Governor says banned Fethiye music festival over ecological concerns, motives questioned
The governor of the Fethiye district of the southwestern resort city of Muğla has announced that it had banned the "MilyonFest" music festival because of its possible adverse effects on the ecological balance.
The İnlice Public Beach, where the festival was planned to take place, is within a protected area, and intense human activity due to the festival would be harmful, the district governor's office said in a write statement yesterday (August 24). The ban was revealed by the municipality a day before.
The district governor's office cited the opinion of the Fethiye Forest Management Directorate and petitions for the cancellation of the festival by the İnlice Neighborhood head and the İnlice Development, Improvement and Environmental Protection Association.
The festival became the third music festival to be banned in Türkiye this year. The two previous bans had been imposed for "public security" reasons.
After the governor's statement, the MilyonFest company, the organizer of the festival, said it was looking for alternative solutions to hold the festival.
"After this development that we never expected, we are working on alternative solutions, including changing the location of the festival," it said in a written statement.
"We remind that environment end ecology are as important for us, the participants of the festival and the artists to perform, as ask your patience until all aspects of the events are revealed."
"Sincerity" of the governor
The Gökova Assembly, an environmental group affiliated with the Muğla Environmental Platform, said the decision to ban the festival was "right and consistent," while questioning the sincerity of the motives of the authorities.
In July, they also opposed another festival planned to be held in a protected ara in the Gökçe Neighborhood, the assembly noted.
It said organizers of such events should cooperate with local environmental groups in order such problems not to arise. "We wish the festival will take place by finding an appropriate place," it added.
Pointing out hotel and highway projects in other protected areas in the city, the group said, "We doubt the sincerity of the Muğla Governor's Office."
The Sinpaş company continues a hotel project in a national park in the Kızılbük district, it said, noting that the governor's office had also given clearance for the project. It also mentioned a highway project in the Akyaka district.
Festival and concert bansGovernors have banned three music festivals in three different provinces since May. Eskişehir on May 9 declared a 15-day event ban, which effectively prevented the Anadolu Fest, which was going to take place between May 12 and 15. Earlier this month, a district governor in Balıkesir banned the Zeytinli Rock Festival, the longest-running music festival in the country. "Security reasons" were cited for both decisions. The government and municipalities have banned several concerts the past couple of years for similar reasons, as in addition to a live music ban after midnight as part of the coronavirus measures, which has remained in place despite the lifting of all other restrictions. The concert bans have mostly affected Kurdish musicians and musicians known for their critical stance towards the government. |
(VK)