Workers' Liberty students wrote a motion for the upcoming NUS conference (21-23 April, Liverpool) on Kurdistan, and left activists we work with at Bristol University successfully proposed that their student union send it to the conference.
This is the only motion submitted on this very important issue. Unfortunately there is a reasonable chance it will fall off the agenda. It is therefore very positive that a wide range of NUS activists have signed a statement in support of it - particularly after some of the arguments about Kurdistan in NUS in the recent past.
Below is the statement of support and the text of the motion.
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We are calling for the National Union of Students conference to pass Motion 424 in the Society & Citizenship debate, in order to strengthen the student movement's solidarity with the struggles going on in Kurdistan.
For generations the Kurdish people have fought for self-determination; they are amongst the largest national groups in the world without a state of their own. They have experienced mass genocides committed by surrounding states, followed by mass displacement of refugees.
The people of Kurdistan, and particularly Rojava (Syrian Kurdistan), have heroically resisted the brutal assault of ISIS. Provisions should be put in place to cater for the people of Kurdistan, namely Rojava (Kobane), Shingal, Mosul and Sinjar, who have been devastated by ISIS.
We support this struggle, and we support the Kurdish people's right to self-determination – to determine their future free from control by the ISIS as well as the Turkish, Syrian, Iraqi and Iranian governments. We salute the multi-ethnic movement that has fought back in Rojava, and the inspiring mass participation of women in that movement.
We call on NUS to become active in support of these struggles, and to support the Kurdish community's solidarity efforts; including by building links with and support for student, workers' and women's movements in the region, and by demanding increased aid, recognition of the three cantons of Rojava, acceptance of refugees and the lifting of Britain's ban on the Kurdish PKK organisation. We also call for the freeing of Shilan Ozcelik, the 18 year old Kurdish woman from North London jailed for going to fight against ISIS in Rojava.
Signed:
Toni Pearce, NUS National President
Gordon Maloney , NUS Scotland President
Robert Foster, NUS Scotland Vice President of Education
Vonnie Sandlan, NUS Scotland Women's Officer
Malia Bouattia, NUS UK Black Student officer
Aaron Kiely, NUS NEC
Sanjai Lago, President at City of Glasgow College & NUS Scotland Black Students officer
Kirsty Haigh, NUS Scotland Vice President Communities
Roza Salih, Vice President Diversity and Advocacy at USSA & NUS Scotland International Students Officer
Piers Telemacque, NU UK Vice President of Society and Citizenship
Abdi-aziz Suleiman, NUS NEC
Gary Paterson, President of University of Strathclyde Students' Association & SEC
Omar Raii, UCLU Campaigns and External Affairs Officer
Mostafa Rajaai, Culture & Diversity Officer at SUARTs London
Sorana Vieru, Postgraduate Education Officer & NUS NEC
James Elliott, NUS NEC, Disabled Students Place
Hattie Craig, NCAFC NC
Beth Redmond, NCAFC NC
Edem Barbara, NUS UK Women's Campaign Committee
Shelly Asquith, President SUARTs London
Alasdair Clark, VP Education and Representation, Fife College SA
Lani Baird, Queen Margaret University and NUS Scotland LGBT Officer
Rob Henthorn, Aberdeen University Students’ Association President for Education
Daniel Cooper, NUS NEC
Callum Cant, Warwick SU councillor & NCAFC NC
Rachel O'Brien, Community Action Officer, University of Birmingham Guild of Students
Cat Turhan, Warwick SU president
Dario Celaschi Dario Celaschi, NUS NEC & NUS London Trans* Officer
Kae Smith, NUS NEC Part Time Rep
Zoe Croy, Vice President (Women) Edinburgh College Students Association
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Society & Citizenship Zone 424: Solidarity with the Kurdish struggle (University of Bristol Students' Union)
Conference believes:
1. Over the last year, ISIS/IS has brutally assaulted the people of Kurdistan and subjected people in their conquered territories to suppression and massacre. They have been particularly brutal towards women, religious and ethnic minorities.
2. The Kurds have been the victims of national oppression for decades, by the Iraqi, Syrian, Iranian and Turkish governments.
3. The Kurds have fought to defend their homes and towns from IS invasion at great cost of life. Women have played a frontline role in this struggle, particularly in Syrian Kurdistan where a major battle for women's rights is going on.
Conference further believes:
1. The Kurds deserve our support in the fight against IS, and the right to democratic self- determination and to live securely and free from oppression.
2. Our student movement has a proud history of international solidarity with liberation movements.
3. We should have absolutely no trust in US/Western intervention in the region – which is always for cynical motives – and be ready and organised to oppose it when necessary.
Conference resolves:
1. Express solidarity with the Kurdish resistance to IS.
2. Organise a series of meetings with Kurdish groups to promote awareness of the Kurdish struggle.
3. Establish links with Kurdish student, worker and democratic organisations.
4. Promote the “Books for Rojava” initiative to help provide books for the Mesopotamian University in Syrian Kurdistan.
