erkek also attended the protest, where he urged that the construction of a mine in the region would poison people. Any implementation against the will of villagers should be stopped”.

(Photo)