France, Organisation Communiste Libertarie (OCL) -
Kurdistan, 2 days in Kobanî with the comrades of YPJ / YPG (fr)
Some notes from what we could see, hear and talk. ---- Kobanî. Against all odds, we have
managed to move from Turkey . And join this little place in the world where there are
concentrated and where many issues still concentrated, which still take place many wars.
Political wars: where will be for those in power, that damn game of alliances in a month,
six months, a year? Economic wars that will control the business and oil in the Middle
East? Ideological wars: what social project? Fascism? Theocracy? Capitalist democracy to
the western sauce? Or libertarian communism trend? So many wars, still bloody, traumatic
and destructive. ---- Kobanî so. Where for two days we will be welcomed by one of the
coordinators of Kurdish women fighters, the YPJ ( Yekîneyên Parastina jiné , feminine
protection units of the People), and his comrades. Two days during which they will give
us, a kind of mini tour and commentary of this small piece of land (nearly 2,000 km2) free
state and where everything remains to reconstruct and imagine.
Here are some notes from what we could see, hear and talk.
Kobanî between ruins and reconstruction
Since the release of Kobanî on 26 January this year, we all have seen pictures of the
destroyed city on the social networks. A mere glimpse of reality. On site, the decor
rather gives the impression of having landed on a hostile planet. We have traveled the
streets, between the ruins and dust. Families are back in the few areas of homes which
resisted the attacks. On the roads, tanks, remnants of shells, utility poles stand in the
way, suddenly you have to avoid obstacles or change direction. We distinguish there almost
ghostly silhouettes combattant.es train to fight or already tombé.es the battlefield.
Single imagination playing tricks. Some people return home, spread their energy to clean,
repaint and reseal the countless bullet holes and mortar that pierced the walls. We say
that these small jobs remain derisory given the scale of the damage. Then takes us on the
hill which hosted one of the battles against Daesh bloodiest: we see this city in
panoramic Kobanî, an overview that leaves speechless.
To account for the violence suffered over the last seven months of fighting in memory of
Sehit - the combattant.es mort.es for the cause - the YPG / YPJ have plans to make the
most destroyed areas a "museum": "We want the world sees and feels the violence that
befell the city, its people, and our comrades. We want every street corner remains in the
state so that we can remember. And the memory of our combattant.es must remain engraved on
each plot where they battu.es It is thanks to them if they and today Kobanî is free. We do
not just want their honor, but make the city their "museum". " There are also plans to
build a new ecological city just next to Kobanî.
Meanwhile, there are still fears of epidemics. From the first heat, everyone could smell
the decomposing bodies in the rubble. Many corpses were collected, buried, taking care to
add chlorine to prevent disease. Volunteer doctors came there and they await the
appearance of any new symptoms. Except that the difficulty of not finding remedies
remains. A hospital is tinkered in the basement of a building. No electricity the day, is
illuminated with the light of phone time to wait for the night to run the generators. A
room for sick women and another for men. And relatives and families are in the hallway to
discuss, laugh by showing videos. We visit with the combatant who accompany us, their
blessé.es ami.es to give them a little fishing. Two comrades groaning on patched beds:
they narrowly escaped an explosive trap set by Daesh, only two hours before our arrival.
Our hosts fighting tease: "You are cats. You have nine lives guys. Even if we wanted to
kill you, no one would arrive there. " Laughter of each other. War does not deprive them
of their joy.
A Kobanî, there is no electricity and no water. For now, the well water covers the needs
of the people present. To which is added water bottles arriving by "Door" from Turkey. For
electricity, the inhabitants merely a few generators. This is not a sustainable solution.
All look forward to the international conference to be held in Diyarbak?r on 2 and 3 May
This will allow to realize the support and participation in the reconstruction of the city.
