Protest Camp in Hasankeyf

October, 15th 2010. From October 11th until next Sunday, October 17th a
protest camp has been set up on the banks of the Tigris river in the
antique town of Hasankeyf in South-Eastern Turkey. Approximately 150
people, mostly from the surrounding region, come to the camp every day.
But there are also participants from New Zealand, France, Germany and
Austria to protest against the construction of the Ilisu dam. The event
aims to inform about the project, additional events and actions are
being planned, and lawyers give advice to the local population about
their legal rights. Every evening there are concerts on the waterside.

“The camp is an important sign of resistance from within the Ilisu
region. Even though construction activities continue, there is hope for
the rescue of Hasankeyf,” said Ulrich Eichelmann from ECA Watch Austria,
who is currently in Hasankeyf. Just recently “Aksiyon”, one of the most
popular magazines in Turkey, called for the implementation of an
alternative model to the current plans to build the Ilisu dam. The
magazine quoted a study by the renowned Technical University of Ankara,
which shows how Hasankeyf and parts of the Tigris valley can be saved by
the construction of five smaller dams.

If the Ilisu dam is built according to current plans, more than 400
kilometres of the Tigris river and its tributaries, habitat for some
globally endangered species and so far undiscovered flora and fauna,
will be destroyed. Endemic species will be extinct and a unique
ecosystem will be lost forever. Ten thousands of people will be
displaced, and the ancient city of Hasankeyf will disappear in a
gigantic reservoir, together with more than 200 other highly valuable
archaeological sites.

Photos: Aydin Cetinbosanoglu

Further Information:
Ulrich Eichelmann — ECA Watch Österreich +43 676 662 1512
Thomas Wenidoppler – ECA Watch Österreich +43 650 822 5200