‘This project will turn Dersim's Munzur Springs into a commercial area’

* Photo: Pirha

Click to read the article in Turkish

Munzur Springs is a 1st Degree Natural Protected Site in the district of Ovacık in Turkey's eastern province of Dersim. The Governor's Office of Tunceli and Euphrates Development Agency are now preparing to launch the "Munzur Springs Recreation Project" in the area.

As part of this project, excavators entered the site four days ago. The project foresees the construction of tent campsites, slaughterhouse, toilets, parking lot, buffet, stand areas and a walking parkour.

Speaking to bianet about the project, Ovacık District Mayor Mustafa Sarıgül and Federation of Dersim Associations (DEDEF) Munzur Preservation Board member Hasan Şen have underlined that "there is an attempt to turn the Munzur Springs into a commercial site in the name of landscaping."

Sharing further details about the project, Ovacık Mayor Sarıgül has said that the project was prepared in 2018 and added:

"The budget allocated for the project is 8 million; 6 million of this budget is provided by the Euphrates Development Agency and the remaining 2 million by the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization. The project foresees arrangements such as a walking parkour along the natural protected site.

"Outside the natural protected site, there will be toilets, a slaughterhouse, an administrative building, a camping site, kitchen and treatment facility."

'People should decide what to build here'

Sarıgül has emphasized that the project needs to be discussed with the people. "One can ask 'What is wrong with building a toilet and a slaughterhouse?' But Munzur Springs is a center of faith and a Natural Protected Site. Anything that will be built here needs to be discussed with the NGOs, leaders of faith, local administrations and the people."

Sarıgül has also talked about their meeting with Tunceli Governor: "We met with the Governor's Office and we presented a report detailing why we are against the project. We presented this report to the Directorate of Environment and Urbanization as well. The Governor's Office told us that most of our requests were fulfilled and the project was changed accordingly.

"If something is to be done there, who will supervise and control this project needs to be announced to the people. We say that the authority to supervise and control the project needs to lie with the opinion leaders, NGOs, sub-governor's office and municipality, otherwise, Munzur will turn into a commercial area. A project needs to be done by getting organized with the people and it must be handed over to the local dynamics.

'Gain the people's consent'

"Partial changes have been made, but we demand a project which will involve all parties. A commission should be formed, this commission should explain to the people what they want to do here and discuss it with the people, gain their consent and, then, make a decision on what to build there.

"It can only be done like this, nothing can be done without gaining the people's consent. While our ancestors did not even smoke in Munzur, some people now take hammers in their hands, unaware of where and why they are working, without knowing the spirit of the place. Someone is undertaking a construction in our home, but does not ask us."

'Munzur is a sacred place for Alevis'

"We do not accept big corporations being brought over to the centers of faith held sacred by the people of Dersim, we do not accept tenders lodged on these sites," Hasan Şen has also told bianet, adding:

"Munzur Springs is a sacred place for the Alevi faith. The people of Dersim have protected the natural structure of Munzur, they have not moved even a single stone for years. Now, without asking people, by disregarding their will, they want to launch a project here."

'It is equal to an intervention in our memory'

Emphasizing that the project aims at turning the Munzur Springs into a commercial site, Şen has briefly added:

"This project is equal to an intervention in our faith, culture and memory. With this landscaping project in Munzur, they want to detach this area from its core as a center of faith and turn it into a picnic and commercial area.

'Project should be withdrawn'

"If the consent of opinion leaders, ecology movements and democratic mass movements are not won, we will not let any intervention in the Munzur Springs. We want them to withdraw the project. Consulting with universities, we - the people of Dersim - will do carry out our own project, if necessary; but we do not want this project to come into being.

'Nothing can be done without people's consent'

"On Tuesday, a 'Union Jem' (a central Alevi communal worship service) was done in Munzur Springs. The spiritual leaders (dede) of all hearts said that they did not consent to this project. We insistently say this: Dersim is a city of consent, nothing can be done without people's consent. Nature is sacred for us, we will not let our nature be detached from its faith and values." (RT/SD)