06 Sept 2015

ANF - Kobanê

Edited by Kurdish Question

Military forces affiliated to the People's Protection Units (YPG) Kobanê Command have organized a conference on the resistance in the Kobanê region, held under the slogan “Let’s re-organise on the basis of the Kobanê resistance and lead the building of a democratic Syria”.

215 delegates participated in the conference held by YPG Kobanê Command between August 23 and September 1,which exclusively discussed the political, military and organisational dimensions of the resistance; reaching important decisions.

The final resolution of the conference has been released on YPG's official website, which said "the victory of the Kobanê resistance has become the basis for sowing and making invincible the Rojava revolution. At the same time, it has been a significant step in developing the Democratic Syrian Revolution."

According to the final resolution, the conference witnessed an assessment of the political and military developments in the Middle East, Kurdistan and the international arena; ascertainment of military, tactical and organisational problems during 2014-1015 Kobanê battle and resistance; and determination of agenda items on the basis of criticism, self-criticism and decisions.

'THE KOBANÊ RESISTANCE BECAME THE BASIS FOR SOWING AND MAKING INVINCIBLE THE ROJAVA REVOLUTION'

The final resolution of the conference pointed out that the Middle East territory has become the center of intense clashes and at the same time probable solutions, due to all global, regional, local and social forces taking an active part in the current historic process.

Remarking that international hegemonic powers were in a struggle to restructure the Middle East based on their own interests, and to prolong this period through new balances and arrangements, the final resolution said the democratic social forces that emerged during this process fought against the chaotic environment in the region.

Describing the democratic nation revolution in Rojava as the only emerging alternative to the state-ruling system, the final resolution said the Rojava revolution has become a revolution that concerned not only local peoples but also all the peoples of the world.

Pointing out that the Rojava revolution in 2012 started a new process for the history of struggle of the Kurdish people, the final resolution said; "The national gains achieved by the Kurdish people have initiated a process of building the democratic nation and new free life, protecting the existence of Kurds and attaining freedom. In the current phase, the Rojava revolution in its fourth year has influenced humanity in the entirity of Kurdistan and the Middle East territory and united it on the basis of historical social values. In this regard, the Rojava Revolution has become an expression of the democratic Middle East revolution and resistance of the region's peoples. The democracy and freedom struggle waged against fascism in Kobanê has enabled the Kobanê resistance to gain a global dimension and become the revolution and resistance of humanity as well. The reactionary and subcontracted gang organization of ISIS has suffered a historic defeat owing to the global struggle and brave resistance of the people of Kurdistan. The Kobanê resistance has become the basis for sowing and making invincible the Rojava revolution. At the same time, it became a significant step in developing the Democratic Syrian Revolution."

'REVOLUTIONARY ACTION LED BY THE YPJ GENERATED THE COLLECTIVITY, SOLIDARITY AND LEADERSHIP OF WOMEN'

Noting that heroic resistance by the Women's Protection Units (YPJ) fighters in the Kobanê battle and resistance was among the most talked about subjects of the conference, the final resolution recalled that the YPJ's female commanders constituted a major part of the command force during the resistance dedicated to the protection of Rojava peoples against the attacks of ISIS gangs. "The struggle YPJ gave for humanity and freedom against the five thousand year old male-dominant mindset and the identity and rape culture it created, has become influential around the world and garnered admiration and sympathy on global dimension. Especially in the Middle East, it has prompted an enormous women's force in the Middle East and provided the opportunity for joint organisations."

'EXPANDING THE FRONT OF UNITED RESISTANCE IS A BASIC DUTY'

The conference also assessed the role played by revolutionary and democratic leftist forces and various forces from Kurdistan in the Kobanê resistance, which had a great meaning for the fraternity of peoples and national unity, the resolution said; "It will remain as one of our basic duties to expand the united resistance on the basis of an organised struggle against fascism. Similarly, the conference also extends thanks to the coalition forces that contributed support from air to the advance of YPG/YPJ combatants with their self-force and will."

'LET'S FORM A UNITY OF JOINT RESISTANCE'

The final resolution said the conference emphasised  the importance of forming military, political and diplomatic alliances and organisations to serve the progress of a democratic, equal and free Syrian federation against nationalism, racism and sectarianism that tore peoples, identities, faiths and cultures apart. "For this purpose, a unity of various patriotic Arab circles besides the Euphrates Volcano under the leadership of YPG/YPJ was taken as a basis. Accordingly, Arab and other peoples are called on to form a unity of joint resistance."

'IDEOLOGICAL AND ORGANISATIONAL MOVE WILL BE LAUNCHED'

The conference also made a detailed evaluation of the war process that began with the resistance against the Al Nusra Front in 2013 and continued with a fight against ISIS during 2014-2015. Military, tactical and organisational command issues were treated and questioned comprehensively and a decision was made to initiate steps based on ideological-organizational improvement under the slogan "Let's re-organise on the basis of the Kobanê resistance and lead the building of a democratic Syria."

'KOBANÊ, TOWN OF MARTYRS'

According to the final resolution, the conference also made significant decisions on martyrs who became a symbol of fraternity and unity of peoples with their different identities, and approved the recognition and mention of Kobanê as the "Town of Martyrs". It was decided to erect the statue and monuments of great martyrs as a symbol of self-sacrificing resistance and bravery, while the martyrs of the Kobanê uprising from Bakurê (Northern) Kurdistan and victims of the Suruç massacre were recognised as martyrs of the Kobanê resistance.

'SELF-DEFENSE ORGANISATION WILL BE STRENGTHENED'

The conference also reached significant decisions on the restructuring of YPG, as it was decided to enhance the spirit, awareness and organisation of self-defense, to attain a manner of tactical competence and movement to lead the revolutionary popular war with proficiency, and to strengthen the self-defense system on this basis.

'KOBANÊ PEOPLE SHOULD RETURN TO THEIR LAND AND RECLAIM IT'

The conference also voiced a call for the growth of the YPG/YPJ forces, and invitation to the people of Kobanê to return to the their land and reclaim it.

'WE WILL REMAIN LOYAL TO THE GENEVA CONVENTION'

The conference also highlighted loyalty by the YPG to the Geneva Convention which it undersigned and became a party to.

BALANCE SHEET OF WAR

The final resolution of the conference also provided a balance sheet of war for the period between 15 September 2014 and July 2015. Accordingly;

861 combatants were martyred and 2192 were wounded,

4896 members of enemy forces were killed, bodies of 2008 were seized,

151 vehicles, 15 tanks, 5 panzers and 14 heavy machine guns were damaged,

63 bomb-laden vehicles were detonated,

1086 Kalashnikov rifles, 177 BKC, 176 B-7, 43 assault rifles, 33 DshK heavy machine guns, 35 mortars were seized,

750 mines were defused, 8762 were destroyed,

Hundreds of thousands of bullets, thousands of rockets, a large quantity of technical material and ammunition were seized.