Rural Road Warriors

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Milliyet Newspaper, 24 September 2018)


Foreign exchange rate + what's it worth to you + my mood = toll.

The road that goes to Yelpe village though Dedeli village, near
Tokat city, was closed by the Dedeli villagers 4 years ago because
of a pasture dispute between the two villages. As a solution, the
Yelpe villagers began to use the road on Mustafa Kasın's land in
Gümenek village. 

But a few days ago, Kasın erected an iron gate on his road and
locked it, giving keys only to two vehicle drivers who take the
children of Yelpe village to school in Tokat each day.  Three
teachers who teach in Yelpe's school can pass through the gate,
as well.

Şevki Çelik, the village chief of Yelpe, which has 97 households
and 600 residents, said that the distance from Yelpe to the gate is
3 kilometers.  He added that "for years we've had a road problem.
An alternate road was going to be opened but there was a dispute
about the state appropriating land so it was never completed.
Consequently, we are marooned."

As for Kasın, he noted that the road passes through his land and
he decided that he didn't want to give permission for its use. (!)


The villages mentioned are just northeast of Tokat city.