Youngs going into action for Hasankeyf
HASAN YOLDAŞ
BATMAN (DİHA) - Youngs are mobilising to oppose the construction of the Iliisu Dam, which will submerge the ancient town of Hasankeyf and displace 80 thousand people from their homes.
Young members of the HDP (Peoples' Democratic Party) and DBP (Party of Democratic Regions) are mobilising to oppose the construction of the Iliisu dam, which will submerge the ancient town of Hasankeyf and displace 80 thousand people from their homes. In recent years 50 dams and Hydroelectric projects have been built in Kurdistan and many others are under construction. Some of these are being built for ‘security’ reasons.
Work has restarted on the Ilisu dam on the river Tigris in the Dargeçit district of Mardin province, which threatens 200 settlements. The project will also seriously affect endemic bird and reptile species. Work is continuing on the project despite long-running campaigns against it. Members of the HDP and DBP Youth Assemblies will set up tents and launch protest actions at the dam site from 13 April.
'We will do our utmost to prevent destruction’
Environmentalist have drawn attention to the potential the project has to cause ecological damage on a wide scale. Batman Ecology Assembly member Songül Aydın said that the dam would cause climate change in the area in addition to environmental destruction. She said: "The main reason for our opposition to this dam is that it will submerge Hasankeyf. It is unacceptable that such an ancient settlement can be destroyed for the sake of a limited amount of energy. If there is a need for energy, then solar energy or wind power can be harnessed. We do not want our cultural and natural wonder to be sacrificed for the production of electricity. We will do whatever we can to prevent this happening.”
'We will not stop until work on the dam is halted’
Ecologist Eylem Aytaç drew attention to the environmental destruction caused by the AKP government. Aytaç admitted that previous protests might have been insufficient, adding: "But we will carry out an effective campaign until we have halted work on the dam.”
‘For future generations’
Aytaç said they were expecting people to come to the protest action from other provinces, calling for support in order to be able to leave an undamaged history and natural environment for future generations.
(nt)
