A rally was held on the Hasandin Plateau in Kulp district of Amed (Diyarbakır) against the mining project that will negatively affect six neighborhoods and dozens of hamlets. Hundreds of people, including members of the Democratic Regions Party (DBP), Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM), representatives of civil society organizations, co-mayors of municipalities and environmentalists attended the rally organized by the Istanbul Association of Kulp Residents (KULP-DER) and the Hasandin Plateau Protection Platform in Pasûr (Kulp).
Ahmet Inan, a member of the Environmental Commission of the Diyarbakır Bar Association, stated at the rally that water resources were being dried up by mining activities and warned that the mines would damage people’s livelihoods and the environment.
Nahit Eren, co-spokesperson of the Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality Protection and Solidarity Platform and president of the Diyarbakır Bar Association, said: “Here in Kulp, we used to meet our needs for fish from the river, now there is none. We will no longer allow this plundering. The people of this plateau are coming together and claiming their plateau. We know that the chemicals used in the mining operations to be carried out here will poison the Tigris River, which flows through all of Mesopotamia. We are here to protect our future. If necessary, we will keep watch here every day. We will not sacrifice this place for economic rent.”
Ayten Ateş said: “This is our life. We were born here. We will not give up our parents’ place to anyone,” while Behzat Cengiz said: “If a mine enters here, it will mean our extinction.”
