Self-Defense Duty in Deir Ezzor ... Contribution to consolidating security, stability

The clans' dignitaries of Deir Ezzor affirmed that the duty of self-defense is a right for everyone, as it is a necessity to defend the region in light of all the attempts to target security and stability they witness, welcoming the decision of the Defense Office on the assignment of Deir Ezzor people of the Self-Defense Duty.

26 January, 2021 22:53

NEWS DESK - AHMED MOHAMED

In an endeavor by the Civil Administration in Deir Ezzor to give importance to the defense mechanism of its military forces, and to support the Syrian Democratic Forces in defending the area and confronting what it is being exposed to, the Defense Office in the Civil Administration in Deir Ezzor took on the 10^th of last December the decision to assign the people of Deir Ezzor of the Self-Defense Duty after consulting the tribal notables.

In view of all the threats and attempts to target the security and stability of the region in the recently liberated Deir Ezzor areas, the reality has become imperative for the people of the region to rely on themselves for protection, through the innate self-protection of everyone in society to defend their areas.

The decision is based on Law No. 1 of 2019 regarding the Self-Defense Duty in the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria which was issued by the General Council in the Autonomous Administration on July 22, 2019, based on the provisions of the Basic Charter in the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria.

The Civil Administration in Deir Ezzor considers that the Duty of Self-Defense is a national, humane and moral duty which falls upon everyone to defend the borders of the homeland, its people and its institutions in accordance with the legitimate principles of self-defense, to protect society and maintain co-existence, equality and the unity of diversity to create a free democratic society.

Tribal leaders in Deir Ezzor believe that the decision to Self-Defense Duty in light of the conditions witnessed in the region is a correct decision, and contributes to establishing security and stability, and helps reinforce the military forces to reduce any risks that Deir Ezzor may face.

A spokesman (spokesperson) of Al-Marasema clan in Deir Ezzor, Abboud Al-Hussein Al-Marsoumi, said in a statement to our agency commenting on the decision: "We participated in the liberation of our regions, and it is our duty to protect our liberated areas in the current stage and to defend them in light of all that we are exposed to."

He added: "We, people of nobility and magnanimity, are in dire need today to protect our regions, and we are responsible before others to defend what has been achieved in the region. If we do not protect our areas, who will protect them."

Al-Marsoumi confirmed: "We do not have any problems with the recent decision on the Duty of Self-Defense, and we are with the decision inside and out to defend the region."

Al-Marsoumi called on the people of Deir Ezzor to assume their responsibilities in protecting their areas, and not to evade them. He considered protecting the region a right and a duty for everyone, and said: "This is self-defense, defending ourselves is our duty and the duty of our children, and the matter does not need to be asked of us."

The decision on the Self-Defense Duty includes young men who have completed 18^th years of age, and the assignment will include starting from those born in 1990, to serve for a period of 6 months in the Civil Administration areas in Deir Ezzor.

In order to implement the decision, according to what military officials indicated, the Defense Office is working to receive those assigned to its posts.

Bassam Al-Atwan, Al-Shaitat clan's notable from Al-Shanan town agrees with Al-Marsoumi regarding the importance of the Duty of Self-Defense, and the need for everyone to assume their responsibilities in protecting the area, relying on self-protection and fulfilling their duty of self-defense which has been announced recently.

Al-Atwan welcomed the decision and affirmed in a statement to our agency that the Duty of Self-Defense at the current stage is a very important step, and it will contribute to establishing security and stability. He said: "We consider it a correct vision, so it is natural to rely on ourselves for protection, and when there are fighters in every village to protect their village and region, this will limit the security breaches that occur, given that the people of the region know the geography of their area and its residents."

In separate areas of the north, east and west of Deir Ezzor, multi-loyalty cells' activity are witnessed, after the elimination of ISIS in its last strongholds in Al-Baghouz town in March 2019, and these cells target the clans' notables of the region, community figures, and fighters in the Syrian Democratic Forces.

Al-Atwan called on the people of the region to apply for the Duty of Self-Defense, and said that everyone should move away from hostility to the decision and return to the region's bitter history with the absence of the defending military force. He said: "I personally am ready to submit to the Duty of Self-Defense before the youth to protect our areas from any dangers."

At the end of his speech, Al-Atwan pointed out that the Duty of Self-Defense "does not push children to fight in other countries, but to protect our regions." He said: "We must look to the future of the region and not evade responsibilities."

D.H

ANHA