In an interview with Sterk TV, Sozdar Avesta, a member of KCK’s (Kurdistan Communities Union) Presidential Council warned Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) for their attacks against Shengal Resistance Units (YBS).

“Shengal is a critical region. Various political powers want to sovereign over here. YBŞ (Shengal Resistance Units) was formed after the ISIS attack three years ago and it’s the active defence force of the region. It took part in liberation of Shengal, opened a corridor to rescue the people at the time of the siege and now defends those who have returned to liberated areas. Iraq’s central government, the peshmerga or Hashd al-Shaabi didn’t protect this people. Now after liberation, as Shengal is building its autonomy, their (Hashd al-Shaabi) attack against freedom forces and the message they give with it is meaningful. They give the message of ‘we are also here.’” she said.

Avesta cited YBŞ statement on the attack (https://anfenglish.com/kurdistan/ybS-we-will-protect-the-areas-we-liberated-from-isis-22291) and continued “Actually this statement does not contain a threat. YBŞ is the defender of the democratic autonomy project. When any other force comes and says ‘this is our region, you can’t pass this border’ they (YBŞ) won’t permit this. Hashd al-Shaabi’s test of its force with Shengal’s defence forces is unacceptable. It’s wrong. Everybody should take a step back from this wrongdoing.”

Avesta called on the Iraqi government to avoid sectarian violence with other religious groups in the country and accused the Baghdad regime of failing to fulfil its duties against Êzidî society.

“Now the majority of Êzidîs are returning to their homeland. They should expand their alliances and grow YBŞ and YJŞ forces. They should support the democratic autonomy project. As a freedom movement we will continue to defend Êzidî people the way we have defended them until today. We will support their autonomy project in every aspect and we will also continue to follow our commitment of defending Shengal”, Avesta underlined.

Avesta pointed out that the democratic autonomy project is a model that can develop solutions for Êzidî people and peoples in Iraq and Southern Kurdistan and continued: “To avoid sectarian violence in Iraq and Southern Kurdistan, to avoid confrontation between peoples, we need to establish democratic regions. It’s not right to govern a country from a center like in the old times. It won’t work. Turkmens, Shabak Kurds, Assyrians, Syriacs and Arabs are living in Nineveh. These people can construct their model of democratic life. The model we have developed in Shengal can be an inspiration for them. The model in Northern Syria can also be an inspiration for Iraq and Southern Kurdistan.”