Direction the surrounding countryside. Spring gives beautiful colors yellow and green
landscape. Rape flower has unfolded over the plain and the hills south of the city. One
moment, we even forget that not far away, the bombs rumbling again. Our guides told us:
"You see, it's nice here. But in this rapeseed, there is full of pitfalls. Daesh it has
lots of mines. " A number of people were killed last two months, falling inadvertently
left these explosives in a blanket, under a carpet in the fields or on the roads ... Some
comrades are improvised "bomb squad" and dare to defuse landmines. Five of them died
recently by the explosion of mines. The United States offered to help by sending experts
to defuse all the comrades are still waiting. This summer, residents of the township have
plans to burn all the fields and thereby detonate mines.
Later, we go to the front line. With the binoculars is being proposed, we can see the
villages still under the control of Daesh and other freshly picked up by YPG / YPJ.
The guerrillas. The war.
"We did not want to fight. We do not like that. But unfortunately we are there
contraint.es We must defend ourselves. " It is almost exactly the state of mind in which
there are the people we have to cross Kobanî. And if they do not want to make war,
combattant.es of YPG (units composed of men) and YPJ, "yet not recede forever" , they say,
"and sometimes it is our weak point. " "We are the body together to defend our land and
our ideals. We love human beings, nature and the beauty of the world. We want freedom and
equality " , they continue. "2000 comrades have been killed since the fighting began with
Daesh, very hard, but we will continue to fight as long as it takes. " Many were also
injured, often already several times by bullets or mines of the Islamic State. And despite
this very high price, a significant number of Kurds - young and old - continue to join the
ranks of the guerrillas. Besides, all those who in the worst of the battle, have pledged
their lives, arms in hand, against the Islamists: an example is often repeated, is that
this Teyze a tata a fifties who chose to leave her seven children to fend for themselves
for her to go to the front.
But for those who choose the more traditional route, it starts with a three-month Qandil -
mountainous region, a stronghold of the PKK, and horseback between Turkey and Iraq. And
from what we are told, more than the technical aspect of learning to handle weapons and
guerrilla tactics, this "training" is above all "ideological", that is, ie political and
philosophical. On this occasion, the comrades of YPG explain that the PKK'l? learn, for
example, "to get rid of their ego" to bring their individuality to the collective service.
It is particularly at this time that the camaraderie is expanding and strengthening. And
after this training to Qandil, the forehead.
How do YPG / YPJ? How are they organized? We have not always grasped the various
explanations, the many nuances or timid responses (especially for safety reasons). But
wholesale and begin each combattant.e possess its own weapons. He can choose, depending on
the intensity of the battles of course, his "assignment" - to be with his friends for
example. Certain.es take (or are given) "responsibilities": thus, there are many who
coordinate commandant.es chacun.e a few combattant.es This "responsibility" turns easily
and regularly, but we could not find out much more about it. Finally, a small number of
people are "coordinators" and are responsible for articulating the previous small groups.
We do not know how these people are chosen, but seniority appears to be a determining
factor. By cons, what is certain is that our interlocutors - whatever their
"responsibilities" - has repeatedly said that they were against the hierarchy, that no
more nor less than another account, and take the famous "responsibility" is only and only
be at the service of all, to serve the community. Also be noted that there is no money in
the history combattant.es since there is no pay, no pay. The guerrillas do not want it,
they do not fight for it.
Another issue comes up very often: it is the question of their dead. "Our dead are as
important that we who are alive. " All and all have seen comrades fall to their sides.
They we repeat, over and over again, they never give up a body. They collect them, at all
costs, care for, make their families or bury them in style. Several cemeteries sumptuous
"memorials" are also being built on the outskirts of Kobanî. They also override the bodies
of fascists Daesh, that they abandon most often on site and even crash while driving on
with their vehicles. YPG / YPJ also bury the bodies: "after all, they were human beings" ,
they tell us gravely.
