In order to change the demography of Kurdistan during the period of Kenan Evren (the general responsible for the 1980 military coup), hundreds of Kyrgyz Turks were settled in the most fertile lands of the Gelêye Zilan region in the Ercis district of Van. The Kyrgyz “planted” in those lands were later used as guards against the PKK and against the Kurds of the region.

The Zilan region is a natural beauty with its fertile lands, lush forests, spring waters. And it is strategically important. Right in the middle of Erciş, Patnos, Çaldıran, Muradiye, Dogubayazit, Diyadin districts, the region of Zilan is surrounded by the Aladağlar and Tendürek mountains.

Dozens of villages in the Zilan region despite the State repression and violence, have not betrayed the people and have not accepted the village guard system. As the state knew the history of resistance of the Zilan region, it set out to change the demographic composition of the region.

Therefore in 1982, the Turkish President Kenan Evren ordered to move the Kyrgyz Turks to Zilan and gave them the lands confiscated and stolen from the original residents. The Kyrgyz “planted” here later became village guards and got engaged in many illegal activities such as raids on villages, forcibly confiscating animals from people and seizing the property of the villagers in road control.

Due to the heavy clashes especially in recent times, intensive operations are being carried out especially in the villages of Tendürek, Aladağlar, and Zilan. Due to the operations, the Zilan villagers are frequently under pressure and taken into custody. Ulupamir Kyrgyz village guards are used especially for operations in the region.

Because all the pasture zones are forbidden, the villagers can not take their animals to paste. Since the State gave Zilan's most fertile lands to the Kyrgyz Turks, there is no room for the people to graze their animals.

Speaking to ANF, the villagers said that the State has recently increased repression in the region. The villagers confirmed there is almost a raid a day carried out and stated that many people were taken into custody and arrested. The villagers also confirmed that the State used the Kyrgyz guards especially during the raids.