At least two militias purportedly connected to the Kurds have formed in recent weeks in Syria in an unprecedented move that some Kurdish leaders warn could threaten Syria and its Kurdish community. The assassination of Syrian Kurdish activist and Future Movement leader Mishaal Tamo on Friday angered tens of thousands of Kurds in that country and most likely sped up the formation of the newest armed group, the Lions of the Kurdish Homeland. In a video posted on YouTube, Kurdish men in military uniforms with flags and maps of Kurdistan in the background claimed to be the founders of the Lions of the Kurdish Homeland. They pledged to use arms to protect the Kurds of Syria and encouraged Kurdish soldiers in the Syrian army to defect. In mid-September, another armed group calling itself the Army of the Nations announced itself on the Internet and maintained it was intent on confronting the Syrian regime. The founders claimed they had met with a group of military experts and influential Kurdish figures in the city of Qamishli in September. The Army of the Nations statement read, “Because of the stubbornness and terror of the Syrian regime against our people, we see it our task to protect our people with guns.” While the existence of the groups could not be independently verified, the announcements represent a sharp diversion from the Syrian Kurdish parties which have encouraged their community to stay out of anti-government protests, saying they feared retaliation against minority Kurds. Many young Kurds have nonetheless joined the demonstrations, deepening divisions between the parties and angry citizens. Since the first Kurdish political party was born in Syria in 1957, Syrian Kurds have never taken up arms. Muhammad Mousa, head of the Kurdish Leftist Party in Syria, asserted that militias are not in the interest of the Kurds, a group whose rights have long been suppressed in Syria. In a telephone interview with Rudaw from Qamishli, Mousa said, “We believe the revolution in Syria must be solved peacefully and resorting to arms may lead to a sectarian or religious war in the country.” Mousa added, “Forming these kinds of groups may bring killings and looting to the Kurdish areas of Syria.” Mousa said, “If you kill one Syrian soldier, they will destroy our towns and villages. We should not give the regime any excuse to destroy us.” Muhammad Salih Muslim, the head of the United Democratic Party said he knew little about the groups. “We don’t know what their goals are,” Muslim said. “But we are against all acts of violence and we want to pursue our movement democratically.” Muslim said the Syrian regime, which has cracked down on protesters since demonstrations broke out in mid-March, could be behind the armed groups. “The Assad regime has been using force up to now, and it is not unlikely that he may be behind forming these groups,” Muslim said. Mahmoud Muhammad, a leader of the Kurdish United Party in Syria, said he also opposes the creation of armed groups. “With such irresponsible acts we will play into the hands of the Assad regime to (justify) attacking and destroying the Kurdish areas,” he said. “I ask these young men to act responsibly and know that with this kind of act, they will only serve the goals of the enemies of the Kurdish people.” http://www.rudaw.net/english/news/syria/4043.html
live by the sword, die by the sword. Syria built by terrorists for terrorists about to be terrorized.
