BY ISMAIL KUCUKKAYA
AKSAM- As Turkey has been discussing terrorism, government bodies have been holding numerous meetings and making decisions, and I've been listening to government leaders and the military. So what's going on in the southeast? I was there over the weekend, where I met with people who feel the effects of separatist terrorism firsthand and talked with soldiers, policemen, local officials, and businessmen who invest in the region. I was particularly curious about the situation in and around Tunceli. During a year of rising terrorism, there's always been good news from Tunceli. Before going there, I made an appointment with Tunceli Governor Mustafa Yaman.
I also met with Fenerbahce Deputy Chair and Limak Group owner Nihat Ozdemir, who currently is the largest investor in the region. He told me that Limak has poured $2.5 billion into the region and created 14,000 jobs. Its investments center on cement factories and the energy sector, both to tackle the energy crisis and create employment opportunities.
Ozdemir showed me models for the forthcoming Alkurmu Dam in Siirt and Seyrantepe Dam in Tunceli. Then we toured four dams, including ones in Tatar and Uzuncayir. Seven dams are being constructed on the Botan River using the build-operate-transfer (BOT) method. In other words, the private sector finds its own resources, that is, builds the power plants, produces electricity, and gives the state its share.
We flew from Siirt to Elazig, where we saw Lake Keban and its magnificent natural surroundings. New dams are also being built there. The dams change the climate and culture of the region, and also help to fight terrorism, by closing corridors for infiltration. Among the largest of these investments are the Tatar and Seyrantepe Dams, which we visited. The state built the dams but neglected the equipment investment, so the water flowed for five years for nothing. Now production has started with the BOT method, with money found the private sector.
The quality of the regional highways from Elazig to Siirt and Tunceli to Diyarbakir is outstanding. Tunceli Governor Yaman told me that they build these roads, although there's little traffic there. They also look at the psychological effects. Tunceli is a very lively region with a good infrastructure. As the governor said, after the dams are constructed, the city will turn into a region of lakes. Yaman said the people living in Tunceli have no cultural or sociological links with the terrorist PKK. People are well-educated. The appointment of an Alawi rector to a new university by President Abdullah Gul was met very positively. In addition, Chief of General Staff Gen. Ilker Basbug's recent visit to Tunceli had a big impact.
While listening to the governor, I remembered back when Prime Ministry Undersecretary Efkan Ala was the Diyarbakir governor, forging close relations with the public, watching investments closely, and serving as a bridge between the state and the nation. While having tea, I was pleased to learn from the local security director that the number of terrorist attacks had fallen sharply.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will visit Elazig on Saturday and also attend some opening ceremonies in Tunceli next week. The governor told me that Erdogan places great importance on Tunceli, and Ozdemir said that the Prime Ministry was ready to do anything for Tunceli. This is evident on the roads, and there's also great development in villages and towns near the dam construction. Life is lively there.
The state started to send very good administrators to the region. Erdogan is also prioritizing investment. The General Staff not only takes military measures, but also favors a comprehensive approach. Finally, the private sector is making large investments in the region. Bureaucrats represent not restrictions, but the warm and loving heart of the state. That's why the terrorist group is going crazy. As they see that the end is near, they've become aggressive. But the example of Tunceli shows us a lot.