Shengal’s call to the world: They want to annihilate the Êzidîs
Institutions in Shengal held a joint press statement and protested KDP’s attacks, saying: “We want the peshmerga who abandoned us to the ISIS gangs to leave Shengal, not the YBŞ.”
The Êzidî community in Shengal bid farewell to their martyrs who lost their lives on the March 3 attack, and held a joint press statement with hundreds attending afterwards.
Heci Hesen read the statement in the name of Shengal Constituent Assembly, Shengal Women’s Assembly and Êzidî Freedom and Democracy Party (PADÊ) and said: “This incident in Khanesor happened in line with the perspective and the order of Erdoğan’s and Barzani’s meeting in Turkey. These gang forces call themselves “Roj peshmerga” and are comprised of Syrian Kurdish refugees, Turkish intelligence MIT and ISIS gang members that have been trained in Southern Kurdistan by the Turkish state and the KDP. These forces claimed they were going to fight ISIS and defend Shengal. But they attacked Êzidîs instead. The town of Khanesor is a liberated town and is under YBŞ control. YBŞ is made up of Êzidî daughters and sons. They have faith and they are resilient. They are fighting ISIS.”
“WE DON’T WANT THE PESHMERGA WHO FLED IN SHENGAL”
Heci Hesen also touched upon the goals of the KDP-backed armed groups and said: “If the purpose of the Rojava peshmerga was to save the Êzidî women and children enslaved by ISIS and to avenge our people murdered in the 73rd massacre, they would move towards the east of Shengal and liberate Southern Shengal from ISIS control with the peshmerga there. But the peshmerga positioned there again enabled passage for ISIS-allied gangs and placed them in Southern Kurdistan. For example, the gangs in Qabus village: By the beginning of the Mosul operation in 2015, the peshmerga opened the way for the gangs and Hashdi Shabi retaliated.”
CALL ON THE UN, BAGHDAD AND HEWLER
Hesen called on human rights organizations and continued: “We are calling on the United Nations and the benevolent states. Don’t let the Êzidîs suffer through another massacre. We are also calling on the UN to stop their aid for the peshmerga. Because most of the aid the peshmerga receive are supposed to be for Êzidîs, but the aid and weapons and ammunition are used against them. We are also calling on the Iraqi Government, take a clear stance for a solution in Shengal. There is still uncertainty in Shengal after the fall of Saddam Hussein’s government.
For Êzidîs to be able to protect themselves from attack and guarantee their existence, the YBŞ and independent defense forces should be supported. We are calling on the people and the political parties of the Kurdistan region, clarify your stance. We are also calling on the headmen and religious representatives that keep speaking on behalf of the Êzidîs. They represent only themselves. The Êzidîs can represent themselves, they can speak for themselves. Everybody knows they turned their backs on the Êzidîs in their time of need. Now they can’t represent the Êzidîs. They made Qasim Shesho commander for short term plays, and they added Haydar Shesho's forces to the peshmerga in the region. We are also calling on these forces, those who abandoned our people in August 2014, stay away. Nobody has forgotten about that.”
The statement Heci Hesen read continued: “Our stance to build Democratic Autonomy is for Shengal having an independent administration and being under the Iraqi government. Because we have lost faith in the peshmerga. They caused a massacre to befall our people. They turned their back on the civilian population of women, children and elderly, abandoned them to ISIS gangs and fled. That is why we want the peshmerga forces, especially the KDP peshmergas to withdraw from the region. We want Baghdad to make YBŞ more active in regards to weapons and numbers, so the massacre doesn’t happen again.
“THERE WOULD BE A CIVILIAN MASSACRE IF IT WASN’T FOR YBŞ’S RETALIATION”
More 'Rojava Peshmergas' dispatched to Shengal's Khanesor town
The so-called 'Rojava Peshmergas' affiliated to the AKP and KDP are making an increasing deployment in Shengal's Khanesor town.
According to local sources, the mentioned groups already situated in Old Mosul area have been taken out of this region and are heading for Khanesor now.
These gang groups trained by Turkey are meant to be deployed on Shengal-Rojava border to cut this line.
On the other hand, reports are coming through that gang groups have also been deployed in the city of Rabia and new groups will be dispatched to the corridor between Shengal and Rojava.
