Muhammet Kaçar / Rize, Sep 18 () - The symbol figure of resistance against Green Road project constructions in Black Sea province of Rize, Rabia Özcan known as “Mother Eve” told she was deeply sorry about the accusations against her, claiming she had supported the installation of the road despite the revolt, after a short video secretly shot in a meeting.
A short video of 27 seconds from a meeting between the Governor Ersin Yazıcı and inhabitants has been leaked and been reported as “Mother Eve revolted against the road, then promoted it” although there was no press officers accepted in the meeting. The elder villager defended she was not referring to the controversial construction in Çamlıhemşin district and her speech, only recorded by cameras of the gendarmerie and Mayor staff, was edited and released to press secretly to accuse her.
“I wanted pathways, maintenance work; not the road
Rabia Özcan told that she was not referring the controversial road construction involving Ayder region, but she was addressing the lack of maintenance work at roads of the plateau and that the pathway in the Kavron neighborhood has been completed yet.
Having accused the Governor Ersin Yazıcı for leaking a video allegedly montaged, Rabia Özcan refused to attend the meeting to be held today.
“We are not against the road. Every flatland should have a path, and they should be under maintenance work. However, those upland regions will not be connected! I wanted the roads but I demanded maintenance, requested paths that will ease walking in the village, to our houses; not the project to connect the upland villages” slammed “Mother Eve” of Black Sea.
A 2,600-kilometer road project has been planned to connect upland villages of eight provinces in Turkey’s Black Sea region.
The project has been widely criticized for its negative impact not only on the environmental character of the areas affected but also on the culture and lifestyle of local residents, destroying the unique nature of the upland villages.
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