The Syrian Democratic Council (MSD or SDC) released a statement marking the eighth anniversary of the July 19 revolution in Rojava.

MSD remarked that the eighth anniversary of the revolution is welcomed in a new struggle phase that focuses on preserving the gains made by this revolution in military, economic, political and institutional aspects in a territory that suffers from features of tyranny, national and sectarian fighting as the political solution remains elusive in Syria.

The Syrian Democratic Council stressed that they were and are still in stages of struggle to achieve a democratic solution in Syria, while other conflicting parties still reject democratic solutions until they have ended the elements of this solution.

“Between the so-called opposition and the government, the Syrian fighting continues, but this time not for the sake of the Syrian territories, but it has become more harmful to the Syrians, as these parties have turned the Syrians into mercenaries fighting for benefit of regional and international powers from Libya and Yemen to Azerbaijan as the sources speak.

But thanks to this revolution, the situation in North and East Syria has become different, where, despite lack of capabilities, there are achievements on ground, in light of economic crisis prevailing in the country. The institutions of the Self-Administration have managed to reduce the burden of this crisis on citizens through several measures,” said the MSD.

The statement highlighted the fact that women in North and East Syria also continue to devote their role at the forefront of the revolution, despite attempts to intimidate them through violations against many of them.

Citing the case of Kurdish female politician Hevrin Khalaf who was brutally murdered by Turkish-backed mercenaries in October 2019, MSD said that these acts, however, did not detract women from their resolve.

MSD also pointed out that the measures implemented to fight coronavirus pandemic in the region have led to “some madness”, citing the Turkish state’s armed drone attacks and water war against the people of Syria.

There are question marks about the positions of the Syrian government and Russia about these attempts, MSD said.

MSD recalled “the great sacrifices made by sons and daughters of North and East Syria in the SDF; that was the product and extension of the July 19 revolution, they fought terrorism and extremist ideology, preserved values of common life and pluralism in society”.

MSD stressed that: “The July 19 revolution was not confined to political, administrative, and military side, but rather, it became a cultural, economic and social revolution, it embodied the aspirations and hopes of the Syrian people, for which they rose up nine years ago. This revolution bears the foundations for achieving a pluralistic and democratic Syria according to the Syrian national identity.”

The statement added: “From this standpoint, the revolution is still ongoing and many of important tasks that are required from us at this stage are to be done. We also call on the Syrians with their various affiliations to consider and compare the achievements of this revolution, to what happened in other regions, we also call on everyone to unite against attempts to occupy more Syrian lands.”