YBŞ Commander:
We will never allow another massacre of Êzîdîs
Tîrêj Şengalî, a commander for Shengal Resistance Units-YBŞ spoke to well known newspaper regarding the recent developments and ongoing tension in Shengal.
YBŞ commander stated that they did not pass over the possibility of clashes with KDP-AKP gangs, and that a 450-member Turkish force has been reinforced to the Shengal region.
Tîrêj Şengalî said they are aware of the KDP media's smear campaign in which Êzîdîs' Kurdishness is questioned, the reality is manipulated through conspiracy theories and virtual discourses on behalf of Êzîdîs are circulated online. He stressed that this smear campaign could not breach the lines of the Êzîdî Kurds.
Below is the statement YBŞ Commander Şengalî made to the newspaper:
“The gangs are positioned between Khanasor and Sinûnê. We did not have any military forces there which is a civilian area. After the attack, we took positions across them. Before, we did not expect them to attack and we did not take a fighting position. We did not know that the ones that came to the area were non-Kurds disguised in Kurdish outfits. Now we know that gangs trained by the Turks are unleashed upon Êzîdî Kurds.
TURKISH SPECIAL OPERATIONS FORCES INVOLVED
They received reinforcements on March 6. We received the information that Turkish soldiers from Zumar had also come. We found out that nearly 450 Turkish special operations forces were sent as reinforcements. Barzani had already stated that he had requested the support of Turks. They have deployed a force of 2 thousand armed men so far. We are positioned as Êzîdî forces, there is no reinforcement for us from Rojava or HPG.
THEY ARE USING GERMAN WEAPONS
The gangs possess the weapons Germany gave to the KDP to fight against ISIS and protection of Êzîdîs as well as weapons given by the International Coalition and the Turks. Civilian areas were damaged with their armored personnel carriers, heavy automatic rifles, heavy weaponry and conventional combat vehicles.
HOW CAN WE HIDE THE CHILDREN OF THIS PEOPLE
The gangs and their KDP master claim that they have massacred many Êzîdîs and that we are hiding this. We do not have a character nor habit to disrespect our holy martyrs like that. We are one with our people, we are the children of this people, who are we going to hide from whom?
THEY DEMANDED CEASEFIRE, NOT US
They want to portray us as powerless, weak and easy to crush. We responded to their attack in a way they did not expect, this is why they demanded a ceasefire. I am making it clear here; they demanded the ceasefire, not us. Officials Ferîq Cemal and Bedel Mend called us and expressed their demand. Our people are angry and they see this attack as the signal of a new massacre. Our people are aware that these people have nothing to do with Kurdishness and Kurdistan.
WE MADE OUR ATTITUDE CLEAR
We made our attitude clear and warned them during our talk with their side. Their current stance is provocative. Any further attack will expand and will not be restricted with that area. Therefore, we are waiting in our positions in a way that will show them that this will be costly.
RAQQA CLAIM IS NOT TRUE
The claims that these gangs are going to join the Raqqa initiative and are mobilized at the US' request are not true. There are requirements of international laws of war. If these forces acted with the approval of the US, we would be informed about it. There exists a procedure for this. There is no such a thing. This is our land, we saved it from ISIS occupation with our blood. If their goal was to go to Raqqa, they would find and take another way.
WE ARE ALL ACROSS SHENGAL
Our forces are all across Shengal. The area from Khanasor to Mount Kulik, from Meyzîman to Heyala and the larger part of Mount Shengal is under our control. Our forces are also present in Shengal city center. KDP has forces in Mehwer, Dihola, surrounding villages, and Shengal city center. Til Izê, Tilminat, Girzerik, Koço and other villages in south Shengal are still under ISIS occupation.
THOSE REFUSING TO FIGHT AND SURRENDERING TO THE YBŞ
When the fighting erupted, some of the Êzîdîs in their ranks refused to fight and came near us. We let them go after the fighting and they united with their families. However, we also captured some of them and they are still being held.
THEY ARE NOT PESHMERGAS
I may be repeating myself here but this is important; we cannot see or describe these attackers as 'peshmergas.' The peshmergas that fought alongside us during the battle of Shengal did not take part in this attack. Some of our forces are still side by side with peshmergas. Now, some of them have taken positions against us in the city center. We are also preparing ourselves accordingly.
