At this moment, Qamishli and four other Western Kurdish cities are under siege by the Syrian military. Tanks and helicopters surround the cities. Syrian soldiers and janjaweed Arab militias on patrol shoot indiscriminately into the streets. Communication with the outside world has been cut off. Mobile phone contacts report over 50 people killed and hundreds injured by this callous act. Sources in Iraq have confirmed over the past few hours that in the northern city of Kirkuk, news of the uprising has spurred people (Kurds) into random gathering in the streets. Nothing seems to be organized, and certainly not violent. No reports as to how they are recieving information yet. "The latest reports starting from the 12th of March, 2004, claim hundreds of victims of anti-Kurdish attacks carried out by the Baathist gangs and their supporters within the state apparatus of Syria. The unrest began at a soccer match in Kamishli and spread around the whole Kurdish area as the funerals for the first victims took place. Even in the capital Damascus, several hundred riot officers wearing helmets and bearing plastic shields were stationed around Damascus University and in a predominately Kurdish suburb. The Kurdish PEN Centre sees the threat of further escalation of hostilities between the Kurds and their neighbours. The Turkish, Syrian and Iranian authorities are well advised to realise that the Kurds are not going to disappear and therefore they are entitled to cultural and political rights".
Sounds like fighting words to me. History shows us that when the Kurds decide to fight, they will fight... to the bitter end if need be. This is a turning point in the struggle for Syrian liberation from Ba’athist rule
Update: Turkish television reporting great deal of smoke coming from border towns. Kurds in Amsterdam marching in solidarity with Syrian uprising.... |