Village burnings, the colonialist policy of the 90’s, have morphed into the burning and demolition of cities and towns. Residents of Yüksekova’s Mexsûdava village have experienced this atrocity once more 20 years later.
Yüksekova district of Hakkari is in ruins in the wake of the 78 day long curfew. 20 thousand people lost their homes in the district where 5 neighborhoods are completely razed.
One of the district’s central villages, Mexsûdava was burned again 20 years later. Mexsûdava villagers spoke to the ANF about the atrocity they experienced again after so many years.
One of the eldest in the village, Halit Aydın pointed out that their lands were burned down once before, and said the state would get nowhere with these tactics. Aydın pointed out such barbarism could be expected as long as the struggle continues and said: “We lived in Yüksekova’s villages in the past. The state attacked as people resisted there as well. In the end they forced evacuation on our villages and burned our houses. All these were done because we didn’t forego our language and our cause. They burned our village down before, what happened? Did they end us? We came back, stronger than before. They need to understand they can’t solve this issue like this. We will rebuild, as we did before, but we do need support. Our freedom is more important than our hunger. The struggle will continue in these lands. The choice is, either give up your identity, or resist. We will of course choose resistance.”
“THEY REMOVED US FROM THE VILLAGE FOR 3 DAYS TO BURN DOWN OUR HOUSES”
Ahmet Sarı said he was in the village during the curfew and continued: “They came and removed us from our village. They said they would conduct a search mission. If it was a search, how did this much destruction and pillaging happen? They took us to the Cultural Center and they didn’t come to bring us back. They had burned our village before. If their goal is to drive us away, let them know we won’t leave. This is our land. The Kurdish people should unite. The media doesn’t come here to show the situation. They should come, ask the state why they destroyed these lands. I worked 6 years on building this house. What am I going to do now? Yüksekova residents should be united, let like be with like.”
“WHERE CAN WE LIVE?”
Ali Kara said they had to move to Yüksekova 21 years ago because their village was burnt down and continued: “In the past, they burned our houses in the village. They didn’t even let us take our belongings out. We came here and settled down, and the same thing happened again. They don’t let us live in the village, and they don’t leave us alone here. They don’t allow us our right to live.”
“WE WILL BE HERE UNTIL WE DIE”
Abdulvehap Soylu said all their belongings in their home were burned and expressing that their right to live was no longer acknowledged there, he continued: “We don’t know what to do now. It would be good to rebuild this place again, all together. What sin did we commit? I have 5 disabled family members. They all lived in this house. We built this house ourselves, working for years. Then they burned it down. We will not leave these lands. We will be here until we die.”
