* This interview was conducted on October 29, 2014

The spokesperson of Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) Polat Can evaluated arrival of the peshmerge forces to Kobane border, relations between YPG and the international coalition.

Mr. Polat Can, first I want to ask you about the front lines. In the last couple of days, ISIS has ramped up its attacks against Kobane. They are trying especially hard to take the Mursitinar border crossing gate with Turkey. What is the current situation on the ground?

A couple of days ago, ISIS suffered a major defeat. As a result, they brought reinforcements from Derezor and Raqqa. These reinforcements, led by a few emirs [prince], included a large quantity of modern and heavy arms, as well as a large number of terrorists. After previous defeats, the former emirs lost their morale and chose to be replaced by new ones. Their major goal in these last attacks was to take the gate to Suruc in Northern Kurdistan [Turkey]. The coalition air-dropped munitions for us. One motivation for ISIS to take the gate is to prevent the scheduled peshmerga reinforcements from crossing into Kobane from the north. We are 100% confident that ISIS is doing this in collaboration with Turkey. For this purpose, ISIS has ceased all its operations on other fronts and is laser-focused on the Eastern front, but to date, has not advanced even a bit. Also, they are running a disinformation campaign, claiming victory and progress against us, and these are all lies. To the contrary, they suffered enormous losses. They also have resorted to suicide truck bombs, with no success. We have successfully thwarted the attacks by destroying those vehicles and killing their drivers before they could reach their targets.

You talked about airdrops and Turkey’s attitude. Could you be more specific please? Not just the Kurds but also other countries sharply criticize Turkey’s attitude. What exactly is Turkey trying to do, in your opinion?

Turkey’s plans in Syria have been foiled by us. Obviously, Turkey is trying to achieve its goals in Syria by collaborating with ISIS. Turkey’s only goal is the Kurds, not YPG or Kobane. For that reason, Turkey is openly confronting the international coalition and the US. Rather than Turkey, we could say the government of Recep Tayyip Erdogan is doing this despite the fact that it is ruining Turkey’s image in the West. Turkey helps ISIS with all it has, to prove that the US has failed in its war against ISIS. Not only is Turkey helping ISIS, it is also showing unspeakable animosity toward the Kurdish nation’s struggle against ISIS by the YPG. Turkey closed its border crossing and tried to prevent the US from sending munitions to YPG. Turkey has created all kinds of impediments to prevent the peshmerga from reaching Kobane in the last 10 days. At times, Mr. Erdogan speaks for the Free Syrian Army (FSA), at other times, he speaks in the name of the YPG, Democratic Union Party (PYD) or the peshmerga. Who has appointed Mr. Erdogan as spokesperson for these forces one wonders? No one can make sense out of what he says. He gives a press release, then another that annuls the previous one. Erdogan’s only goal is to defeat the Kurdish political establishment and the international coalition’s Syria policy.

But at the same time, Turkey allowed the passage of the peshmerge through its territory. In a short time it is expected that peshmerge will cross into Kobane. What do you have to say about this?

There has been massive pressure on Turkey in the last 10 days to allow these reinforcements to reach Kobane. President of the Kurdistan Region Mr. Masoud Barzani asked Turkey to allow peshmerga to pass to Kobane on the first day ISIS attacked Kobane, well over a month ago. In the last 10 days, Turkey has been dragging its feet to allow peshmerga to pass to Kobane. Every time, Turkey has created another excuse as to why peshmerga would not be allowed to go ahead. Also, Turkey negotiated a reduction in the original number of peshmerga reinforcements, and in the end, only allowed 150 peshmerga to go to Kobane. We are grateful for our Peshmerga coming to fight together with us, but one should not forget that a mere 150 fighters would not have a big impact military-wise.

So, was the number of peshmerga reduced due to Turkey’s pressures?

Yes. Due to the pressure of Turkey the number of peshmerga was reduced. Since several conditions were put forth by Turkey before peshmerga’s departure. However, under pressure from many nations, and in the end, under the ultimate pressure of the US, Turkey gave in to permitting the peshmerga reinforcements to reach Kobane.

You are claiming that Turkey has opposed the demands of the US and the international coalition, but it looks like Turkey was not successful in such efforts. You are collaborating with the US, and we see that is leading to positive developments in Western capitals’ attitudes towards the YPG.  

Such efforts by Turkey only hinder our war against terror, and delay our victory. Turkey considers this a gain. That perpetuates this war, and this is something we do not want. We want to defeat ISIS as soon as possible so that people can return to their homes and we can thus continue our struggle against ISIS in a stronger manner. Turkey wants to prevent us from reaching these goals any way it can, in order to impede our success.  Despite international public efforts and media attention, Turkey has still been effective in such attempts.

