During a statement protesting the mining activities in the Kasor Basin of Diyarbakır, DEM Party Member of Parliament Serhat Eren emphasized how the region’s ecological balance is being disrupted by hydroelectric power plants, dams, forest fires, and mines. Eren stressed that the government and capitalists are collaborating to sever the lifelines of these lands. “What they aim to destroy is our history, our culture, and our connection to these lands. These lands have deep roots, and no one can drive the people away from them. We will never allow it,” he declared.
25,000 People’s Drinking Water Will Be Lost
The statement was made in response to mining activities covering the neighborhoods of Gavgas, Kuyê, Awdegês, Arqetîn, and Xuruç, all within Diyarbakır’s Kulp district and Kasor Basin. The announcement took place in Awgêdas (Tiyaxs) Neighborhood, led by the Kulp Kasor Basin Protection Platform, and was attended by DEM Party deputies, Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality Co-Mayor Doğan Hatun, district mayors, civil society organizations, and political party representatives, as well as many local residents. Participants carried banners saying, “Our nature is our existence, we will not give it up” and “We will not allow plunder of nature.” Other signs read, “Capital, get out of Kulp” and “Pasur is more important than mines.”
Ahmet İnan, Secretary of the Environmental and Urban Commission of the Diyarbakır Bar Association, was the first to speak at the protest. He pointed out that 25,000 people rely on the Kasor Basin for their drinking and agricultural water, warning that mining activities would poison the land with heavy metals and make the water unusable. İnan promised to object to the mining license and file criminal complaints against relevant officials. He called on authorities to correct this “grave mistake” and urged them to stop the exploitation of Diyarbakır’s clean water and basins, as seen recently in Hasandin and Lice. “We want to raise our children here, and no one in this country can harm our environment or future with impunity. We warn the companies now—don’t waste your money; you will have to leave. Our love for life far surpasses your desire for plunder,” he said, vowing to defend the land in unison with thousands of stakeholders.
“Where Is the Public Benefit?”
Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality Co-Mayor Doğan Hatun emphasized that approximately 60 neighborhoods benefit from the water in the Kasor Basin. “Everywhere you look, under every tree, there is life. The surface and the underground of this land are both valuable. But if you want to mine, there must be a public benefit. Is there any benefit here? If you mine here, you will destroy thousands of years of culture and this clean water. You will force people to leave their homes. So where is the public benefit?” Hatun asked.
“Stop This Mistake”
Addressing the Directorate of Mining Affairs, Hatun warned that the basin is where DİSKİ (Diyarbakır Water and Sewerage Administration) sources drinking water. It’s a watershed for both people and agriculture. “Mining should be done correctly, in the right place, and when there’s a public benefit. But if you destroy nature and water, don’t expect us to stay silent. Read the mining law again; we will not allow mining on our water. Stop, and if you don’t, we will continue to defend our nature and water. The mining operation here is against the public interest. We can’t bring water to 25,000 people by bucket. Where will DİSKİ get water for them? You will be responsible for this,” Hatun urged.
A Struggle for Existence
Serhat Eren, MP for DEM Party Diyarbakır, underscored how the region’s ecological balance has been disrupted by dams, forest fires, and mining activities. He stated that the government and corporations aim to cut off the lifeblood of the land. “What they are trying to destroy is our history, our culture, and our connection to these lands. We have deep roots here, and no one can drive the people away. We will never allow it,” he declared.
Eren also spoke of the importance of the agricultural and pastoral livelihoods of those who have lived in this region for centuries. “There’s an attack on people’s means of livelihood. They want to displace our people and strip them of their identity. We will never allow it. Despite thousands of hydroelectric plants and mines being opened in our region, this is still one of Turkey’s poorest areas. This is colonial law; it’s an attack on the people. We are here for an existential struggle. Those who attack our trees, mountains, and resources are also attacking our people, trying to depopulate these lands. We will never allow it. For decades, they bombed these lands, and now they want to blow them apart with dynamite. We are the rightful owners of these lands. If we stand in solidarity, we will win, and they will be forced to leave.”
“Today Is the Day to Protect Our Water”
Nejdet Sezgin from the Ecology Association added, “Today is the day to protect our water and our land. Let’s not leave even a drop in their hands. Our stance will send a powerful message. Our fight will continue, and one day our children will ask us, ‘What did you do while they plundered our nature?’ Mining will force people to migrate, and the mountains and pastures will empty. No villager will remain here. We reject the state’s laws and the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) reports. These lands will be defended to the end. The harder they fight, the harder we will fight with them. We promise to support even a single person who resists, and we will do everything we can.”
Protest From Women in the Neighborhood
Zübeyde Memiş from Dolun Neighborhood said, “We don’t want mining here. We were driven from our village once, and now they are trying to force us out again. Where will we go?” Women from İslam Neighborhood also opposed the mine, saying, “Our peace will be disturbed. We should never have allowed mining here. As women, we don’t want this mining project.”
The protest ended with the slogan, “We will win by resisting.” (MA)