“AZMANBUSES” MUST BE REMOVED FROM THE ISLANDS IMMEDIATELY AND URGENTLY!

“AZMANBUSES” MUST BE REMOVED FROM THE ISLANDS IMMEDIATELY AND URGENTLY!

Dear members of the press, dear Islanders, Island Friends, people of Istanbul,

The discussions about the vehicles, nicknamed “Azmanbüs” (meaning: monstrous buses), brought to Adalar (Islands), the jewel of Istanbul, have been going on for months. Despite the requests of the Island Friends Association (Ada Dostları Derneği) and other non-governmental organizations before the local elections, no information and answers have been received from the administrative authorities and politicians.

Upon the widespread belief that these vehicles, which are not suitable for the islands, will be commissioned in a non-transparent and undemocratic way, a petition campaign was started, a petition with more than 4.000 signatures was collected and our opinions were notified to the decision-making authorities in advance. When these reactions are proportioned to the population of Istanbul, it means 4 million people.

The problems in our islands cannot be solved with decisions masked under the name of “modern ways of service for transportation”. The Adalar Declaration, which is a summary of the thoughts of the Islanders, has been submitted to UKOME (Transportation Coordination Center) and its Sub-Commission. The principles in the Declaration have been signed and accepted by the Islander Mukhtars, Political Parties, former and experienced administrators of Adalar Municipality and almost all non-governmental organizations.

After the objections and reactions increased and the people of the Islands stood up, a meeting was held in Büyükada on 27 May 2024 with the participation of the Mayor of the Islands, the General Manager of IETT (Istanbul Electric Tramway and Tunnel Operations General Directorate), IBB (The Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality) managers responsible for transport, Non-Governmental Organizations of the Islands and experts from the Islands, and after it was understood that everyone was against these vehicles:

-The General Director of IETT promised in the presence of the public that these vehicles “will not be operated until a transport workshop is held and a new solution is found”.

-The director of IETT did not keep his promise he gave in front of the public in Büyükada on 27 May. The promised Transport Workshop was not held. No decision has been taken by UKOME yet.

-These vehicles are wanted to be put into traffic with an intrusive method. This approach is not correct. This chaotic situation can only be solved with a realistic mind and common sense.

-According to the Law on the Protection of Cultural and Natural Heritage, International Conventions, universal principles and criteria for the protection of natural and cultural heritage, the Islands as a whole are Natural, Urban and Archaeological sites.  Each of our Islands is under legal protection.

-It is forbidden to even hammer a nail in the Islands without the permission of the Istanbul Cultural and Natural Heritage Conservation Board (Monuments Board). Any decision and action contrary to these decisions is a CRIME.

-It is irrational to use these mini-buses, which have been abolished even in Istanbul, for intra-island transport. Instead of preserving the spirit, identity, culture, living habits and enviable pedestrian-friendly features of the Islands, it is irrational and illegal to carry the chaos of Istanbul and the chaos of life to the Islands. It will pave the way for irreversible destruction of the protected area status of our islands.

-The police intervention against the citizens is a first and a horrible event. What the District Governorate should do is not policing, but preventing these MONSTROUS BUSES from entering the protected area and taking the necessary actions to have them collected.

-In addition, with the Presidential Decree No. 4758, the Marmara Sea and the Islands have been declared a Special Environmental Protection Area. All public officials are obliged to obey the law.

Dear members of the press;

The fact that, the Islands are a protected area as a whole,

The streets and avenues of our islands are legally pedestrianised,

The narrowing of the areas where our children can play on the island streets,

While people over a certain age cannot walk on the streets even now due to the chaos of battery-powered vehicles and bicycles, the situation will worsen with the arrival of “Azmanbuses”,

Being contrary to the established decisions of the Istanbul Cultural and Natural Heritage Conservation Board,

Lack of transparent and democratic procedures,

The fact that, these big beasts will not fit into our streets and avenues and their ugly appearance on these streets and avenues contrary to the Island Culture,

The fact that the islanders, Adalar Municipality and political parties are against these minibuses and have expressed their democratic reaction with approximately 4,000 official signatures,

Leading non-governmental organisations that have been working on the problems of the Islands for many years, such as the Island Friends Association, the Adalar Foundation, the Adalar Culture Association, the Adalar Academy Foundation, the Association for the Protection of Cultural and Natural Assets of the Istanbul Islands, are all against bringing these vehicles to the Islands,

Already, and also the declaration of the Marmara Sea and the Islands as a “Special Environmental Protection Area” with the Presidential Decree dated 04.11.2021 and numbered 4758,

The fact that, these vehicles manufactured for the mainland will destroy the safety of cats, dogs, birds, hedgehogs and other animals in the Islands,

The walking paths of the elderly, children, islanders and tourists will be usurped and occupied, and the safety of life and property will be endangered,

And finally, IETT General Director İrfan Demet himself stated; “These minibuses are not suitable for Adalar” ,

For all these reasons, “AZMANBUSES” MUST BE REMOVED FROM THE ISLANDS IMMEDIATELY AND URGENTLY.

Dear members of the press, dear Islanders, Island Friends, citizens of Istanbul and all lovers of Turkey, dear residents;

We are facing chronic and growing occupation of the coast, roads, parks, squares, forests and other public lands; illegal battery-powered and electric vehicle chaos; illegal construction; environmental, sea and forest pollution; uncontrolled accumulation of visitors and today, with the imposition of the “azmanbus”, we are facing the danger of the destruction of the World Heritage Prince Islands.

We call and strongly demand all responsible persons and institutions, especially the Municipality of Adalar and the District Governorate of Adalar, to solve these problems; to take into account the culture of the Princes’ Islands, to make the right decisions in cooperation with the public, non-governmental organizations and professional organizations; in short, to act in accordance with reason, logic, common sense and the law.

ISLAND FRIENDS ASSOCIATION (ADA DOSTLARI DERNEĞİ) BOARD OF DIRECTORS

(The text was translated into English by Melis Zararsız.)