Shengal Resistance continues uninterrupted at the first year anniversary of Shengal Genocide. 1094 gang members were killed and 326 were wounded during the first year of ISIS occupation of the Êzîdî town.

More than 420 clashes took place between HPG, YJA Star and YBŞ/YPJ Shengal forces and ISIS gangs since Shengal Genocide last year. 1094 gang members were killed and 326 were wounded during these clashes. The humanitarian aid corridor between Shengal and Rojava was reopened on December 18. Shengal Resistance Forces made up of HPG, YJA Star, YBŞ, YPG and YPJ fighters launched the ‘Operation for Shengal’s Liberation’ in the town center and nearby villages, and liberated several locations. YPJ Shengal announced its formation and Shengal Resistance Units (YBŞ) held its first conference over the past year. Êzîdî people resisting ISIS in Mount Shengal also formed Shengal Êzîdî Assembly for Construction representing the will of Êzîdî people. The assembly works towards fulfilling the different needs of Êzîdî people who are resisting ISIS in Mount Shengal or have returned to their lands in and around the town.

CORRIDOR REOPENED

HPG, YJA Star, and YBŞ fighters from Shengal and YPG/YPJ forces from Rojava reopened the aid corridor between Rojava and Shengal on December 18. YJA Star commander Sema Koçer stated that civilians had a difficult time and the need for food supplies, heating and accommodation became urgent after the closure of the aid corridor. Koçer said that they launched the operation for the reopening of the corridor from Shengal, and YPG/YPJ forces did the same from Rojava. As part of this operation, all villages between Rojava and Shengal were cleared of ISIS gang members.

THEY WANTED TO BUY US LIKE HOW THEY HAD SOLD US BEFORE

YBŞ commander Serxwebun Cevahir noted that KDP peshmergas opened an aid corridor between South Kurdistan and Mount Shengal as HPG/YJA Star and YBŞ forces were opening the Rojava-Shengal aid corridor on December 18, and KDP took over the villages of Hardan, Zorava, Guhbel, Digurê and Sinune to the north of Shengal without firing a single bullet. Cevahir recalled their proposal to KDP forces in Shengal regarding the opening of a joint corridor, but peshmergas responded negatively and opened the South Kurdistan-Shengal corridor on their own. Cevahir reported that Êzîdî people’s response to KDP policies was the following: ‘They wanted to buy us like how they had sold us on our holy day.’

VILLAGES LIBERATED

Shengal Resistance Forces launched their Operation for Shengal’s Liberation in the town center and nearby villages after the reopening of Shengal-Rojava aid corridor on December 18. YPJ commander Helîn Êzîdî, who was present in the operation against ISIS forces in Xanesor to the north of Mount Shengal, said that gang members escaped upon YPJ forces’ arrival in Xanesor. Êzîdî and several other YPJ fighters climbed up the balcony of a house and realized that there was the beheaded body of an old man there after they began to slip in the balcony due to the blood beneath their feet. YPJ fighters buried the old man’s body and found 2 old women and 1 old man inside the same house during their search and sweep efforts. The 3 survivors of the massacre hugged YPJ fighters in tears and asked them where they had been as civilians were under ISIS attack.

KDP DUG TRENCHES SEPERATELY

HPG guerrilla Newrez Haki noted that Shengal Resistance Forces launched their Operation for Shengal’s Liberation in the town center at 11:00 on December 19, and KDP forces quickly joined the operation at 13:00. However, KDP peshmergas did not want to act together and rejected offers for joint planning and action. Many gang members were killed during the heavy clashes that took place on the first three days of the operation. Shengal Resistance Forces set up a defensive perimeter in the city center after the majority of KDP peshmergas retreated from the city center and began to dig trenches separately. Haki stated that peshmergas were retreating during ISIS suicide attacks, and coming back to their trenches only after Shengal Resistance Forces repelled these suicide attacks.

Haki reiterated KDP’s refusal of Shengal Resistance Forces’ proposal to liberate Shengal altogether under a united command, and said that peshmergas formed a defense perimeter in the city center only when they realized that the resistance of the guerrillas and YBŞ fighters was effective against ISIS attacks.

President of South Kurdistan Masoud Barzani had visited Shengal on the second day of the Operation for Shengal’s Liberation, but ended his visit prematurely after seeing that it was not KDP peshmergas who were liberating the town.

ARRIVAL OF AID

TEVDA administrator Munzur Dêrsim stated that TEVDA and RAP delivered aid from the four parts of Kurdistan and Europe to Shengal after the opening of the aid corridor between Shengal and Rojava, and the incoming aid was distributed among 12 camps in and around Mount Shengal in order to satisfy people’s needs.

