Looking at Rojava from Latin America [Archive]

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Marinaleda

28th July 2015, 15:25

LOOKING AT ROJAVA FROM LATIN AMERICA

When people say that “the Kobane resistance resonated across the world” they mostly really mean that Europe and the USA finally acknowledged the credentials of the Kurdistan freedom movement. The global media powerhouses — such as the BBC, CNN and NBC — afforded miles of column inches or airtime to the resistance in Kobane and even Western government officials, who previously would synchronically go out of their way to avoid noticing the Kurdish struggle, openly declared support for the Kobane resistance. These irregularities, however, in contrast with their face value, when critically scrutinised raise more questions than answers.

Many analysts have written extensively on the West’s sensitivities and geopolitical calculations regarding the Middle East and, in recent times, specifically Syria and Kobane. Without having anything original to say in this regard, it is just worth mentioning that most of these analysts were agreed on the notion that the West’s approach to Kobane and Rojava was (my argument is that it still is) tactical. To be perfectly honest, no one really expected for these powers — the political and media representatives of global capital — to enter into a strategic alliance with the revolutionary values of Rojava. More than anything else, this tactical alliance was grounded on a “joint enemy” and in accordance with this the intrinsic revolutionary ideals of the Rojava Revolution were, at least for now, not just conveniently sidestepped but, to be perfectly honest, crudely censored by the very same corporations that glorified the resistance.

For example; while the women fighters in Kurdistan were being serviced by the Western media as if they had just “fallen out of the sky”, how many of these outlets actually referred to the PKK’s and Abdullah Ocalan’s theoretical and practical groundwork for this development, the truest revolution occurring in the region right now. Obviously this is not something to be surprised about, even academic apologists are readily conceding that one of the most distinctive characteristics of the current hegemonic system is its tendency to strip social phenomena of its historical context.

So then, on top of fighting ISIS, did anyone catch any of the major media corporations highlight the fact that an alternative form of societal organisation, as opposed to the 5,000 year old statist system, was being established in Rojava? No. How about the search for alternative/cooperative/communal economic models as opposed to the monopolising/exploitative/destructive economic practices of capitalist modernity? Didn’t think so. Excluding organisations that are sensitive to these types of social experiments, the censorship applied to Rojava’s revolutionary ideals and practices were, and still are, consistently being upheld.

This is the outlook on Rojava from the USA or Europe: “There is a very effective fighting force in Rojava that is defeating ISIS. This fighting force must be supported against ISIS, but the ideological campaign against Rojava’s social, political and economic ideals must continue (just as it has done so for over thirty years against the PKK)”.

To sum up, from the vantage point of the US and several European states, it was deemed convenient to enter into an alliance with the Kurds of Rojava in Kobane on grounds of “a common enemy”. Further strategic alignment, however, seems to be substantially improbable; the Rojava Revolution has no intention of transforming into a neoliberal extension/satellite of the global capitalist hegemony, nor will the hegemonic forces of capitalist modernity tame their relentless quest for profit and power.

The look from Latin America

So what significance does Rojava hold for Latin America? I am not about to indulge in nostalgic romanticism and rave on about how the revolutionary peoples of Latin America have embraced the Rojava Revolution en masse; not yet anyway. But I am going to emphasise the fact that the look from Latin America upon Rojava does bare some intrinsic strategic differences from that of the West.

Before I go on to these differences, it is important to distinguish between the state and society as the subjects of analysis (Of course this separation also goes for the West; however, because I specifically want to highlight the situation in Latin America I have not touched upon the attitudes of Western social movements towards Rojava). Since its formation, the state has been ontologically antipathetic towards society’s quest for freedom. No matter how modern, no matter how liberal or no matter how “socialist” a state claims itself to be, states have always been wary — and even in violent opposition — of the peoples’ demand for freedom, equality and justice.

This inherent state characteristic — with its differences — is evident in Latin America too. The introductory seminars for international relations diplomas in most universities all start by readily accepting that inter-state relationships are founded and furthered on interest. This is probably the underlying current in Venezuela’s friendship with Iran, which can also be described as a relationship remnant of those maintained during the Cold War. It is for this reason that a “socialist” state such as Venezuela can have good relations with a state like Iran under the pretence of “anti-imperialism”. This prized relationship is why government officials in “socialist” Venezuela can only secretly show support for the Kurdistan freedom movement: the biggest socialist mass movement in the Middle East. It is this handicap that completely incapacitates Venezuela from supporting a natural ally in the Middle East, while Western states are once again tinkering in the region.

Bolivia, however, is an interesting anomaly when analysing state practices. On the 27th of November, 2014 — the 37th anniversary of the inauguration of the PKK — the Bolivian Senate passed a resolution that declared “we salute the efforts in Rojava for the establishment of Democratic Confederalism and support the right to self determination of the peoples of Kurdistan”. This is the first resolution of its kind passed in any of the countries in the world; for the first time the existence of the cantons of Rojava were being officially recognised.

The real exciting developments, however, are occurring in the sphere of social movements in Latin America. Due to the fact that capitalism has been unable to institutionalise itself in the same way it has been able to do so in the West, the political reflexes of the people of Latin America have not been as atrophied as they have in the West. The power of social movements strengthens the hand of society against the state; never more so than in the 2013 protests in Brazil against rising public transport prices in which the state reversed its decision to raise prices. It is this dynamic that that has approached the Rojava Revolution with the most sincerity, passion and solidarity. It is for this reason that in cities such as Porto Alegre and Rio de Janeiro in Brazil — where there isn’t even a single Kurd — Kurdistan Solidarity Committees are increasingly becoming exciting examples of international solidarity.

On the 1st of November World Kobane Day 500 Argentinians flocked to the streets to support the Kobane resistance. Many others in Bolivia, Uruguay, Columbia and Venezuela voiced their support. Various women’s organisations in the city of Porto Alegre came together on the 7th of February in a preparatory meeting for the 8th of March activities and declared that this years proceedings would be dedicated to the Women fighters of Kurdistan.

