Muslim: Victory is close in Kobanê

Muslim: Victory is close in Kobanê

ANF/ALİ GÜLER - NEWS DESK24.10.2014 13:00:03

PYD Co-President Salih Muslim has said in an interview to ANF that Turkey’s chicanery is continuing over Kobanê and that YPG forces have inflicted heavy losses on ISIS gangs.

 Muslim stressed the importance of the Dohuk Accord, adding: “In Kobanê victory and freedom is close”.

Democratic Union Party (PYD) Co-President Salih Muslim said the fact the ISIS gangs had used Turkish territory to facilitate reinforcements and military aid had played a role in clashes continuing for so long in Kobanê, adding that Turkey’s chicanery was continuing. He said Turkey wanted to establish a buffer zone on the Rojava-North Kurdistan border, but that this would not happen.

“We held serious talks in South Kurdistan, and took significant steps towards Kurdish unity with the ‘Dohuk Accord”, said Muslim, adding that military aid had been provided to Rojava by South Kurdistan and a decision been taken for peshmerga to go to Kobanê. Müslim continued: “a decision has been taken but no peshmerga force has yet gone. Talks are continuing between the YPG and peshmerga command.” Muslim added that if the international interest in Kobanê was translated into practice it would be meaningful.

What is the latest situation in Kobanê?

“Every day there are more people joining the ISIS gangs through Tel Abyad and Turkey. They also receive military equipment. This is why the attacks are continuing. There are fierce clashes going on now on the eastern and southern fronts in Kobenê. Yesterday in Tel Shair the YPG inflicted heavy blows. This village is 4 or 5 km from Kobanê town. Aerial bombardment is also continuing.

How does the situation compare with previous days?

Intensive clashes are continuing and the YPG has seized the initiative. Sometimes they withdraw, sometimes they attack, it’s difficult to say anything definite.

Last night it was claimed that the Free Syrian Army was going to fight ISIS in Kobanê. Have you heard this?

This is not true, no such statement has been made. Some groups from the FSA are already fighting with us. This news is designed to confuse minds and has no basis in fact.

Who would do this?

The Turkish state. They want to create confusion.

Until recently international public opinion was silent, but now there is intense interest in Kobanê. There is great support. How did this happen?

The resistance in Kobanê has awoken this interest. We are fighting against savage enemies of humanity. People identify with this, which is encouraging, but it is insufficient. We want this to be translated into practice, as we have not yet received any aid by land. Turkey is persisting with its policy of assisting the gangs. Only yesterday 70 people crossed the border at Akçakele to join ISIS and take part in the battle for Kobanê. The international powers should put pressure on Turkey and condemn it.

Turkish officials are now issuing statements that indicate a change in their attitudes. Have you noticed this?

Not yet. The whole world is on one side and Turkey is on the other. Pressure needs to be put on Turkey so that it declares it is opposed to the ISIS gangs, something it has not yet done.

There is news from South Kurdistan that the peshmerga have set out for Kobanê. Have they arrived there?

A decision has been taken to send peshmerga, but talks are continuing between the YPG and the peshmerga command on the numbers and weapons that will go.

You are talking to the government of South Kurdistan. What are your demands?

We have the fighters, what we need is heavy weaponry such as tanks, and the expert personnel to use them. Talks are continuing along these lines.

Will Turkey open a corridor?

Turkey pledged to open a corridor at the request of South Kurdistan and the US. They are bargaining over this at the moment.

What kind of bargaining?

Turkey wants to establish a 10-kilometre wide security zone. Its intentions are not good.

The YPG said it had received 26 bundles of military aid from the coalition forces. Is this enough?

The YPG has received some effective weaponry. We hope this continues, but I stress that there were no heavy weapons in this aid, which is what we want.

You have been in South Kurdistan for a few days. The day before yesterday you reached agreement with ENKS. Could you tell us what is in the accord?

We signed the accord after 8 days of talks. Agreement was reached over three articles: “Joint administration, joint military force and political union will be forged”. After two months the decision will be implemented, followed shortly by elections.

What will the “Dohuk Accord” mean for Rojava?

It will bring in unity of the Kurds and internal peace. It will also bring freedom for the Arab and Assyrian-Syriac communities. This is an important step for the Kurds, as first and foremost it will consolidate the system in Rojava.

There is a lot of debate in the media in South Kurdistan about armed aid for Rojava. What can you say about this? Some circles want to prevent this taking place. All Kurds should be aware of this. Both parties provided arms, some went to Cizire canton, some to Kobanê. We thank both the PUK and the KDP and the government for this assistance.

The Parliament in South Kurdistan recently voted to develop relations with the cantons of Rojava. Could you comment on this?

This was a significant step towards Kurdish unity. We visited the Parliamentary Speaker and the parties and thanked them.

ISIS gangs again want to carry out a massacre in Sinjar. The area is under siege and there is silence...

ISIS wants to finish what it started on 3 August. In fact, they want to massacre all Kurds, not just those in Sinjar. According to them, the Kurds are Christian or without religion, so they see them as enemies. It is only the Kurds who are fighting them, as no one opposed them in Mosul or Rakka. Armies fled. The Kurds are resisting in Kobanê, in Sinjar and in South Kurdistan. ISIS wants to eradicate the Kurds and then become a problem for the entire world. We therefore call on everyone to join the struggle against ISIS.

People from many different countries are going to Kobanê to join the resistance. Suphi Nejat Ağırnaslı ( Paramaz Kızılbaş) died recently. There are also people from different nations at the border vigil. There will be demonstrations all over the world for Kobanê on 1 November. What do you think about this interest?

The resistance of the people of Kobanê has created this international solidarity, which we hope will have practical implications as Kobanê needs support. The town has been destroyed, civilians are dying. The blood of people like Paramaz Kızılbaş has mixed with ours. For us this is sacred. People are coming from Europe and America to fight with us. No one should believe what the enemies of the Kurds are saying. In Kobanê victory and freedom are close.