In parallel with the changing equations in Syria, attacks against the cities of North & East Syria have started to increase. Tens of thousands of people in the Shahba region were forced to migrate due to the attacks of Turkey-led paramilitary groups. The Democratic Autonomous Administration of North & East Syria (AANES) ressetled most of the displaced citizens in Tebqa and other cities. 

 

Margaret Owen, a lawyer and member of the Pace in Kurdistan, described the attacks as "genocide". "Once again, the Kurds in Syria and other innocent civilians are being targeted by the Turkish sponsored jihadist HTS (formerly Al Qa'ida)" she said. 

 

‘ERDOGAN DETERMINED TO CONTINUE GENOCIDE’

 

Margaret Owen reminded that tens of thousands of Kurds were again forced to migrate due to the attacks and noted that HTS, just like ISIS, was causing human rights violations, 

 "While the world's spotlight is on Gaza, Lebanon and the Ukraine, Dictator Erdoğan is intent on pursuing his genocidal attacks on the Kurds in Syria as well as in Turkey. He feels secure in retaining the silence of the US, UK, the EU, and their listing of the PKK as a terrorist organisation. Furthermore, turkey is valued as an ally, what ever its human rights record is, because we can call sell its arms and cooperate with trade deals. And of course Erdoğan gives his support to the mercenaries who are seeking to overthrow Assad. Erdoğan is as misogynist as he is racist. There is ample evidence of his close working relationship with ISIS. His ebtry into Syria was never to eliminate these criminals. It was to exterminate its Kurds, and to destroy altogether the democratic AANES," she said. 

 

Another factor now enters the scenario said Margaret Owen and added: "Russia today, not wanting to lose its partner Assad, unleashed bombs to protect Damascus from the rebels. Putin maybe not be as engaged as he might be due to his challenges in Ukraine, but here is yet another power threatening peace in the region."

 

Pointing out the relation between Turkey and ISIS, "Injured ISIS fighters are treated and nursed back to health in Turkish hospitals. Turkey is known to have engaged in oil trading with the group. Turkey has raided camps where Yezidi and Kurds have sought shelter, escaping from the ISIS stronghold Rakka. It has attacked Shengal, the ancestral home of the Yezidisç Turkey itself under Erdoğan is a terrorist nation," Margaret Owen said. 

 

'UN MUST RECOGNISE AND PROTECT' 

 

Margaret Owen said that since the United Nations (UN) has lost its former credibility and influence, member states see no harm in violating the Geneva Convention and UN resolutions. Margaret Owen said that the UN Security Council needs to be reformed and continued: "As long as US, Russia, China, UK are among its permanent members, it is incapable of any condemnation of these crimes against humanity. But I do have hopes that eventually the judgements and arrests warrant of the ICC and the ICJ will have some effect. My great wihs is that the UN recognises and protects the AANES, especially for its achievements in the contect of gender equality, women's empowerment, ecology, justice, peace and true democracy. It cannot remain silent when one if its member states is behind such atrocities and brutality."

 

‘ÖCALAN IS FOCUSSED ON A POLITICAL SOLUTION’

 

Margaret Owen emphasised that PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan wants peace for the peoples of Syria and all the peoples of the Middle East and therefore Abdullah Öcalan's physical freedom must be ensured. Margaret Owen said: "He is the Kurds' Mandela. All Ocalan's writings during his 25 years of incarceration on İmralı Island are focused on poltical not military solutions to the present conflict. His books should be widely read. His ideas for a new social order should be adapted by all of us wherever we live. It was he who coined the slogan, 'Woman, life, freedom'. Those three magic words now banned in Iran."

 

SHOULD RING ALARM BELLS ALL OVER THE WORLD

 

Margaret Owen noted that women and children are most affected by war, but despite this, they are excluded from decisions such as going to war or making peace. Stating that this is not the case in Rojava, Margaret Owen continued her speech as follows: "In Rojava, the seat of Democratic Confederalism, that women do have real equality. The Women's protection Force, the YPJ, has fought alongside men to liberate towns and villages from ISIS occupation. Many have been martyred in these battles. These are the bravest of brave women, and it is agonising to learn that yet again they are being slain, captured, and tortured.This eruption of more conflict in Syria and the threat to the very existence of the AANES should be ringing alarm bells all over the world. It will undoubtedly cause a further surge in migration. More people will become refugees seeking safety in Europe, risking their lives as they attempt to cross fortresses in an unwelcome Europe."  

 

‘OUR GOVERNMENT SERVING TURKISH INTELLIGENCE’

 

Margaret Owen reports on the British police operation against the Kurdish Community Centre and Kurdish activists in the British capital London on 27 November and said:  "Last Wednesday seven such people were arrested and detained. Under our anti-terror law.  The Kurdish Community Center was raided and closed down. Kurdish homes were broken into, women and children beaten up by our armed police. This is unforgivable. Our government is serving Turkish intelligence.   But we in civil society, we who are human rights activists, and lawyers like me will be standing up for Kurdish people, and protesting as loudly as we can that this servility must stop." 

 

MA / Hivda Çelebi