ÊLIH - Êlih (Batman) Peace Mothers, who participated in the vigil against the ecocide in Besta, said, "We should have stayed there as long as the trees were being slaughtered" and stated that the action should be continued. 

 

For more than 5 years, logging in the Cûdî and Gabar Mountains and Besta Region of Şirnex (Şırnak) has been continuing under the supervision of soldiers and rangers. 

 

A one-night vigil was held on 9-10 September under the leadership of the Platform of Democratic Institutions against the ecocide in Besta. Many people from different cities in Turkey and Kurdistan participated in the protest. Peace Mothers from Êlih, reacting to the news that the tree cutting is continuing, called for a halt to the tree cutting. 

 

Hori Acar reminded that the slaughter of trees continues in Besta. "They are burning our nature, plundering it, cutting down our trees. In Besta, Licê, Sason, they plunder nature and set it on fire. They burn our mountains. They are trying to subjugate us in this way, but we did not and will not bow down. Stop the tree cutting as soon as possiblei" she said. 

 

'CUTTING DOWN A TREE IS SAME AS KILLING A HUMAN'

 

Sultan Azboy stated that the plunder of nature continues despite the ongoing process and said: "There is peace talks, but our forests are still being destroyed. We should have stayed in Besta against the slaughter of trees. Cutting down a tree is the same as killing a human being. Do not remain silent against this tree slaughter". 

 

Şükran Dal said that the geography of Kurdistan has been plundered for years: "They don't want even a tree to grow in our lands. Before, they used to burn villages and force people to migrate. Now they are cutting and burning our forests. They should leave our nature, trees and mountains alone."