MESOP : KURDWATCH HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT WEST KURDIST AN (SYRIA) – AUGUST – SEPT 2015 / More human rights violations by the Stalinist PYD –

Al-Qamishli: Forced recruitments continue

KURDWATCH, September 4, 2015—On August 29 and 30, 2015, employees of the Asayiş, the security service of the Democratic Union Party (PYD), forcibly recruited numerous young men at checkpoints in al‑Qamishli, ʿAmudah, and Raʾs al‑ʿAyn (Serê Kaniyê). According to eyewitness reports, approximately one hundred fifty recruits were brought to the Tall Baydar training camp, located twenty‑five kilometers east of Tall Tamr.

Al-Malikiyah: One hundred sixty-nine members leave PDK-S

KURDWATCH, September 20, 2015—In a press release in mid‑September 2015, one hundred sixty-nine members of the Kurdistan Democratic Party Syria (PDK-S) from al-Malikiyah (Dêrik) announced their withdrawal from the party. The decision was justified on the basis of widespread fraud in the internal party elections on July 24, 2015 as well as agreements between unnamed groups within the party. Forty‑four party members in Raʾs al‑ʿAyn (Serê Kaniyê) had already left the PDK-S in early August 2015 .

Al-Malikiyah: Explosion in possible YPG ammunition depot

KURDWATCH, September 17, 2015—On September 8, 2015, an explosion occurred at one of the sites occupied by the Democratic Union Party’s (PYD) People’s Defense Units (YPG) in the south of the city of al‑Malikiyah. Due to the force of the detonation it is presumed that the YPG had been using the former state farm as an ammunition depot.

ʿAfrin: PYD releases PDK‑S member Falamaz ʿUthman after nearly two months.

KURDWATCH, August 17, 2015—On September 2, 2015, the Asayiş, the security service of the Democratic Union Party, released Falamaz ʿUthman. The member of the Kurdistan Democratic Party—Syria (PDK‑S) was kidnapped by the Asayiş on July 7, 2015 [further information]. We have not yet been able to reach ʿUthman to ask him about the reasons for his arrest.

ʿAfrin: Following elections all co-chair positions on the municipal councils are to be filled by TEV‑DEM

KURDWATCH, September 17, 2015—On September 10, 2015, the Supreme Election Commission carried out municipal elections in the canton of ʿAfrin. The Supreme Election Commission is governed by the transitional administration, which was appointed by the Democratic Union Party (PYD). Two co‑chairs were elected to the municipal councils of each of a total of thirty‑one municipalities. Shaykh Ali’s Kurdish Democratic Union Party in Syria (Demokratische Yekîtî) was the only party besides the Movement for a Democratic Society (TEV‑DEM), which is under PYD control, to take part in the elections. On September 12, the Supreme Election Commission announced that TEV‑DEM had won all posts. In a statement the Democratic Yekîtî accused the chairs of numerous election committees of being biased. No details were provided. The Democratic Yekîtî also announced that it does not wish to participate in the municipal council elections. Councilors are to be elected on October 2.

Raʾs al‑ʿAyn: Another refugee fatally shot near the Turkish border

KURDWATCH, September 13, 2015—On September 8, 2015, Turkish soldiers opened fire on a group of refugees trying to cross the Syrian‑Turkish border illegally near the city of Raʾs al‑ʿAyn (Serê Kaniyê). Hasan Nuri Sulayman (b. 1975 in Raʾs al‑ʿAyn) was killed.

ʿAfrin: Asayiş has instructions to halt all meetings of the PDK-S

KURDWATCH, September 11, 2015—On September 9, 2015, approximately fifteen employees of the Asayiş, the security service of the Democratic Union Party (PYD), dispersed a meeting of the Kurdistan Democratic Party – Syria (PDK‑S) in the village of Shaykh Bilal, twenty‑five kilometers north of ʿAfrin. They kidnapped PDK‑S central committee member ʿAbdurrahman Apo and the party member ʿAli Bilal, in whose house the meeting took place. Both were released a few hours later. Apo told KurdWatch: »During the kidnapping, the Asayiş treated us roughly. They bound my hands. Although they were friendly at the station, they told me that they have instructions to halt all meetings of the PDK‑S.«

Al-Qamishli: Refugee fatally shot by Turkish soldiers

KURDWATCH, September 10, 2015—On September 5, 2015, Turkish soldiers opened fire on three refugees trying to cross the Syrian-Turkish border illegally near the city of al‑Qamishli. Matin Sulayman (b. in al‑Qamishli) was killed. Sulayman was buried on September 6 in al‑Qamishli.

Al-Qamishli: Kurdish Natoinal Council protests against migration

KURDWATCH, September 8, 2015—On September 5, 2015, the Kurdish National Council’s local committees held rallies in front of their offices in several cities. Demonstrations were held in cities such as al‑Qamishli, ʿAmudah, ad‑Darbasiyah, al‑Jawadiyah (Çil Axa), al‑Maʿbada (Girkê Legê), and Tall Tamr. As the Kurdish National Council had resolved on August 29 [further information], participants protested against migration from the Kurdish regions. Several signs called for an end to forced recruiting and arbitrary kidnappings; however, those responsible—the Democratic Union Party (PYD), its People’s Defense Units (YPG), and its security service (Asayiş)—were not mentioned by name. The number of demonstrators ranged from nearly forty in Tall Tamr to approximately two hundred in al–Qamishli.

ʿAfrin: PYD demonstrates in support of Öcalan

KURDWATCH, September 6, 2015—On September 1, 2015, the Rojava Youth Union, which has ties to the Democratic Union Party (PYD), organized a protest march. Beginning in Jindiras, Sharran, Basuta, and Raju, the demonstrators converged upon ʿAfrin. There they gathered for a final rally and demanded the release of Abdullah Öcalan, the leader of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) who is imprisoned in Turkey.

Al-Qamishli: PYD forms new militia

KURDWATCH, September 6, 2015—Since April 2015, media outlets close to the Democratic Union Party (PYD) have been reporting on the formation of a new militia called the Core Defense Units (Yekîneyên Parastina Cewherî, YPC). On April 24, the Hawar news agency reported on the training of one thousand five hundred YPC recruits for fourteen battalions in al‑Qamishli. On June 30, Xeber24 reported on YPC special units in al‑Hasakah. And on September 2, Hawar mentioned the formation of a YPC women’s unit in the district of Shaykh Maqsud in Aleppo. The nature of the relationship between the YPG and the People’s Defense Units (YPG) is unclear. It is also unclear whether the PYD carries out forced recruiting for the YPC.

Ad-Darbasiyah: PYD organizes a demonstration against the marriage of minors

KURDWATCH, September 6, 2015—On September 2, 2015, the youth and sports committee for the transitional administration in the canton of Jazirah, which was appointed by the Democratic Union Party (PYD), organized a demonstration in ad‑Darbasiyah. Approximately twenty‑five female activists took part and protested against the marriage of minors.

Tall Abyad: Fighting between YPG and IS

KURDWATCH, September 4, 2015—On August 31, 2015 armed conflicts broke out thirty‑five kilometers south of Tall Abyad (Girê Sipî) between fighters for the Democratic Union Party’s (PYD) People’s Defense Units (YPG) and the Islamic State (IS). IS fighters attacked YPG positions in the village of Fatisa, ten kilometers east of ʿAin ʿIsa, but were unable to capture the village. According to information provided by the YPG, two IS fighters were killed.