Antalya municipality refuses to provide water for police vehicles

ANTALYA - Doğan News Agency

AA Photo

Antalya Metropolitan Municipality refused to provide water for the riot control vehicles, called TOMAs, which are being used by the police against protesters, according to Doğan news agency.

The municipality, led by the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) Mayor Mustafa Akaydın, refused to allow police to tap into the water tanks belonging to firefighters to use on protesters, citing future trouble in case a fire broke out in the city.

Police forces then turned to Kerpez officials, a district municipality, represented by a ruling party member, and used the water stored in tanks for the watering of parks and gardens.

A representative from the governor’s office, Turan Eren, soon intervened in the process, however, and instructed public offices to provide the TOMAs with water under official orders. While municipalities are elected under the Turkish political system, the governors are state-appointed, which could cause tension in cities where there is a multi-party presence.