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Rudaw, Iraqi Kurdistan
Oct 12 2014
In Washington, Protesters Demand Kobane Intervention
By Yerevan Saeed
WASHINGTON--Kurdish Americans led demonstrations in front of the White
House and the State Department this week, demanding the US act to stop
an Islamic State (IS/ISIS) takeover of the besieged Kurdish city of
Kobane.
During the three days of demonstrations, protesters called on the US
not only to increase strikes on IS, which is closing in on Kobane, but
also to press its allies such as Turkey to intervene on behalf of
Kurdish fighters.
"People are here because they are trying to ask for help from the
United States and its allies to break the siege on Kobane and get it
out of the hands of IS," said Parvez Barraghi, a 36-year-old Kurd from
Harrisonburg, Virginia.
"The US has been slow, but they have been moving; however its ally in
the region which is Turkey is watching while women and children being
killed and not doing anything (to help) them," he added.
Powered by advanced US armory seized in Iraq and weapons seized in
Syria, IS last month launched a major assault on Kobane. The United
Nations' refugee agency (UNHCR) reports that 170,000 people have fled
to nearby Turkey from the border city of Kobane, which is being
defended by People's Protection Units (YPG).
The Syrian Kurdish militia is outgunned by IS but not receiving
weapons from Turkey or the west largely because it is tied to the
Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) which is deemed a terrorist organization
by the European Union, the US and Turkey.
The demonstrators delivered a letter to State Department officials,
asking for US military assistance for the Kurdish fighters and
increased US airstrikes to halt the IS advance.
Demonstrators chanted "Arm Kurdish fighters, Stop ISIS, Down with
ISIS, Mr. Obama Save Kobane."
Carrying Kurdish and American flags with signs for Kobane, the
protesters marched toward the White House, where they caught the
attention of passers-by.
"We want the United States to be more assertive with its allies, "Barraghi said.
He also urged Turkey, which has tanks a few kilometers away from
Kobane on the Turkish side of the border but has not intervened, to
act to prevent killing women and children. Turkey has said it would
intervene if the Kurds commit to ousting Syrian leader Bashar
al-Assad.
"We want Turkey to do something because they are the biggest ally and
the second biggest force of NATO. They should do something at least to
protect the women and children. They should put the Kurdish problem
and political problem away to protect humanity."
"We are standing here in solidarity with the Kurds everywhere,
especially in Kobane and its struggle because of possible genocide and
massacre. We want to prevent that from happening," said Omer Pacal, a
Washington-based Kurdish American.
Pacal said that while US-led international coalition has played a role
in helping Kobane, "Unfortunately the airstrikes were late. If the
airstrikes would have started weeks ago, it would not have been at
this stage."
Pacal accused Turkey of dragging its feet in acting against IS, saying
that Ankara "will be responsible" if a massacre occurs. He noted that
at least 31 Kurdish civilians have been killed in several days of
protests in Turkey, which is still debating how to deal with IS.
The gathering included non-Kurds in solidarity with the people and
Kurdish fighters of Kobane.
Armenian National Committee of America Executive Director Aram
Hamparian said he joined the protest because he believes the future of
Kurds and Armenians, both persecuted minorities in Turkey, are tied.
He claimed Turkey's reluctance to act on Kobane was driven by Ankara's
"anti-Kurdish" stance.
"Turkey has a very clear responsibility. They have an opportunity to
help and they are not," he said. "Why? Because they have an
anti-Kurdish agenda. All you need is to look at the history of the
last 30 years to see how they have tried to destroy Kurdish
nationalism and destroy Kurdish cultural identity."
Gorran Rahim, another Kurd from northern Virginia, called on the US to
step up military intervention against IS.
"Thousands of people are trapped and we ask America to save them," Rahim said.
http://rudaw.net/english/middleeast/syria/11102014
Oct 12 2014
In Washington, Protesters Demand Kobane Intervention
By Yerevan Saeed
WASHINGTON--Kurdish Americans led demonstrations in front of the White
House and the State Department this week, demanding the US act to stop
an Islamic State (IS/ISIS) takeover of the besieged Kurdish city of
Kobane.
During the three days of demonstrations, protesters called on the US
not only to increase strikes on IS, which is closing in on Kobane, but
also to press its allies such as Turkey to intervene on behalf of
Kurdish fighters.
"People are here because they are trying to ask for help from the
United States and its allies to break the siege on Kobane and get it
out of the hands of IS," said Parvez Barraghi, a 36-year-old Kurd from
Harrisonburg, Virginia.
"The US has been slow, but they have been moving; however its ally in
the region which is Turkey is watching while women and children being
killed and not doing anything (to help) them," he added.
Powered by advanced US armory seized in Iraq and weapons seized in
Syria, IS last month launched a major assault on Kobane. The United
Nations' refugee agency (UNHCR) reports that 170,000 people have fled
to nearby Turkey from the border city of Kobane, which is being
defended by People's Protection Units (YPG).
The Syrian Kurdish militia is outgunned by IS but not receiving
weapons from Turkey or the west largely because it is tied to the
Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) which is deemed a terrorist organization
by the European Union, the US and Turkey.
The demonstrators delivered a letter to State Department officials,
asking for US military assistance for the Kurdish fighters and
increased US airstrikes to halt the IS advance.
Demonstrators chanted "Arm Kurdish fighters, Stop ISIS, Down with
ISIS, Mr. Obama Save Kobane."
Carrying Kurdish and American flags with signs for Kobane, the
protesters marched toward the White House, where they caught the
attention of passers-by.
"We want the United States to be more assertive with its allies, "Barraghi said.
He also urged Turkey, which has tanks a few kilometers away from
Kobane on the Turkish side of the border but has not intervened, to
act to prevent killing women and children. Turkey has said it would
intervene if the Kurds commit to ousting Syrian leader Bashar
al-Assad.
"We want Turkey to do something because they are the biggest ally and
the second biggest force of NATO. They should do something at least to
protect the women and children. They should put the Kurdish problem
and political problem away to protect humanity."
"We are standing here in solidarity with the Kurds everywhere,
especially in Kobane and its struggle because of possible genocide and
massacre. We want to prevent that from happening," said Omer Pacal, a
Washington-based Kurdish American.
Pacal said that while US-led international coalition has played a role
in helping Kobane, "Unfortunately the airstrikes were late. If the
airstrikes would have started weeks ago, it would not have been at
this stage."
Pacal accused Turkey of dragging its feet in acting against IS, saying
that Ankara "will be responsible" if a massacre occurs. He noted that
at least 31 Kurdish civilians have been killed in several days of
protests in Turkey, which is still debating how to deal with IS.
The gathering included non-Kurds in solidarity with the people and
Kurdish fighters of Kobane.
Armenian National Committee of America Executive Director Aram
Hamparian said he joined the protest because he believes the future of
Kurds and Armenians, both persecuted minorities in Turkey, are tied.
He claimed Turkey's reluctance to act on Kobane was driven by Ankara's
"anti-Kurdish" stance.
"Turkey has a very clear responsibility. They have an opportunity to
help and they are not," he said. "Why? Because they have an
anti-Kurdish agenda. All you need is to look at the history of the
last 30 years to see how they have tried to destroy Kurdish
nationalism and destroy Kurdish cultural identity."
Gorran Rahim, another Kurd from northern Virginia, called on the US to
step up military intervention against IS.
"Thousands of people are trapped and we ask America to save them," Rahim said.
http://rudaw.net/english/middleeast/syria/11102014