Joan Mela Ayub: Tal Tamr people determined to remain and resist

Since the arrival of the Turkish occupation forces to the outskirts of the Tal Tamr district after the occupation of the city of Sere Kaniye in 2019 attacks by the Turkish occupation forces and the mercenary groups are on the rise against the Tal Tamr district in bids to deport the indigenous people of the region as crimes are committed on daily bases. These amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity. Infrastructure and places of worship even not spared from Turkish shelling.

In line with such attacks the escalation and threats made by the Turkish occupation state against NES are on the rise.

To shed light on the issue ANHA met Co-chair of the Tal Tamr Council Joan Mela Ayub who affirmed that there has been unprecedented escalation by the Turkish occupation and the affiliated mercenary groups against the villages and the town. These villages are targeted randomly causing mass damages in the properties and services in the region.

Regarding the schemes of the Tal Tamr council to repel such attacks Joan said: '' our mechanism of work is summed up in holding meetings with locals in the district in cooperation with the Community Protection Forces to shed light on the latest developments and to give guidance to people on the way to give protection to the region against the Turkish occupation state''.

Joan indicated that the people of the Tal Tamr district and its villages have wide experience in dealing with attacks carried out by the Turkish occupation state and its mercenary groups such as the ISIS attacks on the district. They have experience in dealing with such attacks and self-defense ways.   

On the position adopted by the people of the region Joan said '' the presence of citizens in their homes and on their lands and refusing to be IDPs in the best way to stand up to the attacks and threats made by the Turkish occupation state. The people of the region support their military formations ( in an indication to the Syrian Democratic Forces and the Tal Tamr Military Council). They cling to their homes and lands. They are forming local committees to defend their quarters and villages''.

Joan Mela Ayub said the people of the region have chosen not to re-enact the scenario of deportation and abduction and murder as it was the case with the ISIS attack, '' the decision taken by people of the region now is to remain at home and to defend lands, not leaving it to be an easy prey to the Turkish occupation state. They chose to resist and remain defiant''.

Co-chair of the Tal Tamr Council said the region is open to special war by the Turkish occupation state that undergoes via the media outlets and some agents in the region and its villages calling on people to be vigilant and to be aware of the plots of the Turkish occupation state that aim to subvert unity of community''.     

l..a

ANHA