AMED - Reacting against Turkey's attacks on North and East Syria, Amed residents reminded the fate of Saddam Hussein and emphasised that a lasting peace in the Middle East can only be possible with the solution of the Kurdish issue.
Taking advantage of the new developments in Syria, Turkey and the Syrian National Army (SNA), which is guided by Turkey, started to target the cities of North and East Syria. Since 26 November, dozens of people, including children, have been killed in the attacks. Tens of thousands of people had to migrate from Tel Rifaat and Shahba to different cities in North and East Syria. Residents we spoke to in Amed reacted against the attacks.
'WAR POLICIES ARE THE MAIN CAUSE OF THE CRISIS'
Pointing out that the country's economy is getting worse day by day, Kemal Fidan said: "When there is a war, there is a lot of budget. They give the whole budget to the military. They do nothing for the people. The government is waging war arbitrarily. Why are they attacking Rojava, what problem do you have with Rojava? It is not your own land. It is attacking completely with state ambition. Shoul we remain silent to this attack? We will not remain silent."
Fesih Deniz emphasised that the main reason for the people's livelihood problems is the war policies and said: "Every bullet fired is reflected on the people's budget. The aim of the state is not to benefit the people, but to exploit them."
"With the cost of only one plane taking off today, the needs of a district can be met," said Feymi Akdoğan and added: "The people are now so victimised that they cannot even bring food to their homes. Rojava is under constant persecution just like us. Their aim there is to destroy the Kurds again. Wherever there is a Kurd, there is oppression. Kurds should join hands and unite to overcome these persecutions."
'IF THERE WILL BE PEACE, IT WILL BE WITH THE KURDS'
Edip Tekin said that the cost of each plane that takes off for war returns to them as a raise and emphasised that the latest attacks will not yield any results. "Turkey's time has come to an end. Kurds have paid a high price and cannot be deceived anymore. Turkey should think from now on. Turkey has to give the Kurds their rights. If there is to be peace in the Middle East, it can only be done with the Kurds and by solving the Kurdish issue. There is no other way," he said.
Faik Bozkuş said: "They do not want the Kurds to progress and get anywhere with the war they started. The war in Rojava is also a war waged by Turkey. We do not accept the war against Rojava. We condemn both those who started the war and those who support it."
FATE OF SADDAM
Nedim Türkel said: "ISIS had previously carried out a similar attack against Kobanê. ISIS failed to get results and ended. Now they are trying to attack the SNA Kurds. These attacks will not yield results either. Kurds govern themselves in 4 different countries. If we look back to the past; Saddam also tried to attack the Kurds, but let's remember what was the end of Saddam. In other words, cruelty never benefits anyone."
Türkel pointed out that attacks against Kurds harm Turkey and continued as follows: "There are millions of Kurds all over Turkey. If Turkey is attacking Rojava today, it should think about Amed, Wan, Mêrdîn. Let's say it has finished the Kurds in Rojava, what will it do about Amed, what will it do about Istanbul? Will it be able to finish these too? It cannot. They tried to destroy them for years and they couldn't. In other words, with what they do, they can only sink the economy and drag people into hunger and misery."
Stating that civilians are targeted in North and East Syria, Mehmet Dündar said: "This approach was a wrong approach. Turkey is currently pursuing its own interests, but it cannot do anything by fighting. A solution must be found to this problem."
Lastly, Aydın Erdinç said: "They (the government) also know that the Kurds have woken up. We condemn the attacks on Rojava and demand unity and solidarity."
MA / Heval Önkol