RIHA - El Sûhan, the leader of Sebxa, one of the Arab tribes to which Abdullah Öcalan sent a letter, said: "Abdullah Öcalan's message was a call that reinforced the support of the entire people and tribes for the SDF. Arab tribes are in the SDF."
Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan sent letters and messages to many sectors within the Peace and Democratic Society Process he initiated. Abdullah Öcalan recently sent a letter to the Arab tribes in Northern and Eastern Syria as part of the Arab-Kurdish alliance.
Mihemed Tirkî El-Sûhan, the leader of the Sebxa tribe, which exists in a large area centred on the city of Raqa (Rakka) in the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (DAANES), expressed that the peoples live equally under the roof of the administration. Stating that the lives and joys of different peoples are common, El-Sûhan said that they do not feel any difference between Kurds and Arabs.
Stating that 80 per cent of the administrators in Raqa, which is a city where Arab people live densely, are Arabs, El-Sûhan said that there is no discrimination between the cultures of the people of the city. He said that the peoples speak their mother tongues, but when they come together, Arabic is spoken predominantly.
El-Sûhan explained the ability of decentralised governance of the country and local initiative to solve problems through a visit to Kobanê (Kobani) 10 days ago to reconcile feuding families: "This meeting was for peace between Kurds who were fighting with each other. Not between Arabs and Kurds. We were also there as Arab representatives. About 60 sheikhs and dignitaries from North and East Syria attended this meeting. As tribal sheikhs, we want the people to live in peace, security and stability. For this reason, we demand a decentralised government."
Al-Sûhan stated that during the Assad regime, the administrators were brought from different cities and therefore there were problems because they did not recognise the region, and added that their aim was for each city to be governed by its own people.
Al-Sûhan said that some groups and states are trying to prevent the establishment of a democratic system in Syria, adding that they aim for a system in which the government does not exclude anyone and all peoples have equal rights, and demanded that the government include people of all religions and nationalities.
'ABDULLAH ÖCALAN WANTS PEACE'
Pointing to the letter sent by Abdullah Öcalan to Arab tribal leaders, El-Sûhan stated that Öcalan knows all Arab communities well due to the 20 years he lived in Syria. El-Souhan said: "Capitalist and hegemonic states had increased pressure on Syria and threats of invasion and war had arisen. When Abdullah Öcalan felt this, he left to protect the Syrian people among whom he had lived for 20 years. The message he sent was a message of peace. We welcomed this message because we know that he wants peace. We also love peace and want peace. We hope that peace will prevail for everyone."
'WE ARE PART OF SDF'
Stating that Abdullah Öcalan drew attention to the unity of Arab tribes and Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) for a democratic Syria in his message, El-Sûhan said: "Arab tribes are already in the SDF. They have always supported the SDF since its establishment. Abdullah Öcalan's message was also a call that reinforced the support of the entire people and tribes for the SDF."
He said that he had met Abdullah Öcalan in Syria and that although he knew him, it was only after the conspiracy that he learnt about Öcalan's real purpose and ideas.
El-Sûhan concluded: "We realised then that Abdullah Ocalan is fighting for peace, tranquility and unity of peoples. We are grateful to him for this. His messages have been a reassurance for us. Because the tribes were very neglected during the Ba'ath regime. Abdullah Öcalan's message to the tribal sheikhs, especially in Northern and Eastern Syria, meant 'Your rights will not be taken away from you, you will be the cornerstone of the Autonomous Administration and QSD'."
MA / Sema Bingol