Rabia Önver

 

WAN - While Turkey's attacks on the Tishreen Dam and people's convoys continue, journalists in Tishreen are also targeted by the media. Journalist Lava Ibrahim reacted to the attacks on Tishrin and the targeting of journalists, stating that they are the voice of the people and no attack can make them back down.

 

Since 8 December, Turkey-affiliated paramilitary groups have been carrying out air and ground attacks against the Tişrîn Dam in Northern and Eastern Syria. The resistance against the attacks continues uninterruptedly. On 8 January, thousands of people from the cities of Northern and Eastern Syria came to Tishrin Dam with the call of the Democratic Autonomous Administration of Northern and Eastern Syria. Along with the attacks against the dam, the convoys formed by the people to go to the dam were repeatedly attacked. Many people lost their lives and many others were injured in the air and land attacks.

 

Free press workers who follow the news in Tişrîn are constantly targeted by the ruling media through their digital media accounts. In the most recent airstrike on 19 December, journalists Nazım Daştan and Cihan Bilgin were also killed.

 

Journalist Lava İbrahim evaluated the ongoing attacks in Tişrin and the targeting of journalists.

 

‘Turkish State continues its barbaric attacks’

 

Stating that Turkey and its paramilitary groups have been attacking Tişrîn Dam and Qereqozaq Bridge for about 3 months, Lava İbrahim stated that the attacks are not only in these two regions, but also in the vicinity of Kobanê, Til Temir and Zirgan. Lava İbrahim said, "The reason behind these attacks is to occupy these regions and even Rojava. As in Serêkaniyê, Girê Spî, Efrîn, they want to take advantage of this new chaos in Syria. But besides this, it was the resistance of YPJ and QSD fighters that shattered the plans and dreams of Turkey and affiliated groups. This resistance of the Shervans frustrated all the plans of the invaders. Even as we are doing this interview, the Turkish State continues its barbaric attacks. A few days ago they massacred a family in Kobanê, 5 people from the same family lost their lives and 9 people were seriously injured. They massacre our mothers, young people and women almost every day. But in addition to this, the people respond to these massacres with a great resistance and struggle."

 

‘Even now there are attacks on citizens on watch’

 

Stating that for 13 years, women have been leading the standing revolution, Lava İbrahim noted that everyone from seven to seventy who insisted on struggle and resistance turned their faces towards the Tişrîn Dam and started their vigil actions. Lava İbrahim said, "On the first day the mass travelled to Tişrîn, they were subjected to attacks and 5 of our citizens were martyred. Two of them were women and one was a member of the Zenobiya Women's Community. They tried to prevent this mass from going there, but the people's insistence on resistance did not allow this and frustrated the invaders. Even now, there are attacks on citizens on guard. We have seen how our friends who are struggling to make visible the reality of the occupiers and the barbaric attacks on the region were targeted by a Turkish UCAV."

 

‘The occupiers recognise neither the law of journalists nor the law of civilians’

 

Stating that Turkey has carried out attacks against women, children, civilians and journalists, Lava Ibrahim said, "The occupiers do not recognise the law of journalists, civilians, nor do they comply with international laws. All these things are currently being implemented here by the Turkish state. Our friends Nazım and Cihan are an example of this. Their funerals were not even allowed to be given to their families and we saw them off here. The martyrdom of the friends increased the desire to reveal the truth in us, the effort and insistence to express the truth of the occupiers. We have also seen that the Turkish state does not want to be seen from here, does not want their barbarity to be seen, does not want the voice of this people to go to the public. Turkey, the struggle of the people, the resistance of our fighters, as they see our mothers' tils, they cannot resist and they lose their will. That is why they are attacking barbarously."

 

‘We are the journalists of this people, we are their voice’

 

Lava Ibrahim said that women and journalists were the ones who were attacked the most and stated that reporters were targeted and attacked in Tişrîn and wherever there were attacks because they shared the truth with the public. Lava Ibrahim said, "Our reporters and journalist friends are present at all stages of resistance with the people and convey the truth of the enemy and the resistance of the people to the public. A large mass set out to go to the Tişrîn Dam and our journalist friend and Ronahi TV reporter Ciwana Cûma has been there for days reporting the truth. The Turkish state is also targeting journalists without hiding it. Every attack on journalists is an attack on the people here and an attack on the people is also an attack on journalists. We constantly express that we are the journalists of this people, we are their voice. That is why they threaten and target us in their troll accounts. These troll accounts openly say ‘These are the reporters of the PKK and YPG’. They want to scare journalists by targeting them and ask them to leave their cameras and leave. But until today, no one has ever left their job, in fact, they work harder and we embrace our work more."

 

‘No threats and attacks can stop journalists’

 

Lava İbrahim stated that they will not leave the cameras and pens of all press martyrs in the person of Nazım Daştan and Cihan Bilgin, who were killed by the SİHA attack, and that they will continue to write the truth and said, "They gave their lives for this cause, and our duty is to protect their cameras. We strive to realise their dreams. Targeting our friend Ciwana Cûma means targeting all journalists. We will never deviate from the line of truth and we will do whatever it takes to protect the rights of our people, no matter what the cost. Those who want to slaughter this people, women and young people should know well that they will never be able to break the will of our people. This is actually the best answer to them. We will never give up our insistence on our resistance and struggle. The winner will be this people and we will continue our work uninterruptedly until we achieve this victory. No threats and attacks can stop journalists."