Turkish village muhtar on hunger strike for water, electricity and road

GİRESUN – Doğan News Agency

Hamza Aracı, the head of Yeşiltepe village in Giresun’s Doğankent district, started the hunger strike on Sept. 4 in a tent near the municipality building. DHA photo

A village muhtar in the Black Sea province of Giresun has started a hunger strike in front of his local municipality building in protest at the lack of infrastructure such as electricity, water and roads in his neighborhood.

Hamza Aracı, the head of Yeşiltepe village in Giresun’s Doğankent district, started the hunger strike on Sept. 4 in a tent near the municipality building.

“I, Yeşiltepe’s muhtar, have started a campaign in front of the municipality building, which will not end until my needs below are met,” wrote a placard that he placed on a tree next to his tent.

Aracı said road connections to Yeşiltepe village were not sufficient and claimed that the road had infrastructure problems with water and electricity. He also demanded a religious İmam Hatip high school be built in the village, and added that buses should be provided for students in the neighborhood who had to travel to schools in the district center.

However, Doğankent Mayor Nazmiye Kabadayı has accused Aracı of “showing off” and said they had already agreed with the villagers about investments in the village.

“We promised to provide cement and sand for the road, and that the villagers will work on the road construction. We have agreed on that with the locals, but nobody has volunteered for the construction. I can send the material anytime they say they are ready to work,” said Kabadayı.