ŞIRNEX - Besta residents, who participated in the vigil against the ongoing ecocide in the Besta region, demanded the lifting of the 36-year ban and stated that they want to rebuild their villages. 

 

The Besta region of Şirnex (Şırnak) has been banned for civilians due to the "security" policies implemented for 36 years. The first village evacuations in the region were carried out in 1989. After 36 years of living with the hope of returning to their villages, Besta residents now face a massive ecological plunder that started in 2015. The region, which was home to 20 villages in the 90s and was a source of livelihood for thousands of people with its wide and rich vegetation and lush forests, is being destroyed day by day under the supervision of soldiers and by the hands of rangers. From 2015 to 2020, forest fires were repeatedly set in Besta on the grounds of "security", and after this process, systematic tree-slaughter was initiated. 

 

A watch action against the ecocide in the region was launched on 9-10 September under the leadership of the Platform of Democratic Institutions. Many citizens, ecologists and politicians from different cities in Turkey and Kurdistan participated in the protest. Among the participants were citizens who have been longing for their village in Besta for 36 years. 

 

Citizens, whose villages had been banned for 36 years, stated that they wanted the bans to be lifted and that they wanted to rebuild their villages with the initiated process. 

 

Güllü Kutlu, who was born and raised in Besta, said that they had to migrate to Şirnex centre after their village was evacuated. "Our village has been banned since then and we cannot go to the village. Do not cut down our trees and let the state take a step. Let there be peace, let us go to our village. We want to build our village," she said. 

 

Showing the branches of the oak tree she held in her hand during the vigil, Güllü Kutlu said: "I took a few branches of the oak tree as I came to the vigil and this made me very happy. I feel like I am in my village right now. Our trees should not be cut down, our water sources should not be destroyed. These bans on our villages should be lifted. My biggest expectation is to lift the bans and return to our villages."   

  

Adil Güngen from Xirbkê Bestê village stated that they could go to their village "with permission" only twice in 2014-15 and said: "We have not been able to go since then. During that period, we tried to build our village. However, when the process broke down, we could not go again. Soldiers always say 'you cannot enter your village, if you go, we cannot take your security and we will kill you'. If the bans are lifted and the necessary facilities are provided, we want to return to our village and engage in animal husbandry."  

 

Şükrüye İdin from Remoyan village in Besta region stated that their village was forcibly evacuated, burnt and they had to migrate many times. Şükrüye İdin said: "We have migrated 3-4 times until today. Currently, we cannot go to our village because it is banned. We see our village from a distance from where we are and this affects us badly. They did not leave a tree in the village where we can go and sit in the shade. Because they cut them all down. A process has started and it is called the peace process. The Leader (Abdullah Öcalan) has started a process, but we still have not seen a concrete step from the state. We have been waiting for peace for 5-6 months, but the state still has not taken a step. That is why we do not trust the state. We were surrounded by hundreds of soldiers and police officers even when we were coming to the demonstration. How will there be peace in this way?" he asked.

 

'LET THERE BE PEACE AND THE BANS BE LIFTED'

 

Alya Atak from Besta Hince village said: "We want the process to reach its goal. If this process fulfils its purpose, we will be able to go to our villages. We were engaged in animal husbandry in our villages, but we cannot go due to the ongoing ban. We want to return to our villages and build again. We want peace, we want these bans to be lifted."

 

Ilihan Üstek from Rîsor village stated that the bans are not limited to their village and said: "These bans are not only on our village, all of Kurdistan is banned. They should lift these bans. Let everyone live freely in their hometowns and lands."

 

MA / Zeynep Durgut