AĞRI -Warning that Koza Gold Operations Inc., which obtained a license for a gold mine on a 37-hectare area in Giyadin, will poison all of Kurdistan, and called for sensitivity to everyone, HDP MP Abdullah Koç said: "Everything about the Kurd is being destroyed."

 

Koza Altın İşletmeleri A.Ş., which was licensed for the "gold and silver project", in the village of Melleqere (Mollakara) in the Gîyadin (Diyadin) district of Agirî, started mining operations in the region. The company obtained the license of 37 hectares of land for 4 gold mines; thus, approximately 5 percent of Ağrı's surface area was licensed to the company in question. The company in question also has mining licenses in 16 different regions in Wan and Ağrı, and drilling permits for 210 points.

 

The mining site in Giyadin is only 200-300 meters away from the Murat River, and 1-2 kilometers away from the greenhouse and geothermal water sources, which are an important source of income for Ağrı and Giyadin.

 

THE REGION WILL BE POISONED WITH CYANIDE 

 

According to the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report prepared for the area where the mining site is located, there are 218 different plant, 16 reptile and 67 bird species in the region. Of the plant species found in the area, 7 are endemic, that is, not found in any other area, and 3 are on the list of rare plants. 16 reptile species detected in the region are among the species that must be strictly protected according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the Bern Convention. Again, 33 of the 67 bird species detected in the project area and its immediate surroundings are in the endangered category. Since gold exploration and separation will be done with cyanide, all living things, especially humans, will be affected in the region.

 

DANGER TO GROUNDWATER

 

Previously, a project was implemented in Giyadin, where geothermal energy and greenhouse activities will be carried out on an area of 40 decares with the project of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. While the said mine site is only 1-2 kilometers away from this area, the seismic tremors caused by the tons of dynamite that will be detonated every day for the quarries that will go down to a depth of 300 meters underground will also reduce the underground geothermal waters or leave them dry.

 

'THE CYANIDE WILL POISON THE WHOLE OF KURDISTAN'

 

Koç said: “A gold segregation area has been given right from the exit of a river, extending from that region to Keban. This will harm the entire region. Exploration for gold, especially with cyanide, will destroy the region. If this becomes operational, the Murat River will be poisoned from top to bottom. The region is a region that contributes to both Agirî and Giyadin as a tourist attraction, as it is an area with hot springs. The cyanide started to poison from the village of Mollakara, the Murat River passes through all the districts of Agirî, feeding from different places and extending to the Keban Dam. It passes through Bingöl, Muş, Elezığ and flows into the Euphrates River. When we look at it from here, this cyanide will poison the whole of Kurdistan. It will destroy all habitats here and carry the poison everywhere. This will affect millions of people, thousands of habitats. Mining activity will poison this area as well, killing both the water and the plants there."

 

A CONSCIOUS POLICY

 

Stating that the company has 16 mining licenses and drilling permits at 210 points in Ağrı and Van, Koç noted that almost 15 percent of the two cities were transferred to the company. Koç said: “15 percent means destroying half of the geography. That's why we say that the licenses are given deliberately. A geography cannot be made such a target. If we do not fight against this, there will be no living space in even one square meter of the region. This job is so dangerous and serious. The entire Serhat Region is the target of the Golden Boll and the government. It is necessary to stand up and fight against it. Against this, we need to support by creating an agenda. This is not something that can only happen with the struggle of the villagers. This should be supported by democratic mass organizations. This is not a problem to be postponed, the public does not consent to this mine." 

 

EVERYTHING ABOUT KURDS IS DESTROYED

 

Reminding that there are attacks against nature in all cities of Kurdistan, Koç said: “Everything about the Kurds is the target of this government. Especially historical areas and everything that is historically important, geographically important and the living space of our people there is the target of the AKP-MHP government. It has an ideological side because they want to completely destroy history and geography.”

 

MA / Berivan Kutlu