Teachers Union condemns KDP’s betrayal against guerrillas

On August 29, seven guerrilla fighters were ambushed by KDP special forces in the southern Kurdish region of Xelîfan. Five guerrillas were killed in the ambush, while two survived. Haki Zîlan, one of the survivors of the attack, reported that the KDP special forces riddled the bodies of the guerrilla fighters with bullets in order to kill any survivors. This qualifies the ambush as an extrajudicial execution and thus a war crime. Although almost three months have passed since the attack, the KDP is not handing over the bodies of the fighters to their relatives.

For the past 47 days, a vigil has been held by relatives of the martyrs at the Sêmalka crossing on the border from Rojava to South Kurdistan. The relatives are demanding the remains of YJA-Star commander Nesrin Temir and HPG fighter Yusif Ibrahim, both of whom were from Rojava. The action is supported by the Council of Martyrs’ Families in the Cizîrê region. Delegations of mothers repeatedly attempted to reach South Kurdistan to voice their protest; however, they were prevented from crossing the border by the KDP’s border troops.

The North and East Syrian Teachers’ Union came to Semalka border crossing today to express their support for the activists. Members of the union staged a protest march demanding that the bodies of martyrs be delivered to their relatives.

Diyar Silêman, speaking on behalf of the Teachers’ Union, condemned the KDP’s collaborative policies with Turkey and said, “Whenever the Turkish state faces difficulties, it targets the accomplishments of Kurdistan. They use drones to target civilians and chemical weapons, which is a violation of human rights and international law.”

Silêman condemned the KDP’s ambush of guerrilla fighters in Xelîfan, calling it “treasonous”. He urged the KDP to honour the martyrs by returning their bodies to their relatives.

The residents of Hesekê Canton are expected to visit the protesters tomorrow.