Reactions continue against controversial plans for a memorial forest to be built on Kırklar Mountain in Diyarbakır’s (Amed) Sur district and giving it the name of the ultra far right MHP leader ”Devlet Bahçeli”.
210 decares were allocated for the forest to be built by the Governor, Münir Karaoğlu, who was appointed as a trustee to the Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality. Provocatively naming the forest “Devlet Bahçeli” has created outrage among Kurdish residents of Diyarbakır and non-governmental organisations.
Many people from the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) as well as non-governmental organisations gathered in the city on Tuesday, protesting against the decision to name the forest ‘Devlet Bahçeli’, the leader of the ultra far right, Nationalist Movement Party (MHP).
Speaking to Jinha, HDP Diyarbakır Provincial co-chair Gülistan Atasoy emphasised that ”the aim is to destroy the history and memory of the city”.
Atasoy continued: ”Kırklar Mountain portrays the historical and cultural identity texture of Amed. For this reason, it is one of the most important symbols for Amed. The construction of the memorial forest here in the name of Devlet Bahçeli is a part of the special war policies of the government, on the other hand, it should be seen as an attack and looting with the aim of political interest.”
”It should be considered as a serious attempt towards the destruction of the cultural identity and history of the city and all the belongings it symbolises,” she noted.
Non-governmental organisations and platforms also protested against the decision for the construction plans of memorial forest in Kırklar Mountain, and of it being named, ”Devlet Bahçeli”.
A joint statement was read out by the organisers of the protest.
Mehmet Candan, Trade Union Confederation KESK spokesperson spoke on behalf of the protesters. He stated that if a forest is to be built local organisations and people in the city should be closely consulted and a common public decision should be made.
