Sarya Gözüoğlu - Aysel Işık / JINHA

ŞIRNEX - 90-year-old Asya Belge, who passed her life by resisting against pressure, torture and pain, is now waiting the ban in Şırnak to be lifted and return to her home. Mother Asya remembers Doctor Baran, Agit and a hands-hennaed female fighter from Şırnak resistance…

Botan, which has a different place in the geography of Kurdistan, is well-known with its resistance against assimilation and genocide policies. Botan people resisted against burning villages, torture, murders by unknown assailants, displacement and forcibly disappearances especially at the end of 1980s and in 1990s. Botan people have resisted against martial law practices for 131 days. Asya Belge doesn't forget the soldiers those who conducted raids on her village and home, tortured her and her family members.

90-year-old Asya had been forcibly displaced from her village at the end of 1980s. Asya and her family had to leave their village and began to live in Van. Asya returned to her land in Şırnak after she lost her home in Van earthquake in 2011. Asya and her family had to leave their lands after "curfew" begun to be imposed in Şırnak and they have begun to live in the Balveren Town of Şırnak. Asya is now waiting to return her home in Şırnak and she told us the days in 1980s and 1990s.

Asya stated that during the first years of Kurdistan freedom struggle, called the PKK people as "Pro-Apo". She said, "There was oppression on our village, almost every day, police conducted raids on our homes; however no one was afraid. Pro-Apo people fought for the people and put an end to the oppression. All pro-Apo people were young and brave like the young people now. They visited our village and talked to us. They told us everything they knew. I remember Sinan, Serdar and Agit, I never forget them." Asya added that Botan people welcomed these pro-Apo people with open arms, she said, "They told my daughter come with us. My daughter cracked a joke and said, "I will come with you if you make me president." They told her by smiling, "Ok, come with us, we will make you president 10 years later." They were really good people."

I never forget Martry Doctor Baran, Agit, Sinan and Adil." said Asya and she continued to talk by saying, "One night, Doctor Baran came to our home and we turned off the electricity. I remember his face as if I saw him only yesterday. There was a pro-Apo woman. Her hands were hennaed all time; however, I cannot remember her name because I am old.

"The state has become wilder; however, we have become stronger whenever it has become wilder. I know that one day the people who want freedom will win and murderous will lose. The state burned mountains to annihilate the pro-Apo people and they do the same."

(gc/gd)