JINHA

WAN - Residents are continuing a "human shield" action to stop clashes in the Serhat region of Northern Kurdistan (in Turkey), despite soldiers' attempts to stop them.

The Turkish state's war in Kurdistan continues to escalate. Among the victims are residents who survive through pastoralism in the high mountain plateaus of the Serhat region. The government has declared many such regions "temporary military security zones." Residents, whose only source of income is pastoralism, are reluctant to abandon the areas.

Citizens have now started "human shield" occupations to stop military activity in Serhat. The vigils are ongoing at several locations in the provinces of Agrı and Kars. Soldiers have resorted to various means to disperse the demonstrators with limited success.

On August 4, civilians began actions to support the locals who use the mountain plateaus on the slopes of Mt. Ararat and Mt. Tendürek. On Mt. Tendürek, soldiers bombed the area despite the presence of civilians. Activists left the site after 15 days. Now, they have announced that they will be returning to the site due to recent military activity.

At the "human shield" occupation on the north slope of Mt. Ararat, soldiers have given the occupiers until September 4 to evacuate the area. Neither the villagers nor the solidarity activists have agreed to leave. Soldiers dug trenches in the road, blocking travel in and out. Then, water was cut to the area. This left the vigil without food and water.

Locals obtained access to construction equipment and attempted to repair the road. However, police seized the machinery. At that point, a large group of citizens headed to the trenches and filled them in with their bare hands. Supporters then brought in food and water to the area.

On August 12, soldiers declared the Kağızman district of Kars a military region. The next day, locals started a "human shield" action. When footage emerged of soldiers posing with slain Kurdish guerrillas in the area, outraged locals headed to the vigil en masse. They say they will not leave, whatever the military does.

(at/fk/cm)