Canada has the tools at its disposal to affect positive change and turn the tide of history for the long-persecuted Assyrians.
The western coalition has spent a considerable amount of resources in the support of Kurdish forces in Iraq. Canada in particular has spent at least half a billion dollars in 2015 and is planning to spend around C$1.6 billion over the next three years to train, support, and equip the Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG.) army, also known as Peshmerga. The western support along with the ferocious fighting ability of the Kurds has not only stemmed but turned the tide of the war against ISIS, which has lost 30% of its territory since 2015.
The western coalition has provided immense support with is the understanding that the Kurds are an ally closely aligned with Western values. The Kurdish forces have followed a pragmatic approach; they have showcased themselves as a capable ground force, with secular leanings that distinguish them from the sectarian forces in the region. The Peshmerga have female soldiers among their ranks and have also cooperated with, and trained a wide variety of minority forces from the Yazidi to the Assyrian militia.
Canada should not, however, repeat the mistakes of the recent past but (rather) ensure its efforts bring a long term positive impact on the region. Harjit Sajjan, the Canadian Defense Minister, recently mentioned that Canada should keep in mind the “ripple effect” of its actions. A closer look at the West’s new ally reveals troubling signs. The Kurdish forces have been accused of attacking the Assyrian minority which is already under threat of extermination. The Kurds have taken part in a large number of ethnic cleansing campaigns against Assyrians and played a major role during the Assyrian Genocide when hundreds of thousands of Assyrians and Armenians were killed. More recently the Assyrian Militia was attacked by Kurdish forces . Furthermore there have been accusations that the KRG has been pressuring the Assyrians to ask the KRG to be annex their lands into the Kurdish controlled region.
The Kurdish and Iraqi governments nominally support the creation of an autonomous Assyrian province in the Nineveh Plains. This region when self-administered would serve as a homeland for the hundreds of thousands of Assyrians withering away in refugee camps across the region. The Canadian government could potentially place some of its 680 advisors to train and unify the existing Assyrian Militia. The protection of local communities and the creation of security and stability within them is the focus of the Canadian mission in Iraq. The protection of Assyrians perfectly aligns with this focus. The Kurds are fond of reminding Canada that they should be able to vote to secede from Iraq just like Quebecers were allowed to vote on the fate of their nation. Canada should pressure the Kurds to deliver on their promises. An Assyrian homeland administered and defended by Assyrians with the help and know-how of the west is the only way to ensure the survival of the Assyrian nation.
There are millions of Assyrians dispersed around the world; a stable, secure and thriving Assyrian homeland would be reason enough for many to leave refugee camps and return to their homes. Furthermore, security at home will discourage Assyrians in nearby regions to settle there instead of taking the perilous journey to Europe. Canada has the tools at its disposal to affect positive change and turn the tide of history for this long persecuted minority.
The Kurds didn’t attack Assyrian militia in Syria. They expended SAA area without permission and those Assyrians were GPF fighters, pro-Assad Assyrians. Majority of Assyrians are a part of SDF, only small numbers are in GPF.
The problem with Assyrians is that their politics are totally catastrophic and they don’t even know what they are doing. Diaspora Assyrians are protesting KRG more than ISIS, Syria and Iraq even though Iraq has Arabizated them and let the Shia Muslims attack them in Baghdad. Assyrians are simply used by pro-Iraq and pro-Syria Assyrians.
If they really want to get autonomous area, they should never trust the Iraqi government. The Iraqi Army neither has ever supported them nor protected them. They were killed like animals when ISIS appeared. Where was Iraqi Army? Majority of soldiers who fight to protect their areas were the Kurds. Also, the Kurds received Assyrians refugees (~400,000 since 2003). The Iraqi government support them now, not because they want to, only because of KRG’s territory expands. Baghdad will cause chaos and make sure they won’t join the Iraqi Kurdistan, then they will slowly cut their support and treat them like they did before, like street dogs.
Assyrians should unite and think well do they want to live with the Kurds or Arabs. If they want to live with the Arabs, talk peacefully with the Kurds and tell them directly, they don’t want to be part of the Iraqi Kurdistan. One thing Assyrians should know well, they will never ever get autonomous are if they stay within Iraq. If they support independent Kurdistan, their chances are much better. They could make an agreement with the Kurds and the UN, Canada, US and other countries where they could be in that agreement.
You do realise that both Arabs and Kurds are oppressing Assyrians, right? The only Assyrians who get away from it are the Catholic Chaldeans who show allegiance to Arabs or Kurds (whichever is in power of their region.) The reason why we protest Kurds is because they are the ones stabbing us in the back while gaining Western support for sovereignty. Their Kurdistan claims land directly over the Assyrian heartland. This is a cultural genocide too. We have a pretty good idea of what we are doing, it’s just hard to be successful in any endeavor when there is no support from anyone. Kurds did attack Assyrian villages and militias because they were fighting for their own people, rather than fighting for the Kurds. We don’t want Kurdistan, we want Assyria.
I don’t believe the Kurds are oppressing Assyrians. Maybe in some places but you can’t generalize it. If you know what you are doing, then no one can stab you in the back. I understand your dream is Assyria but you have to choose Iraq or Kurdistan. Also, those GPF soldiers were expanding their areas without agreement. Assad probably used them.
lol, crimes against humanity??? :D :D :D This report is related to destroyed houses. No one died as you can read the report. If you support ISIS then you should never expect from the Kurds to see you as a human.