High security precautions before revolution celebration in #Kobanê

In the run-up to the anniversary of the #Rojava revolution, high security measures have been taken in #Kobanê.

In the night of 18 to 19 July 2012 in Kobanê began the rebellion against the Baath regime, which led to the revolution of Rojava. Numerous events are already taking place on this occasion in Kobanê. To protect the celebrations, the Internal Security Forces and the "Social Defense Forces" (HPC) have taken high security precautions.

In the city and the surrounding villages patrols are increasingly taking place. A member of the security forces at a checkpoint on the road to Jarablus referred to the massacre committed by the Islamic State in Kobanê on 25 June 2015. In order to prevent such occurrences, intensive checks are carried out.

The HPC forces are responsible for the safety of the population on the streets in the city.

Turkey's genocidal policies in Northern Syria continue #rojava

https://www.aa.com.tr/en/turkey/turkey-neutralizes-4-475-terrorists-in-syria-s-afrin-/1157512

Saleh Moslem: The ‘third alternative way’ has proved viable

#TEV-DEM executive explains how the #Rojava model is working.

During the internal conflicts ongoing in Syria since March 2011, the Kobanê People's Council took over the administration of Kobanê on 19 July 2012.

That was the spark that opened the way to the Rojava Revolution.

Following the Revolution, the Rojava region was subjected to the attacks of mercenary groups such as ISIS and al-Nusra, all supported by the Turkish state.

Speaking to ANF on the anniversary the Rojava Revolution, Saleh Moslem, the former co-chair of the PYD (Democratic Union Party), now TEV-DEM (Democratic Society Movement) Foreign Affairs Relations representative, said that what has been lived in Syria for 7 years is not a revolution but a conflict of power. The only revolution was the one carried out in Rojava.

Saleh Moslem, one of the symbolic names of the Rojava Revolution, answered questions on the Rojava Revolution, the ‘third way’ on which it was based, and the developments that could be experienced now.

The Rojava Revolution was prompted by the decision to follow a ‘third alternative way’. How was this ‘third alternative way’ implemented in Rojava?

The rebellion system, which started in the Middle East in 2010, actually had been prepared to pursue a New World Order, which the system had developed since 1995.

Of course in Tunisia, Libya, Egypt there were mobilizations: some changed power, some used NATO power. Moderate Islam was defined as a model for this changing world order. Again, a role was given to Turkey. This is the time Erdogan came to power in Turkey in 2002. Muslim Brotherhood came to power when Arab countries changed their rulers.

Then, in 2011, it was Syria’s turn. When the Syrian civil war started, there was an anti-democratic regime on one hand and the foreign-sponsored Muslim Brothers that wanted to replace it on the other.

We decided to support neither. We have not fought against the regime, but we identified our own alternative stance, our line. Different from the power behind the armed groups in Syria, and from what we know aims at power, not democratization. We called this ‘third political way’. Our goal is to take our democratic rights, to establish a people's organization and to rely on our own power.

Clearly we had no interest in closing the dialog doors with none of the powers, but we were not supporting them. However, the situation was that we needed to expel regime forces from our areas, as they were trying to take over control. The Revolution began in Kobanê on 19 July. In this process there have been small conflicts in some places and not much blood has been spilled.

We are creating an alternative system. We form a system that is not powerless, does not look at power, people can self-administrate cities and regions with their own facilities and organization. This started before 19 July. Institutions were established for the security of the people. People's courts were set up.

The Autonomous Administration system

People's institutions gradually settled down and the public began to believe in them. People started to rely on their own strength and potency. They began to participate in this process. Our ‘third way’ grew and got stronger. Of course, after the beginning of the revolution on July 19, attacks started to increase. After the regime's departure from our regions, other groups began attacking us and causing us problems. In particular, al-Nusra and Liwa Tawhid. Turkey supported these groups.

We had to protect ourselves. We have suffered much, both as people and organizations. Many people who came out of Kobanê and wanted to go to Aleppo were caught and killed by these groups on the Manbij road. Now the people were aware of the facts and listened to their administrations more.

How did the people react to this ‘third way’?

The ‘third way’ is a new thing: self-reliance, self-confidence, self-organization and self-regulation. In the Middle East you know that the most settled is to rely on a greater strength. This is a mindset rooted here for thousands of years. For these peoples to change this mindset requires a great effort.

Yet we managed to shift peoples towards our new system.

There are different peoples among us: Syriac, Armenian, Turkmen… They believe in this model, because they apply it in their everyday life. Based on their own strength, they live by self-reliance.

We are not moving away from our own principles

Those who see this model implemented are surprised. "How can you keep it up?”, they ask.

The peoples live together in a destiny of unity, they believe in their own power and create their own organizations.

The international forces, those who fight against ISIS with us, have seen the model implemented and working and got to believe it is actually viable.

We believe this model can be applied to the whole Syria in the future. But as far as we are concerned, this is our biggest problem. At present, some powers do not believe that we are actually living following this model.

