Protesters in Ankara denounce midnight bill sidelining chambers in urban planning

ANKARA

Protesters hold a banner reading 'don't touch to TMMOB' during a demonstration in Ankara July 13. DAILY NEWS photo, Selahattin SÖNMEZ

Gezi protesters and members of the Chamber of Architects and Engineers’ (TMMOB) have held a demonstration in Ankara July 13 denouncing the bill approved by the Parliament earlier in the week sidelining the organization in the approval of urban projects. 

TMMOB, which has actively taken part of the Gezi Park protests that were sparked in Istanbul before spreading across the country, considered the move as a payback for their participation to the nationwide demonstrations.

Around 3,000 people gathered near Kızılay in the afternoon, however riot police didn’t allow them to march until the nearby Güven Park. 

The much-criticized midnight bill, passed by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) votes, eliminates occupational chambers from any future city-planning procedures, removing the obligation of the chambers’ approval of projects. 

TMMOB has long been a vocal opponent of the AKP government, along with some workers’ and civil servants’ unions and the Turkish Medical Association (TTB).