Turkey’s southeast enjoys peace, safety as PKK vanishes

By Fecri Barlik

SIIRT, Turkey

Rural and mountainous areas of southeastern Siirt province are echoing with folk songs of poignant-voiced shepherds instead of the sound of guns.

Locals in the area say they are happy to live without terror and of being able to move freely in the region.

The 1565-level Danila Passage zone, where terrorists roamed, has become a place of peace after a series of counter-terrorism operations. Stockbreeders are now in the mountains and highlands. They enjoy fresh air and natural beauty of the area.

Shepherds can be seen singing Turkish folk songs; people are enjoying the peace by singing songs in Turkish as well as Kurdish.

The area has been cleared of PKK terrorist organization with a series of operations in recent months.

Ramazan Gokalp, who lives in the Golkoy hamlet of Gokcekuru village, said he is happy to experience peace and security in the area.

“We feed animals, plant wheat in our village. We make cheese according to our own needs... Terror has ended, peace prevails in our region. Allah our state,” said Gokalp mentioning its support to the state.

Bayram Kandemir, who lives in the Kubik hamlet of the same village, said troubled days were now behind them.

Kandemir said many citizens had migrated to Istanbul and other big cities due to the terrorist attacks, but now they have started to the village as the region becomes more secure.

"In the past...everyone was escaping to big cities, but now there is peace and safety.”

Yunus Ugur said he has been a shepherd for several years in the region and they come to the region during the summer.

"We no longer face obstacles [terror check points] on the roads like in the past, there is no attack. We can do whatever we want, we have no trouble, sometimes we gather, sing songs and dance the altogether.”

Turks, Kurds, Arabs and all who live in this country are brothers and sisters, Ugur said: "We need a brotherly life, everyone should do their best for peace, everyone should open their eyes and nobody should act following someone’s order."