A few years ago the world was horrified when black-clad Islamic State (IS) troops ran amok and seemingly unstoppable in the Middle East.
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The IS advance however, came up against the People's Protection Units (YPG) and Women's Protection Units (YPJ) - later known as the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). Mostly made up of Kurds, but including other ethnic groups, the SDF were motivated by ideas of grassroots democracy, women's rights, and ethnic and religious tolerance. After fierce battles in Aleppo, Kobane, Raqqa Mosel and other places the SDF defeated IS.
At a cost of 11,000 lives, millions of people, including thousands of Yazidi women used as slaves by IS, were liberated.
Influenced by the radical democracy of Abdullah Ocalan (a Kurdish leader who has been imprisoned by Turkey since 1999) the population implemented autonomous local government in the liberated cantons. This example was not to the liking of the autocratic regimes in the region, in particular Turkey's President Recep Ergodan. With the IS threat diminished, US President Donald Trump, in his typical cynical fashion, gave the OK for Ergodan to invade Rojava.
This attack threatens a new genocide against the Kurds, Yezidi and other minorities in Northern Syria and could plunge Syria, if not the Middle East, into yet another war. The people of Rojava saw ethnic cleansing, looting and destruction carried out by Turkey when it occupied Afrin in Western Rojava last year. According to the Australian office of the United Nations High Command for Refugees, more than 166,000 people have fled their homes since October 9.
With Turkey in control IS could well make a comeback if their former fighters are released from detention in Rojava and Turkey again provides them with logistical support.
Turkey's claims of "security concerns" lack legitimacy. The Syrian Defence Force has never attacked Turkey, a country of 80 million people with a huge army.
If Prime Minister Scott Morrison is as concerned about refugees as he claims to be, the Australian government should condemn the invasion and end all military and security cooperation with Turkey, secure emergency aid for the refugees and call on the United Nations to establish a no-fly zone over Rojava.
A Solidarity with Rojava teach-in will be held at the Newcastle Resistance Centre, 472 Hunter Street, on Saturday, October 26, 2pm-4pm, with film and contributions from Kurdish activists.
