The clashes between regime forces and Asayish-YPG members had broken out when Difa Weteni forces affiliated with the Ba’athist regime arrested 2 YPG fighters in Rojava’s Qamishlo city on April 19 and attacked members of Asayish and traffic police in Sebeh Behrad intersection on April 20. 7 Asayish members, 3 YPG fighters, 1 self-defense member and 17 civilians died and YPG-Asayish forces liberated several areas from the regime’s occupation during the attacks.

Storo (Assyrian Asayish Units) forces and the Arab members of Qamishlo Asayish that participated in the resistance against the regime made the following statements to ANF regarding the attacks and the resistance to them.

‘THIS ATTACK TARGETED THE FEDERATION DECLARATION’

Enes Fîda: As Storo (Assyrian Asayish Units), we and other Asayish members put up a resistance against the regime forces’ attacks in Qamishlo on April 20. Several peoples such as Arabs, Kurds, Assyrians, Armenians and Syriacs coexist in Rojava, and the regime wanted to divide these people by pitting them against one another. As Storo and other Asayish forces, we protected peoples’ coexistence and think that the regime carried out the attacks because of its refusal of the federal system declared in North Syria. The regime wants to extend its rule here, but we lost comrades here and became victorious. We are ready to protect peoples’ coexistence and resist any attack that may come in the future.

‘THE REGIME TRIED TO BREAK OUR WILL’

Betul Ehmed Dahul: I am a member of the woman Asayish forces in Qamishlo. I am an Arab from İdlib. I joined women’s Asayish and have many goals such us protecting our land and peoples. As women, we are in better conditions and we defend our people more when compared to the past. With the attacks in Qamishlo, the Ba’athish regime tried to divide Kurdish, Arab and Assyrian peoples but failed to do so. As peoples of Rojava, we live equally and freely in our self-administration areas. The regime tried to break our will and reestablish its rule in Qamishlo with its attacks, but failed to do so. We resisted these attacks with a great spirit, and will continue to respond to all attacks as we govern ourselves.

‘THE REGIME FAILED’

Abdurrezzak Asi: I am an Arab too and I joined Asayish forces in order to defend my family and people. The regime attacked us for no reason and we realized that they were pitting us against one another with these attacks. They attacked us at different locations but our joint resistance upset their plan and they fled.

‘AS PEOPLES, OUR STRUGGLE IS JOINT’

Ehmed Ezam Eli: I am an Arab and I joined Asayish because there is no discrimination or dictatorship here. The regime did not only target Kurds or Arabs with its attacks, it aimed to breed bad blood and divide us. However, as peoples, our struggle is joint and we live freely as Kurds, Arabs and Christians. We fight in the same trenches shoulder to should and the regime will never divide us.

‘WE WILL CONTINUE TO GOVERN OURSELVES’

Esma Mihammed Salih: I am an Arab member of Qamishlo Woman Asayish. In Qamishlo, peoples live equally and I love Qamishlo for that. The Ba’athist regime tried to prevent the Federal system with its attack, and we resisted so that peoples could live freely. I joined the Rojava Asayish willingly and we do not want to be governed by anyone. This is why we joined the resistance against the regime’s attack on the federal system wholeheartedly and will continue to govern ourselves.

‘WE WILL CONTINUE LIVING IN THE FEDERAL SYSTEM’

Hewro Mûnir Gewriye: The regime carried out a provocation by attacking traffic officers and Asayish forces of April 20. The regime had also tried to arm some families previously, and as Storo, we always responded to the regime’s attacks. We upset the regime’s attempt to pit people against one another, and the regime cannot yield any results with its attacks. We will continue living in the federal system even if the regime does not recognize the federation project.