This episode of The Final Straw contains an audio report we made at the Bosnian/Croatian border: #NoBorders Final Straw: Voices from the Balkan Route, #Rojava and la #ZAD https://enoughisenough14.org/2018/06/26/final-straw-voices-from-the-balkan-route-rojava-and-la-zad/

Kurdistan women’s call against Turkish invasion

Women from three parts of Kurdistan condemned the Turkish state’s invasion attacks against #Bashur and submitted a petition to the Kurdistani government and parliament. The women are calling on all to object to the invasion.

Representatives from women’s organizations and political parties from Bashur (South), Rojava (West) and Rojhilate (East) Kurdistan, including large numbers of journalists and writers, held a press conference in the Sulaymaniyah Women’s Union building. The women pointed to the Turkish state invasion against Bashur territory in the meeting.

“ALL KURDISTAN FORCES SHOULD OBJECT”
Kinêr Ebdulah read the press statement in the name of the women and said as women of #Rojava and #Rojhilat, they condemn the Turkish state’s attacks against the Kurdistan region and called on all Kurdistan forces to take a stand against the invasion.

Ebdulah stated that they as women submitted their demands regarding the Turkish state attacks to the Kurdistan Regional Government and parliament.

DEMANDS
The women list their demands as:

1. We demand that the Kurdistan Regional Parliament close the borders of the region to the Turkish state and hold an emergency session on the invasion attacks.

2. We demand that efforts are launched for the Resolution No.37 taken by the Kurdistan Regional Parliament in 2003 (which tasks the regional government with the removal of Turkish soldiers from Bashure Kurdistan lands) to be implemented, and that the Turkish state is removed from Bashur lands.

3. We demand that the Iraqi government cancel their agreements with the Turkish state:

4. The human rights of citizens targeted in the invaders’ bombings and attacks and all citizens must be protected.

German delegation visited #Kobanî, placed flowers on martyrs' shrines

The German delegation which arrived in #Rojava a few days ago continued to visit the cities of this area to consider the situations closely. The delegation's destination this time was Kobanî city as the visitors aimed to be introduced to the resistance which the city showed against IS mercenaries.

On Wednesday, the German delegation visited Kobanî city in order to study more closely about the resistance and achievements made by the women in Rojava at all levels.

The delegation was received by the two co-chairs of the Executive Council Anwer Musilm, Berivan Hassen, the head of the Defense Body Esmat Sheikh Hassen, the co-chair of the Legislative Council Fewzia Abdi and other members of the Democratic Autonomous Administration (DAA).

During the visit, the delegation valued Rojava status, the positive democratic experience and the revolution of women in this area, and it praised Kobanî resistance against terrorism, noting that what Turkey is doing amid an international silence is violations.

The delegation referred to the achievements made by women and said that they are a proof of democracy and freedom. They also praised the sacrifices made in Kobanî city within the historical resistance and confronting the greatest terrorist force in the world.

The delegation showed its readiness to provide the assistance for rebuilding Kobanî and to provide financial assistants to the people and DAA to develop the city in all life and social domains.

The delegation visited the Martyr Dijla Shrine and placed the wreaths on the martyrs' tombs.

It is supposed that the delegation's visit to Kobanî city would end on Thursday after completing their tours in the city’s center and visiting the Resistance Museum.

Alternative to the Courts: Reconciliation Committees

With the beginning of the revolution of #Rojava the solution of many social problems was reached. In particular, the many years of blood feuds in the region have been stopped one by one by reconciliation committees.

In the past, blood feuds and family disputes negatively affected relationships within society. The Syrian state repeatedly deepened the conflicts between families and tribes for its own benefit.

With the beginning of the revolution in Rojava peace committees were founded, in which influential persons from the society were represented. Courts have often been unable or unwilling to really resolve the conflicts that have arisen, including in terms of reducing the offense to the perpetrator and ignoring the environment. Instead, the reconciliation committees focus on mediation between the conflicting parties rather than on an exemplary punishment. This method seems to be effective, as the following examples show:

The blood feud in the village of Xizêne in Kobanê is well known in the canton. It is one of the oldest feuds in the area. In 1989, it came to a dispute between the Bilo family and the Kêtikane tribe. The blood feud, which has lasted for 27 years, resulted in eight murders and several casualties. Kurdish tribal leaders had tried in vain to reconcile both sides. However, this process was hampered by the Syrian state, which deepened the conflict even further. The reconciliation committee of the canton of Kobanê, members of TEV-DEM and the Democratic Autonomous Self-government were able to end the conflict peacefully about a year ago.

Twelve years ago, in the village of Qeremox, a quarrel broke out between the family of Xelef Salih and the Mehyedin Çemo family from Elişar village. The Reconciliation Committee of the Canton of Kobanê and influential people from Girê Spî worked for two years to find a solution and finally succeeded in achieving peace between the two families.

In Kobanê, there had been a dispute between Alaidin Neiman and Mehmud Cuma at the Azad school, where Cuma was killed by Meiman. The Reconciliation Committee intervened, and representatives of the families of the fallen, TEV-DEM, and the Autonomous Self-Government met with both families, preventing further escalation and creating a peaceful settlement by looking at the issues behind the conflict.

In #Kobanê, a large number of such reconciliation committees were founded and many blood feuds were resolved without trial.

*** Review 'A very good read that I am pleased to recommend.' @markmorey5 #YPG #Rojava #CoPromos2 https://amzn.to/2GaH3ES