Since the evening of 23 November, the Turkish state has targeted numerous locations across northern and eastern Syria, bombing civilian areas, bakeries, electricity and water stations, schools and hospitals, refineries and workshops. As of yesterday noon, 12 people were killed and dozens of people were injured in the attacks.

Hesen Koçer, Deputy Co-Chair of the Executive Council of the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, spoke to ANF about the ongoing genocidal attacks of the Turkish state.

Stating that this is not the first time the Turkish state has attacked the region, but each time it has increased and expanded its attacks, Koçer said that; “The main purpose of these attacks is to force the people of North and East Syria to migrate because it targets economic areas, electricity stations and places that provide services to the people such as bakeries. It wants to force the people to migrate and create a demographic change in the region. The Turkish state insists on destroying the Kurdish people. First it talked about peace and solution, then it started attacks. There is no reason for the Turkish state's attacks on North and East Syria, but this is indeed its mentality towards the Kurds; everyone who is Kurdish is a terrorist and must be killed. It sees the existence of Kurds in any part of Kurdistan as a danger against itself. It calculates that by killing Kurds, it will prevent them from having a status in the Middle East.”

A policy of genocide and destruction

Koçer emphasised that changes are taking place in the Middle East and that the Turkish state is trying to prevent the Kurds from benefiting from this change by improving their military, political and diplomatic relations with all groups: “Turkey is trying to portray that it itself, not the Kurds, is in favour of peace. However, the Kurds have ceased the war 8 times and tried to ensure peace. Despite this, the Turkish state insisted on liquidating the Kurds and continues to do so. It is attacking North and East Syria with the same politics and mentality. In this way, it wants to both displace the people and make them unable to protect their gains by breaking their will. It massacres women, children and elderly people and destroys villages and houses. It commits war crimes according to international laws and norms. It carries out a policy of genocide and destruction. In particular, the USA and Russia must break their silence, otherwise they will become partners and approving authorities of genocide. For what reason do the international powers open the airspace to the Turkish state and condone its attacks?”

‘We have the will and power to resist’

Noting that Turkey essentially imposed the liquidation of the democratic project through such hostile and reckless attacks, Koçer said, “The Turkish state is not ready for a solution to the Kurdish question. As I said, it insists on genocide. For this reason, our people need to strengthen their unity and act in unity with their administration and military power. In this way, we can protect our honour. We are not lambs ready to be slaughtered. We have our own administration and defence forces. The only way we can defend ourselves against these genocidal attacks is to be united. We must make our vital defence, political defence, defence of our system, cultural and even physical defence together. Every individual must prepare themselves accordingly. If we cannot resist, we will perish. We have the will to resist; we also have social and military power.”

‘The Damascus government and international powers should show an attitude’

Asking for the Damascus administration to clarify its attitude towards the attacks of the Turkish state, Koçer said, “So far, its attitude has not been clear. Turkey is attacking Syrian territory, attacking Syrian citizens, attacking the economic infrastructure of the Syrian people. The Damascus government must show an attitude. International powers should also have an attitude against these attacks. Encouraged by the attacks of the Turkish state, DAESH (ISIS) sees it as an opportunity. They should take this into consideration.”

‘We need to be ready for serious changes’

Noting that the people of North and East Syria have not compromised so far and have taken to the streets to express their reaction, Koçer continued, “Of course, we will not bow down to these attacks. We will experience some difficulties, but we will also protect our honour, dignity and land. Everyone should be in this endeavour. These attacks are meant to break the will of the people of the region. Turkey wants to liquidate the democratic nation project. It is trying to create a wave of migration in the region. Against this, everyone must have a serious attitude. We are ready to resist, and we will resist. The Rojava Revolution has been resisting for 12-13 years. We are ready to put up stronger resistance and struggle. I say it again; our people should unite around their own administration and defence forces, because there will be very serious changes in the region. We need to be ready for this.”