ISIS increased their attacks in West Kurdistan (Syria) with the support of Turkey

September 23, 2014 The release of 49 members of the Turkish consular staff came about as a result of this support for ISIS. The hostages were released in particular due to Turkish collaboration with ISIS in its latest assault on Kobanê. CONTENTS *Introduction *ISIS attacks in Western-Kurdistan (Rojava) *Kobanê-Canton Co-President: No one should expect us to surrender *KCK: ‘Turkey is behind the ISIS gangs’ *PUK Political Bureau Releases Statement on Besieging Kobanê by ISIS *PKK calls for mass mobilization for Kobanê *Kobanê, one of three autonomous cantons of Rojava (Syrian Kurdistan) is under attack and heavy shelling from IS gangs. Introduction In this dossier we wish to share with you important information about the ongoing war in Western Kurdistan (Rojava) Syria. As you will gather from this information there is a great war happening in the Middle East and especially throughout Kurdistan. The report also shows that the terrorists of ISIS are carrying out a whole scale massacre and an act of genocide against the Kurdish people in Kobanê canton. The current attack by ISIS started on 15 September 2014 against Kobanê-Canton in West Kurdistan (Syria) is in cooperation with Turkish state. The release of 49 members of the Turkish consular staff came about as a result of this support for ISIS. The hostages were released in particular due to Turkish collaboration with ISIS in its latest assault on Kobanê. Kurds are engaged in a legitimate war of self-defense to put an end to this dirty war against humanity. They are fighting ISIS with limited arms and military technology and only have their willpower and the support of the people. The tragedy is that Kurds have been left alone in this war which threatens all of humanity. Despite this the Kurds are resolute in resisting. ISIS attacks in Western-Kurdistan (Rojava) For the past two years Syria’s Kurdish region (Northern Syria), known as Rojava Kurdistan (Western Kurdistan), has been defended by the YPG/YPJ – the People’s Protection Units, formed by men and women. They have been under attack by both regime forces and radical Islamists and jihadists. At first ISIS, Al-Nusra, Ahrar Sham and other radical groups were fighting jointly. Since ISIS’s growth at the expense of the other groups, it alone has been carrying out the attacks during the past 16 months. All defender-forces other than the YPG/YPJ have lost ground to ISIS. In January this year, the Rojava Kurds established local administrations in the form of three cantons. In addition to Kurds, there are also Arabs, Assyrians, Armenians and Turkmens. Amongst these groups there are diverse faiths including Muslims, Christians, Yezidis and Alevis. All these different groups take part in the administration. One of the three cantons formed is Kobani. The Turkish border is to the north of Kobanê and all the other sides are surrounded by ISIS-controlled territories. ISIS’s attacks and blockade of Kobanê has been ongoing for the past 16 months. For the past months ISIS has cut the water and electricity supplies to Kobanê. At the same time, Turkey is applying an embargo against the whole of Rojava. In contrast, Turkey’s border crossings to ISIS territories are all open as usual, thus supporting ISIS. Since the beginning, the forces attacking Rojava have been organised, armed and sent into Rojava by Turkey. This support continues. All of ISIS’ attacks against Kobanê have been repelled so far. After they overran Mosul, they launched a new attack against Kobanê in July. That month-long onslaught was also repelled. After gathering an even larger force and even more artillery from Iraq and Syria, they launched a new attack on 15th September from the east, west and south of Kobanê. Their indiscriminate attacks are made with the use of American and Russian made armoured vehicles. Civilian settlements, children, women and the elderly are all targets. In the most recent attacks about 40 villages have been taken by ISIS. Over a hundred villages have been evacuated due to their bombardments. Many refugees from these villages have gone to the centre of Kobanê. Many more have crossed the border into Turkey; over 70,000 people have already crossed the border. The intense fighting around Kobanê is continuing. The YPG/YPJ forces are defending Kobanê and its surrounding areas despite limited resources and small arms. The Rojava defence forces and the Rojava administration have until today defended and administered themselves within their modest means. The Rojava forces were also the ones that helped the people of Shengal when they were being attacked by ISIS. Despite all the attempts and demands of Rojava’s people, they have not received any help from the outside world, with the exception of a few humanitarian organisations. The international anti-ISIS coalition has not given any help to the people of Rojava. Although ISIS is condemned as an