Salih Muslim Muhammed, the leader of the biggest
Kurdish party in Syria, the Democratic Union Party [PYD],
and Vice-President of the National Coordination.
Photo: Archive. •
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January 2, 2013
How many reports have we seen telling us that Kurds
in Syria are working for al-Assad, that the Kurdish
PKK (from Turkey) is behind the actions of Kurdish
Democratic Union Party – PYD, that PYD runs the
Kurdish area, and that Kurds are divided? There are
many.
In contrast, where are the articles that positively
report the unity of the Kurdish political parties
and the creation of a safe area within the Kurdish
region in the North-East where those who come
without weapons are welcomed and cared for? Where
are the articles that give voice to those working
for a solution based on dialogue and non-violence?
There are just a few.
The media in the main is allowing itself to be used
to discredit those who do not fight with FSA or call
for armed resistance, and it is not offering
balanced reporting. This is at best naive and at
worst vindictive and malicious, and serves the aims
of those who have their own agendas for trying to
destroy the fragile unity between the Kurdish
parties, and to silence the voice of non-violent
action and diplomacy. It is a dangerous strategy
because it fuels sectarianism and increases the
vulnerability of Kurds and others living in the
Kurdish area. By way of example, see reports on
28/29 Dec 2012 in
Deutsche Welle
[1], and
Rudaw [2].
Where is it reported that Salih Muslim is working
tirelessly to find a solution that will secure basic
rights for Kurds in Syria but which will benefit all
those living in the Kurdish area within Syria, and
for Syria as a country? He is a leader within PYD,
also a member of the Kurdish Supreme Council - the
collaboration between the PYD and the Kurdish
National Council which has brought stability to the
Kurdish area, and he is a PYD representative on the
National Coordination Body for Democratic Change in
Syria - NCB. In response to comments frequently made
in the press he has made it clear that PYD is not a
part of PKK, and that he is committed to working for
a non-violent solution – self-defence aside [3], [4]
but this is repeatedly and deliberately being
ignored to undermine his credibility as a
peacemaker, and as a representative of a sizeable
proportion of the Kurdish population in Syria.
Kurds are accused of sitting on the fence. Salih
Muslim explains that Kurds have so often been used
to fight other people’s battles, but this time they
have not come out to fight for either the regime
which has brutally oppressed them over the years
[5],www.ekurd.net
or the Turkey-backed ‘FSA’ [6] because they cannot
see a positive future with either, especially as
Turkey continues to deny basic democratic rights to
its own Kurdish population, and so they take care of
the interests of those living in their area. This is
not often reported, and instead Kurds are criticised
for not joining FSA and the armed struggle.
When comments from Haytham Manna of National
Coordination Body for Democratic Change in Syria -
NCB are included in a report he is derided to
minimise the impact of his stance as the advocate a
of non-violent solution. Where are his arguments
against the use of violence explained, and the
reasoning behind the NCB’s three ‘no’s: no to
violence, sectarianism and foreign military
intervention [7]? Rarely.
The international community has responsibility for
this conflict that has become a blood bath for
hundreds of people in Syria every week. The UN is
frequently blamed, but it will continue to be
disabled by the proxy wars that are being acted out
using the lives of the Syrian people: America and
Russia continue their economic and geo-political
cold war; Iran and Saudi Arabia lock horns about
power and control within Sunni and Shia Islam; and
Turkey is yet to find an acceptable way to live with
its own Kurdish population.
Those who control the media need to take seriously
their responsibilities and duty of care for Syrians
who are suffering every day. This is a crucial time
for balanced reporting and respect for those whose
voices have been stifled by the baying for weapons.
1
Naomi Conrad: Kurds caught up
in midst of Syrian conflict 29.12.2012
http://www.dw.de/kurds-caught-up-in-midst-of-syrian-conflict/a-16484448
2
Rudaw: Kurdish Opposition
Groups Question Syrian Delegation’s Meeting With
Maliki 29.12.2012 http://www.rudaw.net/english/news/syria/5601.html
3 Peace in Kurdistan/SKS: Monday 3 December 2012
http://supportkurds.org/news/monday-3-december-2012
4 SKS: Kurds need freedom and democracy: PYD leader
http://supportkurds.org/news/kurds-need-freedom-and-democracy-pyd-leader
5 SKS: Brief Overview http://supportkurds.org/reports/brief-overview
6 Tisdall, S., 2012 Iran and Turkey's meeting
reveals new approach to Syria The Guardian
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/oct/25/iran-turkey-new-approach-syria
7 SKS: Haytham Manna: Violence and Democratic
Perspectives in Syria 23 October 2012
http://supportkurds.org/reports/haytham-manna-violence-and-democratic-perspectives-in-syria
Sheila Mosley. Co-Chair: International Support
Kurds in Syria Association – SKS, 1 January 2013 -
Ekurd.net
Copyright © 2013 Ekurd.net
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