Turkish construction crews started dynamiting neolithic caves this week
The Ilisu Dam, the building of which has been delayed for years by protests, is also likely to flood the ancient town of Hasankeyf on the Tigris River. It is one of the oldest continuously inhabited settlements on Earth, with evidence of human habitation dating back to 10,000 BC.
"They are not only destroying our past, but also our future by taking away this as a source of income and heritage," one resident told Deutsche Welle. "We would like to apologise to the future generations for allowing this."
Hasankeyf facing ongoing demolition like Palmyra
A huge rock mass has been torn down by dynamite in Hasankeyf Fortress
Demolition of caves, fortresses and rocks continues in the 12,000 years old Hasankeyf town that will be submerged by the controversial Ilısu Dam constructed by the AKP for “security” reasons.
As part of the demolition with dynamite and construction equipment ongoing in the ancient town for days, a huge rock mess in Hasankeyf Fortress has been blown up by dynamites Tuesday morning. The dynamites placed by the Rüzgar Mountaineering Co. during the past three days have been detonated today, leaving a part of the huge rock destroyed.
The remaining part of the rock mass will reportedly be blown up after the upcoming Eid al-Adha. Locals recorded the explosion, which recalls the ISIS’ destruction of the antique Palmyra city with explosives.
Detonation of Hasankeyf's largest rock to cause great destruction
In Batman’s Hasankeyf district the ongoing demolition with dynamites and construction equipment for the construction of the infamous Ilisu Hydroelectric Dam paves the way for huge damage and destruction on the history of the ancient town.
Due to the ongoing demolition in Batman’s ancient Hasankeyf district traders and shop owners cannot attend their business anymore. There used to be 200 business owners in the historical Hasankeyf market, but only 25 of them remained because of the state’s genocidal policies.
The shopkeepers that have endured up to date are now closing the shutters of their stores as the working conditions have become unprofitable. The once busy and vivid market place is now shrouded in silence. The shopkeepers say that they cannot do business anymore, there is an uncertain situation and they are therefore living under the threat of being forced to pack as well.
Hasankeyf's shopkeepers stated that they have been promised to be resettled in the new settlement area, but they do not want to leave their land.
The Rüzgar Mountaineering Co. has placed dynamite in the largest rock formation in the Darphane Fortress, the area has been surrounded with barbed wire and the region is being demolished with construction equipment.
Hasankeyf's shopkeepers pointed out that for three days dynamite is being attached to the huge rock, which is expected to be detonated before the begin of the Eid al-Adha. This will lead to a total cut off of access to the district's market place. The shopkeepers stated that the detonation of this huge rock formation will cause greater harm than all previous detonations. Also the El-Rızzık Mosque's minaret, 7 memorials and small castles are in great danger.
On the other hand, concrete blocks around the Zeynel Bey Tomb, which was 'relocated' to another area in May, have been demolished by construction equipment. During the relocation of the tomb ornaments that are called "blue beads" all dropped down due to the heavy shaking, which caused also the concrete blocks on its bottom to crumble.
Access to the current location of the tomb is forbidden.
TOKİ starts building houses in Hasankeyf amid ongoing destruction
With the construction of Ilısu Hydroelectric Dam, the destruction caused to Hasankeyf and its 12 thousand years old memory of life is continuing. Turkish public housing authority has already launched casting concrete for the construction of 710 buildings.
In Batman’s Hasankeyf district demolition continues with dynamites and construction equipment.
In the ancient city Hasankeyf the Turkish public housing authority (TOKİ) has now started casting concrete for the building of some other 710 houses after finishing the construction works for the first 320 buildings. These building constructions are expected to be completed by the end of 2017. Many times before it has been clearly seen that the buildings constructed by the TOKİ collapsed due to rampant negligence.
Some days ago 500 to 600 years old water holes were detected at those construction areas. It is said that those water sources reach the Imam Abdullah Palace situated between the Zeynel Abdin Tomb, which was “relocated” outside the planned dam reservoir close to new settlement called New-Hasankeyf in May, and seven other monuments that are also to be shifted. Warning has been issued that those water places might suffer damage due to the construction works with heavy machinery in this area. Aside from these water holes, also the outlines of a foundation were stumbled upon, which are said to be three thousand years old.
Despite all these, 710 new buildings are still being constructed in the region. The residents of Hasankeyf stated that the Turkish state will first accommodate them in rented houses in their own land, then place them in new houses and leave them no choice other than migration as they will not be able to pay their debts for these homes,.
Withdraw from the relocation project of monuments in Hasankeyf!
To:1) Er-Bu İnşaat, Çankaya/Ankara, Turkey
2) Bresser Eurasia BV., 3295 ZJ ’s-Gravendeel, Netherlands
Dear Mr. Tunç, Mr. Çetin and Mr. Bresser,
we demand in the strongest possible terms that you withdraw from the project to relocate several monuments in the antique town of Hasankeyf in the Kurdish Southeast of Turkey.
Hasankeyf and the surrounding Tigris Valley are planned to be flooded by the Ilisu Dam and Hydroelectric Power Plant Project. It would lead to grave social, cultural and ecological impacts in a larger region which has endured poverty and forced displacement for decades. Almost all 80.000 affected people and regional society reject the dam which would not benefit at all. It would violate also the right to access to water in Iraq, which relies substantially on the Tigris, and it would threaten the Mesopotamian Marshes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Without your consulting and implementing role, the DSI, acting on behalf of the Turkish government, would not be able to relocate up to 9 monuments in Hasankeyf to a new site. Since the revival of the Ilisu Project in 2005, the relocation of monuments has been a crucial element of the government’s untenable propaganda that Hasankeyf would be rescued through the Ilisu Project. The completion of the relocation is a precondition for the flooding. Thus it is unacceptable that you reduce your role to technical implementation! Hasankeyf is such an outstanding site that its conservation would be economically more beneficial than the Ilisu Project. Hasankeyf would fulfill 9 of 10 UNESCO World Heritage Criteria if Turkey applied to UNESCO.
Neither the DSI nor you two have ever tried to consult any local people or organizations regarding the relocation project. There is no transparency at all. Despite being well-known specialists in historic preservation, you do not take into account that the affected monuments are fundamental elements of Hasankeyf, which is an integral whole comprising both immovable and intangible heritage. The integral nature of the Hasankeyf ecosystem forms a strong part of the identity of people in Hasankeyf and the surrounding region. The DSI and also you have violated universal human rights, which are affirmed by international standards, including the Convention for the Protection of the Architectural Heritage of Europe (CETS 121) and the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, both of which mandate the systematic and substantive consultation of local populations in such projects.
If you want to step back from being part of destroying outstanding cultural heritage, you could withdraw from the relocation project by referring to these breaches of international standards. It is still not too late for you!
Curfew in villages of Hasankeyf
The Turkish state continues imposing curfews as part of military operations conducted against the PKK across Northern Kurdistan territory.
Curfew has been declared in three villages and one hamlet of Batman’s historic Hasankeyf district amid preparations for an operation by the Turkish army.
The curfew that will be effective starting from 18:00 Wednesday evening involves the villages of Güneşli, Kayıklı and Kelekçi and Keçili hamlet of Palamut village.
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