The fourth congress of TEV-DEM, the Movement for a Democratic Society in Northern and Eastern Syria, took place in Rimêlan on Saturday. The event at the Aram Tigran cultural center was attended by four hundred delegates, along with representatives of the Northeast Syrian Autonomous Administration and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

The congress discussed the “Democratic Nation” project, on which the Rojava revolution is based and which envisages a grassroots-democratic organization of the coexistence of all social groups. The previous work of TEV-DEM was evaluated and some changes were made to the statutes. The discussion also focused on the need for Kurdish unity, the liberation of the areas occupied by Turkey and the return of the displaced population to their hometowns. Likewise, it was stressed that the fight for the release of Abdullah Öcalan and the removal of the PKK from the international lists or terrorist organisations must be intensified. Civil society organizations in Northern and Eastern Syria are to be expanded and their external contacts with other institutions improved.

Rûken Ehmed and Xerîb Hiso were elected as the new co-chairs of TEV-DEM, and a council of eighty people was confirmed by the delegates.

TEV-DEM, an umbrella organisation for civil society

TEV-DEM was founded in 2011 to build the democratic system of municipalities and councils in Rojava. With the emergence of the Autonomous Federation of North and East Syria, the role of the movement has changed, as this task has been taken over by the Autonomous Administration. Since 2018, TEV-DEM has been the umbrella organization for civil society, especially for trade unions and other institutions. TEV-DEM thus acts as a counterweight to the Autonomous Administration in order to prevent the emergence of state-like structures and to promote democratic confederalism.

Rûken Ehmed

Rûken Ehmed comes from Kobanê and has been active in revolutionary work since 1993. During this period, she has worked in all areas of Northern and Eastern Syria as well as in Aleppo and Damascus. She is also a member of the women's association Kongreya Star.

Xerîb Hiso

Xerîb Hiso was born in Afrin in 1967. He is Yazidi and father of four children. He has been involved in the Kurdish liberation movement since 1984 and was arrested three times, most recently in 2011. He played a key role in the founding of the PYD in 2003 and was the representative of the PYD and TEV-DEM in South Kurdistan for four years.