Female MLKP fighters in Shengal: Join in resistance
SHENGAL (DİHA) - Female fighters of the MLKP (Marxist Leninist Communist Party) who are taking part in the resistance in and around Sinjar, where fierce clashes and operation by joint forces of resistance are continuing, have told in a letter about the battle and their feelings.
We are publishing below the letter as it is; "We got to know the Êzidi women with the massacre committed against the Êzidi people in Sinjar. Women were the first to be attacked, just like what happens in every war and massacre. Thousands of women were kidnapped and raped by Daesh gangs, their bodies were put on sale. Set apart from their families and children, some others took the migratory path with their eyes in tears...Our hearts bled while watching them on tv channels. Our hatred and anger grew against the imperialist, capitalist and male-dominant system and its reactionary value judgments that left women unarmed and undefended in the face of this savagery. Taking their pain and anger as ours, we wanted to stand by them, heal their wounds and fight together. As female fighters of YJA-STAR and MLKP, we got the chance to come to Sinjar, meet them and fight alongside them. Within this process, the Êzidi women questioned the darkness and cruelty they are being subjected to, and went into action. Now, we are enhancing the fight in both battlefield and political arena while also recreating the life together.
We do not know to what extend the public opinion has been up to date but a new women's organization joined the freedom struggle of the Sinjar people and women involved in military defense on 5 January. Êzidi women under the roof of YBŞ announced the establishment of YPJ-Sengal ( Yekîneyên Parastina Jin ê Şengalê). The fight going on in Sinjar for 6 months is not advancing on a military respect alone, works for the organisation of the Êzidi people also continues, meant to determine the future of Sinjar. A revolution and resistance achieves victory only if embraced and enhanced by its true owners. The YBŞ got organized within this framework but didn't involve women in the first phase. After a while, works and efforts of TEV-DEM and armed groups of propaganda enabled the participation of families on the mountain and women in particular in the resistance. This development which drew interest more than expected did on the other hand get reaction from Êzidi men whose attitude should however be considered normal when compared to any beginning process, and gains another dimension when the organisation of women becomes the matter in question. In the Êzidi community which is dominated by plural marriage, women are kind of slaves of men at home.
On the other hand were armed local tribes all of which were made up of men as one could possible guess. The role of women in warfare was just to cook meal, carry water and woods and take care of children and men, all of which are actually quite difficult works in consideration of the conditions in Sinjar. Never before had it been thought that women could fight like men. The organisation of women is taking place under challenging circumstances in the Êzidi culture and faith which is indeed conservative when women come into question. The organisation of Êzidi women with a great effort and sacrifice was also discussed at the Sinjar meeting. This organisation of women which managed to arise amidst concerns over the reactions of a male-dominant mentality advanced thanks to the determined and committed will of the women. The first yield of this determination and labour came into being as YPJ-Sinjar which consists of Yazidi women who took up arms after receiving military training at Şehit (Martyr) Xane Academy which was named after martyred guerrilla Xane Ezidi who joined the fight from Europe. After carrying a work in Sinjar for the participation of Êzidi women in the fight, Xane Ezidi fell a martyr while on the way to Mako in Rojhilat.
30 women have so far been provided training at the Ş. Xane Academy which is receiving a growing interest and participation from women despite all the reactionary approaches of their families. Some of the graduates from the Academy are continuing public works for women's organisation while the others are taking their place in the military units.
"If there have taken place 73 massacres so far, it is because of the lack of an organisation of the women. There will be no 74th massacre because there are Êzidi women fighting now."
These words belong to YPJ-Sengal Military Council member Dersim Şengal. As is also said by YJA-STAR commander Berfin Nuhak who leads the organisation of Êzidi women, the military and political organisation of the Êzidi women from Sinjar will be the basic success criterion for them. The idea that women must accompany every revolution, which the history of revolutions has repeatedly proved to be true, is also pertinent to Sinjar where the fight to end the Daesh siege is continuing. The fight to liberate Sinjar must be united with the effort to enable women's participation in the ranks of the resistance forces. The Êzidi women and the powers fighting for Sinjar's liberation must also fight against male dominance and value judgments that consider women as secondary.
Young Êzidi women who held their first meeting and announced the establishment of their organisation may not be very familiar with this kind of an environment but they have the courage to confine the male-dominant mindset and call the gangs to account. Regarding their determination and commitment to the memory of the martyrs, another female fighter speaking at the meeting said that; "Those martyred in Bare fought for us also. We cannot forget this and we also are going to fight like them. There are still thousands of women in the captivity of Daesh who all need to be rescued."
Each one of us admires all these young minds able to make pertinent assessments. Their excitement, determination and emotion also gives strength to the fighting forces. Women fighting in a very severe warfare, which probably expresses the solidarity and friendship of women in the strongest way, are giving strength to the Êzidi women who are on the other hand giving strength to us as they unite in the ranks of the struggle. Establishment of their organisation has been the first step on the path to liberation, as we know quite well that freedom marches start with those determined first steps. To Êzidi women, this is not a matter of organisation alone, but also a chain being broken, the door into a new free life and a completely different world full of adventures.”
(nt)
