As the Syrian government steps up pressure on Kurdish forces, residents of their last major enclave are on alert, aware of last year’s violence against other minority groups and determined to preserve their self-rule.
In the Kurdish-majority city of Qamishli in the northeast, a mechanic, a shopkeeper and a student took part in a nighttime volunteer patrol this week, vowing to defend their region and expressing little confidence in the shaky truce.
– We are going to protect our neighborhoods, be with our people and defend our country – said 23-year-old Yazan Ghanem. “This is our country. We will not allow outside intervention in our areas.”
The caution reflects tensions despite a US-backed ceasefire that was extended by 15 days on Saturday. Minor conflicts have been recorded since then.
President Ahmed al-Sharaa is demanding the integration of the remaining Kurdish-controlled enclaves into the state, after the government took over much of the north and east from the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
The SDF remains entrenched in its northeastern enclave – one of several where the Kurds, an oppressed group under the ousted Assad dynasty, established de facto autonomy during the civil war.
Although al-Sharaa has repeatedly promised to respect Kurdish rights — earlier this month he recognized Kurdish as the national language — residents of Qamishli patrolling Monday had little faith in the former al-Qaeda commander.
– We have fear and doubts about the government because, simply put, wherever it entered, there were massacres and murders – said Radwan Eissa, showing the rifle.
Fear among Syria’s minorities grew last year during several waves of violence in which the Sunni-led government clashed with Alevis in the coastal region and Druze in Sweida province, with government-aligned fighters killing hundreds of people. Sharaa promised responsibility.
A senior Syrian official said Kurdish fears were “understandable” given the abuses committed by military units in Sweida and some rights violations that have occurred as troops have entered Kurdish areas in recent weeks.
The official said two people have been arrested for recent abuses and the third is on the run but is being sought. “We try to learn from past experiences and we did,” he added.
Last year, prosecutors indicted about 300 people linked to armed factions linked to the Syrian army for violence in the coastal region, and about 265 members of Assad-era paramilitary groups.
On January 25, Human Rights Watch announced that both sides have committed abuses that violate international law during the current escalation in the northeast.
(Vijesti.ba)