For the Zapatistas in Chiapas, FARC in Columbia, the Landless Workers’ Movement in Brazil, the Mapuche in Chile, the social movements in Argentina and the Anarchists of the continent, the Rojava Revolution is a revolution that represents their values in the Middle East.

Even though it is a mere 10,000 kilometres away, the revolutionary movement in Kurdistan is rapidly becoming a beacon of hope for Latin America. The people of Latin America, as part of their humanitarian sensitivities, have been in solidarity with the people of Palestine for decades. However, the sympathy towards the Kurdistan freedom movement bears a significant difference. The revolutionary movements and people of Latin America are not sympathising with the Kurdistan freedom movement and its leader Abdullah Ocalan merely on humanitarian grounds. Rather, they are beginning to form joint platforms of struggle as Abdullah Ocalan’s projects for Kurdistan and the Middle East are resonating with Latin American revolutionary forces. In this regard, the look from Latin America towards Rojava is not conjectural and definitely not tactical; rather, the Rojava Revolution is rapidly turning into an occasion for the unification of the revolutionary projects of Latin America and Kurdistan. This, in itself, is worth getting excited over…

KURDISH QUESTION

Marinaleda

28th July 2015, 15:26

I am from Turkey and want to tell all your internationalist revolutionaries that,Rojava is a revolution,revolution of 21th century. from first communal societies to neoloitic revolution , today Communality and FREE LIFE is tried to build in rojava.

today in turkey regime started to attack against PKK too.All democratic and revolutionary forces must be organised and protest against turkish regime for tihs fascist attacks

khad

28th July 2015, 16:02

LOOKING AT ROJAVA FROM LATIN AMERICA - KURDISH QUESTION
For all the the sympathy we have for a group of people suffering under the assaults of the Islamic State and Erdogan's neo-Ottoman project, let's have a little reality check.

There is nothing inherently revolutionary going on in Rojava - it's mostly pure survival mode mixed in with a good dash of opportunism. The YPG has now entered into alliances with some FSA remnants as well as the Syrian state, all while being threatened by Kurdish islamists from within. Eventually all this might come to a head, but all these overtures towards pluralism and cooperation simply reflect the fact that they simply don't have the power on the ground to really flex their muscles. There have been so many posts from YPG/PKK factioneers, in their private voices, that they'd like nothing more than to expel all Arabs/Syriacs from their holy lands, and all alliances they enter into are merely stopgaps to this end.

The PYD and its militias routinely arrest, imprison, and deport OTHER KURDS of the KDP faction FFS. Hopefully the cooperation with the FSA in Kobane and the SAA/Syriacs in Hasakah can over time change the hearts of the people to truly reflect the ostensible ideology, but let's keep it real.

http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2014/05/kurdistan-kdp-pyd-erbil-barzani-ocalan-syria.html

Syrian Kurdish politicians accuse the KDP of covert bombing campaigns against PKK-affiliated parties in Syrian Kurdish areas, and a court in Afrin sentenced KDP-supported politicians to 10 to 20 years in prison for “terrorist attacks” earlier this month. Moreover, the Syrian Kurdish politicians accuse KDP officials of visiting Damascus to undermine the Syrian Kurds in Syria.

As a result of these tensions, Syrian Kurdish security forces started to expel, arrest and deny entry to Syria of politicians of the newly established Barzani-linked Kurdistan Democratic Party of Syria (KDP-S). This also came after the digging of trenches on the Iraqi-Syrian border in April by the Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq.

Bashar Amin, a KDP-S politician, was arrested in his house in Hassakeh and deported to Iraq in his slippers and pajamas on May 16. In a tit-for-tat response, the pro-PKK politician Nujin Yusiv was imprisoned for two days and deported from Iraq to Syria by the KDP’s security forces on May 21, despite having a residency permit for a year.

Marinaleda

28th July 2015, 16:13

dear khad,

barzani and his party KDP declared that they do not see changes in Rojava "revolution" and their media channel Rudaw made falsified news about cooperation between syrşan army and YPG forces.

today you can see barzani led kurdish media support the solution process in turkey and AKP regime.And today they support the AKP regime against PKK s behaviour.I wanto to say that we cannot rely on this media groups and this kind of imperialistic new groups

so there are news about rojava but we cannot know is it correct or not???? ı know from my country kdp led media made too many falsified news against PKK and YPG .

you can take news form academic delegations who visited rojava.

khad

28th July 2015, 16:33

dear khad,

barzani and his party KDP declared that they do not see changes in Rojava "revolution" and their media channel Rudaw made falsified news about cooperation between syrşan army and YPG forces.
Wrong. Hasakah just repelled a huge offensive by the Islamic State last month. Guess who's in Hasakah?

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CK3pHFfW8AAGrZ3.jpg:large

Photo taken only days ago near the sports stadium. Syriac militamen/NDF with a YPG dozer-tank:
http://i.imgur.com/eqxjvO5.jpg

And just in today, Iraqi Shia militia Harakat al-Nujaba confirms its presence in Hasakah
http://alnujaba.com/2488-%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%AA%D8%B5%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AA%2 0%D8%AC%D8%AF%D9%8A%D8%AF%D8%A9%20%D9%84%D9%85%D8% AC%D8%A7%D9%87%D8%AF%D9%8A%20%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%86%D8 %AC%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%A1%20%D9%81%D9%8A%20%D8%B3%D9%8 8%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A7.html

today you can see barzani led kurdish media support the solution process in turkey and AKP regime

so there are news about rojava but we cannot know is it correct or not???? ı know form my country kdp led media made too many falsified news against PKK and YPG .Well I'm glad you agree that Barzani is worthless. But look at yourself. Here you argue that the KDP is treasonous and attacking the PYD from within, but what are you going to do about it? Is it inconceivable that the PYD would take measures against something that even you have declared an existential threat?

