SULAIMANI (ESTA) — The Turkish military has cut down trees in several areas on the Kurdistan Region’s border with Turkey, according to two lawmakers.
Member of the Kurdistan Parliament Ali Hama Salih said on Sunday that the Turkish military had begun cutting down trees in areas it had “occupied” on the Kurdistan Region’s border.
“The plan is that [Turkey] wants to destroy all the forests in Zap, Avashin, Metina and Badlis and turn them to a military base,” Hama Salih said in a post to his Facebook page.
“This is not only invasion, but the destruction of Kurdistan nature,” Hama Salih added.
Another lawmaker, Hividar Ahmed, posted several photos on Facebook showing logs after the Turkish military has cut down trees on the Region’s border areas.
“In evidence, the Turkish mercenaries have cut down and stolen trees in Sindya region in Zakho district,” said Ahmed.
He called on the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) to take legal and diplomatic channels to stop Turkey, and also called on the international community to halt the destruction of trees in the Region.
The Turkish army has entered 40 kilometers deep into the Kurdistan Region, according to Kurdish officials, as part of its military campaign against the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).
Similarly, Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) lawmaker Huseyin Kacmaz said up to 30 tractors and nearly 70 labors were taken to cut down trees on the mountain.
“The Turkish military cuts down and transfers 400 tons of trees on the Mount Cudi every day,” the lawmaker said on Sunday.
