Cizîr Canton Internal Affairs Council Co-President Kenan Berekat announced that the areas in Qamishlo liberated by Democratic Self-Administration Forces would not be returned to the regime.
In a press conference on the clashes that broke out between Asayish/YPG forces and regime militias in Qamishlo and the recent ceasefire, Kenan Berekat stated that the areas in the city liberated by Democratic Self-Administration Forces would not be returned to the regime.
Kenan Berekat began the peace conference by thanking all forces that participated in the Qamishlo resistance and commemorating the martyrs that fell during this resistance. Berekat later informed the public about the 3 daylong clashes that began on April 20, and said that the resistance showed that the Democratic Self-Administration forces had a national project for a democratic and egalitarian Syria.
REGIME FORCES’ ATTACK WAS PLANNED
Berekat emphasized that the regime forces’ attack against Asayish and traffic officers was planned and claimed the lives of several Asayish forces as well as civilians. Berekat noted that Democratic Self-Administration forces did not want the clashes to intensify but used their legitimate right of self-defense and has the power to protect civilians at all costs. Berekat added that civilians’ defense units HPC played an important role during the resistance.
LIBERATED AREAS WON’T BE RETURNED
Berekat listed the following as the clauses of the agreement reached by the Rojava administration and the Ba’athist regime:
- Areas liberated during the clashes will remain under the control of the Democratic Autnomous Administration
- Young people will not be conscripted for the regime’s army by force
- The regime will not force public officials to take up arms and will not threaten them with dismissal or pay cuts
- The paramilitary force Difa El Weteni affiliated with the regime will be reviewed and later dismantled
- Regime forces will not interfere with people’s internal affairs
- Regime forces will remain in the reduced areas and not attempt expanding the areas under their control
PEOPLE CAN RETURN TO THEIR HOMES
At the end of the press conference, Berekat stated that the state of emergency was lifted and people could return to their homes. Berekat noted that they were ready to protect all peoples and would not accept any system in Rojava other than Democratic Autonomy.
Lastly, Berekat added that 7 Asayish members, 17 civilians, 3 YPG fighters and 1 civilian self-defense fighter fell as martyrs during Qamishlo resistance, and more than 30 regime forces died since April 20.
