Dam Security Reportedly Attacks Villagers

3 farmers submitted an official complaint to gendarmerie in Trabzon's Köknar Karaçam village, claiming that they have been assaulted with guns by security guards who worked at a nearby dam construction - which local activists struggled to halt for months.

Solaklı Valley, an ecological wonder located in Northern Anatolia, has been a venue of struggle between local villagers who are determined to preserve the valley from 36 ongoing dam constructions, and private security and gendarmerie officials who vow to block environment activists with force and controversial practices.

Köknar Karaçam villagers have previously protested private banks and universities for funding dam projects.

In July 2012, at least 70 villager were reportedly held in gendarmerie headquarters and spend the night for ID verification. Several villagers complain that they have been sued by dam companies for their protests.

"We have heard gunshots as we were driving to our properties that are located 10 kilometers away from our village. We first thought someone was firing in the air, but then a bullet hit our vehicle, breaking one of its rear lights. We know that nobody else stays there except security guards," Fevzi Bal told bianet.

"We have tried to file an official complaint at the scene, but gendarmerie was unusually slow to respond us. We fear leaving our village homes."

Murat Sarı, a local environment activist, told bianet that he had been kept in jail for 35 days with no solid evidence.

"Villagers are left alone with dam construction firms here. When they file complaints, 100 gendarmerie guards raid villages. However, when villagers make a complaint, they get ignored," Sarı told bianet.

"I can't go to my own village house for security reasons. They took away our freedom from us. I know what they are doing: They are forcing us to leave our villages." (NV/BM)