Kurdish villagers in Turkey’s Hakkari (Colemêrg) province have embarked on a march and are holding a vigil to end the ongoing mining activity in the area. The villagers allege that the nearby zinc and lead mine is destroying their nature, local agencies report. One of the villagers, Salih Kurt, said in a statement: “Our soils have been polluted and lost their fertility due to mining activities. Our water sources have been poisoned and become undrinkable.”
The people from the village of Marunis (Kavaklı) have been resisting the existence of the Sedex Resources Mining Company mine since 2007. Despite applying to the authorities numerous times, they say that the destruction of their village and land has only intensified. Their demands include that the mine be closed immediately, that the local nature be restored, the area reforested, and for compensation to be paid for the damages.
Residents marched from a bridge on the highway connecting Hakkari and its Çukurca district to the valley where the mining site is located and made a statement at the site of the destruction. A group of 40 people took over the first vigil.
The mining influences ‘all aspects’ of the traditional life in the village and the surrounding mountains, the residents made clear in their statement. “Air pollution has also increased, causing respiratory problems. The animal grazing areas were also destroyed. The natural beauty of our village has been spoilt. Despite all these problems, mining activities continue uninterruptedly,” said Salih Kurt.