It's not KDP-Turkish lies that those KDP-S members were imprisoned - that actually happened, and the KRG even put pressure on the PYD to release them later. But as you are talking up this KDP-Turkish threat, wouldn't these measures be a natural response, then?

The Democratic Party of Kurdistan – Syria (KDP-S) said that security forces affiliated to the PYD arrested KDP-S member Falamaz Uthman on 7 July.

“We appeal to President Massoud Barzani, to intervene to stop the violations,” said the brother of Falamaz in a letter published by the pro-KDP-S Rojavanews website, calling for the release of all prisoners.

“The PYD does not accept anyone attempting to compete with them intellectually or politically and are using a dictatorial approach,” he said.

The brother of Falamaz said the PYD prevented him from visiting his brother and haven’t told him where his brother was located.

PYD-affiliated security forces have imprisoned and tortured several members of the KDP-S before, either without charge, or accusing them of bomb attacks.

On June 11th, 2015, PYD security forces released KDP-S members ?Abdulhanan Habash, Ahmad Jamaluddin Saidu, and Mustafa Jamaluddin Saidu, who were arrested in May, in the village of Raju, reported the human rights NGO Kurdwatch.

All this shows is that there is no way to run a movement, especially an nationalist one, without a certain purging of "undesirables." It is what it is. Support the YPG in its fight, but let's not lose sight of this fact.

Marinaleda

28th July 2015, 16:59

khad

28th July 2015, 17:18

I am talking about all nationalist and statist medias not only KDP-turkish.KDP's rojava policy was failure.One day ago lot of people from many poitical kurdish gropus walked to Qandil and made a statement about turkish state attacks and KDP's behaviour about this attack.

Like ı said YPG and Rojava is seen here an alternative for this middle east crisis.Capitalist modernist systems paradigms failed there.Nationalistic ideas making things worse.We need an alternative system that have all nations all religions.That is the project of democratic confederal system is tried to build in rojava.From syriacs to arabs and kurds all nations unites in one system that is called DEMOCRATIC NATION wihout nation state,democratic autonomous regions from neighborhood to canton area.

If you recognise PKK and kurdish revolutionary movement you can see the anti nationalistic idea.But state medias especially turkish media shows pkk is an nationalist organisation.KDP is making it too.
IF it's not a nationalist movement, then why is it called Rojava after Rojavayê Kurdistanê‎?

Half of the population in Hasakah isn't even Kurdish, and yet how many Arabs/Syriacs are represented in the leadership echelons of the PYD administration?

Yes, one could argue that many Arabs there are settlers, but let's not kid ourselves about the reality of the situation - that of a certain political order trying to impose its will on a territory. This, I really don't have a problem with, because what are the realistic options? However, to represent it as something unique in the 5000-year history of human civilization is disingenuous at best.

Reality check from a YPG sympathizer posted today.

I used to believe in the Rojava project wholeheartedly, from a human and moral level. It was and is always presented as the only "success story" in Syria in terms of a new, democratic change in the region.

Sadly, once one arrives in the region for a prolonged period (rather than my previous shorter visits) the facade of the project begins to fall. But why?

Firstly, the population of Jazeera Canton is perceived by the media to be a majority Kurdish but this is not the case. The population, according to those who work in the Democratic Government of North Eastern Syria, is 50% Arab, 10% Christian (Assyrian/Syriac) and 40% Kurdish. The Arabs of Jazeera are vastly under represented and suffer economic, social and political repression which I personally find repugnant.

What has happened is that a minority population has unified and forced it's view on to the entire populace; it is only due to the fast political union of Kurdish people (despite small political divides) that this usurpation of power was able to happen.

The Government of the region has no interest in actively perusing a joint administration in the region; as is made clear by the politicians of the ruling party; this is "Rojava Kurdistane". Disagreeing with this, on a more than plastic level, is nor permitted.

To say there is freedom here is true in some respects, you have the freedom to agree with the new system or leave. There is religious freedom to a high degree but politics has over taken peoples lives to the point that it was bound them and living a life free of politics is no longer possible.

Marinaleda

28th July 2015, 17:34

firstly Rojava is not a state it is an area that syrian kurds live.So they call it ROJAVAA afrin jazira and kobane cantons.So nationalism is an state ideology .KURSİTAN isc an motherland ,motherland of middle east nations.You can read KCK AGREEMENT that call KURDISTAN DEMOCRATIC CONFEDERALISM.Ypu must konow differenc between ethnicity and nation state that is different.

Half of the population in Hasakah isn't even Kurdish, and yet how many Arabs/Syriacs are represented in the leadership echelons of the PYD administration?

Yes, one could argue that many Arabs there are settlers, but let's not kid ourselves about the reality of the situation - that of a certain political order trying to impose its will on a territory. This, I really don't have a problem with, because what are the realistic options? However, to represent it as something unique in the 5000-year history of human civilization is disingenuous at best.

Reality check from a YPG sympathizer posted today.

PYD is an party there are lot of parties in rojava.From rojava constution

The Social Contract of Rojava Cantons in Syria

Preamble

We, the people of the Democratic Autonomous Regions of Afrin, Jazira and Kobane, a confederation of Kurds, Arabs, Syrics, Arameans, Turkmen, Armenians and Chechens, freely and solemnly declare and establish this Charter.

In pursuit of freedom, justice, dignity and democracy and led by principles of equality and environmental sustainability, the Charter proclaims a new social contract, based upon mutual and peaceful coexistence and understanding between all strands of society. It protects fundamental human rights and liberties and reaffirms the peoples’ right to self-determination.

Under the Charter, we, the people of the Autonomous Regions, unite in the spirit of reconciliation, pluralism and democratic participation so that all may express themselves freely in public life. In building a society free from authoritarianism, militarism, centralism and the intervention of religious authority in public affairs, the Charter recognizes Syria’s territorial integrity and aspires to maintain domestic and international peace.

