The protests that started in Greece and continued in Izmir’s Cesme district last week by citizens against the conversion of free public beaches and closing coasts to public, were carried out this time in Foça district. A member of the Voice of Foça Solidarity and Solidarity Platform, who read the press release on behalf of citizens, said, “Beaches cannot be closed to the public. Our people have the right to live in a healthy environment. No one can stop us from going to sea. It is our constitutional right to reach the coasts, beaches and the sea for free,”he said.
The action, which started in Greece and was held in Izmir’s Cesme district last week, was held in Foça this time. NGO representatives and citizens who came together at Yeni Foça Atatürk Square with the call made by the Voice of Foça Solidarity and Solidarity Platform with the slogan “The Coasts Belong to the People, they cannot be blocked” demanded that the beaches be free public beaches.
“WE WILL NOT GIVE UP OUR ORGANIZED STRUGGLE FOR A MOMENT”
Platform members, who read the press release on behalf of citizens and NGOs, said all the following: “We have started the Foça Towel Movement, which started in Greece, and continued in Çeşme. As citizens living in Foça we are also extremely suffering, here today. Beaches are a generous gift offered to us by nature and are a resource that everyone should share equally. According to Article 46 of the Constitution, the beaches cannot be closed to the public. Our people have the right to live in a healthy environment.
No one can prevent us from entering the sea. It is our constitutional right to access the coasts, beaches and the sea for free. It cannot be prevented. Unfortunately, as with many coastlines of Turkey, our right to use the coast is being violated in Foça. Neither the local authorities nor the central government intervenes in this. On the contrary, it supports this illegal situation. As patriotic and democratic people of this beautiful country, we defend our own rights with our free will, and we express our demand that those who occupy these areas leave the shores to the people.
