AMED - “5. The Mesopotamia Ecology Movement, which condemned the organization "Cilo Fest", said, "Recently, crimes against nature, history and eco-crime have been deliberately committed all over Kurdistan."

 

The “5. Cilo Fest” organization also came from the Mesopotamian Ecology Movement. In the written statement, it was reminded that Colemêrg's glaciers and Sat Lakes have been banned to the local people with the declaration of a "private security area" for years. Tents were erected on the untouched glaciers, attended by approximately 20 thousand people, concerts were held, canoes on glacial lakes, and gasoline-powered jet ski shows were held. Thousands of vehicles have polluted nature by traveling to the campsite with convoys. As if this weren't enough, some people, who were fascinated by their nature and endemic plants, left nature with the endemic flowers they plucked in their bags.

 

'THE CRIME OF CULTURE AND IDENTITY IS COMMITTED'

 

The statement continued as follows: “A show of strength was made by giving a militaristic image in nature, where uniformed state forces are seen rather than civilians. Here, not only the natural habitats have been opened to profit, but also the cultural fabric has been plundered by the dominant mentality. Recently, crimes against nature, history and ecocide have been deliberately committed all over Kurdistan. While tree cutting, depopulation with HEPPs and GPPs and destruction of the natural texture are in question for security reasons in Kurdistan, culture, history and nature are slaughtered under the name of culture festival. In this sense, it is unacceptable for capitalist populist understandings and the state to destroy culture and identity in Kurdistan. While the people who grew up in the villages of Gever have not been able to see the glaciers for years, we do not accept the approach of the government, which turns the mountains and lakes of the people into rent and political fields, and presents this place as a festival area. In Hakkari and in all geographies, the idea and will of the locals should be taken into account and nature areas should not be turned into profiteering areas."