The International Workers’ Day was celebrated by thousands of people in five centres in North and East Syria.
Workers and the public showed great interest in events organised by the autonomous administration in the cantons of Qamishli (Qamîşlo) and Al-Hasakah (Hesekê), as well as in Manbij (Minbij), Shahba (Şehba) and Deir ez-Zor (Dêrazor), as May Day became a day of celebration in northeastern Syria.
At the event in Qamishli, the director of the Workers’ Union of the Jizreh (Cizre) Region, Şêro Mehemed Şero, said that labourers were the main backbone of the North and East Syrian Revolution, that they could further develop society, and he called for people to intensify the common struggle.
Hundreds attended the celebration in Al-Hasakah, including executives and members of political parties and civil society organisations. “Labourers have won their struggle in the world. Because labourers are the society itself,” said the Movement for a Democratic Society (TEV-DEM) co-chair Xerîb Hiso.
In Shahba, the May Day celebrations were held in a displaced persons’ camp. TEV-DEM Co-chair Gulê Jehfer drew attention to the embargo on the region and called on humanitarian and international organisations to take action to lift this embargo.
Speaking at the event in Manbij, Workers’ Union Co-chair Asya Elêwî emphasised the importance of workers in building a democratic system. Asya said that the Turkish government had tried to destroy the democratic system, a system the people had created at great cost. The co-chair called on international organisations to take a stance against the Turkish forces’ attacks.
May Day in Iraqi Kurdistan
Workers in Iraqi Kurdistan also celebrated May Day with events in Erbil (Hewlêr) and Khanaqin (Xaneqîn).
At the mass May Day march in Erbil, the Workers’ Party of Kurdistan official, Belen Abdullah, said, “Today, workers all over the world are sending messages to raise the struggle against the capitalist system. The situation of workers in Kurdistan is no different from that of workers around the world. Unemployment, low wages and lack of basic rights are increasing day by day.”
In a press statement after the Erbil march, workers made demands for the prevention of unemployment, occupational safety and health, and gender equality in the workplace.
“The working class is one of the key pillars of society and the dynamic for our people’s revolutions,” said Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) President Bafel Talabani on Monday. “The PUK grew within this hardworking revolutionary class.”
Talabani stressed that the PUK considers itself an integral part of this influential force and the working class. “The PUK does not forget its history and sacrifices,” he said, “Kurdistan is in debt to you for your hard work.”
