Protesters at Tishreen Dam: Our will is strong, and we will continue on path of our martyrs

Residents of the Raqqa, Tabqa, and Deir ez-Zor Cantons protesting against the Tishreen Dam issued a statement today on the occasion of Martyrs' Day, which falls on April 25.

The statement was read by Jaber Hassan, co-chair of the Confederation of Democratic Society Organizations in North and East Syria.

The statement noted: "On April 25, which marks Martyrs' Day in North and East Syria, we proudly and painfully remember the souls of the heroic martyrs who sacrificed their most precious possessions for our freedom and dignity, including those who were killed in the 2017 Qaraçox massacre by Turkish state warplanes. They were at the forefront of the resistance to terrorism and were the cornerstone of establishing the Autonomous Administration and achieving coexistence among all components of Syria."

The statement continued: "On this occasion, we, the civilians on duty and participating in the Tishreen Dam resistance, affirm that our presence in this vital and strategic location is a continuation of the martyrs' approach and a sincere expression of our adherence to their great legacy. The approach of the martyrs at Tishreen Dam represents a living extension of the resistance, those who were the fundamental pillar upon which the democratic project in NE Syria was built, a project that stems from their sacrifices and their belief in the right of peoples to self-determination and the building of a system that guarantees freedom, justice, and equality."

The statement emphasized, "Our civil resistance at Tishreen Dam is a resistance for peace, to stop the bloodshed of Syrians, and to establish a new, pluralistic Syria that preserves the dignity and rights of its people and its components without denial or tyranny. We stand here not out of war, but out of life, carrying the message of mothers who continue to shed tears for their children, demanding an end to the killing and destruction and the beginning of a true path to a just peace."

The statement pledged, "On this day, we pledge to our martyrs that we will continue in their footsteps, and that our will is strong and unwavering until the dream of a democratic, decentralized Syria is realized, in which Kurds, Arabs, Syriacs, Turkmen, and other communities live on an equal footing, where freedoms are protected and sacrifices are respected."

Sh-S

ANHA