inhumane organisation in Iraq, the same force is seen as admissible and acceptable in Syria. While ISIS is being bombed in Iraq, it finds a haven in Syria. While Kurds are seen as key allies in Iraq, across the border in Syria they are being neglected. How long will the anti-ISIS coalition continue its double standard? This question needs an urgent answer. These actions are urgently needed: • The canton administrations in Syria should be recognized in the same way as the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in Iraq. The resistance of the YPG/YPJ should be supported. • The measures taken in Iraq against ISIS should also be implemented in Syria. • Urgent humanitarian aid should be given to the people who are fleeing from ISIS atrocities. If such preventive measures are not implemented now, then a humanitarian disaster is imminent. Kobanê-Canton Co-President: No one should expect us to surrender The resistance of YPG and YPJ forces against ISIS gang attacks with tanks and artillery in the Kobanê Canton is continuing. Kobanê Canton Co-President Enver Muslim said the intention of the gangs is to carry out a second Sinjar massacre in Kobanê, adding: “No one should expect us to surrender or abandon our land. We will resist to the last drop of our blood. The gangs will not be able to enter Kobanê. If necessary, we will drown them in our blood.” The situation in Kobanê canton is similar to what happened in Sinjar. Old people and children are crying for those they left behind and a pregnant woman and a 90-year-old react angrily to ISIS, saying: “The Kurds have no friends left. They want us all to die.” Muslim `we are facing a second Sinjar. All democratic people should support us. DAISH (ISIS) wants to carry out a massacre in Kobanê. If they are opposed to terror and massacres, they must provide us with support without delay,” KCK: ‘Turkey is behind the ISIS gangs’ The KCK (Kurdistan Communities Union) Executive Council Co-Presidency has issued an appeal calling on the people of Kurdistan, to joining the Kobanê resistance and the struggle against ISIS. The KCK statement noted that the resistance of the people of Kobanê had encouraged democratic struggle everywhere, adding: “tens of thousands of youths must join the resistance and respond to ISIS fascism.” The KCK statement continued: “However much they deny it, there is no doubt that one of the powers behind ISIS is Turkey. The Turkish state is using ISIS to attack the Rojava revolution and all Kurdish people. This is how it is carrying out its dirty war against the Kurdish freedom struggle. The AKP government is endeavoring to overcome its isolation in the region through ISIS. The world’s media has documented this relationship. The release of 49 members of the Turkish consular staff came about as a result of this support for ISIS. The hostages were released in particular due to Turkish collaboration with ISIS in its latest assault on Kobanê.” ‘Turkey is maintaining its most hypocritical policy’ The KCK statement emphasised the hypocrisy of Turkish policy, saying: “On the one hand it is using ISIS to attack the Kurdish people, and on the other it is making propaganda about how it is welcoming those who come to its border. This will go down in history as a blatant example of hypocrisy. One of Turkey’s aims is to empty Kobanê of Kurds, thereby breaking the positive effect of the Rojava Revolution on North Kurdistan.” PUK Political Bureau Releases Statement on Besieging Kobanê by ISIS PUK Political Bureau released a statement on besieging Kobanê by ISIS for the past days. Here is the script of the statement: Honored people of Kurdistan, The countries that show support to Kurdistan,Iraqi and Kurdistani forces, Kobanê city has been under extensive attacks of ISIS using all kinds of heavy weaponry, and the city center of Kobanê is gravely bombed which inflicted on massive injuries to the people and caused serious damages to the city. Consequently, dozens of residents have been injured and martyred. Humanitarian disaster is even expected to occur in the city. This assault is coincided with, fortunately, the decision by the United States and western states to attack ISIL everywhere. Kobanê is a city in West Kurdistan, and it is obviously massacred by ISIS in the eyes of the countries. Therefore, PUK calls on the Security Council, the U.S. and western states to swiftly take actions to safeguard the city from the terrorists of ISIS and deliver humanitarian aid to its people….. We salute the people of Kobanê for their courage and determination. We salute the protectors of Kobanê. We salute the martyrs of Kobanê PKK calls for mass mobilization for Kobanê The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) appealed to young Kurds in Turkey to rush to the aid of Syrian Kurds in Kobanê, where its sister forces have been alone resisting renewed assaults this week by the Islamic State (IS)…. The YPG reported three heavy rockets fired into Kobanê in the