Kurdish-led forces in Northeast Syria have extended their support to Myanmar’s Karenni fighters (KNDF), emphasising women’s liberation in a solidarity statement released this Friday.
đź”´Kurdish-led forces in North and East Syria have extended solidarity to the Karenni fighters of Myanmar.#NorthEastSyria | #YPJ | #KNDF
đź”—https://t.co/Rz1L7MP1Of pic.twitter.com/WsAc4huIv6
— MedyaNews (@medyanews_) November 11, 2023
“The liberation of society through women’s freedom forms the cornerstone of our struggle,” announced the General Command of the People’s Defence Units (YPG) and the Women’s Defence Units (YPJ), underscoring a deep connection with Myanmar’s Karenni Nationalities Defence Force (KNDF). This statement follows an earlier message of support from Myanmar’s Karenni fighters.
In their video message, YPG and YPJ not only echoed sentiments of solidarity with the Myanmar fighters but also emphasised their commitment to aiding their struggle. “Our shared journey towards freedom and dignity unites us,” they stated, drawing parallels between their own resistance and the ongoing fight in Myanmar against authoritarian forces.
The YPG and YPJ, known for their pivotal role in the fight against the Islamic State (ISIS) with a focus on women’s liberation, introduce their philosophy of the “democratic nation”, which was developed by the imprisoned Kurdistan Worker’s Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Ă–calan and is based on grassroots democratic organisation and equal representation of all ethnicities and religions. They align this concept with the KNDF’s aspirations to a federal Myanmar and representation for the Karenni people. Recently, the KNDF has made notable gains in Myanmar’s Shan State, challenging the military dictatorship in power since the 2021 coup.