ESTABLISHMENT OF YPJ SHENGAL

YPJ Shengal forces announced its establishment in a conference that was held during Shengal Resistance Forces’ Operation for Shengal’s Liberation. The final declaration of the conference, attended by 44 delegates, was shared with the public on January 5, 2015. In its declaration, YPJ Shengal noted that women inside the YBŞ decided to establish YPJ Shengal (Shengal Women’s Defense Units, Yekîneyên Parastina Jin ê Şengalê) in order to strengthen the Operation for Shengal’s Liberation, liberate Shengal, support the free future of Êzîdî culture, and ensure the freedom of women and people in general in Shengal. YPJ Shengal adopted Leader Apo’s perspective for women’s liberation, and listed its main goals as struggling against patriarchal mentalities and structures, furthering young women’s self-defense capabilities, liberating Êzîdî women enslaved by ISIS on August 2-3, protecting the memories of women slain during the ISIS massacre, and supporting the mobilization of YBŞ.

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF SHENGAL

Êzîdî people resisting ISIS in Mount Shengal formed their assembly on January 14, after the conference of YPJ Shengal. 200 delegates participated in the Conference on Shengal Êzîdî Assembly for Construction, which was also attended by representatives from KCK, YNK, Communist Party, Democratic Movement of Êzîdîs (Tevgera Demokratik ya Êzîdîya, TEVDA), and Progressive Êzîdîs Party (Partiya Êzîdîya Peşveru). Shengal Êzîdî Assembly for Construction described the goal of its conference as ensuring the political and social organization of Êzîdî people, and strengthening the self-defense of these people. The assembly noted that the 73rd massacre targeting Êzîdî people was more tragic than the previous 72 massacres due to the lack of organization and self-defense in Êzîdî society, and announced its formation of an assembly made up of 27 people and an executive committee composed of 7 people. The assembly adopted August 3rd as the International Day of Shengal, and formed 6 main committees on defense, diplomacy, mobilization, economy, treasury, and women and youth.

YBŞ WAS THE ANSWER TO GENOCIDE FROM THE VERY FIRST DAY

Shengal Resistance Units (Yekîneyen Berxwedana Şengalê , YBŞ) publicized the final resolution of the first conference which took place with the participation of 71 delegates. The final resolution laid emphasis on the importance of unity of all resistance forces from Kurdistan, and explained the emergence of YBŞ as follows; "

YBŞ emerged as an answer on the very first day of the August 3 genocide which resulted in the martyrdom and captivity of thousands of people, it became the front of resistance during those critical days and declared its founding to the public."

KDP CALLED GUERRILLAS 'GUEST' TO WHICH PEOPLE REACTED

Reaction of the KDP grew stronger to the conference of the YBŞ/YPJ Shengal, and to the resistance of guerrilla forces joining the "Operation to Liberate Shengal". KDP received public reaction upon its statements desribing the PKK as "a guest in South Kurdistan".

"Should PKK leave Shengal, we will leave, too", said the people in criticism of the KDP, describing the PKK as "one of the basic forces in Shengal", and instead KDP as "the actual guest". People also manifested strong reaction to the KDP for arresting the youths that wanted to join the YBŞ, and stated that "KDP wants to choke the Shengal Resistance by means of such steps".

WORKS FOR THE SHENGAL ÊZÎDÎ ASSEMBLY FOR CONSTRUCTION

Since its founding, the Shengal Êzîdî Assembly for Construction has performed significant works including meeting the basic needs of the people living in 12 camps on Mount Shengal, water and electricity in the first place. This was accompanied by diplomatic works as well, said TEVDA executive Munsur Dersim who told the followings;

Besides meeting the water and electiricty needs of the people in the camps, our Assembly also opened schools for children which enabled them to get to know their history, culture, faith and mother language. In addition, we opened academies to advance the self-organization of women, children and youths in Shengal, and dealth with the health problems of the people. In cooperation with the Cizîrê Canton, we enabled doctors to come to Shengal for weekly health checkup. We also performed diplomatic works to help the world know about the Êzîdî faith and culture. A member of the Assembly is currently engaged in diplomatic works in Europe."

BITTER BALANCE-SHEET OF WAR

As the bitter details of the genocide started coming out, Shengal Êzîdî Assembly for Construction revealed the results of the massacre in Shengal and its villages, an area housing 500 thousand people.

According to the figures compiled and shared by the Assembly,

Before the ISIS attacks began, some 500 thousand people were living in Shengal in over 170 villages, 12 sub-districts and 3 towns.

Among these people, 3,161 were martyred in the Shengal Genocide.

15, 450 were taken captive by ISIS and among these 2,789 managed to flee captivity.

The rest is either still being held by ISIS or was martyred under captivity.

As many as 20 thousand people are living in Mount Sinjar now.

More than 460 people migrated."

114 FREEDOM FIGHTERS MARTYRED

As the fight goes on, Shengal Resistance Forces (HPG, YJA Star, YBŞ, YPJ Shengal) have been engaged in more than 420 armed confrontations with ISIS gangs.

1094 members of ISIS gangs were killed and 326 others were wounded in clashes.

114 fighters from Shengal Resistance Forces fell martyr in this battle.