In establishing this Charter, we declare a political system and civil administration founded upon a social contract that reconciles the rich mosaic of Syria through a transitional phase from dictatorship, civil war and destruction, to a new democratic society where civic life and social justice are preserved.

I General principles

Article 1

The Charter of the Autonomous Regions of Afrin, Jazira, and Kobane, [hereinafter “the Charter”], is a renewed social contract between the peoples of the Autonomous Regions. The Preamble is an integral part of the Charter.

Article 2

a- Authority resides with and emanates from the people of the Autonomous Regions. It is exercised by governing councils and public institutions elected by popular vote.

b- The people constitute the sole source of legitimacy all governing councils and public institutions, which are founded on democratic principles essential to a free society.

Article 3

a – Syria is a free, sovereign and democratic state, governed by a parliamentary system based on principles of decentralization and pluralism.

b – The Autonomous Regions is composed of the three cantons of Afrin, Jazira and Kobane, forming an integral part of the Syrian territory. The administrative centers of each Canton are: Afrin city, Canton of Afrin; Qamishli city, Canton of Jazira; Kobane city, Canton of Kobane.

c – The Canton of Jazira is ethnically and religiously diverse, with Kurdish, Arab, Syriac, Chechen, Armenian, Muslim, Christian and Yazidi communities peacefully co-existing in brotherhood. The elected Legislative Assembly represents all three Cantons of the Autonomous Regions.

The Structure of governance in the Autonomous Regions

Article 4

1- Legislative Assembly

2 – Executive Councils

3 – High Commission of Elections

4 – Supreme Constitutional Courts

5 – Municipal/Provincial Councils

Article 5

The administrative centers of each Canton are:

Qamishli city, Canton of Jazira;

Afrin city, Canton of Afrin;

Kobane City, Canton of Kobane.

Article 6

All persons and communities are equal in the eyes of the law and in rights and responsibilities.

Article 7

All cities, towns and villages in Syria which accede to this Charter may form Cantons falling within Autonomous Regions.

Article 8

All Cantons in the Autonomous Regions are founded upon the principle of local self-government. Cantons may freely elect their representatives and representative bodies, and may pursue their rights insofar as it does not contravene the articles of the Charter.

Article 9

The official languages of the Canton of Jazira are Kurdish, Arabic and Syriac. All communities have the right to teach and be taught in their native language.

for all contract

http://civiroglu.net/the-constitution-of-the-rojava-cantons/

Being a Christian in Rojava

A long psalm emerges from women with bowed heads, covered with small lace handkerchiefs. Men with tired faces. Children smiling. I am in the Sunday service in the church of Mar Kiriakis, in a Syriac neighborhood in Qamishli.

"Over two years ago, when the jihadists arrived in Sarakaniyie, about 100 km from Qamishli, they proposed to the fighters of YPG to leave them 24 hours in the Christian neighborhoods of Qamishli and then they would withdraw without touching the Muslims. The YPG refused and continued the war. Without the YPG we would have been slaughtered or long gone".

Gabriel is one of the cantors of the church. A mild man with a voice like a whisper. His wife and two daughters are beside him.

"We feel safe here in Syrian Kurdistan. As Christians our brothers feel confident in Iraqi Kurdistan too where they are protected by the Peshmergas. The Kurds have saved us from destruction", his wife says.

In another Christian neighborhood in Qamishli, in front of his church, Peter speaks calmly, but his eyes are full of emotion. His son fights in the YPG units: his daughter is in a committee of the Syriacs.

"The government system of Rojava is the best for us Christians. Not just for Christians, for all peoples of Rojava, Kurds, Arabs, Chechens. It is a model for all of Syria. We want to stay in Syria, all of us here. We do not want independence, we belong to Syria. But a democratic Syria that respects human rights and differences. The Rojava model could be a model for the entire Middle East, which is emptying itself today of its last Christians ».

The previous evening, I'm in the dark streets of Qamishli with two friends when we turn the corner and bump into three men with guns. Two with Kalashnikovs and the third man with an impressive shotgun. This is eleven thirty at night at Biseriye neighborhood, close to the center of Qamishli. The neighborhood is mixed, Kurds, Christians, Arabs.

One of the people accompanying me is the co-chairman of the House of the People of the district, the organization of local citizens who coordinate the actions of various community groups. He is responsible, inter alia, for groups protecting neighborhoods. The hard faces soften, smiles, warm handshakes in the night. The sickly light of some lanterns cannot challenge the darkness. Electricity is a luxury.

"We patrol from seven in the evening until seven in the morning. The whole neighborhood. Two shifts. Ours is the first, now at midnight we will change with the second shift». The man I speak with has a wide smile now. His name is Maurice. He is a Christian and the man with the impressive shotgun.

"I was born here in the neighborhood that you see, and will never go away. And I protect it with my brothers the Kurds and the Arabs. So that people he can sleep quietly. So that my children and my wife sleep tight during the nights".

"Here in Rojava all live together as brothers, no one will separate us. We all fight and resist against the barbarism of the jihadists. We want democracy, we want to be together. As here in the neighborhood Biseriye, everyone helps everyone, there are no dividing lines between Kurds and Christians and Arabs. "

Next to Maurice another Christian, Gabriel smiles to show he agrees. Now other men with guns flit through the night like ghosts. Barakat, an Arab, Mehsud and Adnan, Kurds.

"The groups of citizens to protect neighborhoods are composed of volunteers who patrol all night. They control cars and anyone who enters the neighborhood if they don’t know him. They will not prevent anyone if he is OK but the jihadis can reach everywhere if we are not careful», says Mehsud, who has his face capped with a scarf.

"I sleep peacefully at night because I know that my neighbors do patrols." From the window of Maria’s living room I see the church in the neighborhood. Her brother is a cantor. Her house is in the heart of the neighborhood.

"We are all like brothers here. And the brand new administration gives us Christians a status that we have never had. We have always lived on very good terms with the Kurds and Arabs here but never had such equality in administration and politics".