You mentioned the Free Syrian Army. You have been fighting with the FSA for some time now, and we see that in practice in Kobane. Also, Turkish President Erdogan recently claimed that 1300 FSA fighters would be going to Kobane. Is there any truth to this claim by Erdogan?

First of all, we and the FSA are collaborating by our free will, and this is not happening because of Erdogan. It is not appropriate for Erdogan to speak on behalf of the FSA. The FSA can speak for itself. Also legally this is not right because the president of a foreign country [Erdogan] cannot issue statements in the name of or make decisions for a military force [FSA] in another country. He openly means FSA is an army of Recep Tayip Erdogan. Erdogan’s statements reveal these for us.

A second point, we are the supporters of an army that accepts the Kurds and their national rights, and fights for human rights and democracy in Syria. Our alliance with such groups of FSA is continuing in Afrin, Aleppo, Kobane and in other places. As you know we formed a joint force the “Volkano of Euphrates” two months ago. These groups of the FSA are still in Kobane and have had several martyrs and wounded. Together we keep resisting.

Also, the head of the Aleppo Military Council Zahir Es Sakid denied that they had any such force, right after Mr. Erdogan’s statement. Not only that but he also said that they would not abandon their front in Aleppo when it had the upper hand against the regime, to go to Kobane. The FSA simply was unaware of [any such force Erdogan mentioned].

Yes, we also read his statements.

All these so-called representatives of the FSA have been operating in Turkey for the last two years. They have no official or legal relationship with the actual FSA in Syria. Who are these so-called FSA members operating out of Turkey? How come they claim to be FSA but in reality, have never fired a bullet against the Assad Regime? How can the president of another country make decisions on their behalf and give them orders? With the real FSA, we are collaborating on many fronts in Syria, and we will continue to do so. We are ready to join forces against ISIS with the FSA in Aleppo and Afrin.

If the FSA really wants to help YPG in Kobane, they can attack ISIS to the west of Kobane, in towns such as Manbij, Bab and Jarablus. This will cut ISIS’ fighting power in Kobane by half. There are already FSA forces in Serekaniye [Ras al-Ayn], and they can also open up a frontline against ISIS from the east and march towards Girespi [Tilabyad]. In the name of the FSA, some want to become a Trojan horse against the YPG, and we know they are not the true FSA. Jabhat Al-Nusra and others in the past claimed to be part of the FSA and we later saw that they did not represent the FSA.

Well, then what role does Abddul Jabbar Akidi play here? Is Akidi one such member of the FSA in Turkey?

Akidi is the former president of the Aleppo Military Coalition. Later, he established relations with Jabhat Al-Nusra and ISIS. He has admitted this himself. There is video evidencing all of this. He led a bloody war against Kurds. Kurds are very much antagonized by him. He later stopped fighting and moved to Turkey, where he has been for the last 1.5 years. He is not in Syria anymore. Then, he wanted to establish good relations with Kurds. We told him this is not a problem for us, our doors are open to anyone who genuinely wants to help us and serve Syria. He went to Afrin and met with our Chief Commander Sipan Hemo, and they reached an agreement. Later, he claimed he met with YPG on his own, not on behalf of any organization, and that he was no longer an official member of the FSA. A short while ago, he came to Kobane and we told him he could bring a small group to fight with YPG. But we told him, if he really has the 1300 fighters he claims to have, to open a new frontline against ISIS west of Kobane, in Bab and Manbij, as that would be the best use of such a force.

Also, now the FSA is facing defeat in places like Aleppo, and are holding only one frontline there. FSA is also in an existential fight in Aleppo and they really can use some help. If Akidi has such a force, it would make more sense for him to go fight in Aleppo help out FSA. We would assist him in such an effort. On the other hand, if his intentions are to create trouble in Kobane, we would not let that happen.

There are groups amongst them that are trouble makers such as Jaysh al-Islam, which is not a member of the FSA, and has already indicated that they want to come to Kobane to fight against YPG. Few days ago, they reached an agreement with Akidi, stating with Islamic front leader Zahran Aloush that they wanted to join forces against YPG in Kobane. Obviously, these forces are willing to come to Kobane not to help YPG, but rather to fight against YPG. Do they think we are stupid enough, after all of this struggle and all of this martyrdom, to allow groups which fought against us to take over Serekaniye and Afrin in the past ando Kobane now?

Today, the world knows Kobane. The international coalition and the US value the struggle in Kobane. If those [Akidi group] want to join the collation, we are ready to help facilitate that. If they are sincerely wanting to fight ISIS, we would be glad to help them, but this should not be interpreted as though we are collaborating with anyone. For example, we would not collaborate with terrorist groups such as Jabhat Al-Nusra and others like it. We are only willing to work with all of those groups that accept and respect Kurds.

