PYD holds transitional Govt. responsible for Kobani events, calls for accountability

The Democratic Union Party (PYD) issued a statement today regarding the recent events in Kobani, calling for an urgent and transparent investigation into the prison fire incident and the deaths of a number of prisoners, as well as the assassination of Siban Huzni, and for those responsible to be held accountable. It also called for preventing the exploitation of the events to undermine civil peace and the democratic movement.

The statement began: “The Democratic Union Party (PYD) is following with deep concern the serious events that have been taking place in the city of Kobani since yesterday evening.”

Arbitrary arrests and acts of intimidation

The statement noted that after a convoy belonging to the General Security Forces entered the city and drove through its streets, it “proceeded to arbitrarily arrest a number of civilians.”

The statement confirmed that the convoy affiliated with the transitional government engaged in “acts of intimidation, directed racist insults and humiliations that undermine the dignity and identity of residents, as well as provocative slogans by some members of the General Security Forces, which led to growing anger and the outbreak of popular reactions.”

Regarding the fire that broke out at Kobani Central Prison, the statement said: “Later, a number of prisoners staged a protest inside the prison and set fire to the dormitories in protest against an attempt by members of the General Security Forces to forcibly transfer them outside the city. This resulted in the deaths of a number of them and left a large number suffering from suffocation.”

Need to uncover circumstances and identify those responsible

The statement stressed the need to “fully uncover the circumstances surrounding the incident, determine responsibilities, and hold accountable everyone proven to have been involved in any violation or abuse against civilians and prisoners in accordance with the law.”

In its statement, the Democratic Union Party extended “its deepest condolences to our people and the families of the martyrs, and we wish a speedy recovery to the wounded and injured,” calling on “our people to participate widely in the funeral ceremonies for the martyrs.”

The statement linked the recent events in Kobani to developments taking place in the region: “This incident comes amid serious developments that have taken place in the region in recent days, foremost among them the killing of Siban Huzni, coinciding with a broad peaceful popular movement demanding our people’s right to education in the Kurdish language, the preservation of their cultural and linguistic identity, and all their legitimate rights.” It considered that “the coincidence and escalation of these events raise serious concerns about attempts to spread fear and chaos and target the democratic movement of our people.”

People of the region defended it together

The statement categorically rejected “portraying what is happening as a tribal or societal conflict. The people of the region from different components have lived, worked and defended their land and society together under the Autonomous Administration for more than fifteen years, making sacrifices in the face of terrorism and war. Any attempt to sow discord among them serves nothing but projects aimed at weakening society and destabilizing it.”

The Democratic Union Party stressed that “protecting civil peace is linked to protecting rights, and that genuine security is based on justice, the rule of law and recognition of the rights of all components, rather than intimidation, exclusion or silencing voices.”

The statement held “the transitional government fully responsible for what is happening,” warning of the presence of hidden hands and intentions aimed at pushing the region toward chaos and conflict.

It also called for an urgent, comprehensive and transparent investigation “into the killing of Siban Huzni and the Kobani prison fire, making the results of the investigation public, holding those responsible accountable in accordance with the law, and preventing the exploitation of these events to undermine civil peace or target the democratic movement.”

The statement called on the people, all components of the region, and national and democratic forces to “demonstrate the highest levels of awareness and responsibility, reject sedition and violence, uphold the unity of society and coexistence, and continue the peaceful struggle for legitimate rights.”

At the conclusion of its statement, the party affirmed “our commitment to building a democratic society that respects all languages, cultures and identities, and to building a democratic Syria based on equality, justice and the rule of law.”

ANHA