Interview: “We need dialogue. So that a better future can be built” – DAANES Executive Council co-chair on developments in Syria

Did the events of the last two weeks come as a shock?

Evin Sweid: 14 years of the Syrian people wanting to live a free and dignified life on Syrian soil, in the face of oppression and violence and all the atrocities of the Ba’ath regime, with the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people, the killing, the missing persons… a spirit desirous of change has been inside Syria in these past years. However, this was not achieved. The reasons are clear. International protection for the Assad regime was there. Then, the dreams of many people who were waiting 14 years came true in just two weeks. Is it true to say this all occurred just with the will and force of the Syrian people? In my opinion, no. The emergence of some jihadist, radical forces in the city of Aleppo was a shock, because it is a Syrian city with many peoples and beliefs. The emergence of a radical force in these cities shocks you. They make you consider the future.

The country is still divided between different forces – do you foresee more violence and conflict in the coming period?

It’s a fact that as the people of North and East Syria and as the Autonomous Administration, we have put a lot of effort towards preventing the division of Syria. We wanted dialogue with all forces, to preserve the unity of Syria, to preserve its borders and cities. Sadly however, many cities were occupied, by the Turkish state and affiliated mercenaries, beginning in 2016 with Azaz and Jarablus, then Afrin, Sere Kaniye, Gire Spi, the Shehba area. It’s true that currently in the tableau of Syria there are many forces. We believe that if there is no unity in Syria, there will be problems in the future. Inside North and East Syria, we – with all the peoples living here – build unity. And we wanted to build the Autonomous Administration project through unity. On this basis, the Autonomous Administration still exists today and has been preserved. Sadly, we wonder if Syria is heading towards a heavier war in the future, considering the current situation on the ground.

From 2011 onwards there were many unsuccessful initiatives for solving the Syrian crisis. Now, the conditions have very much changed. There are now competing visions for a future Syria. What possibilities do you see?

Many forums and meetings have been held for solving the situation in Syria. Autonomous Administration representatives were never included. Representatives of the five million people living in NES were not present in those discussions. Many other democratic groups were not included. So the discussions always remained one-sided. Forces inside Syria wanted to solve the Syrian crisis in this way. For this reason they were unsuccessful. It is now a fact that there is a new reality in Syria – some call it a revolution, some call it a change, some call it a chaos. If the Syrian people, from all sides, don’t come together, sit around a table and discuss the future, then the future of Syria will always be chaos. It will be even more chaotic. We must not forget the sacrifices made – from all sides – for a free and dignified life. If the situation of Syria returns to what it was like in 2011 and or worse, then what was all this effort, work and sacrifice for? For this reason, it is needed that we lift this responsibility now in Syria, and not distance ourselves from any other side, like the Ba’ath regime did. We need dialogue. So that a better future can be built in Syria.

Are you now expecting to be included in formal negotiations over a settlement in Syria? And do you see a role for regional or Western states in these negotiations?

Beyond just expecting to be included in these dialogues; it is a necessity that we do so. Because, as I said, all discussions held previously were meaningless because they did not include all of Syria, particularly North and East Syria. De facto, on the ground, 5 million people with self-governance and organization. The opinions from this region have to be in that discussion. Regarding Arab states having more of a role and mission inside Syria: it is needed that they act as guarantors or govern dialogue. The forces that have actually had a role in Syria up to now of course want to be part of the discussion, but in my opinion these discussions should be around a table of Syrians, only Syrians. But with some help from Arab states or Western states or under the umbrella of the UN, these dialogues will proceed better.

You push a decentralized governance model in NES. Do you see that there is desire for this kind of model more broadly?

The Autonomous Administration as a model of decentralization can be an answer for Syria, with its richness of peoples and beliefs, its diversity. Syrian areas [with a similar model] exist: like Suwayda, the Sahel. They are mostly Alewi, Syriac and Christian. In NES, this model has progressed even more. We think it is a good model. In terms of how much it will be accepted or not – this depends on the dialogues that will be conducted. There is no discussion of this right now, so I can’t give a clear answer. We don’t know the stance of those who are currently in Damascus. Their stance will be revealed through their future practice.

What kind of civil administration are you expecting from HTS? Al-Jawlani has made statements in support of minority rights and preserving the diversity of Syria. He professes a rejection of global jihad, pursuing a national strategy instead. How do you see this?

