MEDİNE MAMEDOĞLU

 Amed (Diyarbakır)- The ecocidal policies systematically implemented in Kurdistan have recently intensified in the Lice and Pasur (Kulp) districts of Amed. The people, whose villages were burned down and who were forced to leave their villages in the 90s, now face another forced displacement.

A copper mining and processing facility is planned to be built in the region among the Zengesor, Heşeder, Mizag (Kılıçlı), Peçar (Güldiken), Bayırlı and Şaxur neighborhoods of Licê district. For the project of the Dimin and Dimer Mining Company based in Konya, a report saying, “An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is not required” was prepared in 2020. After the report was published, drilling works started in 24 areas of the region. Thousands of oak trees were cut down for drilling works and a hill in the region was destroyed for road construction. The drilling works caused landslides which closed off the mouth of the stream in the region. This left animals without water. 700 hectares of forest is estimated to be destroyed in the region if the project is completed.

Diyarbakır Bar Association filed a lawsuit to stop the project

A construction site was built in the region for the drilling works that have been going on for nine months. The Environmental Commission of the Diyarbakır Bar Association filed a lawsuit to stop the project. As the commission waits for a verdict, the villagers have held protests to stop the construction of the copper mine in their region.

‘We are now forced to displacement again’

“Here is our past and future,” said the women of the villages, who were displaced in the 90s, stressing that they would never leave their villages again. They also called on everyone to be in solidarity with them.

‘Mine construction causes air pollution’

Medine Alan, who lives in the village of Mizag (Kılıçlı) located very close to the drilling area, told NuJINHA that they could not even go out in recent months due to dust caused by the ongoing drilling works. “In the 90s, they forced us to leave our village. We left our village without taking anything with us. After 30 years, we returned to our village and we want to live in our village; however, the mine construction aims to displace us again. We do not want a copper mine to be built here and we will resist it to the end.”

‘We want to protect our living spaces and nature’

Azize Alan told us that they protested the construction of the mine; however, the owners of the mining company reported them to the gendarmerie and they were blocked by the gendarmerie.

“Because of the construction of the mine, our trees were cut down. For nine months, we have suffered from the dust caused by the drilling works, which affect our gardens and animals. The drilling works pollute our water. All we want is to protect our living spaces and nature. We will not leave our village again and resist the construction of the mine. Our efforts, our past and our history are in every inch of this region.”

‘Our living spaces and future are targeted’

“We will stay in our houses, our village,” said Elif Alan, emphasizing the impossibilities in cities. “In the 90s, our village was evacuated. This mining project aims to displace us again. Both our living spaces and future are targeted by this project. We do not want this project because it targets our nature, water, living spaces and livelihoods. Thousands of trees have been already cut down. As the villagers and women, we will not allow them to build the copper mine because we want a future for our children. We love our village and we do not want to live in cities. We will resist the project to the end.”