419 political parties, institutions and organizations came together in Amed (Diyarbakır) on 26 January and signed the campaign "Status for Rojava, freedom for the peoples" and declared it to the public. In the statement, the organizations called for the recognition of the status of North and East Syria, which is the target of the attacks. Representatives of the signatory organizations made evaluations on the campaign and the attacks in Nort and East Syria.

 

 

Yakup Demir, member of the Board of Direnctors of the Association of Lawyers for Freedom (ÖHD), stated that a peaceful environment has been established in North and East Syria for about 13 years and that an international status must be provided for this to become permanent. Stating that the main aim of the campaign is to end the attacks of various groups with this recognition, Demir said, "We call on all institutions that are in favour of peace, brotherhood and tranquility to recognise the status of Rojava and provide support for the people there to live in peace and tranquility."

 

Pointing to the talks with PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan, Demir stated that the conflicts in North and East Syria have damaged this process. Stating that the conflicts and the process that started are intertwined as usual, Demir said, "As rights organizations and civil society organizations, we will try to do our bes to eliminate these conflicts."

 

'ATTACKS IN ROJAVA MUST END'

 

 

Stating that Alawites, Christians, people of other religions and beliefs were massacred in Syria after the overthrow of the Baath regime, Emine Kaya, member of the Organization Commission of the Federation of Legal and Solidarity Associations of Med Prisoners and Convicts' Families (MED TUHAD-FED), emphasised that peoples and beliefs live in peace in the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria. Emine Kaya stated that granting status to North and East Syria would prevent attacks against North and East Syria, where peoples and beliefs live together. Emine Kaya also said that they wanted to be a voice against the attacks in Rojava with the declaration they published.

 

Emphasising that the attacks on North and East Syria cannot be accepted in a period when negotiations on the solution of the Kurdish issue are ongoing, Emine Kaya said, "Turkey must turn away from this mistake as soon as possible. From today onwards, this mistake must be abandoned as soon as possible and the attacks in Rojava must end."

 

 

Ahmet Candan, Co-chair of the Association of the 78 Generation, stated that massacres have been going on in the Kurdish geography since the First World War. Stating that the attacks on North and East Syria sowed seeds of hatred among the peoples, Candan said, "Attacks and peace cannot go together. If it is desired for these peoples to live equally, peace policies should be put into effect by ending the war policies outside and inside. If you are extending the hand of peace, ensure it inside and outside. There cannot be massacres outside while asking for peace inside. Those in Rojava are our relatives, we are not separate from each other. We are fighting a humanitarian struggle. Give up this policy."

 

MA / Müjdat Can – Şirvan Şilan Çil