HESNA MIHEMED

Shahba- The Syrian government forces have intensified the siege and embargo on Shahba amid the ongoing Turkish attacks. The displaced people of Afrin, who were forced to leave their homes six years ago by the Turkish state and Turkish-backed factions and settled in Shahba, face being displaced again.

‘Civilians paid heavy prices’

NuJINHA spoke to Zelox Bekir, Co-chair of the Educational Institution of Afrin-Shahba, about the siege imposed on Shahba by the Syrian government and the Turkish attacks. “2023 was the centenary of the Lausanne Treaty. It was the year of wars not only in the Middle East but also in Ukraine and Palestine; civilians paid the heavy prices of these wars. The Kurdish people also paid heavy prices in 2023. The Kurdish people became the victims of genocidal policies, the policies of oppression and fascist systems. Especially the people of Rojava Kurdistan paid heavy prices.”

‘Their aim is to destroy the system based on democracy’

Zelox Bekir also talked about the Syrian crisis. “For years, North and East Syria has been attacked by ISIS, the Turkish state and Turkish-backed factions such as Jabhat al-Nusra. The Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) built a system based on democracy in North and East Syria against capitalism and genocidal policies. Hegemonic forces aim to destroy this system.”

‘The Syrian government uses hunger as a policy’

Some areas of North and East Syria are occupied, she said, “The Damascus government (Syrian government) uses hunger as a policy in North and East Syria. The displaced people of Afrin have been resisting in Shahba for six years. Their resistance frustrates the plans of the Turkish State and Damascus government aiming to depopulate the region. The Damascus government forces do not allow the entry of essential supplies, such as fuel, flour and humanitarian aid to Shahba. In summer, the Turkish state cut off the water of the Euphrates River. The Damascus government and the Turkish state carry out the same policy.

The Syrian crisis will be resolved by the people of Syria’

Emphasizing that the other countries intervened in Syria for their own interests, Zelox Bekir said:

“The Damascus government should know very well that the Syrian crisis will be resolved by the people of Syria, not other countries. As the AANES, our doors are always open to negotiation and dialogue with the Damascus government. The Syrian crisis can be resolved by the people of Syria through dialogue. The Damascus government must lift the siege to resolve the crisis. The resistance of the people of North and East Syria will take the occupying forces away from the region.”