Demolished area in TOKI scandal
Demolished area in TOKI scandal
Scandals don’t die down in Sulukule locality that was completely discharged within the scope of the urban transformation in Ýstanbul. Having started construction works for TOKÝ (Housing Development Administration of Turkey) on the discharged area, Mayor Mustafa Demir from AKP (Justice and Development Party) said “there is no possibility of finding historical artifacts” in the construction area but historical artifacts came out in the open at the diggings for the construction.
The field discharged in Sulukule as part of urban transformation, was given to TOKÝ.
At the groundbreaking ceremony of TOKÝ in Sulukule, Fatih Mayor Mustafa Demir from AKP showed the excavation site to the people around him, saying “Here is the cruelty made on us.”. When journalists asked Demir about what he mean, Demir replied as follows; “Here is an inappropriate place for hand excavating. The normal ground is already reached. Normally, there is no possibility to find something under. Now, we must erect a building here.”
IN OPPOSITION TO THE MAYOR, HISTORY COMES OUT
A few meters away from the speech place of the mayor, there came Ottoman clay water pipes in sight, hidden behind irons. The mentioned clay water pipes belong to 18th century.
The historical fountain, known as Green Fountain, is thought to be reached in the area in nearly one meter depth.
At the statement concerning the progressions in Sulukule Platform, it was said; ”Organizing a groundbreaking ceremony in Sulukule, Fatih Municipality has signed under an illegal application and a scandal.
Reminding that the groundbreaking area is the area of an ongoing hand excavating under the control of archeological museum, the statement was as follows; “ The municipality isolated this area with folding screens, leaving a single entrance and gathered the media here… However, it didn’t escape the attention that the excavated clay water pipes belonging to Ottoman period were camouflaged with balloons and decorations… Moreover, it surely hasn’t been declared that some findings were reached in the area, which is yet in the first phases.”
MUNICIPALITY DIDN’T WAIT FOR THE LEGAL PROCESSES
Remarking that Fatih Municipality has abided by neither the decision “the area can in no way be interfered physically until the results are ascertained” nor the archeological museum, the statement went on as follows; “In the circa 100 thousand-square meter-wide restoration field, the uncompleted excavation is tried to be bought to the media as the foundation pit, saying “archaeological hand excavation is made here”. The obligatory geo-radar magnetic scanning operation of the Board for the entire restoration field has been skipped and they tried to leave the impression “the archaeological research has been completed.”
At the statement, Sulukule Platform asked the following questions; “Where is the report of the Archaeological Museum? With regard to this missing report, where is the decision of the Protection Board? In addition, where are the Greek and archaeological findings that Mayor Mustafa Demir denies but eyewitnesses confirm?”
RESPONSIBLES FOR DUTY
The statement reminded the decision of the Board taken on 18 February, which explains that the construction works are not allowed in Sulukule due to the incompleted research and unfilled reports. The statement mentioned the followings; “Neither the undertaker company of the building nor Fatih Municipality has the right to move any slightest thing until the decision of the Protection Board becomes clear. We are once again calling Fatih Municipality to obey the legal rules and to fulfill the obligations.” The statement made a call to Archaeological Museum and the Protection Board to do their duty on short notice and follow the subject and, calling the public opinion for sensitivity.
Translator: Berna Ozgencil
The field discharged in Sulukule as part of urban transformation, was given to TOKÝ.
At the groundbreaking ceremony of TOKÝ in Sulukule, Fatih Mayor Mustafa Demir from AKP showed the excavation site to the people around him, saying “Here is the cruelty made on us.”. When journalists asked Demir about what he mean, Demir replied as follows; “Here is an inappropriate place for hand excavating. The normal ground is already reached. Normally, there is no possibility to find something under. Now, we must erect a building here.”
IN OPPOSITION TO THE MAYOR, HISTORY COMES OUT
A few meters away from the speech place of the mayor, there came Ottoman clay water pipes in sight, hidden behind irons. The mentioned clay water pipes belong to 18th century.
The historical fountain, known as Green Fountain, is thought to be reached in the area in nearly one meter depth.
At the statement concerning the progressions in Sulukule Platform, it was said; ”Organizing a groundbreaking ceremony in Sulukule, Fatih Municipality has signed under an illegal application and a scandal.
Reminding that the groundbreaking area is the area of an ongoing hand excavating under the control of archeological museum, the statement was as follows; “ The municipality isolated this area with folding screens, leaving a single entrance and gathered the media here… However, it didn’t escape the attention that the excavated clay water pipes belonging to Ottoman period were camouflaged with balloons and decorations… Moreover, it surely hasn’t been declared that some findings were reached in the area, which is yet in the first phases.”
MUNICIPALITY DIDN’T WAIT FOR THE LEGAL PROCESSES
Remarking that Fatih Municipality has abided by neither the decision “the area can in no way be interfered physically until the results are ascertained” nor the archeological museum, the statement went on as follows; “In the circa 100 thousand-square meter-wide restoration field, the uncompleted excavation is tried to be bought to the media as the foundation pit, saying “archaeological hand excavation is made here”. The obligatory geo-radar magnetic scanning operation of the Board for the entire restoration field has been skipped and they tried to leave the impression “the archaeological research has been completed.”
At the statement, Sulukule Platform asked the following questions; “Where is the report of the Archaeological Museum? With regard to this missing report, where is the decision of the Protection Board? In addition, where are the Greek and archaeological findings that Mayor Mustafa Demir denies but eyewitnesses confirm?”
RESPONSIBLES FOR DUTY
The statement reminded the decision of the Board taken on 18 February, which explains that the construction works are not allowed in Sulukule due to the incompleted research and unfilled reports. The statement mentioned the followings; “Neither the undertaker company of the building nor Fatih Municipality has the right to move any slightest thing until the decision of the Protection Board becomes clear. We are once again calling Fatih Municipality to obey the legal rules and to fulfill the obligations.” The statement made a call to Archaeological Museum and the Protection Board to do their duty on short notice and follow the subject and, calling the public opinion for sensitivity.
Translator: Berna Ozgencil
