Initiative to Keep Hasankeyf Alive
Diyarbakir/Batman - Turkey
www.hasankeyfgirisimi.com
hasankeyfgirisimi@gmail.com
17.01.2010
To the press and general public
The recent operations in our region, against non-governmental organizations, mayors and Peace and Democracy Party members shows that democracy is in danger. It is especially worrisome that, the support given to the Initiative to Keep Hasankeyf Alive by mayors of Batman and Diyarbakir was considered as an element of a crime during the questioning in prosecution.
First of all, it should be noted, this is not the first time that we have been harassed for such ridiculous reasons, and we predict that it wont be the last time. Since the very beginning of our initiative we have faced accusations like all the other activists, who are leading the struggle to stop the destruction of historical and natural beauties in Turkey.
The members of the Initiative to Keep Hasankeyf Alive, will continue to work against all actions and attempts to destroy the historical, cultural and natural beauties of this country. This is our basic legal, democratic and human right, and we will not hesitate for a moment to exercise this right. The arrest of the mayors for supporting the Initiative to Keep Hasankeyf Alive is simply shameful. Our initiative is neither a criminal organization, nor is sustaining Hasankeyf a criminal act.
Since its establishment, the initiative conducted its activities in a participatory and transparent way. Our organization contains people with different political persuasions, and takes civil disobedience action within a legal framework. Outlawing an NGO such as the Hasankeyf Initiative would also incriminate all the intellectuals, artists, and authors who oppose the Ilısu Dam Project.
Indeed, as the members of the Hasankeyf Initiative, we wonder when this comedy will end. But we want to underline that, in spite of all the smear campaigns, accusations, threats and repression upon us, the struggle of the Initiative will not falter, and despite all the anti-democratic restrictions, this caravan will continue to walk.
Furthermore we would like to draw attention to a contradiction. We as members of the Initiative, and all those who support us, are threatened with a so-called law. We are accused of being against a state project, but the same law says “protecting the cultural and natural assets is the task of the state.” So who is the guilty party here? This rule has been explained in the 2863th law code. Therefore, we want to say that we support the protection of cultural and historical heritage, our fertile lands that should not be destroyed by the dam lakes, we don't want our people to be displaced, if this is a crime, then we are criminals, and our Initiative invites everyone who is sensitive about this issue to commit this crime.
