(Zaman Al Wasl)- The first signs of the American occupation of the oil-rich areas in Hasaka province were clear in 2016, after the expansion of its ally Democratic Union Party (PYD) that surprisingly moved from calling for Self- Administration to “federal system”, moreover, it allowed thousands of displaced people to return to their areas, although it kept denying any force displacement before.
American airbases
The U.S. and its allies of self Administration had seized over 200 hectars of farmers around the “agricultural airport” located near the village of Alajafal in Rmelan, the oil-rich area north-eastern of Hasaka even without any compensation to the owners.
They began establishing an airbase there that finished early 2016. Moreover, they expanded to other agricultural airport to be for military purposes near the villages of Hikmia and Rahiba in Malikiya area the Syrian-Iraq-Turkish borders. These airport were enhanced with helicopters runway in the areas of Jabal Abdul-Aziz and Shadadi, western and southern countryside, turning Hasaka into an important operating room with arms arriving regularly, while the mutual American-Kurdish plans and meetings were held in the city. The US forces eventually controlled two oil-rich areas in Rmilan and Shadadi.
Federalization
The Democratic Union Party (PYD) has shifted from promoting to "Self-administration” into calling for “federal system” in Northern Syria in general, and in Hasaka in particular during 2016. They even started promoting for the federation among Arab tribes in the countryside of Hasaka. They held many meetings in areas of Arab tribes one of them was March 16-17, which was considered as an indirect agreement of the federal System.
Few months after calling for federal system, PYD about 160 figures to a forum in the city of Rmilan between September 30 October 1 to discuss the federal system suggestion.
The second meeting of Constituent Assembly of what so-called “Democratic Federal System of Rojava- Northern Syria” was held in December 27, lasted for three days, in the city of Rmilan, where 165 figures attended.
The meeting resulted in a declaration unanimously agreed to change the name of the federal system from “Democratic Federal System of Rojava- Northern Syria ” “Democratic Federal System of Northern Syria”.
The Constituent Assembly for a federal system began a comprehensive census of Hasaka started September 19 and ended October 23 which obtained information of 350 thousand families.
In regard to military expansion, PYD controlled all areas in Southern countryside of Hasaka 2016 after controlling Northern, Eastern and Western countryside of the city in previous years.
Controlling areas of Shadadi and Arisha followed the military operation of "Khabour Anger"led by Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) that lasted from 16 to 22 February. SDF announced recapturing the oil-rich area of Shadadi from the Islamic State (ISIS) after clashes between the two sides resulted in dozens of deaths and causalities among fighters and civilians due to US-allied warplanes airstrikes. Till now, the Islamic state is still controlling the town of Markada, its last stronghold in the city.
July 5, 2016, about 16 civilians were killed and more than 30 injured by an explosion targeted a bakery of Salhiya in Hasaka, while other 80 civilians were killed and more than 200 injured in a lorry explosion in July 27 near a centre of Asayish, the security branch of PYD in Qamishli. At the beginning of August 15 civilians were killed by an explosion of a motorcycle in Arisha town southern of Hasaka.
Displaced
Moreover, 34 civilians were killed and 90 others injured in November 3, due to an explosion targeted the celebration hall of al-Sanabil at the route of Safya-Hasaka. Added to those many explosions of mines, explosive devices and motorcycle bombs targeted barriers of PYD. All those explosions have ISIS’s identity.
Militants of PYD allowed 2000 thousands families to return to their areas in towns of al-Hol (1200 families), Tal Barak (500 families) and 100 families to Mabroka, adde to dozens of families returned to their towns in Shadadi and Jabal Abdul-Aziz. Families of fighter against PYD were prevented from returning to their houses .
SDF’s barriers prevented thousands of displaced people from Dier-Ezzor from entering the city of Hasaka, unless they provided a sponsor from inside the city, they stayed for months in desert near the barrier of Rajam Salibi. More Iraqi people arrived to the area escaping Mosul after launching the liberating Mosul battle. People were then transferred to the camp of al-Hol and Roj, eastern Hasaka after interference of the United Nations. People in those camps live extremely difficult conditions.
PYD and Assad regime
Relation between the Syrian regime and PYD was tensed during the year, of 2016, many clashed took place in many areas resulted in killing dozens of civilians and members of members from both sides. The most important clash was in the second half of August, although the Syrian regime used its warplanes against the Kurdish PYD, the battles resulted in controlling PYD the whole neighborhoods of Hasaka including the Arabs neighborhoods southern of Hasaka . Russia brokered negotiations resulted in an agreement between the two side stated that all military must leave the city and keeping only the police and security forces of PYD.
The Syrian regime lost control of neighborhoods of Nashwa, Gwiran, Layliya and Zohor in the city, added to villages of Rahya, masodiya, Kharab al-Bir, Taliya, al-Rashidi, Tal-Bizara and Ziba in the Eastern countryside.
Militarizing the community
PYD’s forces of Asayish and Military Protection unites kept raiding houses in order to arrest young men aged between 20 and 30 for mandatory conscription and sending them to fight at battle fields with the Islamic State.
Mandatory conscription in areas controlled by PYD was widely criticized by the international community, and resulted in escaping most of young men from the area.
PYD vs Kurdish Council
There has been tension between the Kurdish national council and PYD which had increased pressure on the council, the most important conflict between them was December 2, when PYD forces tried to end an sit-in in Qamishli organized by the council, calling for releasing many Kurdish detainees at PYD prisons who were arrested in an arrest campaign against Kurdish activists in the period between August 15 and the end of November. Among detainees was Mohamed Ismael, the secretary of political office of Kurdistan Democratic party, Nashaat Zaza, member of the political office, and members of the central committee. Moreover, PYD exiled Ibrahim Biro, Head of the Kurdistan Democratic Party to Iraqi Kurdistan after arresting him in Qamishli city August 13.
Many incidents of burning and destroying offices of the Kurdish national Council and the Kurdish flags were taken off their offices, while members of these offices arranged sit-ins to contest against PYD’s practices.
Teaching Kurdish curriculum
The PYD self administration decided changing the whole curriculum into Kurdish language, as it started teaching it in 1500 schools of 165 thousand student, being taught by 10746 teachers who were trained on teaching the curriculum in 12 institutions, regardless of the skills they have. People were worried about their children’s future, especially the ability to join the university later.
The new curriculum was brought to Arabs areas controlled by PYD, and now it is taught by 5000 teachers in these areas, the last one to join the Kurdish curriculum has been Jabal Abdul-Aziz area that joined 2 weeks ago.
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