After the successful, free election and a series of constructive discussions, the People’s Council in Western Kurdistan issued the final statement of its first conference, which states: “At this sensitive stage in the history of Syria and Kurdistan, a conference was held by the People’s Council of Western Kurdistan on 16/12/2011 and was attended by 335 out of 359 elected members, who represent most segments of society, ethnicities and religions, from different regions of Syria and Western Kurdistan in addition to a number of guests.”
The Conference discussed key issues of concern to both the Syrian and Kurdish societies at this historic stage. It also stressed that the Arab Spring indicates to the bankruptcy of the authoritarian and nationalist regimes and heralds the birth of democracy in the region. A further point of discussion was the current situation in Syria and Western Kurdistan. The delegation offered its support for the popular movement that has been ongoing for the last 10 months, which represents a popular uprising against the totalitarian regime aimed at establishing a pluralistic democracy. The Conference, however, warned against any attempts to circumvent the uprising and to distort its course in order to serve foreign agendas that are far from the real interests of the masses.
Furthermore, the delegation believe that the repressive actions of the chauvinist Ba’athist regime of Syria, which include torture, killing of innocent demonstrators and the detention of political dissidents, and the continuing policy of denying any Kurdish rights, would pave the way for foreign intervention and push the country towards disaster. In addition, the participants agreed that the position of some opposition parties, which seek to gain power at any cost without carrying out any fundamental changes in the institutional structure both of the state and the constitution, will discharge the popular revolution aimed at building a free democratic Syria.
The participants also discussed the scattering and division of the Syrian opposition parties and condemned the position of many international and regional parties, especially Turkey, which is trying, by all means, to impose its own agendas and views on the Syrian people in general and on the Kurds in particular. Therefore, in the face of those challenges, the participants emphasised: (1) the importance of reaching a national formula based on unitary democratic principles for the various components of the Syrian society, without exclusion or denial, (2) the rejection of foreign intervention, (3) the renunciation of violence and sectarianism and (4) the prevention of civil war.
As for the Kurdish issue in Syria, the Conference underlined the adoption of a democratic solution based on building a common democratic homeland, constitutionalism and democratic self-governance for the Kurdish areas in Syria, which stands, in its essence, as the optimal model that is capable of solving the problems of Syria. The struggle for freedom by Kurds all over Kurdistan was welcomed and appreciation was shown for the resilience and resistance shown by political prisoners, and prisoners of conscience detained by the Syrian.
The Charter of the Democratic Society Movement of Western Kurdistan (TEV-DEM) was approved along with the Charter of the People’s Council in Western Kurdistan. The participants elected a permanent committee composed of 63 people alongside two Presidential Officers, the Executive Committee of the Democratic Society Movement of Western Kurdistan (TEV-DEM), members of the Supreme People’s Court and the Supreme Electoral Commission.
The resolution of the Conference:
1. To support the peaceful, democratic popular movement aimed at making a radical change in the infrastructure and institutions of the political system.
2. To reject foreign intervention.
3. To renounce violence and sectarianism.
4. To work towards the unification of the positions of Kurdish political parties including the democratic youth organisations.
5. To continue all efforts to unify the Syrian opposition parties and their position towards a solution to the current Syrian crisis.
6. To establish local councils through free and transparent elections as an essential step towards freeing and uniting all components of society.
7. To continue building and developing democratic social institutions such as health, sport and cultural centres; political and human rights academies; schools and education centres for the dissemination of the mother tongue, i.e. Kurdish.
8. To support and develop media organisations aimed at enlightening the society and spreading democratic culture among the people.
9. To commit to the principle of self-defence. This is a legitimate right in accordance with international conventions and treaties on human rights as a means of protecting the Kurdish people.
10. To pay close attention to the economic situation and attempt to achieve self-sufficiency. This can be done by supporting popular economic institutions and eradicating policies of starvation and exploitation imposed on the people by the regime.
11. To address and abolish racism and national policies of forced assimilation.
12. To restore the original names of all cities, towns and villages in Western Kurdistan.
13. To promote a culture of struggle for peaceful, democratic and constitutionally-assured coexistence all ethnic and religious groups.
14. To develop and construct organisations and institutions that promote women’s rights based on the principle “a free society through the freedom of women.”
15. To build and develop cultural and training centres for young people to direct them toward meaningful employment.
16. To organise and support university students, since they are the most dynamic segment in society capable of causing significant changes.
The People’s Council of Western Kurdistan
16 December 2011. Derik, Qamishly, Syria.
