'Is the wall dividing Diyarbakır being built for pro-government Cengiz Holding?'

Photos: Mesopotamia Agency

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Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) MP Garo Paylan has submitted a parliamentary question to Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Adil Karaismailoğlu about a wall project that will divide the Diyarbakır city into two.

The ministry had started to build a 12-kilometer double-sided wall along the railroad in the city but suspended it yesterday (September 2) after public reaction.

Saying that the wall will negatively impact both daily life and trade in the city, Paylan mentioned the claims that the wall project started after a request from pro-government companies, including Cengiz Holding, which carries out mining operations around the southeastern province.

"It is of the knowledge of the city's people that a wall is being built for partisan companies such as Cengiz Holding, which carry out mining operations in Diyarbakır and provinces around it, to transport the mine faster," Paylan remarked.

During the Justice and Development Party (AKP) governments, Cengiz Holding undertook many "megaprojects" alone or in consortiums, including the İstanbul Airport, Hasankeyf Ilısu Dam, Northern Marmara Highway, Yusufeli Dam and HEPP, Akkuyu Nuclear Plant Port, Rize-Artvin Airport, and Ordu-Giresun Airport.

non-governmental organizations in the city have suggested that a separate railway should be constructed for the transportation of dangerous substances and the train line that passes through the city should be only used for passenger transportation.

He asked the following questions to the minister:

• Is the wall being built for Cengiz Holding?
• Why didn't you think about moving the railroad out of the city?
• Was an environmental impact assessment report obtained for the Diyarbakır Wall?
• Would you explain the "public interest" in the "Diyarbakır Wall" project, which will mean "social division" for the city?
• Have you calculated the financial loss of shop owners that will be caused by the "Diyarbakır Wall" project?
• Did you get the approval of the people of Diyarbakır for the "Diyarbakır Wall" project?
• Why do you now think about building a wall on the railroad line, which has existed for more than half a century?
• Is the "Diyarbakır Wall" being built upon the request of partisan companies in the mining sector?
• The people of Diyarbakır don't want a wall in their city. Will you halt the project? (HA/VK)