MEDİNE MAMEDOĞLU

Dersim - The 20th Munzur Culture and Nature Festival, which was set to take place in Dersim between 21-24 July 2022 with the motto “We defend nature against mining plunder, life against plunder, art against bans”, has been canceled by the festival organizing committee due to the bans imposed by the Tunceli Governorate. Yesterday, the festival organizing committee announced the cancellation of the festival after the march was held in the city with the participation of thousands.

“Everyone waited for the festival with excitement”

Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Dersim Provincial Co-chair Nazlı Çeliköz commented on the bans imposed by the governorate. Pointing out that the bans are not the first or the last; she said that they would continue to organize themselves against all kinds of bans. “This year, the people of Dersim and the people across Turkey waited for the festival with excitement. The people of Dersim needed such a festival because they would have worked together after two years. Dersim has been systematically plundered since 1938. The best response to the environmental destruction and mining in this period is to stand against them. We wanted to hold the festival with the motto ‘We defend nature against mining plunder, life against plunder, art against bans’ to say no to the environmental destruction and the plunder of nature.”

“The bans were announced on the last day”

Indicating that both artisans and the people, who came to the city for the festival, are victims of the bans imposed by the governorate, Nazlı Çeliköz said, “The Tunceli Governorate announced many bans two days before the festival. The people who came to the city would contribute to the economy of the city. However, the bans prevented this. The Tunceli Governorate did not allow some musicians to take the stage. Then, it banned people from staying in the stadium and students’ dormitories in the city.”

“These bans are not the first or the last bans”

Underlining that they will strengthen themselves against the repressive mindset, Nazlı Çeliköz said, “We would organize this festival to say no to the assimilation policies and cultural extermination. However, the Tunceli Governorate had its own plans and announced the bans. Such bans haven’t been imposed in Dersim for the first time. The people of Dersim faced such bans before. Still, people cannot go to their villages and highlands. We will continue to organize ourselves against such bans. We decided to cancel the festival in order not to do what the governor wants. We will tell people why we cancelled the festival. We do not accept such prohibitive policies.”