During a session held at the Parliament of Uruguay, ongoing attacks against North-East Syria and the Kurdish people since January 6 were discussed.
During the session, member of parliament Víctor Aldaya, a representative of the Movement of Popular Participation (MPP), one of the key parties in the ruling Broad Front (FA) coalition of Uruguay, drew attention to the military attacks launched by the Syrian transitional government against the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), warning that the process would have not only military but also political and social consequences.
Aldaya emphasized that the attacks carried out by the Syrian transitional government led by Ahmed al-Sharaa, particularly those directed at Aleppo, resulted in the loss of many civilian lives, serious human rights violations, and the displacement of tens of thousands of people. The policies of oppression and denial against the Kurdish people have a historical background, he said, adding that this process has had an impact across a broad geography encompassing Syria, Turkey, Iraq, and Iran.
In his speech, Aldaya stated that the rise of fundamentalist movements in West Asia and the rejection of ethnic, religious, and political pluralism have deepened conflicts. He said that the current attack targets not only territorial control but also the pluralistic and locally governed political model being built in northern Syria.
The MP pointed out that the Syrian transitional government is attempting to reestablish a centralized state based on an Arab Sunni identity, which he considers a threat to the multi-ethnic and democratic structure of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
Aldaya remarked that the failure of the international system and multilateral mechanisms to manage the transition process in an inclusive manner has had serious consequences, leading to the release of ISIS detainees and the interests of the dominant powers in the region taking precedence over the people’s demand for peace.
At the end of his speech, Aldaya drew attention to the historical role of women in northern Syria, noting that the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ) are not only a military element in the fight against ISIS, but also a symbol of social transformation in the region. He warned that targeting this model would have serious consequences for the future of the region.
Aldaya called for peace, stating that this peace should not be a “peace of the graveyards,” and that it cannot be achieved at the expense of the expulsion or elimination of ethnic and cultural minorities. He emphasized that peoples’ right to self-determination is a universal and inalienable principle.
At the end of the session, at Aldaya’s request, a motion was put to a vote to forward the findings to the Uruguayan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the United Nations mission in Uruguay. The motion was overwhelmingly approved.