[Speech at a rally in Melbourne on July 23.]
Socialist Alliance joins with you in calling for the United Nations to impose a no-fly zone over the liberated territory of North and East Syria — Rojava — to block a new invasion by Turkey and its Islamist mercenaries.
Turkey’s long war on Rojava
Turkey has been waging a war against the Rojava Revolution for a long time. It has always been the key backer of the Islamic State. When IS failed to crush Rojava, Turkey directly invaded and occupied the westernmost canton of Afrin in early 2018.
The next year Turkey further occupied a big chunk of Rojava and it is gearing up to make yet another large-scale incursion. Over the last month, Turkish forces have carried out hundreds of attacks against Rojava — using artillery, ground forces and drones.
Turkey’s war on the Kurds
Modern Turkey has never recognised the Kurdish people and their aspirations. In Turkey itself, the Kurdish people are oppressed and every attempt by them to organise, to assert their basic rights, is met with heavy repression.
In Syria, Turkey regards the Kurdish-inspired Rojava Revolution as a threat to its security. This is complete rubbish. Rojava does not threaten Turkey in any material way. It is the “threat” of a good example — of ethnic and religious inclusivity, the liberation of women, and respect for ecology.
In northern Iraq, Turkey is waging a full-scale war against the Kurdish liberation forces of the PKK. Despite its technical superiority, Turkey is meeting determined and effective resistance and has resorted to the widespread use of poison gas.
The West is complicit
Turkey could not proceed in its war against the Kurdish people without Western backing — neither in Turkey, northern Iraq nor in Syria. The West does absolutely nothing to hinder Turkey and in reality it supports the crushing of the highly progressive Kurdish national movement. A free and organised people is a deadly threat to Western interests in the Middle East or anywhere else.
Rojava will win
Any Turkish incursion in northern Syria will be fiercely resisted by the liberation forces. But they need the support of progressive forces around the world.
Impose a no-fly zone now!
Say no to Turkey’s war against the Kurdish people!
Long live the Rojava Revolution!