Hasandin Plateau in Pasûr (Kulp) district of Amed (Diyarbakır) is targeted by companies searching for mining reserves. Teams of a mining company carried out drilling in the area on July 24 and did not take samples. This caused a reaction from the residents of the region. Hundreds of citizens started a protest against the company's search for mineral reserves. 

 

The water needs of 6 neighborhoods and dozens of hamlets in the region are met from the spring water in the plateau. It is also one of the most important areas for beekeeping and animal husbandry, which are the livelihoods of the residents of the region.  

 

The protesting citizens oppose any mining in the region for the reasons mentioned above. 

 

'WE WILL NOT ALLOW IT'

 

Narin Güzel, one of the protester, “We don't want a mine to be built here. After Hesandin is gone, Pasûr will disappear, there will be no district left. We don't want anyone to come here. We will not let them destroy this place. We do not want anyone here” she said.  

 

Ayten Çelik, a resident of the rural neighborhood of Koçîka, is also among the protesters. Çelik emphasized that they will not allow the mine to destroy their living space. Çelik said: “I call on all the people of Pasûr to protect this plateau. If our plateau is gone, where will we live? Where will we take our animals? We will protect our plateau. Even if there is only one of us left, we will not allow these companies. We will resist just as the people of the Black Sea and Cizîr resist. These are our lands.” 

 

'EVEN IF THERE IS ONLY ONE OF US LEFT, WE WILL NOT ALLOW IT'

 

Ayhan Ateş pointed out that after the Pasur Stream, a similar implementation is wanted to be put into Hasandin and said: “If the plateau goes, all 6 neighborhoods will be without water. The whole Pasûr will be without water. We will not give these places to the companies even if they come with guns and cannons. We will not let Hesandin disappear like the Pasûr Stream. Even if there is only one of us left we will not allow any company to open a mine here.”  

 

Cengiz Yıldırım, a resident of the rural neighborhood of Nerçîk, said that if mines were to enter Hesandin, they would run out of breath. “We need to take greater responsibility from now on. From the bar association to associations, from mukhtars to the people, everyone must be united. Hesandin is our life, our breath. Everyone from 7 to 70 should do their best to protect Hesandin. These dirty companies can only enter this plateau by crushing us” Yıldırım said. 

 

Cahit Altun from Hêlin hamlet expressed his reaction with the following words: “We pasture on this plateau. We live here. We do not want mining in this nature. Because when this place is declared as a mining site, cyanide will be poured here and all our water will be poisoned. We do not want to leave a bad legacy to our children. We say no to the mine.”

 

MA / Müjdat Can