JINHA

QAMIŞLO – On the 27^th anniversary of the Halabja massacre, the people of Qamişlo in Rojava say that today, Kurds have begun a force that can ensure such a massacre never happens again in Kurdistan.

Although 27 years have passed since the Ba'ath regime killed 5,000 Kurds (mostly women and children) in the city of Halabja, in Southern Kurdistan, the sorrow and rage of the day is still fresh for Kurds, across borders.

Rodeyn Muhammed Ali, a Qamişlo citizen, says the continuing attacks from Daesh and other forces resemble the Halabja massacre so closely that its pain remains fresh.

"Attacks like those on Shengal and Kobanê, and now on Til Temir and Til Hemis in Cizîrê Canton, are designed to exterminate the Kurds and the many peoples who lives alongside them in unity in Rojava," said Muna Abdulselam, the director of Qamişlo's Sara Women's group. But, she says, the Ba'ath regime has never been able to stop the Kurds. Rather, attacks have increased the sense of unity and urgency Kurds feel today in protecting their ways of life.

"This is a dark day for the Kurds," said Velide Hasan of the massacre's anniversary. "Against these kinds of attacks, Kurds need to stand together. They need to organize—whether as asayiş [peacekeeping forces] or YPG/YPJ. I'm calling on all Kurds. Let's come together and increase our level of military organization."

(ekip/dc/zd/cm)