TEV-DEM administrator Aldar Xelil spoke to ANF on the works and efforts of their side in 2016.

“2016 was a year of revolution for Rojava, the region and and the world,” said Xelil and continued:

“The forming of the Democratic Syrian Assembly was one of the most political events of 2016. It was a successful political start. It was also the beginning of the new year. There are a few reasons for this. First, the reason for the continued crisis and war in Syria was the lack of an organizational and political body. And that there was no political transformation. If these did happen, there could have been a democratic change. This assembly will be a core, and it will create a political and moral society within the integrity of Syria.

The Democratic Autonomous Administration is nearing the fourth year. This administration has been an example for the democratic solution. There are national, religious and social aspects of it. It consists of regions liberated from gangs. The most courageous step of the new history of Syria was the declaration of the Northern Syrian Democratic Federalism Constituent Assembly. These constituents determined a way out of this crisis and offered a model. There were strong differences of opinions and clashes, and there was a problem of misidentifying the problems. That deepened the depression and the war. This solution was presented in such a period.

Meanwhile, opening Representation Offices for the Democratic Autonomous Administration in 5 European countries was a great step for diplomacy. This was a great step in developing a social diplomacy as well. The opening of the Autonomous Administration’s diplomacy was a historic step. It was also a great opportunity for the peoples like Kurds, Arabs, Turkmens, Circassians and Assyrians, and faith groups like Muslims, Christians, Êzidîs and Alevis to come together and represent themselves. All groups, religious wise people, politicians and intellectuals who were separated from each other for decades came together more. Because during the regime’s time, these constituents could not come together, even though they lived in the same country. At this point, the institutions and committees who handled things worked very hard. Their purpose was to realize the revolution and march in line with the principles. It was successful despite large-scale military attacks and those who wanted to tarnish the gains of the revolution. The social diplomacy that developed was an opportunity for the Democratic Autonomous Administration to embrace all social groups and to explain the democratic federalism project and convince people.

Some agreements were made over this foundation. One such agreement was the Teyyar Elgat treaty. It was led by the Arab Republic of Egypt. Despite effects of Middle East-wide fundamentalism, nationalism and sexism, even with all its shortcomings, we developed democratic politics throughout Rojava and Northern Syria.”

“SELF DEFENSE BROUGHT SECURITY AND STABILITY”

Xelil said “The solution to the Syrian crisis is twofold,” and continued:

“One of these is to end terror. And the other is to actualize democratic change. These two issues have been implemented in Northern Syria today. Northern Syria is an important part of Syria. And the forces that have laid the foundation and strengthened it are those within the same paradigm and adhering to the same principles, the YPG, YPJ and SDF.

In 2016, these forces created Shaddadi, the resistance of Manbij which resulted in liberation on August 12 after 73 days following the forming of the Manbij Military Council, the historic Sheikh Maqsoud resistance, the resistance stance in Efrîn, and the reality of the organized, resisting people. Alongside these, the second stage of the Wrath of Euphrates operation was launched for the territory of Northern Raqqa. There are 1500 Raqqa residents taking part in this operation. The people are more and more convinced every day that these are the humanitarian liberation forces. And the anti-terror International Coalition led by the US is the ally for these forces.

It has been proven that 2016 was the year for the protection of all the peoples and groups in Northern Syria. The Democratic Autonomous Administration Defense Council issued the self-defense act, and it was fruitful in all three cantons and it proved to be useful. The act brought stability and security throughout the region and Syria in general. Because it showed that the society will protect itself. Its humanitarian side came to the forth in the face of the regional dictatorial regimes that support each other.

Especially the Turkish regime who threaten the stability of the region want to turn the Syrian crisis to their advantage. At this point, they didn’t stop in 2016 either, they handed Aleppo over to the regime and they sold the opposition out. Because the Turkish regime wants to stand against the democratic federalism project, and is pushing Syria directly into war. That is why they invaded Jarablus. And with this, they want to negatively impact and even halt the operation to liberate Raqqa. YPG, YPJ and SDF forces who liberate Raqqa are targeted. If that wasn’t enough, they threaten Manbij, liberated from ISIS and with a civilian assembly, with invasion.”

