Here's a translation of an article that's just appeared in Habeler.com
"Within the Fethiye district of Mugla, in the village of Kaya whose roots go back 5000 years, the owners of 220 houses built without planning permission have been served with demolition orders.
The villagers of Kaya are in shock following the orders. In 1922 as part of the population exchange Greeks living in Kaya village returned to Greece and Turks living in Greece were settled in Kaya. But in order to grow things in the valley the incomers built new houses there and left the old houses on the hill empty. Now it is proposed to create some form of museum within the old empty houses on the hill to capitalise on tourism to the area, and newly built houses in the valley are to be demolished. The orders were served by local Jandarma on behalf of the Governor of Mugla and locals said we have waited for 25 years for a development plan to be agreed for the village in the meantime houses have been built without permission and for that reason out of a total of 250 houses 220 have been served with demolition orders.
To prevent the demolition orders being carried out the Muhtar of Kaya village, Erdogan Kaya and the Muhtar of Keciler village Ercan Gokce have appealed for help from the Governor of Fethiye, Mehmet Ali Karatekeli and the local administration within the governing AK Party.
Karatekeli said that houses had been built without permission because everyone had waited so long for a village plan to be drawn up, and it still hadn't been done.
He went on to say that he was still investigating the background to the demolition orders. Kaya village Muhtar, Erdogan Kaya, in a private session with the press, said he had received assurances from Karatekeli that he would do all in his power to prevent demolition. Kaya said building had been going on continuously for the past twelve years in Kaya village and they were still waiting for the official plan to be put in place. The Ministry of Culture did draw up a development plan for the village 25 years ago, then another, different plan was produced by another Ministry. But a locally agreed development plan is still awaited.
Kaya said the villagers are victims of the lack of an agreed development plan.
Of course they have built houses.
Now you appear out of nowhere, in the winter and say you are going to demolish these houses. 220 householders have suddenly become criminals.
Now the whole village is trying to find a way out.
If you demolish these houses the people living in them with their children will be left out on the mountains.
You say you are going to demolish 12 years worth of building.
We say we demand tents.
But of course no-one can really live in a tent in the winter.
Why has our development plan been delayed for so long? What is really behind all this? We have a right to know.
The two muhtars then proceeded to the office of the AK party where the local leader, having read all the details of the affair, said that he would speak to Ankara."