More than just speeches, we are looking to the practice and implementation. The things Syria has gone through can become a lesson for all of us, which we can all benefit from in building a better Syria. A Syria in which everyone can live with their belief and nationality. We await the practice. From the beginning, the Autonomous Administration extended its hand for a political solution in Syria and always called for Syrian-Syrian dialogue, built up a democratic model to a certain extent, made efforts to develop good services and other things. We are approaching the future responsibly and want to play an even greater role in building the new Syria.

Many foreign forces have involved themselves in the Syrian Civil War. How do you now see the position of Russia, Iran, Turkey and America? There are many who call for all foreign forces to leave the country. What is your stance here?

Some forces now have a strong hand inside Syria, others have a weak hand – like Iran and Russia. When the forces who were governing Syria on the side of Assad – or rather, were governing more than Assad – were weakened, the regime in Damascus itself imploded, because the hands of its partners were diminished or cut. The one who benefits from this change on the ground is of course Turkey. Turkey and its mercenaries entered Shehba and Tel Rifaat and launched heavy attacks against the North and East Syria Region. Turkey wants to benefit from these changes and the re-design of the Syrian roadmap. With regards to the exiting of foreign forces from Syria: there have been many forces and they say when the situation is peaceful, or when a political solution is reached, their presence on Syrian land will no longer be needed. Decisions regarding these forces staying or leaving should be taken by Syria as a whole, not just one part of it. On this basis, we as the Autonomous Administration would participate in the decision-making in Syria as a whole.

Right now in NES’ Arab-majority regions there are many preferring to align with the Opposition forces now that Assad has gone. Some Arab tribes and militias in Deir ez-Zor have pledged allegiance to the HTS-led operations room. How do you see this situation?

This is not something new. Actors or forces exist who work across the whole geography of Syria. Recall the problems that emerged some time ago in Deir ez-Zor – the hands of the Ba’ath regime and their Iranian partners were involved. The Turkish state at the same time attacks our region. There are always efforts from many sides to bring down the Autonomous Administration from the outside or inside, attack it or harm it, and to benefit from these issues. My opinion – those representing those regions, as individuals or tribes, have the final say on these topics. The region was liberated from ISIS by the hands of the SDF – with the vanguardship of the YPJ – with the children of this region. For the protection and liberation of this region from new attacks and chaos we discussed with sheikhs of the area’s tribes. We discussed the dangers posed towards the region and the games being played. Every canton and its administration are in discussion for this, for the protection of the Autonomous Administration and its will. We make effort that the chaos occurring be solved through discussion and agreement.

What is the situation in Manbij now, following the withdrawal of the SDF? Have civilians remained in the city?

We have a lot of experience with the Turkish state. In the last few days human rights have been violated a lot: kidnapping and murder of civilians, including three women of Zenobia [an Arab women’s union]. Other Zenobia women have been kidnapped; their fate is still unknown. We saw how the mercenaries entered into the hospital and attacked the wounded inside. The attacks on Ayn Issa – 12 people killed from one family, then 8 people from one family. These attacked targeted civilians in a very conscious way. Negotiations in Manbij were for the protection of civilians, because Manbij’s people all are inside the city, apart from those who had by chance gone out of the city. But there is a lot of fear inside the city’s houses. They [the SNA] went into houses, looted, stole, threatened and killed people – all this occurred inside Manbij. Both our canton council co-chairs received direct telephone threats from the mercenaries. They [the co-chairs] are in Raqqa now, but were very scared. Targeting civilians is Turkey’s method.

And for the current ISIS situation?

This is a topic not just connected to Syria. From the first day, many forces had a hand in Syria, which is why the Syria situation was that chaotic and continued for that many years with so many victims. And then became a field for ISIS terror. And the Turkish state used ISIS inside our regions so that the Autonomous Administration could be wiped out, the people of this region murdered. What we see being shared on social media in the past few days is the presence of ISIS within the forces that are today in Aleppo, Damascus and Latakia. The flag of ISIS is openly displayed. Sadly, the ways in which the Turkish state is ways breathing life back into ISIS will turn them back onto us – and the whole world. After all this effort and sacrifice and lives given to save the world from ISIS terror. Everyone should see this is a danger. I hope this danger will be taken seriously and that people will take a stance accordingly, and that Syria be alert to this topic so we don’t go through new tragedies.