"The Kurds protect us. If it were not for the Protection Units of the People (YPG) and the Women's Protection Units (YPJ), the jihadists would reach here and we would all be slaughtered. And we have our own Christians fighting side by side with the Kurds. "

When I was on the front line, I had visited a mobile unit of fighters from the Syriac Military Council (MFS), the army of the Christian Syriacs in Rojava, fighting alongside the Kurds.

The head of the company was Johan. His smile was childlike, yet he was 32 years old and a veteran specialist sergeant of the Swiss army. He had been fighting for two and a half years in the frontline against jihadists.

"We are all together in this war. Side by side, one covering the other. In this war we are not just allies, we are brothers. There are no two different military forces working together, we are the same body that fights against barbarism”, he told me.

"We believe in a better society. A society that we can build and where all the different nationalities of Rojava will live together. It can be done, it has already started with the building of the administration. I was born and raised in Switzerland. But something urgently called me in Mesopotamia, here, in the land of my ancestors. And I fight so that people don’t have to leave anymore from here, so that they are no more afraid to live here. "

Apart from the military wing, the Syrian Military Council, the Syriacs have organized their own police force, the Soturo, which works closely with the Kurdish police, the Asayis.

It is not the first time that I have witnessed Christians relying on and believing in Kurds protecting them. In N. Iraq I had visited many Christian places and monasteries where people had found shelter from Daesh’s barbarism. And they were all grateful for the protection of the Kurds.

for all writing

https://www.opendemocracy.net/arab-awakening/evangelos-aretaios/rojava-revolution

The Democratic Party of Kurdistan – Syria (KDP-S) said that security forces affiliated to the PYD arrested KDP-S member Falamaz Uthman on 7 July.

“We appeal to President Massoud Barzani, to intervene to stop the violations,” said the brother of Falamaz in a letter published by the pro-KDP-S Rojavanews website, calling for the release of all prisoners.

“The PYD does not accept anyone attempting to compete with them intellectually or politically and are using a dictatorial approach,” he said.

The brother of Falamaz said the PYD prevented him from visiting his brother and haven’t told him where his brother was located.

PYD-affiliated security forces have imprisoned and tortured several members of the KDP-S before, either without charge, or accusing them of bomb attacks.

On June 11th, 2015, PYD security forces released KDP-S members ?Abdulhanan Habash, Ahmad Jamaluddin Saidu, and Mustafa Jamaluddin Saidu, who were arrested in May, in the village of Raju, reported the human rights NGO Kurdwatch.

like ı said that new from bas news was a close ties with KDP

any question????

khad

28th July 2015, 17:46

Being a Christian in Rojava...
I think I've already pointed out that you can enjoy a wide degree of religious freedom so long as you don't challenge the ruling political order.

You have anecdotes about Christians? Cute. Check this out.
http://www.aina.org/news/20150522205619.htm

American Mesopotamian Organization exposes murder of Assyrian leader in Syria

For the past several months, the American Mesopotamian Organization (AMO) has been in daily contact with the leaders of the Khabour Assyrian Council of Guardians (KACG), a local force established to protect Assyrian villages in the Khabour valley from ISIS. Speaking frequently with Elias Nasser, Fayez Korko and Dawed Antar Gindo, leaders in the KACG, AMO was informed that despite working closely with the Kurdish Yekîneyên Parastina Gel militia (YPG) in joint operations against ISIS, the YPG leadership had threatened the Assyrian Guardians with assassination, notably from chief military leaders of the YPG using the pseudo names of Heval (Comrade)? Sardar and Heval Lawand.

These threats stemmed, in part, from the Khabour Assyrian Council of Guardians protesting the practice of Kurdish YPG militia members looting Assyrian villages that were evacuated after ISIS had attacked them. The Assyrian leadership had submitted multiple detailed reports of the looting by Kurdish gunmen to YPG leadership, but no action was taken, and the looting of evacuated Assyrian homes continues until this day.

On the morning of Wednesday April 22?nd, 2015 AMO received news from the Khabour Assyrian Council of Guardians that YPG gunmen ambushed Dawed Antar Gindo and Elias Nasser. Tragically, Dawed was killed in the attack, and Elias was in critical condition in hospital at Qameshli, Syria. Days after he was admitted to hospital, Elias Nasser wrote out the details of the attack (he was wounded in the throat and unable to speak), and his wife read these details to AMO representatives over the phone. AMO agreed not to release any information about the attack until Elias Nasser and his family had been moved to a safe place, out of reach of the YPG

From Elias Nasser’s testimony, it appears that the attack and murder occurred as follows:

On April 22nd, 2015, shortly after 23:00 hours, Mr. Elias Nasser and Mr. Dawed Gindo arrived at Mr. Nasser’s home where they were confronted by five individuals from YPG leaders demanding to speak with them. All five used pseudo names, three of which were Kamal, Hamza and Dlovan.

The uninvited YPG guests sat with the two Assyrian leaders and drank tea, informing them that YPG leaders wished to speak with them about the looting, and that their colleague Riadh Gabriel was already at a secret location for a meeting concerning the matter. Trusting in what they were told, Mr. Elias Nasser and Mr. Dawed Gindo agreed to go with the YPG murderers and in route to the “secret location” they were told that they must be blindfolded.

Once they arrived at an unknown location they were tied with ropes and Dawed Antar Gindo was tortured and beaten. The YPG men falsely accused Mr. Elias Nasser and Mr. Dawed Gindo of collaborating with ISIS and the Assad regime. These baseless accusations were a pretext to take control of the Khabour Assyrian Council of Guardians, starting with the elimination of its leadership.

After the YPG gunmen badly beat Dawed Gindo, they took him and Elias Nasser to an off road spot near the village of Jumayla, adjacent to the Euphrates damn (sometimes called the Assad damn). The murderers first executed, point blank and in cold blood, Dawed Antar Gindo, and then they turned their guns on Elias Nasser. The time was, recalls Elias, around 2:30 am.

