Villagers resisting mine construction in Turkey's west subjected to armed attack

Duvar English 

Two villagers resisting a mine construction in the Çine district of the Aegean province of Aydın were subjected to an armed attack on Dec. 11. 

Ali and Cennet Coşkun from the Topçam village have been protesting a mine construction some 60 meters away from their residences for months. 

The family said that they've been receiving threats for a long time, the daily Evrensel reported on Dec. 11.

Ali Coşkun said that he had warned construction workers at the mine to not dump soil near their house hours before the attack. 

"I heard at least three gunshots. They aimed at us," Coşkun said. 

"We didn't even use our cellphones to avoid using lights. We were afraid that they would find us. My wife Cennet fainted when escaping," he added. 

According to Coşkun, the attackers were the mine company's workers. 

Ahmet Uslu, a local environmentalist, has said that the assailants fled the scene in their cars.

"Our lawyer called the gendarmerie right away. We ask for the assailants to be caught and the protection of Topçam villagers," he said. 

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