ADIYAMAN - Bêzar Mountain, which came to the fore with chemical bombardment 29 years ago, is now being plundered by Cengiz Holding's Eti Bakir A.Ş.

 

Eti Bakir, a company affiliated with Cengiz Holding, which is frequently on the agenda with the plunder of nature, has been conducting gold exploration activities in the area between Semsûr's Bêzar Mountain and Celîkan (Çelikhan) district since 2012. As part of the gold exploration works, the mountainous area where many facilities were established is being destroyed step by step. Bûkan and Qarikan, which are among the rural neighborhoods connected to Semsûr center, whose nature is the most plundered, have dried up before the summer season. Mountain goats have not visited these frequented villages for years due to mining operations. The dams built due to mineral exploration cause the destruction of village roads. Due to the dam works, the roads of dozens of rural neighborhoods in the Cêlikan district have turned into molehills. Semsûr, where most of the city center was turned into debris due to the Mereş-centered earthquake, is being destroyed by mine and dam works.

 

Due to the cyanide used within the scope of gold exploration activities, the people living around Bêzar Mountain also faced diseases. Cyanide mixed with soil and water causes various diseases and deaths.

 

A CHEMICAL WEAPON WAS USED 29 YEARS AGO

 

On May 16, 1994, chemical weapons were used on Mount Bêzar, which is now poisoned with cyanide. As a result of chemical weapons attacks, 28 people, 6 of whom were PKK members, lost their lives. The geography, which was targeted with chemical weapons 29 years ago, is now faced with plunder due to mining operations. Yusuf Çıtrık (63), who lives in the village of Qarikan in the center of Adıyaman, talked about the plunder of nature as a result of the mining works.

 

'OUR NATURE IS LOCKED'

 

Referring to the plundering of nature and diseases caused by the mining operations, Çıtrık said: "Eti Bakir company easily plundered the environment with the support of the government. Bêzar Mountain provided habitat for many animals, especially mountain goats, before the mining works. Thousands of animals that used to live in this environment are no longer seen with the mine. Summer hasn't come yet, but the greenery has already started to dry. This affects the whole environment like a chain. If this is not prevented, it will cause bigger and irreparable problems in the coming years. The whole region is negatively affected by this, but the villages of Bukan and Qarikan are the most adversely affected rural neighborhoods."

 

CALL ON ECOLOGISTS AGAINST PLUNDERING OF NATURE

 

Calling ecologists to put an end to the plundering of nature, Çıtrık said: "The tunnels of 500 meters into the Bêzar Mountain have been dug, and they are full of holes. The chemistry of nature has deteriorated. The nature of all of us is being destroyed for the profit of only one company. The aim is to depopulate the region. The destruction that nature is exposed to will become more visible day by day. Our desire is to protect nature. It is my call to all ecologist and those who call themselves democrats; take action against it and stop the plunder of nature. We do not accept this plunder against our nature."

 

MA / Mahmut Altıntaş