“THERE IS A GREAT MIGRATION TO ROJAVA”

Xelil pointed out that, in comparison with the rest of Syria, the Democratic Autonomous Administration territories offer a certain security and stability, and that is why refugees from other parts of Syria kept coming to Rojava:

“With the latest process, civilians escaping Mosul under Iraqi control are also migrating to Rojava. Even though Rojava is under a blockade, the Democratic Autonomous Administration continues to offer resources to the refugees, limited though they may be. There is a flow of migrants into Efrîn from Shehba as well. So, as of now, there is a flow of refugees into all of the cantons, but the support coming from international forces and humanitarian aid organizations is very limited. Some refugee camps hardly receive any support. For example, Mebruka. In all cantons, the Democratic Autonomous Administration consider themselves responsible for all the people and all the refugees. They try to meet the needs of the Syrian and Iraqi immigrants, but there are many shortcomings as the resources are really scarce. Because the regional parties can’t provide too large of a support.”

“THE GAINS WILL EVOLVE INTO AN ALTERNATIVE NATIONAL STANCE”

“There were important steps taken in the social, political, democratic, diplomatic and economic spheres in 2016 with the Third Line,” said Xelil and continued:

“According to the gains achieved by these steps, creating a new Syria is fundamental. The gains of 2016 will turn into an alternative national stance in 2017. Especially after the Second Line received so many hits, and diverted from the demands of the peoples, it took on a role of the aid for those who don’t want Syria’s democratization. Because they no longer have faith that they will transform the First Line, which is the line represented by the Regime. But the Third line will take great steps, and become an alternative with uniting the democratic and scientific forces within Syria. Because the Democratic Syria project based on this Line is an important project that years of work has gone into. There is no other alternative. And this line will create the democratic transformation in Syria. The first signs of this is present in the liberation of Raqqa, and even the liberation of the existing areas between Kobanê and Efrîn, organizing the society and forming the institutions in the six regions liberated most recently by the YPG and YPJ forces.

But it still seems that the conspiracies and the embargo over Rojava continue, and according to the political logic in the region, it will continue into the new year.

But despite all, we believe this policy will collapse. And we believe that our reading will turn out to be true. As the revolution was instigated on July 19, 2012, that revolution will continue. The groundwork for a free life that will create true fraternity among peoples is being laid. The integrity of Syria’s colors will be there against the policies of denial and annihilation.

The reality we are experiencing today tells us this: we have developed transformation. Those who follow the situation in Syria can be more clearly convinced of this.

There have been some regional and Syria-wide, and even world-wide groups that tried to slander the gains that the Democratic Autonomous Administration has created in military, diplomatic and social spheres. They have tried to push us out of the mechanisms and meetings regarding the solution in Syria. What became apparent was that, because they tried to push us out, they couldn’t be an answer to the Syrian peoples’ hopes, and failed to actualize their goals and were left without solutions in the Syrian crisis. And their meetings on a solution were fruitless, despite the international support. Nobody can go past our existing path to a solution, which is the Third Line. With all their parties and their institutions, they can’t produce an equivalent line of solution. We have become a fundamental force in the political scene in Syria with our line.”

“DEMOCRATIC FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF SYRIA”

TEV-DEM administrator Aldar Xelil concluded his analyses with:

“In Syria, there can be no talk of a democratic solution without us, and nobody can sit down at a true solution table without us. We are open for any and all persons and groups who want Syria to belong to Syrians and to democratize. Researching and actualizing the democratic project had always been in our hearts and minds. We have paid a dire price for that. And this ‘price’ consists of thousands of Kurds, Arabs and Assyrians. Today our path has extended greatly, and we have created a wide societal base. And this wide societal base, we are hoping, will stop war and tyranny in Syrian lands in this coming year. And we as the peoples of Syria want to live in a secure, stable and democratic Syria. We can achieve these goals by coming together and founding the Democratic Federal Republic of Syria.”