MEDİNE MAMEDOĞLU

 Colemêrg (Hakkari)- Bedrettin Düzen, a shepherd, was killed in a suspect object explosion in the Veregoz area of Colemêrg’s Gever (Yüksekova) district on July 24, 2024 while grazing animals. According to the local sources, the area had been declared as a “special security zone” by the Hakkari Governor’s Office; however, the ban was lifted before the clearance of landmines for the Cîlo Fest planned to be held in August by the Hakkari Governor’s Office.

Ban on entry and exit

The explosion that took place between Cilo Sat Lakes and İkiyaka Mountains is thought to have been caused by landmines left by a battalion 35 years ago. Due to the declaration of the “special security zone”, the local people were banned from entering the area for years; however, the governor office lifted the ban to organize a festival called “Cîlo Fest”. Since the lift of the ban, local people began to graze their animals in the area. The local people demand the area be cleared of landmines for their security.

Projects will destroy the nature of the area

Several days ago, the Hakkari Governor’s Office held a meeting with the participation of managers of the government agencies and gendarmerie teams for the festival that will be held in August. Local people claim that projects that would destroy the nature of the İkiyaka Mountains and Cilo Sat Lakes were discussed at the meeting. According to the local sources, the governor’s office aims to build wide roads around the Cilo Sat Lakes, declared as a National Park, to open the area to tourism.