1. What
is RiseUp4Rojava about?
The goal of the
campaign is to create an internationalist front against Turkish
fascism and to defend the revolution of North-East Syria, widely
known as Rojava, with the pillars of women’s liberation, radical
democracy and social ecology. Therefore, different organisations from
different countries have come together under a common platform for almost
two years now to defend Rojava’s achievements, making the
revolution their own.
We identify
ourselves with the revolution in Kurdistan, a main
struggle against the most developed fascism of our time
and for the liberation of women and society. The
enemies of the revolution in Kurdistan and in Syria
are also our enemies. We oppose the intervention and occupation
policies of the NATO-countries and the Russian Federation in the
Middle East.
We are
different organizations with different views and perspectives on different
topics, but we have decided to come together under the umbrella of
riseup4rojava by the principals of building an anti-fascist, anti-capitalist
and anti-imperialist alliance in solidarity with the revolutionary struggle in
Kurdistan against Turkish fascism. The differences between all
the organisations as part of the campaign are not something
that is in the way of our work together, but something that
will push everyone further.
As organisations, groups, and individuals that are not directly part of the campaign, we come to you to present to you the upcoming Spring Offensive; but let us provide a bit more background first.
2. How
has the campaign started and what are recent developments?
Our campaign
started about one and a half years ago. On 25th April 2019, the
day of liberation from fascism in Italy, we presented the campaign for the
first time in many Italian cities, and on 1st May 2019, the
campaign was present at many demonstrations in several countries.
With the start
of the campaign, our goal was to put the key elements of the campaign, the
struggle against fascism, against imperialism, against capitalism and the
internationalism of revolutionary struggles, into a historical context, making
them visible.
The campaign
achieved a lot. Through our global resistance and with hundreds of actions in
many countries in the form of demonstrations, blockades, occupations,
information events, seminars all around the globe, we together forced countries
to position themselves regarding the crimes committed by the Turkish fascist
state, leading to some countries suspending arms exports to the fascist regime
in Ankara. At the same time, by working together, we also contributed to
spreading the hope and the practical alternative Rojava shows and
fights for daily.
We have shown this together in the last year, for example, in more than 250 actions overall in over 30 countries during the action weekend around 19th July, the anniversary of the Rojava revolution, and during the action week which started on 1stNovember, World Kobanê Day – which commemorates that on 1st November 2014, millions of people were on the streets worldwide to express their solidarity with the heroic resistance of Kobanê against the so-called Islamic State, and as a result, a global movement of solidarity, resistance and common struggle has grown – that the Rojava revolution is our common revolution.
Together with the local structures in
Rojava/Northeast Syria, as well as with the Kurdish umbrella organisations in
Europe and, among others, with the campaigns Women Defend Rojava, the
Internationalist Commune of Rojava, Make Rojava Green Again we have shown
and we are dedicated that the achievements of the revolution must be defended
and that the continuation and intensification of the war must not be accepted
in silence, but must also be prevented by all means.
The war on
Rojava has never stopped and the enemies of the revolution – above all the
fascist Turkish state – are in constant preparation for the next
major invasion into Rojava, also by attempting to further occupy other parts of
Kurdistan and by attacking the democratic forces that are resisting this.
Recently, on 10th February, the Turkish fascist state launched a new invasion to occupy new parts of Southern Kurdistan – with the aim to install a buffer zone between South- and North-Kurdistan, and launching a new offensive onto Rojava – by attacking the Garê-region, which is part of the guerrilla controlled Medya Defense Zones, which ended in a devastating defeat for the Turkish army already on 14th February due to the heroic resistance of the guerrilla forces.
The attack against
Garê needs to be understood by everybody as an attack against the
whole revolution and against all of us, which aimed at
the heart of the revolution and the anti-fascist resistance in the region.
The guerrilla’s resistance in Garê was a
historic victory, but the Turkish fascist state is forced to launch a
next big attack with operations against the Medya defense areas, Şengal,
Maxmur, and Rojava still being on the agenda. That is why we must
continue the resistance against Turkish fascism and against the occupation with
all our strength regionally and internationally.
After all, the attacks against the revolution by the fascist Turkish state are only possible because of military, diplomatic, economic, political, technological cooperation of the opportunist imperialist governments, especially of the USA, Western European, and other states, which is why a spring offensive with the aim of strengthening the antifascist struggle globally against fascist rule, capitalist exploitation and imperialist devastation of our livelihoods is so important in our internationalist struggles.
3. Spring Offensive
in Solidarity with the Revolution and
the Anti-fascist Resistance in Kurdistan from 13th March
to 8th May
As RiseUp4Rojava,
we call for a Spring Offensive in the time from 13th March
to 8th May to take a clear stance against Turkish fascism,
in solidarity with the revolutionary forces in Kurdistan and to directly
fight against
the international collaborators of Turkish
fascism. Besides this, we want to highlight the struggles that unite and
move us globally. Our slogan is “Unite in Resistance – Dem Dema Azadi
ye (The Time for Freedom is Now)”.
