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Al-Sharq al-Awsat (The Middle East)
Sept 4 2011
Leading figure of Syrian Kurdish Yekiti Party: 'Call for federalism,
separatism rumours spread by regime'
Abd-al-Basit Hammu tells Al-Sharq al-Awsat: 'Transitional Council to
hold meeting in Cairo'
by Muhammad al-Qushayri
Abd-al-Basit Hammu, advisory member of the transitional council in
Syria and an official belonging to Kurdish opposition Yekiti Party in
Syria, has denied claims that the Kurds are calling for a federal and
separatist government in Syria similar to that in Iraq. He considered
this as a way of promoting the many rumours that the Syrian regime is
spreading for the purpose of instilling fear into the Syrian people,
by wielding the Kurdish, Christian, Assyrian, and Armenian minority
threats in particular.
Hammu, who is the first Syrian oppositionist to call for the overthrow
of Bashar al-Asad's regime since he assumed power, told Al-Sharq
al-Awsat over the telephone that "the Kurdish position is clear and
known to the Syrian opposition. This position was discussed at the
most recent meetings held in a number of world capitals. It consists
in our inclusion within one Syrian framework in all the political,
social, and cultural fields and our possession of our own identity. It
also consists in changing the current constitution which is built on
racism, particularly with regard to the clause that declares all those
who live on an Arab land as Arabs, thus cancelling the identity of all
the coexisting minorities in Syria."
The Yekiti Party official said that "the Kurds support the revolution.
Our participation in the revolution from the first week of its
eruption is tantamount to giving full support to the demands of the
Syrian youth who are demonstrating in all Syrian cities. As
oppositionists, we consider this revolution as the saviour that will
solve all the problems of the Syrian people. We thank God that the
children of Dar'a were the first to revolt. Had the Kurds been the
first to revolt, they would have been accused of being victims to
conspiracies, as was the case during the 2004 demonstrations when the
sons of the Kurdish people rose and destroyed some statues of Hafiz
al-Asad, leading to the killing and arrest of thousands of Kurds at
the time."
Hammu said: "The solution is clear and all the Syrian oppositionists,
including Arabs, Kurds, and other minorities, see that the only demand
that will solve all our problems is democracy and all minorities
should have equal representation, thus preserving the rights and
duties of all the shades of the spectrum of the Syrian people. All the
sedition, separatism, and call for an independent rule being spread
around by Bashar al-Asad's regime are a means for maintaining his
regime and his crimes against the sons of the people." Regarding the
nonparticipation of some Kurdish political parties in the transitional
council and the revolution, Hammu said: "Nonparticipation does not
mean adopting a different position than that of active parties. All
Kurds and Arabs share the same stances. However, fear of the regime
makes some people hesitate to declare positions or participate. This
is a matter of which we are aware and that we understand."
The official of the Yekiti Party, one of the largest anti-Syrian
regime Kurdish groups, considered that the participation of the
Armenians, the Assyrian Christians, and most recently the Druze is
equivalent to an official declaration of the revolution and an end of
the road for the current regime.
Regarding the Kurds' view on the newly-formed transitional council,
Hammu indicated his support for this step. He said that "this council
must be supported by all the sons of the Syrian people at the current
stage and must enjoy support. However, there are some problems that
must be taken into consideration during the forthcoming stage with
regard to broadening the participation of all Syrian minorities and
allowing them to take part in decision-making."
The advisory member of the Syrian transitional council indicated that
a meeting will be held in Cairo to discuss the developments of the
Syrian situation. He valued the Saudi role in supporting the Syrian
people that is represented in the speec h delivered by the custodian
of the two holy mosques. He said that this saves all Arab leaders and
gives weight and support to the Syrian revolution.
[translated from Arabic]
Sept 4 2011
Leading figure of Syrian Kurdish Yekiti Party: 'Call for federalism,
separatism rumours spread by regime'
Abd-al-Basit Hammu tells Al-Sharq al-Awsat: 'Transitional Council to
hold meeting in Cairo'
by Muhammad al-Qushayri
Abd-al-Basit Hammu, advisory member of the transitional council in
Syria and an official belonging to Kurdish opposition Yekiti Party in
Syria, has denied claims that the Kurds are calling for a federal and
separatist government in Syria similar to that in Iraq. He considered
this as a way of promoting the many rumours that the Syrian regime is
spreading for the purpose of instilling fear into the Syrian people,
by wielding the Kurdish, Christian, Assyrian, and Armenian minority
threats in particular.
Hammu, who is the first Syrian oppositionist to call for the overthrow
of Bashar al-Asad's regime since he assumed power, told Al-Sharq
al-Awsat over the telephone that "the Kurdish position is clear and
known to the Syrian opposition. This position was discussed at the
most recent meetings held in a number of world capitals. It consists
in our inclusion within one Syrian framework in all the political,
social, and cultural fields and our possession of our own identity. It
also consists in changing the current constitution which is built on
racism, particularly with regard to the clause that declares all those
who live on an Arab land as Arabs, thus cancelling the identity of all
the coexisting minorities in Syria."
The Yekiti Party official said that "the Kurds support the revolution.
Our participation in the revolution from the first week of its
eruption is tantamount to giving full support to the demands of the
Syrian youth who are demonstrating in all Syrian cities. As
oppositionists, we consider this revolution as the saviour that will
solve all the problems of the Syrian people. We thank God that the
children of Dar'a were the first to revolt. Had the Kurds been the
first to revolt, they would have been accused of being victims to
conspiracies, as was the case during the 2004 demonstrations when the
sons of the Kurdish people rose and destroyed some statues of Hafiz
al-Asad, leading to the killing and arrest of thousands of Kurds at
the time."
Hammu said: "The solution is clear and all the Syrian oppositionists,
including Arabs, Kurds, and other minorities, see that the only demand
that will solve all our problems is democracy and all minorities
should have equal representation, thus preserving the rights and
duties of all the shades of the spectrum of the Syrian people. All the
sedition, separatism, and call for an independent rule being spread
around by Bashar al-Asad's regime are a means for maintaining his
regime and his crimes against the sons of the people." Regarding the
nonparticipation of some Kurdish political parties in the transitional
council and the revolution, Hammu said: "Nonparticipation does not
mean adopting a different position than that of active parties. All
Kurds and Arabs share the same stances. However, fear of the regime
makes some people hesitate to declare positions or participate. This
is a matter of which we are aware and that we understand."
The official of the Yekiti Party, one of the largest anti-Syrian
regime Kurdish groups, considered that the participation of the
Armenians, the Assyrian Christians, and most recently the Druze is
equivalent to an official declaration of the revolution and an end of
the road for the current regime.
Regarding the Kurds' view on the newly-formed transitional council,
Hammu indicated his support for this step. He said that "this council
must be supported by all the sons of the Syrian people at the current
stage and must enjoy support. However, there are some problems that
must be taken into consideration during the forthcoming stage with
regard to broadening the participation of all Syrian minorities and
allowing them to take part in decision-making."
The advisory member of the Syrian transitional council indicated that
a meeting will be held in Cairo to discuss the developments of the
Syrian situation. He valued the Saudi role in supporting the Syrian
people that is represented in the speec h delivered by the custodian
of the two holy mosques. He said that this saves all Arab leaders and
gives weight and support to the Syrian revolution.
[translated from Arabic]