An emergency rally was held in Sydney on 29 December, called by the Kurdish community in response to the latest escalation of the Turkish state’s bombing of civilian infrastructure (including power stations, factories and even hospitals) in the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (DAANES), the autonomous northeastern regions of Syria, also known as Rojava, which were liberated from the Islamic State (ISIS) by Kurdish fighters and their allies.
Over the last two months, 56 civilians were killed and 77 others were injured in these aircraft, drone and mortar attacks. The attacks caused material damage costing more than $1.2 billion and have disrupted the power supply and schooling of thousands of people.
The rally, at Sydney Town Hall square, called on the Australian government, the United Nations and other international organisations to “break their silence” and condemn these genocidal attacks which are violating international laws by destroying food, water and other essential resources for living.
Speakers denounced Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for bombing innocent civilians and critical civilian infrastructure in Rojava while condemning Israel for its genocidal bombing of Gaza.
Reported by Peter Boyle