As part of the Spring Offensive, and to unite in our continuing resistance against Turkish fascism with all our strength, we also call to take action for the freedom of Abdullah Öcalan, and all political prisoners, which includes also the practical show of solidarity with hunger strikers (see for example, the connection between Dimitris Koufontinas and the hunger strikers in Turkish prisons). Crucially, the revolution in Kurdistan is a women’s and ecological revolution. Apart from highlighting the femicidal politics of Turkish Fascism, and taking action to smash patriarchy, we also call upon the international ecological movement to practically show the necessity to be antifascist and anti-capitalist.
Moreover, the
martyrs who have sacrificed their lives for this revolution to
survive have not died; they live on in our hearts and show us the way. Let
us internationally commemorate together the fallen ones of the struggle for
freedom and dignity. After all, the Kurdish people do not stand
alone, but our international solidarity shows that the revolution in Kurdistan
is a source of hope and inspiration for the oppressed and the united
antifascist struggle worldwide.
With the RiseUp4Rojava
action line to "Disturb. Block. Occupy." we will
protest, demonstrate, discuss, and we will directly go against arms companies,
the tourism sector benefitting the fascist Turkish state, governments and
financial institutions, and we’ll put them under pressure!
At the same time, there will be large scale events at some of the main dates (see below), ranging from demonstrations, rallies, assemblies, and conferences. Take part in the planned actions or become active yourself. Every action counts! Whether information events; webinars; seminars; reading groups; banner, billboard, graffiti, letter and poster actions; demonstrations; blockades of weapon companies; or a flashmob in front of a government building or in a bank. There is a lot that can be done.
If you announce your action in advance, please send us the information by mail: riseup4rojava@riseup.net
The HASHTAGs
for the action week are:
#RiseUp4Rojava
#UniteInResistance
#SmashTurkishFascism
Main
events:
- 18 March:
Political Prisoners Day
- 19 March:
Global Climate Action Day
- 19-21 March.:
Newroz celebrations and large demonstrations for Newroz
- 21-28 March.:
Week of Our Heros (commemorating and remembering martyrs)
- 27-28 March:
Regional commemoration marches for martyrs
- 04
April: Abdullah Öcalan's birthday (Creative actions for the freedom and
the meaning of Abdullah Öcalan)
- 25
April: 2 year anniversary of RiseUp4Rojava
- 01
May: International Worker’s Day
- 08 May: Antifascist Action Day
Call:
The joint call with Women Defend Rojava, Make Rojava Green Again, Internationalist Commune, and Tevgera Ciwanên Şoreşger (Revolutionary Youth Movement) for the Spring Offensive can be found here:
https://riseup4rojava.org/spring-offensive-unite-in-resistance-dem-dema-azadi-ye/
Flyers,
posters & stickers:
Link for posters, stickers, flyers etc can be found here: https://riseup4rojava.org/materials/
Please also make your own flyers and posters, following the concept here, and send it to us, so that we can upload it onto our website for material accessible to everyone.
4.
Outlook
We understand
the campaign RiseUp4Rojava as a chance and an opportunity to come together as
anti-fascists, anti-capitalists and anti-imperialists internationally. On the
one hand, to express our solidarity with the revolution in Rojava, the struggle
of the revolutionary people in Kurdistan and the Middle East, and on the other
hand, to strengthen our alliance internationally, to oppose Turkish fascism and
fascism worldwide. For that reason, we will continue to organize, mobilize and
take action.
The Spring Offensive, concluding with the Antifascist Action Day, will be an important part of that and for that reason we invite you to join the planned actions and events, and if possible to organise and get active for this by yourselves. This is important given that the war in Rojava and in all of Kurdistan is ongoing, and a new/continued invasion on Rojava by the fascist Turkish army and their mercenaries is a constant threat.
While we write these lines, the local forces and population in Rojava/North-East Syria show everyday resistance against the war at the frontlines in Ain Issa, in Til Temir as well as in the occupied areas from Afrin to Girê Spî and Serêkaniyê, knowing and showing that without this resistance the continuous build up of the revolution will not be possible. Turkish fascism will be smashed on two frontlines, one in Kurdistan, the other one internationally. The revolution in Rojava and Kurdistan will be defended on two frontlines, one in Rojava and Kurdistan, the other one internationally.
With
revolutionary greetings and respect,
RiseUp4Rojava
Coordination
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RISEUP4R0JAVA
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/riseup4rojava_2/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/riseup4rojava
Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/user/RiseUp4Rojava_/
Website: https://riseup4rojava.org/
Why is Greenleft getting involved in the Rojava issue? As ever, British so-called socialists, can't keep their noses out of the affairs of others! We've been telling the world what to do for the past 500 years, it's time to stop and deal with our OWN, miserable condition!!!
ReplyDeleteBecause the Kurds are practising ecosocialism, an example to us of it in action.
Delete