The construction of Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant was launched in the southern province of Mersin despite protests.

The construction of the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant was launched yesterday despite protests. The demonstrators, prevented from entering to the site of the ceremony, locked the doors leading to the site of the ceremony in order to stop the participants from going out, then were attacked by the police.

While the court process about the Environmental Impact Assessement (ÇED) report related to Turkey's first nuclear plant project, Akkuyu nuclear power plant, continues, the plant's groundbreaking ceremony was held in Akkuyu district of Mersin with the participation of the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Taner Yıldız. Anti-nuclear protesters who gathered in front of the old Büyükeceli Municipality building, unfurling banners written “No Nuclear. Nuclear kills, Nuclear costs much”, marched to the ceremony area to protest against the construction.
Lots of non-governmental organisations, the HDP (Peoples' Democratic Party) provincial and district executives, HDP Mersin parliamentary candidates and the CHP (Republican People's Party) MP Aytuğ Atıcı participated in the protest march.

The anti-nuclear protesters started a march towards the site of the ceremony with a ten-meter banner warning against nature destruction. The protesters carried banners reading “We won't give passage to the nuclear plant”, “Stop the nuclear threat” and “We do not want the nuclear plant”, and chanted slogans “We do not want the nuclear plant” and “Damn your nuclear”. The demonstrators marched to the site of the ceremony in the gendarme and police circle.

After a short sketch show, speeches were made in front of the gate of the power plant. CHP MP Aytuğ Atıcı attempted to attend the ceremony with a t-shirt written “We will not allow the plant construction”, but the gendarme did not let him enter and a short clash took place. Then speeches went on as no result was accomplished from talks with the gendarme.

HDP Mersin parliamentary candidate Çilem Küçükkeleş Öz remarked the nuclear plant would affect all the world, not only Turkey. Öz said; “We will allow the disappearance of neither trees nor a pine cone on a tree.”

Speaking after, Anti-Nuclear Platform (NKP) spokeswoman Ful Uğurhan said, “We know that Turkey would become not powerful but dependent on external financial sources by constructing a nuclear power plant that takes the land from us and the investment and fuel from them.

Uğurhan stressed that people will sooner or later bring to account those responsible for this project which risks Turkey's today and future.

After the speeches by representatives, the crowd staged a sit-in before leaving the area chanting slogans. A small group who remained there and staged a protest by hitting the gate leading to the power plant were attacked by police with tear gas and water cannons.