Fortunately for Elias Nasser, the fatal shot intended to kill him struck him in the throat, and he fell forward as if dead. Though the YPG gunmen shot and kicked him in the body, Elias Nasser remained motionless and was left for dead by his would*be murderers. Passing in and out of consciousness, Elias Nasser waited until his attackers had left, freed his hands from the cords that bound him and crawled a distance of 500 meters to a main road where he was taken by a passing car to hospital. To add injury to insult, the YPG gunmen also stole a sum of 750,000 Syrian Pounds, 35 AK*47 and few PKC machine guns from Mr. Nasser’s home.

Presently, Elias Nasser is recuperating in a secret location, thankful to be alive but nonetheless mourning the loss of his friend Dawed Antar Gindo.

The Khabour region of Syria is lawless, with areas controlled partially by YPG thugs and the other parts by ISIS barbarians. The Assad regime has no presence in the area and for all practical purposes has conceded control to the YPG. The PYD and the YPG have made it clear that they intend to establish complete Kurdish control of the Khabour region, and are intent on eliminating the leadership of the Khabour Assyrian Council of Guardians as part of their objective.

The American Mesopotamian Organization and the Khabour Assyrian Council of Guardians refuse to be silent in the face of PYD’s and YPG’s ongoing campaign of terror, looting, intimidation and murder.

Thanks to the generous support of the global Assyrian community, AMO has, over the past several months, supported the Khabour Assyrian Council of Guardians’ fight to protect Assyrian people and property in the Khabour river valley. AMO is committed to continuous support of the Khabour Assyrian Council of Guardians and knows that it can count on the wider Assyrian community to support it in its mission.

For more information about the attack and murder of Mr.Elias Nasser and Mr. Dawed Antar Gindo, please contact the American Mesopotamian Organization at [email protected]

khad

28th July 2015, 17:57

like ı said that new from bas news was a close ties with KDP

I can hope how everyone can see just how fundamentally dishonest and vapid this uncritical stance towards supposed "democratic confederationalism" is. The null response to anything that could tarnish their image is "News from Barzani. Barzani is a Turkish Satan who wants to kill Kurds"

Not even Rudaw would be so brazen as to make up news about political prisoners being released from PYD captivity. There's a paper trail there, together with statements from family members, and the fact that they were there to be released in the first place suggests that they were prisoners at some point.

But let's get to more bits of reality, which will you will no doubt dismiss as Barzanite propaganda
http://www.crisisgroup.org/~/media/Files/Middle%20East%20North%20Africa/Iraq%20Syria%20Lebanon/Syria/151-flight-of-icarus-the-pyd-s-precarious-rise-in-syria.pdf

A Syrian Kurd who left the YPG claimed:
I was in the YPG since before the uprising, but I have left. Since last year,
at least 400 new PKK military personnel came from Turkey and Iran. They are not Syrians,
and they want to control everything. They don’t care about Syrians. They
make deals with the regime and [Iraqi PM] Maliki. This is why I left.

* Crisis Group interview, YPG deserter, Erbil refugee camp, 12 September 2013.

Particularly among the youth activists who began the uprising, Syrian Kurds fear
that the PYD’s heavy-handedness bespeaks an aspiration for single-party rule.
Human rights abuses by YPG fighters and the asaysh; prioritising law-and-order; and
arbitrary arrest, abduction and imprisonment of non-PYD activists are all too
reminiscent of the Baathist regime.

On 27 June, for instance, PYD opponents critic ised the YPG for firing on demonstrators in
Amouda, killing six; the PYD described the incident as a KDP-organised plot to tarnish its image.
Crisis Group interviews, PYD and anti-PYD activists, Erbil, 29 June 2013. According to an Amouda
resident who witnessed the event, KNC-affiliated demonstrators taunted a YPG convoy with slogans
and stones, and fighters overreacted, shooting into the crowd.

* Crisis Group interview, Erbil, August 2013

A young activist from Amouda said: “I have received several threats from the PYD,
which cut off my family’s electricity because of our participation in protests. The PYD imposes
its rule with weapons. If we want to organise a demonstration or a meeting, we need to ask
for its permission. What kind of liberation is that?”

* Crisis Group interview, Syrian Kurdish activist, Suleimaniya, 5 November 2013. This was nuanced
by another Syrian Kurd: “I am not a PYD member, but I respect what they are doing. I agree
they are not democratic in their practices, but can you be democratic when a fight is ongoing? Can
you think about freedom of speech when you are about to be attacked?"

*That last bit probably most accurately reflects my personal perspective on the situation.

Marinaleda

28th July 2015, 18:02

dear khad,

actually that is really funny that some assyrians fighting with assad forces.It is because of religious freedom ı think.Butv syriacs was tried to asimilated in assad area.

But claiming that YPG was murdering assyrian villages was failure.Because there are syriac forces fighting with YPG and syriac have their own Asayish and their own commune and assemblies.

I wanted to find Abdullah Ocalan!'s letter to syriac and assyrian people but ı do not find its english but an english new about letter

"""""""Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan has sent a letter to the Assyrian-Syriac-Chaldean people, emphasising the importance of their participating in the construction of a democratic common nation in their ancestral homeland.

The letter noted that the calamities caused by capitalist modernity, the latest representative of the central system of civilisation, had begun to be seen by all the peoples of the world, in particular in the Middle East, and that there were important lessons to be learned from the tragedies of the exploited peoples targeted.

The letter emphasised that the situation of the Assyrian-Syriac-Chaldean people, who in ancient times in Mesopotamia established empires, and have now been reduced by massacres to the status of 'minority' or 'religious community' was of great significance. It stressed what a loss it would be for the culture of the Middle East if the Assyrian-Syriac-Chaldean people were to disappear, adding that the national question of this ancient people was the very essence of the sorry tale of a great civilisation in the Middle East. "I consider that it is the duty and task of all the peoples of Kurdistan, first and foremost the Kurdish people, to ensure this ancient people can escape this sorry tale and mount a revival," the letter continued, adding that this revival would be possible as part of a transformation on the basis of democratic civilisation and democratic modernity.

