Turkey’s concrete wall ... a covert, slow occupation amid world silence

ZANA SIDI-KOBANI

As the Syrian people meditate on how to find a solution to the crisis in the country, their eyes are set on the fake meetings held by the Iranian, Russian and Turkish trio, the Turkish government exploits the opportunity to occupy every part of the territory in northern Syria.

According to the latest official statistics regarding the number of civilians killed and wounded by border guards, provided by the human rights organization in al-Jazeera region revealed in a statement issued last year, in which it was stated that 71 citizens lost their lives and were wounded by the Turkish occupation army of the people of the Euphrates region, the Turkish occupation forces seized 4,626 acres of land.

However, the current numbers are much higher, because that number has risen since last year, and the victims have always been civilians or farmers targeted by Turkish soldiers while working in their territory. 

From the village of Abu Kabr far east of the territory to the village of Zur Maghar, the westernmost of the region along the border is located a cement wall built by the Turkish government inside the Syrian territory and with the occupation of large areas of land.

 However, this occupation did not go unnoticed, as the construction of a popular uprising against the policies of the occupation in Kobani, which killed two citizens during its construction in late 2016, forcing the Turkish government to retreat several meters and the construction of the wall.

The areas occupied by the Turkish army vary from one village to another between 15 meters to 150 meters towards the Syrian depth, such as the village of Ashma far west of the province of Kobani, where the tomb of Suleiman Shah is still present, after the Turkish army moved the remains of the tomb early in 2015 from the Qara Quzak bridge of to the village  

In addition to the killings of civilians approaching their farmland, the main supplier to the villagers. Three days ago, three children lost their lives in the village of Jarqli, west of Kobani, as a result of mines planted by the Turkish occupation army.

Nevertheless, the international community remains silent about this slow occupation and the horrific crimes committed against civilians. The international concern remains of a "chemical always" issue, while the people of Afrin wonder: "Where was the international community when Turkey used chemical weapons in its war against Afrin?

J.O

ANHA