SIRNAK - Stating that she has not been able to enter her village for 32 years, Tole Değer said: "I miss my village very much. There is nothing like one's own land," and condemned to the fact that they are not allowed to enter their village.

 

It has been forbidden for 32 years to enter the village of Bilikan in the Silopi district of Şırnak, one of the thousands of villages evacuated in the 90s under the name of "security" in Kurdish provinces. Every year, the villagers who ask for permission by petitioning the district governor's office wait for days. Trees are cut by the rangers in the village of Bilikan and its hamlet Cilbiyan, whose entrance is prohibited. While the slaughter continues, the villagers cannot go to their villages because "permission" is not given. Tole Değer, who was expelled from the village at the age of 23 and is now 55 years old, continues her life longing for the village where she was born. Değer wants the 32-year ban to be lifted as soon as possible. As a mother of 6 children, however, none of the children of Değer have seen their mother's villages yet.

 

'WE DID NOT KNOW WHAT THE DIFFICULTY WAS IN OUR VILLAGE'

 

Expressing that problems and troubles started when they went to the cities, Değer said: "We didn't know what difficulties were when we were in the village. There was no problem in the village, but they forced us out. Our life in the village was good. When we were in the village, we were engaged in the cultivation of corn, wheat, lentils, onions and potatoes. We ate them from the beginning of autumn until the end of spring. However, we had fig and plum trees. We had plenty of vegetables and fruits. We didn't lack anything. The only thing we bought with money was the clothes we bought for our children. That's why we didn't have any difficulties while we were in the village. But later they emptied our village and sent us to the cities. Now we can't go to our villages. While everyone is going to their village freely, why can't we go? Why is our village forbidden to us but free to them? Why are they depriving us of the beauty of the village?”

 

'THE STATE SHOULD GIVE WATER TO OUR TREES NOT TO CUT OUR TREES'

 

Stating that it is not acceptable to go to the village by asking permission, Değer said: “Now they are cutting down our fig and plum trees and selling them. We want to go to our village. We cannot go to our village without the permission of the state authorities. The village did not even have a road. We did it on our own. The government didn't even give us a road. But the village is forbidden to us. I haven't been to the village for 32 years. After we came here, the pressure of the state on us increased even more. We ask for permission to see our trees, vineyards and gardens. However, they are not enough. The state should give water to our trees not to cut our trees so they should end this lawlessness."

 

'I DO NOT BELIEVE WE WILL RETURN TO OUR VILLAGE'

 

Stating that she currently lives in a house a few meters wide, Değer continued: “I miss the village so much. There is nothing like one's own land. My life has been spent in a house a few meters wide for 32 years. I can't even take care of a cow in the city. But it was not so in the village. I could keep as many sheep, goats and cows as you want in the village. But I can't do that here. The graves of our mothers and fathers are also in the village. But we can't go even on holidays because it is banned. Even if you ask for permission 7 times a day, they do not allow it. There was no 'security' problem in our village. I no longer believe that one day we will return to the village and live as we did in the old days.”