Vildan Atmaca/JINHA

WAN - With the first warm days of spring, in villages all over Kurdistan, families begin to think about moving to their summer residences on the cool summer pastures called yaylas. The people insure sufficient grazing for the herds of sheep, goats and cattle. However, the yaylas have their share of martial law which has imposed on Kurdish people by President and the AKP government. The wolds in the Erciş district of Van have been banned by Turkish state. Erciş women reacted the state's ban on their wolds by saying, "We will move to the yaylas and we will resist against all bans. The owners of the yaylas are the people. Keep your hands off our yaylas."

State forces have killed civilians and tried to clear off the cities by bombing in martial law which has been imposed on the cities and districts of North Kurdistan by the AKP government and President. The yaylas which are means of living in Kurdistan, are also included the bans areas. The yaylas which are located in the Geliyê Zilan Valley of Van's Erciş district have been banned to the people. Zilan people, who move to their summer resisdences on the cool summer pastures every year, pointed out that they will move to the yaylas despite the bans.

Naime Taş (45), who lives in Taşkapı (Kurdish name: Şor) of Geliyê Zilan, stated that she condernmed the mentalities which launch massacre against Kurdish people. She said she would move to the yaylas despite the bans and pressure. "The President is still hungry for blood. He is killing in the cities and now he wants to starve us to death by banning our yaylas. We will move to the yaylas and we will resist against all bans. The owners of the yaylas are the people. We won't leave our yaylas." said Naime.

Naime pointed out that they have animals and their village is located in a stony mountainy area. Their animals would be dying if they didn't move to the yaylas. "We have many animals. If they stay here, they will die. There is no grass in the village for our animals. Everywhere is stony and mountainy. Our only means of living is the yaylas. If we don't move to the yaylas in summer, we will starve to death."

Zerif Kurt (50) stated that the only means of living of Kurdish people is the yaylas. "Banning the yaylas, which is the only our means of living and culture, means that they want to annihilate this people in all respects." Zerif said they have a crowded population in the village and continued, "We have lived in the winter for nine months. We collect and produce our foods on the yaylas in the summer. We don't live in the palaces or villas, so we have to stand on our own legs with our labours. We don't change our yaylas to the most beautiful palace.

"No matter what the cost, we will move to our yaylas.The yaylas belond to the people. Keep your hands off our yaylas."

(ng/dc/mg/gd)