Asya Abdullah: Kobanê will never surrender

Asya Abdullah: Kobanê will never surrender

ANF/ALİ GÜLER - COLOGNE

02.10.2014 17:30:17

PYD (Democratic Union Party) co-chair Asya Abdullah spoke to ANF via phone about the current situation in the Kobanê town of West Kurdistan facing intense attacks by inhuman gangs affiliated to the so-called Islamic State.

Abdullah said the fighters of the YPG-YPJ (People's / Women's Protection Units) are bravely resisting to the ISIS gangs, noting that clashes are now taking place 2-3 km outside the town. “Should the gangs happen to enter the town centre, we will turn Kobanê to hell for them”, the PYD co-chair said and added that the women and children in the town are in safe.

What is the current situation in Kobanê?

The attacks of ISIS gangs, as well as the brave resistance by YPG-YPJ forces is continuing since 15 September. The resistance is going to continue. Before anything else, we want it to be known that Kobanê will never surrender. Clashes are now going on around the town which is also being targeted by mortar attacks.

Some press and media organs reported that ISIS gangs have entered the Kobanê centre. Is it true?

The reports alleging that Kobanê has fallen and Kurds are withdrawing are aimed at spreading black propaganda. These reports are not true. Kobanê is resisting since March, and is the place where the 19 July Revolution began. The resistance will continue in the spirit of the revolution. The Kurdish people should know very well that an epic is being written here. We are resisting with manpower and restricted possibilities. Some are expecting Kobanê to fall but they willl be disappointed. ISIS is attacking us with the support it receives from the regional powers, particularly weapons and manpower from many international powers, but it is not going to succeed.

What is the aim of ISIS attacks on Kobanê?

In Kobanê, they want to repeat the massacres perpetrated in Halabja, Enfal and Sinjar in the past. Their aim is to commit a genocide against Kurds. Their policy of massacre is also being supported by regional reactionary powers and international ones. They want our people to surrender but they are not going to manage it. The Kurds form the most organized and the most contemporary movement in the Middle East, they bear will and strength. Whoever wishes their surrender is being wrong. ISIS gangs are plundering the villages they capture and massacring the people living there, while also seizing the goods and properties of the people and calling for support from the Arab people living around.

What is the attitude of the Arab people?

ISIS aims to create a conflict among the Kurdish and Arab peoples. Arabs want to flee the areas held by the gangs. We will however not be deceived and we will continue our struggle which is based on the brotherhood of peoples.

What is the current situation in Kobanê now?

The daily life is going on in Kobanê centre now. The elders, women and children are safe. Clashes are going around the town now, 2-3 km to the centre. Thousands of YPG militants are resisting. Even if ISIS happens to enter the town, this will not be the end of everything. It will be their death as we will turn Kobanê to hell for them.

What will the course of the current situation in Kobanê be in the coming days?

The gangs had also launched major attacks on the Cizre canton and Serêkaniyê in the past, they had even entered the town centres which were however entirely cleansed of them later thanks to the resistance of YPG fighters. Even if they enter Kobanê, they will be facing a major resistance and things they would never expect.

What about the women and children?

All measures have been taken already to prevent a probable massacre in Kobanê. Civilians have been evacuated from the scenes of battle.

Reports were spread yesterday that the YPG positions outside the town had fallen?

This is not true. Withdrawal and position change do naturally take place as part of military tactics. YPG positions haven't fallen. As I have just mentioned, the resistance is continuing.

What about the losses of ISIS gangs?

They are suffering losses, of both their militants and heavy weapons, much more than estimated. They are continuously being provided with reinforcement in the logistic areas they are holding. They have deployed all their forces around Kobanê now.

What is the situation regarding the international public opinion?

The international coalition formed against ISIS has a decision to intervene but it is yet to make an adequate intervention. The international coalition should enter into relations with the YPG and provide the necessary support.

Reports were published that U.S. warplanes hit ISIS positions last night. Which areas have been targeted? Do you have any information available?

The operations have mainly been carried out in the towns of Raqqa, Munbej, Jarablus and Telabied (Girê Spî) so far. The ISIS positions around Kobanê were hit and heavy weapons were destroyed last night. This is, however, not enough. We want further support and provision of weapon to the YPG. A risk of savage massacres will remain unless these happen.

Do you have any call to make to the Kurds living in other parts of Kurdistan and Europe?

We greet our people who are staging demos in all the areas now, and we support their protests. Our people in Europe should rise and mobilise in order to support the Kobanê resistance. The people of North Kurdistan are at the border, resisting and manifesting an attitude by means of which they have prevented greater attacks. However they should enhance the resistance and spread it. We all need to resist in the spirit of national unity. This is the only way to ensure the liberation of Kobanê.