The letter emphasised the importance of the all the peoples living in the region playing a role in the construction of a democratic nation, and that the historic role to be played by the Assyrian-Syriac-Chaldean people would be unrivalled. The letter noted that the Assyrian-Syriac-Chaldean people have been dispersed to all four corners of the world, and that their participation in the construction of a joint homeland-democratic nation in the ancient lands would be of the utmost significance. The letter added that the latest attacks on the Assyrian-Syriac-Chaldean people on the Nineveh plain had demonstrated the need for self-defence and that the national-social problems of the region could be resolved by self-government and radical transformation. Öcalan added that an existentialist upsurge was possible against the possible exhaustion on the basis of the three principles of democratic modernity, (Democratic Society, Economic Society and Ecological Society).

Öcalan concluded his letter by sending his heartfelt greetings to the Assyrian-Syriac-Chaldean people and reiterating his belief that they will take their rightful place in the mosaic of peoples in the Democratic Confederal Middle East that will ensue after the revival of the ancient cultures.""""""

http://kurdishquestion.com/index.php/kurdistan/oecalan-sends-letter-to-assyrian-syriac-chaldean-people/541-oecalan-sends-letter-to-assyrian-syriac-chaldean-people.html

and syriac union party answered the letter

http://www.bestanuce2.com/haber/166635/syriac-unity-party-message-of-ocalan-is-path-to-solution

So dear khad,

Founders of PKK not only kurds.There are turkish revolutionaries too and really active in PKK.I recognise this movement if you have a chance to recognise them you cannot see any nationalistic behaviour form them.Some of kurdish symphatiziers can be nationalist but they cannot know PKK's idelogy if they have smpathy.

khad

28th July 2015, 18:18

Marinaleda

28th July 2015, 18:21

dear khad,

you can search the canton's organisation.I am talking against KDP because ı recognised them.I knew that hey are doing such terrible things in Barzanis area.So I am doubtful about this international and national media groups.For example HUMAN RİGHTS WATCH.This kind of groups have ties with US and their allies KDP.When coalistion powers(led by US) started to fight with YPG,all these ibnternational against propaganda was finished.

For example this" pyd administration" thing was not true.İn afrin canton PYD have almost any ministry

afrin economy minister answered questions.

-The Turkish government and some other circles are claiming that ‘Rojava is under PYD oppression.’ What do you say such claims?

Those who say this are caught up in political horse trading. Those who are going on about this have political interests in this system not working. I am the Economic and Commerce Minister for the canton but I am not a member of the PYD. We have our Arab friends. We have friends working with us from different peoples and social organizations. We are opening the way for commerce.

https://rojavareport.wordpress.com/2014/12/22/efrin-economy-minister-rojava-challenging-norms-of-class-gender-and-power/

Marinaleda

28th July 2015, 18:27

Yeah, now the remains of the Khabour Guards fights closely with the NDF as part of the Sootoro, but that was AFTER the YPG assassinated their leaders.

I'm glad you've come out with it, though. There's no hiding the implication in your statements that the Syriac militia leaders Dawed Gindo and Elias Nasser deserved to be killed for their lack of absolute loyalty to the political project of the PYD. For any other STATE, we'd call that a PURGE.

YPG answer for this

Dawood Jendo; the military commander of Al-Khabur guards was subjected to the process of shooting that led to his martyrdom and wounding another person in his company in 22 April 2015. We 9issued an official statement about the incident on Wednesday 29 April 2015 as we expressed our determination to pursue the case and bring the perpetrators to justice.

In the context of the investigation about the assassination we have arrested four suspected individuals, while intensive and accurate investigations are still ongoing.

The allegations and accusations published in the media about the murder and accusing People's Defense Units were totally incorrect by means of proposing to achieve malicious goals, which can ignite sedition and hit region components together. The truth is the murder suspects are individuals and they do not represent the YPG and our position as the People's Defense Units. As well as we obliged to do our duty to protect our Assyrians and Arab brothers.

Along with the - Khabur guards, Syriac Military Council, Al-Sanadeed Forces and Self-Defense Forces – the People's Defense Units have stood with all of their strength in the face of Daesh (ISIS) terrorist organization’s invasion on Assyrian villages located between Tel Tamer town and the Al-Hasaka city in Jazira region, Rojava. Our units have paid more than hundred martyrs to defend and liberate these villages from Daesh terrorists so that the local population could once more return to their homes.

Therefore, the excitement of this incident and accused a particular party to committing this crime designed to isolate the components of Assyrian and Syriac and keep them alone in the face of Daesh (ISIS) terrorist without any protection.

We emphasize once again to public opinion that we defend the right of all components in the region to live in peace and security from intruder's terrorism and criminality; that stems from our absolute faith in the unity of the common destiny.

and KURDWATCH tell that assyrian military council suspected from assad regime

KURDWATCH, April 28, 2015—On April 22, 2015, David Jando, founder of the Assyrian Khabur Guards, was fatally shot at a checkpoint about sixty kilometers south of ad-Darbasiyah on the highway between Tall Tamr and ad-Darbasiyah. His companion, Iliyas Nasir, a leading member of the same organization, was injured. It is not yet clear who shot at Jando and Nasir. The highway is controlled by the Democratic Union Party’s (PYD) People’s Defense Units (YPG), yet, a member of the Assyrian Military Council in Aleppo told KurdWatch that representatives of the Syrian regime were responsible for the attack.

khad

28th July 2015, 18:35

KURDWATCH, April 28, 2015—On April 22, 2015, David Jando, founder of the Assyrian Khabur Guards, was fatally shot at a checkpoint about sixty kilometers south of ad-Darbasiyah on the highway between Tall Tamr and ad-Darbasiyah. His companion, Iliyas Nasir, a leading member of the same organization, was injured. It is not yet clear who shot at Jando and Nasir. The highway is controlled by the Democratic Union Party’s (PYD) People’s Defense Units (YPG), yet, a member of the Assyrian Military Council in Aleppo told KurdWatch that representatives of the Syrian regime were responsible for the attack.
I hope everyone sees what a shitstained cretin this propagandist is. Thanks lying articles like this one, the Khabour Guards who once supported the YPG are now firmly behind the local NDF.