We discuss several of them strategic issues. Almost all of Canton Kobanî was taken to the
Islamic state. And the comrades explain without much to conceal, that the military
objectives of the next time are many. First, take the east bank of the Euphrates and
resume hydroelectric dam further downstream on the river. This dam, which supplied Kobanî
into electrical energy was taken by the Syrian regime Daesh: they require and, until now,
the residents of the township to be satisfied with a few generators. And the second size
stated goal is to open a corridor to the east, to Canton Ciziré, another Kurdish enclave
Rojava. This canton, due to its geographical location, is much less dependent on the
goodwill of the Turkish State: open a corridor to allow more Kobanî not be, as it were,
under embargo, and be able to supply much more easily. [ 1 ]
What do the comrades of the help of the international coalition? Firstly, they are under
no illusions about the aims of the coalition: they are definitely not theirs. United
States, France and others will participate in air strikes, they say that to weaken the
Islamic state, and not to strengthen the Kurdish guerrillas. It is no coincidence that
Western never delivered to him weapons. The social model that Kurdish communists promote
is irreparably not the same as that of Western capitalist democracies.
The comrades had to settle small arms they had and their spoils of war, a handful of
fascist tanks, but they have the greatest difficulty in making them work. Little contact
with the coalition, then. At the height of the Battle of Kobanî, Western states have,
however, this time, target forcefully the positions of the Islamic State to ensure that
they take the city. Kurdish combattant.es sent photos and precise locations of the enemy
coalition, and it bombed. But apart from this crucial time, Westerners often found bogus
apologies - of the kind, "there is more fuel for our planes!" - not to throw their bombs
on Daesh. Analysis of the YPG / YPJ remains, ultimately, the following: " Westerners just
want to manage the chaos they have created. The fact that it is a mess in the Middle East
for them. They just want to manage and orchestrate. "
Daesh
Many Chechens, a number of Turkish soldiers, young Saudis, Belgian, French for,
"children-bombs." Junkies stuffed products to hold them against their horrors. Jihadi
soldiers of all countries heavily armed with tanks and mortars. Borrowed time dead. The
dead left behind, and finally recovered and buried by Kurdish YPG / YPJ.
The abandonment of all these bodies by the Islamic State and the prisoners taken from
their troops, allowed comrades to better understand who are these multiple Daesh soldiers,
and how they work. Kurdish combattant.es readily admit they were a little early largué.es
fighting because they did not understand the soldiers of a new type for them. "We knew how
the Turkish and Iranian armies. But not the fascists Daesh. Their generals are rich, have
much power and take only little risk. And their base soldiers are calibrated and more like
undead than anything else. " According to testimonies of child soldiers of the Islamic
State taken prisoner by the Peshmerga - Iraqi Kurds - many young recruits would suffer
beatings, rape and the obligation to attend to the bloody scenes, for the sole purpose
breaking their manhood, their dignity, reduce to obedience, and to get them used to live
in horror. The comrades also emphasize two things: first, that they have found in the mesh
of many corpses full of enemies cachetons and syringes. And secondly that the Daesh
tactics often used by suicide bombing is on the front line: "Sometimes we suffer assaults
where 45 to 50 enemy soldiers were advancing on our position by exploding one after the
other . " It's cold in the back, and let imagine how their brainwashing had only one
objective: to keep to the death in a waking nightmare.
For what is, so far, the strategy of their often Chechen leaders, YPG / YPJ describe a
practice similar to the raid: offensive, looting and theft, looting and killings and
against counter-offensive that he opposes them, gradual decline. Daesh has suddenly become
especially rich and was able to buy a lot of heavy weapons: mortars, bazookas, tanks,
mines, etc. And they often consider a mix of Mafia and Fascism. The comrades of the
guerrilla also emphasize the particularly important that the Islamic state was directly
supported by the Turkish state and the AKP President Erdogan. As well by the fact that
Turkish officers are present in the fascist ranks as the logistical assistance to Turkey.
