The campaign to save Hasankeyf and non-governmental organization representatives have staged a demonstration against the banks that give credit support to Ilýsu Dam which, if realized, would mean the disappearance of the 12 thousand-year old ancient city, as well as the displacement of thousands of people. The Campaign organised a press conference in front of the office of Garanti Bank in Diyarbakýr Street to contest Akbank and Garanti Bank for their support to Ilýca Dam. BDP (Peace and Democracy Party) Batman Co-chair Þehmus Aslan, Batman Deputy Mayor Serhat Temel, the campaign activists, representatives of 32 non-governmental organizations in Batman and many citizens attended the press conference. Mustafa Tekik said that they had addressed these banks many times asking them not to give support to the damaging project. “Hasankeyf will be destroyed without our care” and “Who doesn’t care about history is condemned to be annihilated” said the banners. Tekik said that “As non-governmental organizations in Batman, we announce that we won’t let our own land to be destroyed with our own money. That’s why - he added - we are terminating all our economical relations with these two banks.”

After the statement the group visited the two banks and closed their accounts in these banks.

The Ilisu dam site will be situated on the Tigris river, just 65km upstream from the Syrian and Iraqi border. It is currently the largest planned hydropower project in Turkey.

The Ilisu is planned as a rock-fill dam, 1820m long and 135m high. Its reservoir would cover a surface area of 313 square kilometres and contain up to 10.4 billion cubic metres of water. The Ilisu power station will have a capacity of 1,200 MW, and is expected to produce 3,800 GWh of power per year.

The Ilisu dam is expected to cost $1.52 billion – though that does not include financing costs, which could boost the price up to $2 billion or more. Building of the dam is due to start in 2000 and finish in 7 – 8 years.

Translator: Berna Ozgencil