latest round of fighting, turning fear among residents into outright panic. The Syrian Kurds have remained isolated in their war with IS, as global efforts galvanize against the jihadist in Iraq. The US has been conducting air strikes against IS positions in Iraq since last month, with France saying Thursday it will also step into the air campaign. Murat Karayilan, a senior PKK leader warned of a humanitarian disaster and the threat of massacre by the IS, comparing what could happen in Kobanê to the IS assault on Shingal in Iraqi Kurdistan, where hundreds of Yezidi men were murdered and countless women were taken as war prize by IS. “Action must be taken immediately to prevent such a disaster. Everyone must do what they can,” he declared. Karayilan slammed Turkish silence over events in Rojava, accusing Ankara of tacit support of the jihadis. Karayilan said that by closing its border to the Syrian Kurds, Turkey was assisting the IS. He accused Ankara of “complicity” in the siege of Kobanê. Kobanê, one of three autonomous cantons of Rojava (Syrian Kurdistan) is under attack and heavy shelling from IS gangs. On the 15 September 2014 the ISIS launched a major multi-front military campaign against the Kurdish region of Kobanê (Arabic: Ayn Al-Arab) in northern Syria. Since mid-September the Kobanê region has been under constant shelling and artillery fire from the advanced weapons the IS acquired in Mosul, Iraq. IS has used tanks, grad rockets, mortars and heavy artillery in indiscriminate attacks on the civilian population in Kobanê. The initial shelling of the villages surrounding Kobanê forced the civilian population to flee their homes. The defence forces of Kobanê, the YPG (People’s Defence Forces) evacuated fleeing civilians from dozens of villages via safe passageways to the city. According to official reports at least 50,000 people crossed the Syrian-Turkish border within 24 hours between 19-20 September 2014. The critical humanitarian situation at the border has alarmed the United Nations. Secretary General Ban Ki Moon urgently called for an immediate end to the ISIS offensive, and warned for the increasing number of displaced civilians. Kobanê is an enclave in northeast Aleppo governorate with a population of approximately 500,000, including IDPs. It has been under Kurdish control since 2012 when it was liberated from Syrian government forces, and is now one of the three self-governing administrations that declared autonomy in January 2014. Kobanê is surrounded by ISIS-controlled territory and the recent attacks engage thousands of ISIS fighters from Jarablus, Tal Abyad and Raqqah, in an attempt to fully seize the enclave. Heavy clashes continue between the YPG forces and IS fighters on numerous front lines 10-20km south, west and east of Kobanê city. The YPG is militarily disadvantaged compared to ISIS’s advanced and sophisticated weaponry, including US manufactured heavy artillery and tanks. Completely isolated from other Kurdish regions, due to the siege by IS, the only remaining escape route is the Turkish border north of Kobanê. In face of this existential threat by ISIS, the population of Kobanê has collectively mobilized to protect their homes. The YPG has issued several ‘call to arms’ and vowed to defend the region to the end, by all means. They have received reinforcements from all parts of Kurdistan, where fighters and volunteers have joined in the battle for Kobanê. More than fifty thousands of civilians are reported to have fled to safer areas while the Kurdish Peoples Protection Units (YPG) are fighting back the ISIS attack on many fronts. As a result, IS sees all Kurds in Kobanê as potential enemies and infidels, constituting legitimate targets. This has raised serious threats of massacres, rape, forced displacement, and ethnic cleansing, similar to scenes witnessed in Sinjar against the Yazidis in August 2014. • The international response to the threat of ISIS in Iraq and Syria, cannot be addressed selectively, since actions in Iraq directly impact the situation on the ground in Syria. Airstrikes in Iraq have resulted in ISIS refocusing on its military campaigns in Syria, where it can operate freely across northern Syria. • Action against ISIS in Kobanê is a matter of urgency, with increasing indications of imminent war crimes and acts of genocide. • The international community must also ensure the implementation of UN Security Council resolution 2170, of sanctions against IS by all member states. This is critical in the light of ISIS continued cross-border access at the Syrian-Turkish border, using locations within Turkish territory to facilitate its operations in Kobanê and the rest of northern Syria. The international community must fulfill its responsibility in protecting the civilian population of Kobanê and preventing yet another human tragedy. If no action is taken the situation can only escalate and the world might witness a new genocide. Kurdistan National Congress (KNK)