On several occasions and so well displayed, the Turkish state has opened the border - the
famous "door" leading to Kobanî - Daesh the jihadists so that they can move equipment and
people of Turkey to the front line in the canton, or even downright carry out attacks on
the city from the north. For cons, the Turkish military were careful to pass in the other
direction the wounded guerrillas, preferring to see them die in front of the "Door".
Finally, YPJ / YPG do not forget the double game of the Peshmerga - the Iraqi Kurds
Barzani supported by the United States - which were sometimes removed before the Islamic
State attacking, leaving only local people and PKK'l? comrades, and thus indirectly
helping the fascists.
Women YPJ
The day after our arrival, depositing us at our host, Dil, one of the coordinators of YPJ.
She lives in a small fort on top of a hill overlooking the countryside. Here before us
views both east and west and north and south of the villages of Kobanî. We are here not
far from the clashes between comrades and Daesh. Two young women dressed welcome us in
military uniform. It looks, at first glance, the high school girls who are deceived
school. They settled us in the lounge. Candy pink curtains baroque small blue cousins with
gold embroidery, flags YPJ, the photo of the leader Apo, various trinkets, plush decor
that is both austere and kitsch of the house. Meanwhile Dil which is at the front with
combattant.es, a discussion begins with the girls.
Sad is engaged for more than six years in the PKK, and for two years with the YPJ - the
Syrian branch of the PKK and feminine. She fought to Ciziré before coming to fight on
Township Kobanî. She is 26 years old. At the age of 9, she attends a scene where his
father slap her mother from there begin the questioning. Why hit the woman you love? What
place has the woman in the family home, in society? She realizes that destiny offered to
him is nothing other than getting married, be bobonne a husband, having children, and not
have a say. She refuses this future, she wants to be a free woman. It is committed to the
PKK. She think I made the best decision of his life. It is, questions itself, educates.
With training in Qandil. With meetings every two weeks at the academy of women. With
literary works she studies throughout his career: the philosophy, art, writings Apo and
testimonies and autobiographies ... And, of course, thanks to the wealth of trade with
other comrades. Links with the recent flourish. She says she has everything here. And love
is asked, how do you? "It was not the" right "to have romantic relationships. We do not
live in history. It is a choice, difficult but you get used to and we know why we refuse
"Love". Let the time for each of consciousness is changing: to allow the man to drop his
patriarchal mentality, and for women to break free of his slave state. And for this
change, we need to be fought.
The fight is over. To get to the grasp, we study the jinealoji, we find ourselves in
groups of women as at the academy. We have separate accommodation from men. " For her, the
camaraderie have more value to him than any other relationships. "And then we fight for
just causes, though sometimes it may seem radical against oppression, patriarchy, in
defense of the oppressed, for women! My place is here. " We ask her why she is here with
us, and why not on the forehead with the other. A tight smile, with black eyes, replied:
"Five days I am here, I turn around. I want to go to the front but does not allow me.
Because it's been five months since I have been fighting without pause. I always bypassed
my rest days. I have my body is here but my head there with my friends. How commandant.es
want me to rest while others struggle? " We take this opportunity to ask if they have a
concern with the "hierarchy" and is what happens to them not to obey orders. Sad said,
that there is a hierarchy but not as we hear. "These are positions held for the proper
functioning of the collective organization. No one is above anyone. " And for
disobedience, she replies that it does not happen to them. Except when ordered to turn
back during a fight or because they need rest, we she admits. She smiled, saying that it
is not really disobey.
Denk, busy call to his comrades at the front, to those sent to the hospital in Cizre for
heavy care and his family eventually join us. More reserved, she launched into the story
of his life. When she was little, her father would regularly flee the house as it was
pursued by the Turkish state for his political ideas. The whole family lived repression
every day. The Turkish army had regularly terrorize. Denk has naturally taken up the torch
of resistance and is committed to the PKK. Injured last month in the arm, it should stay
in fort, far from the front. Meanwhile, she studies a history book on Kurdistan, to be
able in a few days, send the form of courses at the Academy of women.