What do you think about recent attacks that just took place in Canada? How do you comment on this?

 As YPG, we are fighting terror on the frontlines and hence, we a have first-hand experience with the pain involved in this fight. We have been the victims of this terror episode, more than any other nation. We have been fighting this terror for more than 3 years now, and have been pleading with the world community to help us for well over two years. We know if we do not stop this terror, it will spread all over the world. We told everyone this, even before ISIS attacked Iraq, and before it attacked the Kurdistan Region. However, no one listened to our warnings. Not only Canada, but other nations have to rise up against terror. We express our condolences to all the families of the victims of terror, particularly in Canada, but also around the world, and we feel their pain. We know first-hand what it is like to be a victim of terror. Again, we would like to reach out to the international community to unite against this terror threat that aims to destroy humanity.

The battle of Kobane has been raging for weeks, but the cavalry may finally be on its way. A group of Syria’s Free Army Fighters, with estimated numbers ranging from 50 up to 150, have arrived in the Syrian city of Kobane.

About 150 Kurdish Peshmerga fighters from Iraq are also said to be on their way ro join the fight. The question now is whether or not this reinforcement will be enough to tip the battle in favour of those trying to defend the town from Islamic State Group militants.

***

The battle for Kobane: Peshmerga fighters join the fight against the IS group Part 1

The battle for Kobane: Peshmerga fighters join the fight against the IS group

Sayın Enwer Mislim, Kobanê’den gelen haberler şiddetli çatışmaların devam ettiği yönünde. Bazı yerlerin YPG’nin kontrolünden çıktığı bildiriliyor, durum tam olarak ne?

Enwer Mislim: Çatışmalar gittikçe şiddetleniyor, Kobanê üzerindeki IŞİD tehlikesi gittikçe büyüyor. Çünkü Kobanê’ye yakın yerlerden, Til Abyad, Cerablus ve Minbic’den sürekli destek geliyor IŞİD’e. Fakat YPG ve YPJ büyük bir direniş örneği göstererek saldırıları durduruyor. Yine Amerika’nın öncülüğünü ettiği koalisyon güçlerinin, Fransa, İngiltere, Avustralya, Kanada’nın hava saldırıları da IŞİD’in ağır silahlarına büyük bir darbe indirdi, bu konuda Amerika’ya ve koalisyon güçlerine bir kez daha teşekkür ediyoruz. Fakat Kobanê üzerindeki tehlike henüz geçmiş değil, hala çok sayıda sivil var Kobanê’de ve sınırda. IŞİD, Tilşehir’den sınırdaki sivillerin üzerine kurşun ve bomba yağdırıyor.

Biz dünyadan YPG ve Kobanê için destek isterken sadece buradaki insanları düşünmüyoruz, bütün dünyayı hedef alan bir terör örgütü var ortada. Dün Kanada Parlamentosu’na saldırdılar, kınıyoruz bunu. Hayatını kaybedenlerin yakınlarına başsağlığı diliyoruz. Kanada’daki saldırılar düşmanımızın ortak olduğunu bir kez daha gösterdi. İşte bu terör örgütü karşısında, İngiltere, Kanada, Almanya, Fransa, Amerika ile birlikte hareket etmeliyiz. Ancak bu şekilde bütün dünyayı hedef alan IŞİD’i Kobanê’den temizleyebilir ve tamamen ortadan kaldırabiliriz.

IŞİD’in Tilşehir yalınlarında sivillere yaptığı saldırıdan bahsettiniz. Tam olarak ne oldu?

Enwer Mislim: Tilşehir ÖSO ve YPG’nin kontrolündeydi. Artan saldırılar sonucu geri çekilmek zorunda kaldılar. Tilşehir’e ulaşan IŞİD de sonra Türkiye sınırında bekleyen sivilleri hedef aldı. Aralarında bir çocuk ve bir kadının da bulunduğu 6-7 sivil yaralandı. Bu sivilleri korumak için koalisyon güçlerince bir şeyler yapılmalı. Washington’a bir kez daha sesleniyoruz buradan, acilen bir güvenlik koridoru açılmalı, yine YPG’ye yardımların yapılacağı bir koridor da açılmalı. Çünkü hem hava saldırıları hem de YPG’nin saldırıları ile ağır darbeler aldığı için sivillere yöneliyor.

Türkiye Hükümeti, Peşmergenin geçişine izin verdiğini söylüyor. Bazıları bunu bir koridorun açılması olarak yorumluyor. Bunu nasıl değerlendiriyorsunuz? Bir de sınırda bekleyen siviller neden Türkiye tarafına geçemiyor?

