As the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government's looting of nature by mining and energy companies continues, the living spaces, pastures, forests and streams of citizens in Turkey and Kurdistan are being destroyed. While objections and reactions against the ecological plunder continue in Trabzon, Dêrsim (Tunceli), Amed (Diyarbakır) and Şirnex (Şırnak), the companies continue the plunder with the protection of the military and police. 

 

The extent of the massacre of nature is reflected in the “Black Report 2024 Air Pollution and Health Effects” report of the Right to Clean Air Platform. In the report, it is noteworthy that Colemêrg (Hakkari) and Îdir (Iğdır) are among the cities with the highest air pollution. 

 

In the Cûdî, Gabar and Kato Mountains and Besta Region of Şirnex, the plundering of nature has been going on for 4 years without interruption under the supervision of soldiers and village guards. The geography of Şirnex is being dehumanized by oil exploration, mines, sand quarries and Hydroelectric Power Plant projects. While it is stated that logging has destroyed almost 10 percent of the forests in the city, the construction of a third hydroelectric power plant will begin on the Hêzil Stream, which flows through the countryside of the Qileban (Uludere) district. 

 

MINING PLUNDER

 

In addition to the massacre of nature in Şirnex, the Marunis Village in Colemêrg, the rural neighborhoods of Zengesor, Heşeder, Mizag, Peçar, Bayırlı and Şaxur in the Licê (Lice) district of Amed, the rural neighborhoods of Gavgas, Kuyê in the Kasor Basin of the Pasûr (Kulp) district of Amed, Mining activities continue in the neighborhoods of Awdegês, Arqetîn and Xuruç and the villages of Ûlikent, Bilîgana Jorê, Seîd Beg, Mele Qede, Gêdûk, Tendûrek Zeynel and Qîro on the banks of the Murat River in the Giyadîn (Diyadin) district of Agirî (Ağrı). Despite all the reactions of the people, the companies taking the government with them continue to plunder nature. 

 

KURDISTAN IS BEING LOOTED FOR MINING

 

In addition to the mines already in operation or in the process of opening new mines, the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change has issued “Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) not required” decisions for new mines in many cities in the region since January 1, 2024. It is also noteworthy that with the decisions taken by excluding citizens from the EIA process, the people of the region are not allowed to have a say on their living spaces.

 

The city with the highest number of EIA decisions is Semsur (Adıyaman) with 5, while chrome quarries will be opened in the central district of the city, lead, limestone and iron quarries in Çêlikan, and manganese quarries in Sincik. After Semsur, the most mines were opened in Şirnex, Meletî (Malatya) and Bedlîs (Bitlis) with 4 mines each.

 

Asphaltite and coal mines were established in Şirnex, asphaltite in Silopiya (Silopi) and group 4 mines (chrome, gold, silver, zinc) in Qileban (Uludere). Hundreds of large and small coal mines have been established in every region of Mount Cûdî, and it is noteworthy that the largest mines belong to “Bölünmez”, the company of AKP businessman Süleyman Bölünmez.

 

There are plans to open iron and profillite mines in Hekîmxan (Hekimhan) in Meletî, pumice in Argan (Akçadağ), gypsum in Arende (Darende), barite and quartzite in Norşîn (Güroymak) in Bedlîs, and pumice mines in Xelat (Ahlat) and Elcewaz (Adilcevaz). 

 

Three mines are planned to be opened in Tercan district of Erzîngan (Erzincan): chrome, perlite in Cimin (Üzümlü) and coal in Gercanis (Refahiye). In Erzirom, two mines will be opened: manganese in Oltî (Oltu), gold in Qereyazî (Karayazı), Complex Ore (gold, silver, zinc) and lead-zinc quarries in Colemerg Çelê (Çukurova), and barite quarries in the central and Dêrxas (Hasköy) districts of Mûş. 

 

On the other hand, the same decision was given for the opening of iron quarries in Çewlîg Dara Hênê (Genç) and Xulaman (Alacakaya) districts of Xarpet. 

 

DESTRUCTION OF HISTORY AND NATURE

 

In the historical region of Geliyê Godernê in the Pasûr (Kulp) district of Amed, the construction of the Silvan Dam is underway and dynamite blasts damaged the historical Taş Bridge in the region. After the construction of the dam, 50 villages, as well as historical sites and natural wonders belonging to Assyrians, Armenians and Kurds will be flooded. One of the natural wonders that will also be submerged is the Geliyê Godernê Waterfall in Diyarbakır. 

 

In Dêrsim, which has long been under threat of being opened to plunder, the gores that are the source of the Munzur River are also under threat. With the decision of the Erzurum Regional Board for the Protection of Cultural and Natural Heritage, the waterfalls were downgraded from a Grade 1 Natural Protected Area to a Grade 2 Natural Protected Area. Reacting to the decision, environmentalists noted that with this decision, the eyes are intended to be opened to plunder by looting companies. 

 

 

Umut Şener, member of Polen Ecology Collective, made evaluations on the ecological plunder in Kurdistan. 

 

'DIMENSION OF SPECIAL WAR'

 

Stating that the plunder in Kurdistan is an extension of the region-specific special war policies that have been waged for 50 years, Şener said: “Because all ecological attacks are integrated into war policies and are carried out on security grounds. From this point of view, there is a situation that opens the door to social issues such as the dehumanization of the region, the material or moral exile of the Kurdish people from the lands they live in, and where they cannot do this, isolation in the area where they live. This makes it impossible for people to live in their own lands. It is the Kurdish people who live there, and naturally everything there belongs to them. But the history of the republic is based on the denial, annihilation and assimilation of the Kurdish people. Therefore, it exploits all the opportunities of the people it ignores.” 

 

ECOLOGICAL DIMENSION OF WAR

 

Underlining that nation-states sometimes go beyond their borders and cause ecological and humanitarian destruction, Şener continued her words as follows: “This was the case with the seizure of Afrin's olives. The most related issue to this issue is the cross-border military authorizations. The existence of never-ending authorizations that are renewed when they expire poses a danger to the peoples. We are facing a situation that makes everything from water to olives a part of military attacks. Wars lead to ecological destruction. One of the most important reasons for insisting so much on mining activities is that they are used in the war industry. That is why they do not give up such mining activities despite all their destructive consequences, precisely because of the nature of capitalism.” 

 

MA / Tolga Güney