It has been 21 years since the massacre committed by the Baath regime in Qamishlo, North and East Syria, on March 12, 2004. The Baath regime forces launched a new attack against the Kurds after the incidents that started during the match between Qamishlo team Al-Jihad and Deir ez-Zor team Al-Futwa in Qamishlo Stadium. In the attacks, 52 people were killed and many others were injured. The popular revolt that started in Qamishlo against the attacks later spread to cities such as Derik, Girke Lege, Chilakaa, Tirbespiye, Amude, Dirbesiye, Serekaniye, Kobani, Afrin, Heseke, Aleppo and Damascus. On July 19, 2012, during the Rojava Revolution, the name of Qamishlo Stadium was changed to “March 12 Martyrs Stadium”. Qamishlo and Deir ez-Zor teams come together on March 12th of every year and play a friendly match here.

 

'THOSE WHO WANTED TO LIQUIDATE WERE LIQUIDATED' 

 

Xerîb Hiso, Co-Chair of the Democratic Union Party (PYD) and one of the witnesses of the massacre, said that these attacks took place within the framework of the Adana Agreement signed between the Baath regime and Turkey on October 20, 1998. Pointing out that the massacre took place before the March 21 Newroz process, Xerîb Hiso said, “Baath wanted to prevent the hopes of the peoples from flourishing by massacring before Newroz, which heralds spring. The massacre was also a continuation of the Halabja Massacre that took place on March 16.” 

 

Xerîb Hiso noted that another goal of the attacks was to bring Arabs and Kurds against each other. Reminding that a great uprising started after the massacre, Xerîb Hiso said, "This was the first time such a serhildan was seen. For the first time, the Damascus government was neutralized in the region. They wanted to liquidate the Kurds but they themselves were liquidated. They wanted to keep the Kurds in the dark, but they themselves remained in the dark. They realized Turkey's demands, but their plans were turned upside down."

 

Stating that Newroz was celebrated at that time despite all the attacks, Xerîb Hiso said, "The Baath regime, which collapsed today, received the first blows of collapse in those days. The regime collapsed as a result of acting in line with the demands of states like Turkey, not its own people. The martyrs of March 12 contributed to this."  

 

'KURDS ARE SYRIA'S PARTNER' 

 

Pointing to yesterday's agreement between the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria and the Syrian interim government, "The Kurdish people, who were wanted to be destroyed 21 years ago, are today a partner of the Syrian state. It is signing agreements today with its own struggle. The foundation of today's agreement was laid 21 years ago,” said Xerîb Hiso and added, “When the Baath regime attacked Qamishlo 21 years ago, no one expected that there were so many Kurds in Syria. This attack revealed the will of the Kurds and it became clear that there were millions of Kurds. If the regime had captured the Kurds in 2004, there would have been no Rojava Revolution in 2012. The regime's aim was to destroy the Kurds. For this purpose, the Adana Memorandum was signed with Turkey. When the Syrian civil war started, they first attacked the cities where Kurds lived. Because they knew that the Kurds would lead this revolution. Attacks could not prevent the gains we have achieved for 14 years."

 

ATTACKS AGAINST THE ALAWITES

 

"Today, Deir ez-Zor and Qamishlo are sister cities,” said Xerîb Hiso and added, ”The regime acted as a tool of the imperialist states instead of hearing the voice of its own people. The regime is gone but the peoples remain. Today, the teams of Deir ez-Zor and Qamishlo are playing a match again. Thousands of people are watching brother and sister. What would have happened if such a match had been held in 2004? But the regime's aim was different. Syria belongs to all peoples. North and East Syria have proved this for 14 years.” 

 

Xerîb Hiso also evaluated the recent attacks against Alawites in Syria. Xerîb Hiso said, "The Baath regime collapsed and was replaced by HTS and massacres continue. We have always condemned these massacres. The massacres are carried out in front of the cameras and they do not even feel the need to hide them. Whoever committed these massacres must be held accountable. Children, women and civilians are being massacred. This is a crime. The gangs committing this crime must be held accountable. These massacres must be stopped immediately. Who is behind these massacres? Turkey is the one in Syria. This massacre is taking place in front of Turkey's eyes. What have the Alevis done? It is said that they are 'pro-Assad', this is not true. The massacre of Alevis today was also committed in Shengal and Kobani. Their mentality is massacring, they have no morals. These gangs should be identified and should not stay in Syria. The vast majority of those who carried out these attacks are not Syrian."

 

'NEW AGREEMENT IS POSITIVE'

 

Pointing to the details of yesterday's agreement, Xerîb Hiso stressed: "In the coming days, committees will be formed and the articles will be discussed. This agreement will pave the way for an end to the conflict in Syria. If there is a ceasefire, everyone displaced from their homes will return to their homes. Non-Syrians, gangs coming from outside and those who commit massacres will have no business in Syria. Syria has entered a new process with this agreement. May this new process lead to the construction of a new Syria where everyone is in dialogue."

 

MA / Emrullah Acar