PEACE IN KURDISTAN
We remain proud to stand in solidarity with the courageous Kurdish women and men who continue to put up valiant resistance against ISIS and state oppression.
Today, the 1st November, has been adopted as World Kobane Day, a day of solidarity action with the heroic struggle of the people of Kobane and Rojava to achieve their liberation by building a democratic society for all the people of the region.
It was only yesterday, 31st October, that Turkish forces were reported to have launched renewed attacks on the Kobane region compelling the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces to pause the campaign to oust ISIS from their towns and villages.
Clearly as we commemorate the ongoing struggle of the people of Kobane, we are mindful of how the Kurds continue to do battle against the Islamist terrorism of ISIS, as well as the armed might of Turkey and the political manoeuvres of other hostile powers, both regionally and internationally. Their enemies may be very well equipped and numerous but the Kurds have remained determined, united and strong. They are well motivated and derive inner strength from the historic national awakening that the Kurdish people have experienced over the past few years.
Today the Kurds are seeking to achieve a peace settlement that will allow them to rebuild their communities and establish a new form of social organisation run along popular democracy principles where men and women can work together for the common good.
Kobane’s struggle became a cause of humanity and inspired people all over the world with a feeling of hope that they could seize control over their own future.
Kobane’s plight came to symbolise the resilience of the Kurdish people and their long history of struggle to gain their liberation, a just cause if ever there was one. But Kobane has also inspired many other people to express their solidarity.
This is because the spirit of Kobane reflects the wider struggle of the peoples of the Middle East to shake off the shackles of tyranny and to build democracy.
Over recent years the Kurds have led a successful resistance against the savage repressive forces of ISIS, but the group has been extremely well funded, widely supported both covertly and overtly by Turkey and other regional and Western powers and as a consequence it continues to pose a real danger to the people of the region and indeed to all humanity.
Once again on World Kobane Day we therefore renew our solidarity with the Kurdish people and their ongoing resistance against all forms of oppression and dictatorship.
We honour the memory of all those who have tragically fallen in this historic struggle against war, aggression and terrorism in Kobane and Rojava.
We call for renewed efforts to maximise peace in Syria and the wider region.
We call on international powers to restrain Turkey’s aggressive designs and prevent it from launching further bombardment and military actions against the Kurds in Kobane and Rojava who still lead the world resistance against the murderous forces of ISIS and its anti-human outlook.
Peace in Kurdistan
Campaign for a political solution of the Kurdish Question
Email: estella24@tiscali.co.uk
www.peaceinkurdistancampaign.com
Contacts Estella Schmid 020 7586 5892 & Melanie Gingell – Tel: 020 7272 7890
Patrons: John Austin, Christine Blower, NEU International Secretary, Prof Bill Bowring, Julie Christie, Noam Chomsky, Jeremy Corbyn MP, Prof Mary Davis, Lord Dholakia, Simon Dubbins, UNITE International Director, Jill Evans MEP, Lindsey German, Convenor STWC, Melanie Gingell, Rahila Gupta, Nick Hildyard, Dafydd Iwan, Former President Plaid Cymru, James Kelman, Bruce Kent, Jean Lambert MEP, Elfyn Llwyd; Aonghas MacNeacail, Scottish Gaelic poet, Mike Mansfield QC, Doug Nicholls, General Secretary, GFTU, Dr. Jessica Ayesha Northey; Sinn Fein MLA Conor Murphy, Dr Thomas Jeffrey Miley, Kate Osamor MP, Margaret Owen OBE, Gareth Peirce, Dr Felix Padel, Maxine Peake, Lord Rea, Joe Ryan, Stephen Smellie, Steve Sweeney, Dr Tove Skutnabb-Kangas, Dr Tom Wakeford, Dr Derek Wall, Julie Ward MEP, Hywel Williams MP.