DO NOT BE THE TOY OF TURKS
Our call to Êzîdî people, the people of Kurdistan, and humanity is that they stand against this aggression. The war may expand and we don't want Kurds to die even though they are coming at us with this purpose. The children of Kurdistan should not be the victims of the KDP's political plans. Nobody should be the toy of the Turkish state. Everyone should assume responsibility. The honorable Kurdistani stance is by our side. Our people should know that the YBŞ/YJŞ will resist and never kneel down even one single fighter is left. We will never allow another massacre of our people to take place.
KDP PREVENTS US FROM ADVANCING TOWARDS SOUTH SHENGAL
Unfortunately, the KDP is preventing efforts for the liberation of areas under ISIS occupation in south Shengal. We wanted to do this with the peshmergas but they always stalled us. Then, when Mosul operation began, they start to use this as a trump card. The Iraqi government did not approve this either because Barzani blackmailed them that if YBŞ advances on south Shengal, he would pave the way for Turks towards Mosul. All of these factors have prevented us from advancing on Shengal so far.
ATTITUDE OF MALA MÎRAN
Truthfully, we cannot speak about Mala (Community) Mîran because we have never received any bad words or behaviors from them. They have always wanted the best. They have not uttered a single bad word against us. However, many people talk against us on their behalf. They call us and speak on Radio Çira Şengalê. Mala Mîran from Laleş say that unpleasant rumors regarding them are spreading. The Spiritual Council is saying 'we do not want clashes and war among our people.' This is indeed what we, too, want.”
Êzidîs in Europe organise a sit-in and long march against KDP's betrayal
Shengal Assembly in Europe, Êzidî Assembly in Europe, and Êzidî Federation in Europe issued a joint written statement and gave the message "we will stand against betrayal and stand with our people in Shengal."
In their statement, Shengal Assembly in Europe, Êzidî Assembly in Europe, and Êzidî Federation in Europe, which are the three biggest Êzidî organizations in Europe, said "Betrayal is the biggest foothold of colonialism in Kurdistan. Kurds would be free today, Kurdish youth would not have been massacred brutally, and Kurdish women would not have been kidnapped and sold in Arab-Turkish-Persian markets in the Middle East today if they had not been betrayed. KDP's betrayal is such a betrayal, a Trojan horse that is a wound in the heart of Kurds, and a rusty dagger ready to stab Kurds in the back."
Drawing attention to the most recent attack on Shengal, Êzidî organizations said "The martyrdom of 2 HPG and 5 YBŞ fighters during the latest attack paramilitary gang groups formed by the Turkish state carried out on Shengal is the most concrete example of this betrayal. The weapons that European states gave for the fight against ISIS were used against Êzidîs and they wanted to put our people through a massacre once again. We condemn the KDP administration for this attack and call upon Kurdish people in general, and Êzidîs in particular, to stand up against this betrayal."
Êzidî organizations shared the following information on the protests that will be organized all across Europe:
“As the Êzidî organizations in Europe, we state that we will stand firmly against this betrayal, stand with our people in Shengal, and do everything that is necessary for this purpose. We will protect Shengal and Laleş, the holy places of our people, Tawûsê the Angel and Zerdesht, against colonialism and betrayal at all costs.
Our main place for this is Shengal, the land of Dewrêşê Evdî, not Europe. We will resist in Europe too. We will launch an indefinite sit-in in front of the Berlin state parliament on March 13, 2017.
We will also organize a long march from Dusseldorf to the European Parliament in Brussels between March 20 and 27.
We will hold mass protests in front of the KDP bureaus in Paris, Stockholm, Canada, Greece, the US and Brussels on March 13.
We call upon our people, particularly Êzidîs, to participate in these protests and stand up firmly against the betrayal in order to prevent another massacre against our people."
Piling wrote:PKK organizations, so PKK propaganda.
Currently yezidis militias and politicians are shared between PKK and KDP. So none of these demonstrations are "neutral" and can pretend to be done in the name of all yezidis.
In Iraq and Kurdistan as in Syria, there is no united minority : christians as yezidis as Turkmens are affiliated to different (rival) parties.
Return to Kurdistan Debates, Articles and Analysis
Registered users: Bing [Bot], Google [Bot], Majestic-12 [Bot]