Fire continues in Dersim: Soldiers threaten villagers

Villagers in Dersim attempt to put out the forest fires, but are threatened and hindered by Turkish soldiers.

The forest fires that broke out due to the Turkish army bombings in Avgasor Valley, Bali Hamlet, Müşkirek Village, Kartan Territory, Sincik Mountain, Xoşiruk Mountain, Dikenli Mahmut Village and the Garipuşağı area continue to grow.

Villagers who went to put out the fires yesterday were threatened through the loudspeakers of the Geyiksuyu Outpost and asked to leave the area at once. The villagers said they couldn’t reach the fire areas and called for urgent action against the fires.

 “CONSTANT ARTILLERY FIRE”

Abdullah Çınar from the Müşkirek village said soldiers set the forests on fire from their positions: “Do they enjoy it or something? I really can’t make sense of it. There is constant artillery fire. We are afraid, we are uneasy. We have gardens and orchards. There must be an urgent intervention.”

“MOUNTAIN GOATS AND DEER ARE LEAVING” 

Çınar stressed that the fires spread further last night: “If there is no forest, there is no life. I saw the mountain goats and deer run away in the area affected by the fires. This is a shame, it’s a sin, and an atrocity.”