PROTEST IN CEMIGEZEK DISTRICT OF DERSIM
July 1, 2014
A march has taken place in the CemiÅ~_gezek district of Dersim against
the construction of a dam and hydroelectric complex that will affect
historic sites and flora and fauna in the area. Following the decision
of the Government to implement compulsory purchase of land in the
area local people organised a protest march.
The protesters pointed out that the dam over the Tagar river that runs
through the district centre, which has a population of around 3,000,
will damage the 200 year-old bridge and affect ancient caves used by
the Urartu civilisation.
Shop keepers joined the protest by keeping their shutters down as
the protesters made their way to the town square accompanied by pipe
and drum.
The spokesperson for the Tagar river solidarity platform, Hakan
Gökalp, spoke at a rally in the square, saying: "The Tagar is our
life source and has flowed freely for thousands of years. Now they
want to divert it into pipes and tunnels and take it elsewhere for
the sake of electricity. The Tagar valley will be destroyed and the
old bridge will no longer have water flowing under it. The natural
balance will be upset. CemiÅ~_gezek is the only place in the world
where chamois and human beings co-exist."
Gökalp stressed that no one in the district wanted the dam, adding:
"Whether from the AKP, CHP, MHP, BDP, whether Alevi, Sunni, Kurdish
or Turkish, everyone is opposed to the hydroelectric project."
http://www.horizonweekly.ca/news/details/42367
July 1, 2014
A march has taken place in the CemiÅ~_gezek district of Dersim against
the construction of a dam and hydroelectric complex that will affect
historic sites and flora and fauna in the area. Following the decision
of the Government to implement compulsory purchase of land in the
area local people organised a protest march.
The protesters pointed out that the dam over the Tagar river that runs
through the district centre, which has a population of around 3,000,
will damage the 200 year-old bridge and affect ancient caves used by
the Urartu civilisation.
Shop keepers joined the protest by keeping their shutters down as
the protesters made their way to the town square accompanied by pipe
and drum.
The spokesperson for the Tagar river solidarity platform, Hakan
Gökalp, spoke at a rally in the square, saying: "The Tagar is our
life source and has flowed freely for thousands of years. Now they
want to divert it into pipes and tunnels and take it elsewhere for
the sake of electricity. The Tagar valley will be destroyed and the
old bridge will no longer have water flowing under it. The natural
balance will be upset. CemiÅ~_gezek is the only place in the world
where chamois and human beings co-exist."
Gökalp stressed that no one in the district wanted the dam, adding:
"Whether from the AKP, CHP, MHP, BDP, whether Alevi, Sunni, Kurdish
or Turkish, everyone is opposed to the hydroelectric project."
http://www.horizonweekly.ca/news/details/42367