Listen here to our daily update:
Today, despite the, supposed ceasefire, attacks are continuing.
At the time of writing there are attacks happening in the country side surrounding Kobani. The resistance of the SDF and the people have meant they haven’t ben able to reach the city.
Turkey has been deploying troops and tanks along the border which is building pressure throughout Rojava but especially on Kobani. Now Kobani is surrounded with the Turkish border on one side and STG army on the other.
Electricity, Internet and water has been cut- and so the situation is bad but, from a battery or a small power source, some videos and images have managed to come out and the spirit of resistance is very high. Our TV is filled with videos of big gatherings where people are dancing. One of the local friends always laughs when she sees this saying
‘kurds are crazy, even in war we dance!’
We know that kobani is being attacked as it is a symbol of resistance. It is a symbol of the turning point from fascism to democracy. And it is this belief that they want to destroy.
The strength of the SDF at Al-Aqtan prison is still going strong. Al Aqtan prison is located near Raqa. And has ISIS fighters that will be released if taken under the control of jihadist. For 3 days STG forces have attacked and still they have not been able to advance.
Our moods match the ups and downs of the situation.
Today DAANES made a statement stating the attacks on Kobani and the Cazira cantons now constitute as genocide
And today thousands marched in to the border in Bakur despite tear gas and attacks. And thousands protested in Sulimania, in Bashur. We see videos from protests going on around Europe. In every one of these protests we hear the chat the Kurdish people are one.
Many are calling today a day of unity.
We’re currently trying to find ways not to have these big up and then big lows but to keep morale high but steady. Watching the older people around me I see the ups and downs, when hearing victories or losses, but in general their moods remain constant, not so high on resistance that they can’t concentrate or so low they can’t eat and feel demotivated. We’ve been asking ourselves why this is.
I think it is because the local friends here are not surprised by the enemies cruelty. It doesn’t mean they are not impacted by the horrific images but they are no surprised, because they know and have accepted that the enemy is in fact our enemy and in this are standing firm in their decision to struggle. They are unwavering. So rooted in their decision to struggle that every attack is turned into energy for the resistance.
Today a video was taken of a Syrian solider from the hamza division showing off the braid he cut off from a Kurdish woman fighter. The hamza division is associated with the SNA and is trained and equip by the British state, the US and The Turkish state. These are the soldiers that NATO trains.
They fear our strength so much that cutting off our hair is a triumph for them. But they do should know that our honour is our hair. Our honour is our will. Our determination. Our freedom. And this they cannot take.
Women have been braiding their hair in resistance and sharing their videos, with the slogan
‘in place of one braid millions will grow’
A little girl was born today and her mother named her Kezî- meaning braid.
We send greetings and strength
serkeftin!
