Hundreds of people participated in a day-long vigil against the systematic destruction of nature in the Besta region of Şırnak, where tree felling continues. Participants of the vigil in the area where piles of felled trees lie expressed their opposition to the logging, while citizens who came to the area in solidarity called for the peace process to extend to the trees as well.
Citizens talked about the damage that the destruction of nature caused to themselves and the region. While some of the mothers who went to the area experienced emotional moments looking at the mountains, others sat on the felled trees and wailed. The mothers spoke to ANF and expressed their reactions.
‘Before making peace with us, let them make peace with our trees’
Asya Tay, who joined the protest from Silopi, said: “The whole community needs to gather here and stop the tree cutting. Everyone is against this plunder, but they are not speaking up. They left no trees in this city, they blew up everything with dynamite, and they left no clean water. The villagers are deprived of clean water because of the oil waste. The temperature has risen and diseases have increased. There is not a single fruit left in our gardens. As mothers, we do not accept this destruction. If necessary, we will go to Besta every day and sit there, but we will not remain silent about this situation any longer. Those trees belong to all of us; they are all life. We must all protect that life. Today they talk about peace, but they continue cutting down trees. Before making peace with us, let them make peace with our trees, then come and talk to us about peace. Let them remove their hands from the Botan region. They want to destroy nature and leave no trees here.”
‘They are not at peace with our mother tongue, our land, and our trees’
Emine Alkış stressed that they will not abandon their land, saying: “This is our land, and we will never leave it unattended. They want to leave this place barren and unattended. They have left neither fruit nor trees for the people here. Every tree is like our child, and we must protect them like our family. Today, how can they build a genuine peace with us as long as they are not at peace with our mother tongue, our land, and our trees? As long as they do not do this, they will never be sincere in peace. We will not give up our land. From now on, not a single person will bow to the cutting of a single tree. The Kurdish people must unite and protect their land. In the past, they killed people; now they have set their sights on trees and rivers. Their hostility toward these mountains and trees has not ended. We say, “Enough is enough.” We will do everything in our power to stop this plunder. No matter the cost, no one should sit idly by. We have nothing left to lose.”
‘Our land and nature are everything to us’
Nebihe Akay called on all segments of society, young and old alike, to protect their mountains and water. Stating that peace comes through land and water, she said, “We must fight for the continuation of this life. If we do not protect our mountains today, we will have no land left to live on tomorrow. Those who speak of peace today are cutting down trees and arresting our children. They are drying up our water. Today, our land and nature are everything to us. We must all join hands and look to Gabar, Besta, and Cudi. They must keep their hands off our nature and our children. They are hostile towards both the people and trees. Those responsible are the village guards and the state. The state talks about peace, but peace cannot be built with blood or with this plunder. So, they should hear our voices and stop this plunder. They want to destroy and kill us along with every tree. People must take action, aware of this reality.”
‘We must fight together for peace and for nature’
Cemre Nayır, an activist with the Polen Ecology Collective, who came to Besta in solidarity, said: “I came here from Istanbul. We have been following the ecological destruction that has been going on for years in Cudi, Gabar, and Besta. We collectively know that ecological destruction is caused by war and capital. We oppose all forms of it. That is why we have come to stand in solidarity with the people and fight together. We also want the ecological movements in the West and the ecological movements in Mesopotamia to unite. We know very well that the drying up of water in Gabar today means the drying up of water in Akbelen. We stand against this in every area and will continue to fight together. The state cannot be at peace with people as long as it is not at peace with nature. For peace to be possible, it must be social. Social peace is possible with the land and water. We must all contribute to this peace. We must strive together. We must fight together for peace and for nature so that the air we breathe and the water we drink on our land are clean.”
‘Everyone should take their place in this struggle’
Aydın Deniz called for the struggle and resistance to be intensified, stating, “For years, the territory of Kurdistan, especially the Botan region, has been plundered by the occupiers. Minerals are being extracted, oil is being sought, and trees are being cut down. Along with thermal power plants, all this plundering is creating a cloud of poison over our city. Therefore, everyone who loves nature and wants to protect trees should take their place in this struggle. We must fight together for nature today, not for a party or ideology. Because of the massive tree cutting, we have experienced the hottest summer this year. They left no trees in the mountains of Kurdistan. As long as we remain silent, they will continue cutting and plundering. That’s why we must not remain silent and must fight.”