Moreover, the YPG-aligned MFS 3 days ago reported the sentencing of the YPG killers. 2 little, 2 late

SyriacMilitaryMFS [email protected] Jul 25

[1] TRIAL OF MARTYR DAWUD JENDO:
The trial regarding the assassination of Khabour Guards Chief Martyr Dawud Jendo has arrived to the end.

SyriacMilitaryMFS [email protected] Jul 25
[2] TRIAL OF MARTYR DAWUD JENDO: The court ruling is the following : 20 years prison for the 2 killers, 4 years and 1 year for the 2 others.

If the PYD actually gave a shit about investigating this instead of throwing accusations every which way in a futile attempt to evade responsibility, then maybe the Khabour guards would still be on their side.

Marinaleda

28th July 2015, 18:44

or khabour guards can think that being part of rojava is "dividing plan for syria" ?????Like other friends fighting wiht assad regime.Qamishlo sootoro is working with assad regime.

MFS and syriac union part are one of the biggest supporter of democratic autonomy .Tghis project is not for kurds or syriac all nations will organise.Like ı said this project cannot develop with "dictatorship" all nations must want to organise and build their social life.

khad

28th July 2015, 18:45

Marinaleda

28th July 2015, 18:49

Guards tell that;

A note from American Mesopotamian Organization:

While the Guardians of Khabour have chosen not to name the coercive, responsible parties which have forced them to lay down their arms, it is widely known, among the Assyrian nation worldwide, that the YPG and the PKK are in fact responsible for this action.

The Kurdish YPG have given the Khabour Guardians two options: Join the MFS (Syriac Military Council), also known as the Dawronoye (the PKK/YPG Christian “allies”), or lay down their weapons. Given this choice, given the criminal conduct of the YPG and the PKK, the Khabour Guardians have decided to lay down their weapons rather than become pawns in the Kurdish plan to divide and fracture the Republic of Syria along ethnic and sectarian lines.

http://www.almasdarnews.com/article/official-statement-from-the-khabour-assyrian-council-of-guardians/

khad

28th July 2015, 18:51

A note from American Mesopotamian Organization:

While the Guardians of Khabour have chosen not to name the coercive, responsible parties which have forced them to lay down their arms, it is widely known, among the Assyrian nation worldwide, that the YPG and the PKK are in fact responsible for this action.

The Kurdish YPG have given the Khabour Guardians two options: Join the MFS (Syriac Military Council), also known as the Dawronoye (the PKK/YPG Christian “allies”), or lay down their weapons. Given this choice, given the criminal conduct of the YPG and the PKK, the Khabour Guardians have decided to lay down their weapons rather than become pawns in the Kurdish plan to divide and fracture the Republic of Syria along ethnic and sectarian lines.

http://www.almasdarnews.com/article/official-statement-from-the-khabour-assyrian-council-of-guardians/
Thank you for confirming that it is a PURGE conducted by a NATIONALIST movement.

Marinaleda

28th July 2015, 18:57

we can see the nationalistic thoughts created crisis.Rojava became an alternative for that but capitalist modernity powers and statist powers always making anti propaganda.We revolutionaries are familiar with that.I am a turkish revolutionary and support and recgonise this movement.You cannot learn correct things about revolution if you are not living here.Because there are too many lies about that.

I cannot force you to support rojava but ı only want to inform you.We have christian arab and turkmen alies in rojava.We will build with them together.

Marinaleda

28th July 2015, 19:02

khabour guards must think assyrian autonomy more than syrians unity.Syriac self defence is more important to defence the state.But guard choose becaome an ally with assad regime.

khad

28th July 2015, 19:02

I cannot force you to support rojava but ı only want to inform you.We have christian arab and turkmen alies in rojava.We will build them together.
And you are speaking to someone who's always been critically pro-PYD and anti-Barzani here on this forum. However, I cannot and have not allowed your blatant lies to stand unscrutinized.

You are building a movement and a nation, that may, in the end, be better for the region. Good for you. However, don't pretend you haven't used the same tactics and methods used by authorities and, yes, states since time the dawn of civilization. Unitary political orders purging non-believers - it's a common refrain throughout history, especially during times of war.

Marinaleda

28th July 2015, 19:05

dear khad,

ı am not a kurd.PKK built nation and we are supporting them.But I support them with their paradigms.

I saw your writings.I only want to see internationalist revolutinaries that support rojava and organisation below from neighborhood to canton.

ı am not lying that was a reality that rojava people have built an alternative life in rojava.Rojava flag is symbolizes TEV DEM an organisation of grassroot organşisations(communes and assemblies).

http://www.google.com.tr/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CBsQFjAAahUKEwjn486kuP7GAhWKBiwKHfB9Chk&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.biehlonbookchin.com%2Frojavas-communes-and-councils%2F&ei=zse3VefEMoqNsAHw-6nIAQ&usg=AFQjCNFhCt1kTcztDYbBuDmPWY_DHxizmg&bvm=bv.98717601,d.bGgü

you can check it from here and there are too many academic articles about that.Rojava is a social system that middle east needed.

But statist and nationalist forces trying to crush it.So internationalist forces will unite against nation state and capitalist modernity.WE HAVE ALLIES FROM ALL NATIONS.THAT SHOWS WE BREAK OUR STATİST AND NATİONALİST THOUGHTS.