Construction projects of guard posts, military bases and dams (HES), that had begun 3 years ago after the ceasefire for the solution of the Kurdish issue, are now being implemented. The war preparations of ‘security’ dams and bases in spite of the debates on the democratic solution of the Kurdish issue have increase tensions in the region. State officials had admitted that the HES projects on almost every river and creek in Kurdistan had ‘security’ reasons.

Human Rights Association (İHD) released a report on the AKP’s military base and HES constructions that began on 2013 and has received criticism from KCK. İHD stated that 341 new military bases were constructed across North Kurdistan, primarily in Hakkar, Şırnak and Dersim. 189 bases have already been constructed, 189 bases are in the process of construction, and the construction of 36 bases is yet to begin.

MILTARY BASES

Housing Development Administration of Turkey (TOKİ) has already constructed 189 military bases since 2013. Below is the geographical distribution of these new bases:

HAKKARİ

Military base construction and deployment continues in Mağaraönü (Şikeftan), Gola, Aşağı Kayalar (Ketuna Binî), Yukarı Kayalar (Ketuna Seri), Seçkin (Zivkan), Bal (Balê), Sarıca (Zerikî) and Hasrova (Gosrova) villages and Varıbozu, Dema Çiya, Girê Eshaba, Berê Evrazê, Kaniyaspi, Banige, Tilsê, Kola, Nerduşe, Bihiyahorê, Gendalok, Vargeniman, Şikeftan, Garê, Gelişim, Evrestepe, Masîro, Meleyan, Zini Hill, Türkan Hill, Çimeni Hesci areas of Hakkari and the Dağlıca, Çobanpınar, Doskî, Büyükçiftlik, Kısıklı, Perihan and Güvenli regions of Hakkari’s Yüksekova district. Base constructions also continue on the İranian side of the border in Xelila, Zerpele, Şikeftan Hill, Şehidan, Fişe and Kendalok.

DERSİM

Among the 52 projects composed of 5 military bases, 16 mobile guard posts and 31 guard towers planned in Dersim, 22 projects have already begun. The Turkish state has been destroying forests across Dersim for military base constructions and the majority of the projects (37) focus on Pülümür Valley.

Military base constructions and renovations also take place in Amed, Van and Elazığ.

ŞIRNAK

According to the İHD report, 10 new military bases are being built across Şırnak. These are projects are in Balveren, Solak (Basê), Silopi, Kenkara, Kabaközü, Bostancı, Yankale, Gilpevre, Ortaköy, Habur, Katılı, Çalışkan, Derbaçya, Güçlükonak and Fındık regions.

SECURITY DAMS

İHD emphasized the construction of ‘security dams’ after the beginning of the 2013 ceasefire and the peace process. İHD stated that 27 dam and HAS projects were planned in Dersim which already suffers from natural destruction due to the existing 7 dams in and around Munzur Valley. İHD criticized the forced migration of villagers due to HES constructions.

ŞIRNAK

There are currently 11 security dam constructions across Şırnak, and the heights of the existing 11 dams on Botan River range from 30 to 85 meters. İHD stated that these dams aimed to prevent guerilla movement across Kurdistan.

SARIYILDIZ: BAD INTENTIONS

Speaking to ANF, HDP Şırnak Parliamentarian Faysal Sarıyıldız stated that the state had bad intentions regarding security dams and the construction of these dams exposes the lack of state will for the solution of the Kurdish issue. Sarıyıldız criticized military preparations such as the construction of dams and military bases, and said that the state should focus on the construction of an equal and shared life in Turkey. Sarıyıldız invited the Turkish state to give up on its dirty politics and stop attempting to separate the Kurds through dams and other means. Sarıyıldız described these construction projects as a cause of war and said that such a war would not be limited to Kurdistan.

BATMAN

İHD stated that the Ilısu Dam to be constructed in Batman aimed to separate Botan and Xerzan regions, and would leave hundreds of villages and a vast amount of arable land in Tigris Valley under water. This project would also leave the 12 thousand years-old district of Hasankeyf under water and destroy more than 200 historical mounds. 3 more dam projects continue in Sason for the separation of Muş and the district of Kulp from one another.

Below is the geographical distribution of ‘security dams’ to be built across Kurdistan:

Maraş: 54

Adıyaman: 25

Malatya: 27

Elazığ: 16

Dersim: 9

Erzincan: 29

Erzurum: 63

Ardahan: 10

Kars: 21

Iğdır: 3

Ağrı: 3

Muş: 11

Bingöl: 19

Bitlis: 18

Batman: 9

Mardin: 1

Urfa: 3

Siirt: 13

Van: 29

Hakkari: 20