(Zaman Al Wasl)- Kurdish PYD militia has arrested dozens of civilians, including a woman in northeastern of Hasaka province, local activists said.
The armed groups surrounded the villages of Tell al-Tahin and Khawliyet Jouleh and arrested dozens of residents from both villages including a young woman.
The arrests come after the house of resident with close ties to the PYD burning down on Thursday. The source indicated, “This person accused the villagers of blowing up his house, so Abu Chahab the commander of the PYD militias responded.” According to the source, Abu Chahab resents the residents and is looking for an excuse to displace them.
Speaking to Zaman al-Wasl, the source said that the armed groups stormed the villages again on Saturday. They entered one of the sheep barns and claimed they found explosive materials hidden there. They are demanding the residents hand over two women from the villages who claim are involved. The source pointed out that all the male youths of Tel Tahin have been arrested and the armed groups are now looking for the women.
Activist Moulath al-Wasf confirmed that PYD fighters cut off the petrol route and surrounded the villages at the turning point to al-Qahtaniya. They prevented anyone from entering, leaving the area, or passing by the area during their storm and search operations.
The Asayish militia, Society Protection militia, Military Intelligence, and the HAT (anti-terror forces subordinate to Asayish) usually participate in these storm operations, according to al-Wasf. They rely on information obtained from officials and members of the Commons, councils subordinate to the Party in the villages, which performed the role played by the Baath Party sessions previously.
“The armed members of these militias make sure to humiliate and terrorize the residents of these Arab villages, by making each person feel that they are helpless to protect their home, their family or children. People in the area are paranoid that they will be arrested at any time based the pre-formulated and ready accusation of ‘working with the Islamic State.’ So residents leave the area or they comply and become their followers,” said al-Wasf.
He pointed out that similar practices were enacted against the residents of the town of Ghabish and when they were waiting to return to their destroyed village in recent weeks. PYD fighters and its supporters from the Martyrs Families, which is considered like a ministry under the Autonomous Administration, harassed and humiliated the families seeking to return to their homes. Their actions come despite the pledges of Hamdi al-Daham al-Jarba, who holds the position of governor of al-Jazira Canton, that all those returning to the Arab towns and villages are innocent.
The storm and arrest operations happen in conjunction with the PYD and its allies celebrating the third year anniversary of the establishment of the Autonomous Administration in Amuda city, the capital of the Autonomous Administration in north Hasakah in the presence of the Party chairman Salah Muslim, Asya Abdullah and Hamdi al-Jarba.
At the beginning of 2014, the PYD announced the establishment of the Autonomous Administration with military and security apparatuses, and courts. These statist institutions were established in three cantons Afrin, Ayn Arab, and al-Jazira. Areas from northern al-Raqqah, Aleppo and southern Hasakah have been included in the cantons. The regime airplanes and military helicopters generally avoid targeting these areas.
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