"We believe the change, if we had no hope, we would not put our lives at stake! " We 'she
says before leaving call a friend and see if he is not bored without them at the front ...
Continuing education for the revolution
A few hours before the end of our short stay in rojaviennes land, we have the chance to
meet by chance Sya, one of the women "referent" in the matter of education. During two
hours we will discuss education in the broad sense. She explains that this is primarily a
state of mind, a disposition for curiosity, a desire to constantly challenge the order of
things, a desire for knowledge: "Learn from the past to build the future" she says. She
lived a number of years in Europe, where she became interested in anthropology. And, as
history, it seems to him essential to understand many things.
Starting with the history of women, their relationships with men, the difficulty to
consider and be treated as their equal, etc ...: patriarchy, what! All these issues are
grouped together recently in the recent "school of thought" in Kurdistan, the jineoloji :
so large mixing feminism (with many references to the various tendencies of Western
feminism), history of women since the Neolithic era, of philosophy, and all the cultural
specificities of the Middle East and Kurdistan. Sya and dates back to prehistoric times to
explain the first great original divide between men and women: the specialization of tasks
and therefore roles, with on one side, men who will chase and so shall attend to the needs
of the community, and the the other, women who give birth, take care of their offspring
and are allocated domestic work. The men say their strength and virility, while women
become gentle and maternal instinct ingrown. It's the, she says, that all share, that sets
up the exploitation and domination of men over women.
This analysis results in particular, for example, the creation in 2012 of guerrilla units
strictly feminine. The YPJ, although they fight side by side with YPG, have their own,
their academies to women, their specific training, "and as long as we need it, men and
women, to consider the issue of substantive equality gender, we will remain within the
PKK, the YPJ and YPG, separate entities. We will not seek romantic relationships, which
until now often synonymous unfortunately remain submission, dependency, jealousy, etc. We
prefer collective comradely relations, which puts each other and the collective at the
center of his attentions. "
We then address the "capitalist modernity" and its critique. Behind this concept, Kurdish
again, seems to cross three aspects of things.
First, capitalism, like traditional operating report where the wealthy exploit the labor
of those who have nothing.
Second, capitalism as social relationship where relations between people as intermediaries
money, competition and individualism. And third, capitalism as modernity that ransacked
the forms of organization and ancestral practices. This is hardly surprising, but we can
find the same kind of ideas at the heart of indigenous struggles North and South American
continents: the situations are similar. When asked, Sya says it is following with some
interest the Zapatista struggle, and that if there are not many books on the subject
translated into Kurdish or Turkish, it reads in English or . German
Still about this "capitalist modernity", where it surprises us a bit is when, at the turn
of a phrase, it is closer to three appearances convoluted events of this modernity: sex,
sport , and culture.
Three expressions of capitalist modernity and three devices. Sex as pornography as sexual
liberalism as consumption of the other. Sport as self-cultivation, as individual
narcissism. Culture, finally, as a cultural commodity, as emptied knowledge of sense, as
exclusion device and gentrification. We did not think we would have such
philosophical-political discussions with PKK'l? comrades amid the rubble of the ruined
Kobanî. Like what can be expected at Rojava!
Nothing's over ...
Two days Kobanî. Although dense and hearty encounters and information. Remain well
anchored, memories of good laughs jokes jokes, discussions open heart beating drums and a
sense of welcome where hospitality always mean interest and benevolence. Remain too well
on a few doubts and many questions. Will finally two certainties. That we are decidedly
difficult to understand everything that is happening in Rojava with our western eyes, with
our analysis grids, our theories and Western cultures. And that it is taking place right
now in Kurdistan movement really more interesting, a really revolutionary attempt of
interest and solidarity.
Nothing is done, but it all starts!
source: http://nevarneyok.noblogs.org/
Notes
[ 1 ] See card
http://oclibertaire.free.fr/spip.php?article1685
