tdn_065052007

FightING ILISU DAM - SAVE HASANKEYF AND TIGRIS VALLEY

Welcome to the Homepage of the „Initative to Keep Hasankeyf Alive“

Turkish Daily News/Gila Benmayor: If Hasankeyf were in Austria would it have been turned into a dam? (05.05.2007)

IF HASANKEYF WERE IN AUSTRIA WOULD IT HAVE BEEN TURNED INTO A DAM?

Saturday, May 5, 2007

Gila Benmayor

The 12,000 year-old Hasankeyf is one of the oldest cities in Mesopotamia, and one of the most significant cultural heritages in Turkey.

Unfortunately, due to the plans of building the Ilısu Dam in the region, locals of Hasankeyf for years are living under the stress that their town will be sank under water.

I always try to visit Hasankeyf when ever I have a trip to Southeastern Turkey. In fact, I did it again and ended up in the breathtaking city of Mardin last week during a tour I took with Turkey Banks Union.

As usual, with the company of “my little volunteer guide” I climbed to the highest point of the Hasankeyf castle.

I looked at the legs of the bridge allegedly built in the Artuklular period in the middle of the River Tigris, at the Grand Mosque (Ulu Cami), at the Zeynel Bey Tomb and at El Rızk minaret with the feeling of “I think I see them all for the last time”.

In front of the Hasankeyf's grandeur, I lamented one more time, “how could such a place sink under water.”

After climbing down from the castle, I met with Arif Arslan, president of Hasankeyf Volunteers Association, and heard about the latest developments from him.

Switzerland, Germany and Austria, as the loaners for the construction of the Ilusu Dam, are apparently convinced by the Turkish government which ensured, “Historic artefacts of Hasankeyf will be moved to some other place for preservation”.

The rumours for sometime were that Switzerland as the most prudent of these countries hesitated to loan money. But now, even Switzerland seems to mellow.

Among the historic artefacts for which during the Ilusu Dam's ground-laying ceremony last year Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan promised “to move them to some other place” were the legs of the bridge, the Zeynel Bey Tomb, the Grand Mosque and El Rızk minaret.

What will happen to the caverns?

Of course, Hasankeyf is not all. What will happen to approximately 6,000 caverns as part of the region's unique historical texture? How could they be moved?

Mr. Arslan dwells mostly upon the following:

As it is known, the life-span of dams is about 50 years. Even if it is 100 years instead of 50, would it be possible to sacrifice a 12,000 year-old history?

If such a wonder of world were situated, say, in Austria, among the countries to provide credit, what would be the reaction of Austrians?

We all know how Western countries claim their cultural heritage. All right then, what kind of an action the locals of Hasankeyf will take if Austria, Germany and Switzerland are really convinced to loan money?

At this point, Arslan talks about preparations for a massive protest rally on May 16 in Ankara in front of the embassies of the said countries. Masses will gather under the leadership of “Hasankeyfi Yaşatma Girişimi” (The initiative to Keep Hasankeyf alive) consisting of 80 NGOs and a press release will be read in front of the embassy buildings. They will make a “demand for asylum” for 55-60,000 people.

“Why do they make a demand for asylum?” I ask Arslan.

“After Hasankeyf sinks under the water, 55-60,000 people living in the region will become homeless and unemployed. So, we plan to pressure in a way, ‘since you let our place of living submerge under the water, then you regard that we demand for asylum',” he says.

However, before this protest rally, it is a possibility that Austrian, German and Swiss ambassadors would pay a visit to the region and lend an ear for last time to what is going on here. “We'll see. We invited them too. If they come here and be convinced not to loan money, it would be perfect,” adds Arslan.

Application to the European Court of Human Rights

Meanwhile, a few legal processes are going on. One of them is a case filed at the European Court of Human Rights by one of the most distinguished restoration experts of Turkey Professor Zeynep Ahunbay, an Architect and Archaeologist Professor Metin Ahunbay, Professor Oluş Arık, who conducted the Hasankeyf excavations between 1986 and 2003; and the Atlas magazine as the organizer of organized a train trip titled “Loyalty to Hasankeyf” last year for saving the area.

“Hasankeyf is the supreme level representative of creative genius of mankind and one of the rarest representatives of many extinct civilizations” are mentioned in the cause for litigation.

Similarly, it is also emphasized that if it is moved this splendid ancient city would disappear.

Another legal action in progress is the suit filed by the Hasankeyf Volunteers Association, Hasankeyf Municipality and Diyarbakır and Batman Bars against the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

Besides, there are promises made by some famous personalities like Bianca Jagger who previously visited Hasankeyf that they would carry the issue to the agenda of the European Parliament.

The bottom line, Hasankeyf is a historic and cultural heritage needs be protected like an invaluable piece of jewellery. I hope these three countries getting ready to provide credit for the construction of the Ilusu Dam take this realty into consideration one more time.