RIHA - Artists participating in the mobilisation declared after the attacks on North & East Syria says "The situation we are in is a war of existence and non-existence. Therefore, the day is the day of revolutionary people's war."

 

Turkey and the paramilitary forces it supports continue their attacks on North & East Syria. The Autonomous Administration of North & East Syria (AANES) declared mobilisation on 1 December against the attacks that have increased in recent days. Mezopotamya Democratic Culture and Art Movement (TEV-ÇAND) supported the mobilisation declared on 3 December in Qamişlo and Kobanê, saying "Today is the day of resistance". Artists working in North & East Syria evaluated the ongoing attacks, the latest situation in the occupied areas and the mobilisation to Mezopotamya Agency (MA).

 

SÎPAN XELAT: SOLUTION LIES IN AUTONOMOUS ADMINISTRATION

 

Artist Sîpan Xelat stated that the attacks carried out by HTS and SNA serve the lack of a solution in Syria and noted the will of the peoples to live together was targeted with the attacks. Attacking groups do not have a solution plan for the future of Syria said Sîpan Xelat and added: "There is no solution, they have nothing but looting and massacre. It is the Autonomous Administration that shows the will for a solution for all peoples. Apart from the Autonomous Administration, there is currently no organisation in Syria that has an initiative for a final solution. The solution provided by the Autonomous Administration between the peoples in North & East Syria should me extended to the whole of Syria."

 

'THERE IS A CULTURAL GENOCIDE'

 

Emphasising that the peoples no longer want war, chaos and tears, Sîpan Xelat said: "The gangs supported by Turkey are targeting the will of the peoples. We need to clarify our attitude against this. We need to strengthen our self-defence more than ever. In Northern and Eastern Syria, many ethnic structures live together with the Democratic Nation perspective. These attacks are not only an attempt to occupy a place and take over the administration there. There is also a cultural genocide attempt. Peoples do not only physically leave those lands, a culture is destroyed there. Therefore, the attacks are also aimed at a cultural genocide. We are fighting for existence against this. We need to grow our organisation everywhere. No matter what happens, wherever we are, we need to protect each other. We have to defend our language and culture. If we cannot do this, the politics of special war will separate us from each other."

 

'TOMORROW MAY BE LATE'

 

Sîpan Xelat stated that what is being done in Efrîn, Serêkaniyê and Gre Spî, which were "occupied" by Turkey and the paramilitary forces supported by Turkey, is a cultural genocide and said, "This genocide exists in all occupied cities. It is not possible for peoples to live together under the shadow of gangs. All artists should clarify their attitude against this. No matter where they live, every artist should clarify their attitude. No artist can ignore these events. The duty of an artist is not only to perform his/her art. Especially artists living in Europe should take an initiative against this as soon as possible. If it is not done today, it may be too late tomorrow."

 

KAWA FETTAH: EVERYONE MUST TURN TOWARDS ROJAVA

 

Pointing out that the latest developments in Syria are carried out by the international powers, Kawa Fettah, Co-Chairman of the Theatre Committee of Cizîr Canton, said: "These attacks are attacks that show that the international powers have no attempt to solve the Syrian crisis. Against this, the peoples must unite around the self-defence forces. We must love each other and unite. We must recognise that these attacks target our art and culture first and foremost. All artists should stand against these attacks with their art. We must stand by our people. If we cannot do anything, we can give morale by standing by the people who are forced to migrate. For this, everyone should clarify their attitude and turn towards Rojava."

 

SHEVZAN MEHMÛD: THE DAY OF REVOLUTIONARY PEOPLE'S WAR

 

Şevzan Mehmûd, a theatre actor and director who is a member of Mihemed Şêxo Culture and Art Centre in Qamişlo, said: "While one side of us is pain and tears, the other side is resistance and morale. It is necessary to define the situation we are in as a war of existence and non-existence. Today is the day of revolutionary people's war. This is an important threshold for all peoples and they must participate. If we say 'we exist', we must take our place in this war of rights. We are participating in the announced mobilisation to do whatever is asked of us. Our theatres have become a safe refuge for our people who migrated. We will give all the support we can to our people. Today our destiny is one and it is the day of unity. These attacks are against all peoples. Our people must raise their voices everywhere. We send our greetings to all our resisting people, especially the people of Afrin. Today the colour of our tears is one. Everyone living outside Rojava must raise the voice of the Rojava peoples. We are under a blockade. Let them be our voice everywhere. People are being massacred every day. Everyone should clarify their attitude against this".

 

MA / Emrullah Acar