KCK: July 19 revolution created beacon of democracy in Middle East

The Co-Presidency of KCK issued a statement today marking the 14th anniversary of the July 19 Revolution, which reads as follows:

“Fourteen years ago, on July 19, 2012, the Rojava Revolution started. It began in Kobanê and from there spread throughout all of Rojava and North East Syria. More than 10,000 Kurds, Arabs, Assyrians, Turks, and internationalists from all corners of the world have fallen as martyrs of this revolution. Tens of thousands were wounded. We commemorate the martyrs with gratitude and respect. We believe that the Kurdish, Arab, and Assyrian peoples will realize and defend the democratic Syria and autonomous Rojava that these martyrs longed for.

Just as the revolutionaries of Rojava rose up against the Baathist dictatorship, they have also defeated ISIS, which has been a scourge on humanity. The people of Rojava and North East Syria have defeated ISIS and established a democratic, autonomous system. The Kurdish, Arab, Syriac, Turkmen, Armenian, and Circassian peoples have created a life of equality, freedom, and brotherhood together based on the concept of a democratic nation. Through local democracy, every people, province, and district has engaged in the work of building a free and democratic society. In the Middle East, where nationalist and religious ideologies have been at each other’s throats, the Kurdish, Arab, Syriac, Turkmen, Armenian, Circassian, and other peoples and faiths have lived together in brotherhood and peace. A key feature of this revolution and local democracy has been the pioneering role played by women within the system, grounded in women’s freedom.

The revolution that took place in Rojava and North East Syria became an oasis of democracy in the Middle East. For the first time, a non-authoritarian democratic system began to take root in the Middle East. This was not viewed as serving their interests not only by the anti-democratic authoritarian regimes and political forces of the Middle East but also by international hegemonic powers. The democratic system in Rojava and North East Syria produced results that would shake the region’s authoritarian regimes. As the democratic system in Rojava and North East Syria took root and spread, the collaborative arms of the international hegemonic powers were weakened. Since they were seeking regimes to collaborate with, they tried every means and method to block the democratic system in Rojava and North East Syria.

The peoples of Rojava and North East Syria paid a heavy price in the fight against ISIS, thereby saving humanity from such a scourge. Thousands of guerrillas fought alongside the people of Rojava and North East Syria in the struggle against ISIS. More than a thousand guerrillas from Bakûr [Northern Kurdistan] fell as martyrs. Guerrillas from Rojhilat and Başûr [Southern Kurdistan] also fought against ISIS, and martyrs gave their lives. Also internationalists from all corners of the world sacrificed themselves for this cause. The democratic system in Rojava and North East Syria was established through their sacrifices. The Rojava Revolution became a revolution supported by revolutionary democrats around the world. When speaking of the gains achieved in Rojava and North East Syria, these sacrifices must not be forgotten under any circumstances.

The Kurdish people in Rojava have established a democratic system together with the Arab and Syriac peoples. The concept of a Democratic Nation that created this system remains the foundation and guardian of the gains in Rojava. Attempts by certain groups to create Arab-Kurdish hostility and sow the seeds of nationalism among the peoples serve neither the interests of the Kurds, nor the Arabs, nor the Syriac people. The people of Rojava Kurdistan are conscious; they are a people educated by Rêber Apo [Kurdish people’s leader Abdullah Öcalan]. They have achieved all their gains in line with Rêber Apo’s principles. Our people in Rojava Kurdistan will continue to protect and develop their gains in line with Rêber Apo’s principles.

Rêber Apo has always emphasized the need to create a democratic Syria based on local democracy and, on this foundation, self-governance. From this perspective, it is crucial to protect local democracy in Rojava. Only in a democratic Syria based on local democracy can peoples live freely and democratically. This can be achieved through a democratic system in Rojava where the people have established their own self-governance. A system that fails to recognize the will of local communities—rooted in a centralized, authoritarian mindset—and in which each people and community cannot organize itself on a democratic basis, grounded in freedom of identity, language, and culture, will naturally not be accepted by the peoples and communities.

If integration based on peace and equality is to be achieved in Syria, it must not be authoritarian or centralized. The problems created by the Baathist regime are well known. Attempting a similar path and approach in a different form will not bring peace and stability to Syria. This must be understood by the current government in Damascus, regional powers, and international powers alike. A mindset and policy that fails to recognize the will of a people and a society that has sacrificed tens of thousands of martyrs will create problems from the very beginning. It will plunge Syria’s future into a dead end and uncertainty. From this perspective, establishing a democratic system in Syria where Kurds, Arabs, Syriacs, Turkmen, Circassians, Armenians, Alevis, Sunnis, Druze, and Êzidîs [Yazidis] can live together will not weaken Syria—it will strengthen it. A system established through force and oppression will not strengthen Syria. From this perspective, the most appropriate policy would be for the current Syrian government, regional powers, and international actors to work toward Syria’s unity with an understanding that will bring about true peace.

As the Kurdish Freedom Movement, we will always stand by the peoples of Syria in their struggle for democracy and freedom.

We believe that the people of Rojava Kurdistan will continue to defend the gains they have achieved in the name of democracy and freedom, just as they have done in the past; in the spirit of the July 19 revolution, we wish them success in their future struggles and lives.”

Sh-S

ANHA