A huge rally against Turkish chemical attacks in Kurdistan took place in Qamishlo, with tens of thousands of people from the different towns of the autonomous region of northern and eastern Syria taking part.
In the northern Syrian city of Qamishlo, tens of thousands of people took to the streets on Sunday to protest against the use of chemical weapons by the Turkish army against guerrilla forces in Kurdistan.
Kurds, Arabs, Armenians, Syriacs and Assyrians from Dêrik, Rimêlan, Girkê Legê, Tirbespiyê, Çilaxa, Til Koçer, Til Birak, Til Hemîs, Amûdê from Cizire Region, and from Shaddadi, Hol, Til Temir, Dirbêsiyê, Zirgan and Hesekê in Hesekê Canton took part in the demonstration under the slogan "With the will of the people and the guerrillas, we will defeat chemical weapons, occupation and betrayal".
The demonstration was organised as a massive march from three starting points to the March 12 Martyrs Stadium. The participants carried pictures of guerrilla fighters who died in chemical weapons attacks, as well as flags of the PKK and various organisations from the autonomous region of northern and eastern Syria.
FOZA YÛSÎF: PEOPLE’S POWER GREATER THAN YOUR CHEMICAL WEAPONS
Speaking at the rally, Democratic Union Party (PYD) Presidency Board member Foza Yusif addressed the Turkish state, saying, “Your weapons will not succeed in breaking the will and resistance of the free people. The power of the people, women and the guerrillas is greater than your chemical weapons.”
Condemning the silence of international powers, Yusif stated, “Your attitude justifies the Turkish state’s attacks on our people who want to live freely on their own land. We defend our rights, our peoples and our lands. Your silence is not moral. In the name of peoples, we condemn your silence and ignorance of the crimes committed by the fascist Turkish state.”
Recalling that the gas masks sent to guerrillas were confiscated by South Kurdistan’s ruling party, KDP, Yusif made the following appeal to the KDP; “Listen to the people. Today, the Kurdish people are united around their martyrs and values in the four parts of Kurdistan. Join the march for honor. Your cooperation with the invaders weakens us and strengthens our enemy.”
Yusif stressed that, “The guerrillas, who defend the peoples’ honour against ISIS and all other mercenary groups, are not alone in their fight against the Turkish state.”
She continued, “Let the enemy know that they cannot stop the freedom march by using chemical weapons. The resistance for freedom will not stop. The people, women and youth all alike, vow to take revenge against this barbarity. Against this dirty and immoral war, we defend our honour.”
Pointing to the guerrilla resistance in the mountains of Kurdistan, Foza Yusif added, “The people of North and East Syria will remain on the streets for freedom, honor and equality in a spirit of mobilization, and enhance the struggle alongside the guerrillas.”
EL EBID: WE WANT PEACE
Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) Executive Council Deputy Co-Chair Hemdan El Ebid stressed that, “Guerrillas are the children of the free folk that defended Kobane, Shengal and entire humanity from terror.” He added, “Invasion must be confronted by resistance, and despotism by revolution.”
El Ebid continued, “We want peace. Erdoğan, a descendant of the Ottomans, on the other hand, seeks to inflict a deadly blow on people who fight for their lands and who have yielded thousands of martyrs to achieve freedom.”
El Ebid called on the United Nations Security Council and the International Coalition against ISIS to stop Turkey’s attacks on guerrilla forces. “All those seeking freedom should stand with us. We have protected the world and those who want peace should raise their voices.”
HENA: CUTTING EDGE TECHNOLOGY USED TO DESTROY PEACE
Nura Hena, a member of the Syrian Future Party’s Qamishlo Council, stated, “We salute our forces that protect our people and lands. We are here today to make your voice heard by the free world against the use of chemical weapons against the Kurdish people. We call on the international community to put pressure on the Turkish state and bring an end to these policies.”
Referring to the restriction of liberties in Turkey, Hena denounced the ongoing policies of genocide against peoples and the employment of cutting edge technology to destroy peace and stability in North and East Syria.
Speeches were followed by the songs of Awazên Çiya depicting the struggle of the Kurdistan Freedom Movement.