Enwer Mislim: Biz de bunu merak ediyoruz zaten. Kürdistan Hükümeti parlamentosunun aldığı karar, bütün yurtsever Kürtleri mutlu etti diyebiliriz. Amacımız bir, biz Kürt iradesini, Kobanê’yi ve sivilleri korumak istiyoruz. Şengal’de ve Kerkük’te saldırı olduğu gibi bugün Kobanê’de de saldırı var. YPG ve kanton yönetimi ile kuracakları ilişki ile çok iyi sonuçlar alırız, bu IŞİD’in bölgeden ve dünyadan yok edilmesi için atılan önemli bir adım olur.

Aranızdaki görüşmeler başladı mı peki?

Enwer Mislim: Biz bütün güçlere Kobanê için destek çağrısında bulunduk. Sonrasında parlamento böyle bir karar aldı. Bugün nasıl ki koalisyon güçleri IŞİD’e daha etkili saldırmak için YPG ile koordineli bir şekilde çalışıyorsa peşmerge güçleri de aynı şeyi yapmalı. Henüz aramızda bir görüşme başlamış değil, fakat ilerleyen saatlerde bir şey olursa bunu kamuoyuna duyururuz.

Duhok’taki anlaşmayı da sormak istiyorum. Rojava’nın iki büyük gücü bir anlaşmaya vardılar. Bu Kobanê’de nasıl karşılandı?

Enwer Mislim: Kürtlerin birliğini esas olan her anlaşma, nerede yapılırsa yapılsın, Kobanê’deki kanton yetkilileri, siviller ve her Kürt için sevindirici bir şey.

Önceki gün kimyasal silah kullanıldığı iddiaları vardı. Bazı sivillerin yüzleri yanmış, dudakları şişmişti. Bu konuda bir gelişme var mı? Yine bazı uluslararası yardım kuruluşları nelere ihtiyaç duyduğunuzu soruyor.

Enwer Mislim: IŞİD zehirli silahlar da dahil olmak üzere her türlü yolla saldırmak istiyor. Dün gece saat 23:10’de de yine bu tür zehirli silahlarla saldırdılar.

Ama şunu de belirtmek isterim. Bu zehirli silahlara karşı mücadele edebilmek için, Amerika ve koalisyondaki güçler bize silah yardımında bulunmalılar. Bu silahlara karşı kullanılabilecek silahlar henüz elimizde yok, bunun için de hem YPG savaşçıları hem de sivil insanlar üzerindeki tehlike devam ediyor.

Sayın Obama’nın şahsında Amerika’ya, Sayın David Cameron’un şahsında İngiltere’ye, Sayın Steven Harper’in şahsında Kanada’ya ve Sayın François Holland’ın şahsında Fransa’ya sesleniyoruz: Sivilleri zehirli silahlardan korumak için bize bir an önce silah yardımında bulunsunlar.

Peki, gazdan etkilenen sivillerin durumu ne şimdi?

Enwer Mislim: Kullanılan silahlar zehirli silahlar fakat derecesi henüz belirlenmiş değil, hala araştırılıyor bu. Sivillerin gözleri yanıyordu, baş dönmesi yaşıyorlardı. Üzerinden 24 saat geçmesine rağmen baş dönmesi devam ediyordu, mideleri bulanıyordu ve derilerinde yanma, gözlerinde şişme vardı. Kullanılan silahtan etkilenen siviller şimdi Kuzeydeler ve doktorlar yakın bir zamanda tahlil sonuçlarını açıklarlar.

Kullanılan silahtan etkilenenler bırakılmamıştı, geçtiler mi Türkiye tarafına?

Enwer Mislim: Evet öğleden sonra girişimlerin artması sonucu geçişlerine izin verildi.

Bir aydan uzun bir süredir Kobanê direniyor, dünyada artık herkes Kobanê’yi biliyor. Size yakından takip eden, uluslararası neler söylemek istersiniz?

Enwer Mislim: 11 Eylül’deki terör saldırılarını herkes hatırlıyor. Amerika’da bir sürü sivil katledildi. İspanya ve Fransa ve önceki gün Kanada’da da benzer şeyler yaşandı. Dünyanın terörden dolayı yaşadığı acıyı şimdi biz de Kobanê’de yaşıyoruz. Fransa, Amerika, Kanada, İngiltere, Amerika halkları, teröre karşı duran bütün dünya halkları Kobanê’ye destek çıkmalılar. Birlikte hareket edip IŞİD’i ortadan kaldırmalıyız. Çünkü IŞİD buradan çıkarılmazsa bütün dünyanın başına bela olur. Hem insani olarak, hem de silah olarak yardıma ihtiyacımız var. 37 gündür direniyoruz biz burada ve direnmeye devam edeceğiz.

Photos sent by Dr. Welat Omer from Kobane