Swiss TV, Rundschau, Sept 9, 2015
00:02
It is bizarre: A moment ago gunfire and bombs – yet today we pass through the checkpoint without any problems. Welcome to the YPG, the Kurdish militia in Syria.

00:14
We enter Hasakah from the north. The city centre is intact. There is no sign of the fierce fighting against the IS-terrorist troops that raged in the south of the city.
The children greet the YPG enthusiastically.

0:25 Natural sound - Children (“YPG, YPG”)

00:34
In the courtyard of the YPG headquarters the mood is clearly relaxed:  The military staff are playing football. As is Comrade Lewend. Lewend is his Nom de Guerre; the Kurdish officers use neither real names nor do they wear rank insignia. Comrade Lewend was, as he says, directly involved in various battles. He now coordinates the various ethnic groups in the fight against IS. This task becomes increasingly important, as the Kurds advance further towards the south.

1:08 Natural (original) sound - Lewend

Lower: Lewend, YPG officer, 01:09

My job as YPG commander is to protect the people – that includes the Arabs, Assyrians and Arameans. We organize meetings between the ethnic groups. If men belonging to these groups want to join the YPG, we take care of everything that needs to be done.

1:31
Lewend’s people show us the southern part of the city. At a roundabout on the city limits the portrait of Hafez al-Assad still stands – the father of Syria’s embattled president. Assad's eyes are riddled with bullets.

1:47
In early July Assad's regime still controlled this district. Then Islamic State fighters took control with their suicide missions. And finally, the Kurds encircled the IS-fighters and liquidated them, with support of American fighter jets. According to the YPG, the IS lost 386 men.

2:10 Original Sound – Lewend

Lower: Lewend, YPG officer, 02:12

If the enemy has placed itself in the centre of the city, equipped with weapons, mines and so forth, and with snipers, underground positions and tunnels, then it is difficult for us to track them down. Therefore, we first block all entrance and escape routes, so that nobody can get away. This is how we encircle the IS-fighters from all sides.

2.34
Also present are the YPJ, the Kurdish women's units. These Kurdish female soldiers are now patrolling the district that was conquered twice in a single month – first by IS, then by the Kurds.

2:54
Interestingly enough: Assad flags and soldiers are still present on the territory conquered by the Kurds. Typically enemy emblems are removed immediately. But here, Kurdish and government checkpoints operate peacefully close by each other.

3:13
Later we even meet two of Assad’s men at the headquarters of the YPG; they are in uniform and armed – even carrying hand grenades.

3:26
They are members of an anti-terrorist unit within the Assad regime.

3:30 Original sound (no faders)

Victory or death!

Are the YPG good?

We work hand in hand.

And Bashar al-Assad?

He is ok!

3:43
Two of Assad’s men (are) among the Kurds: A New Alliance? Comrade Lewend puts this into perspective:

3:51 Original sound, Lewend

Lower: Lewend, YPG officer, 03:52

The regime has lost its power, it no longer has enough weapons to fight. It can no longer protect its people. After 40 years of power, this regime’s life has come to an end. The people no longer have confidence in the regime. The fighters are exhausted, they have no morale and can therefore not fight well.

4:15
Defying the chaos of war, daily life continues in Hasakah. The scenes on these streets almost resemble western neighbourhoods, at least to an extent that would be unthinkable in the IS-controlled Raqqa.

We're on our way to a funeral.

4:33
Gathered in a hall are the men on the left side, an image of the PKK leader Öcalan in the middle, and the women on the right. Among the women is the grieving mother. On August 5th, she lost her son Mihemed.


4:52
Comrade Lewend has come. He is accompanying Garzan, the commander.

4:59 Original sound Garzan, YPG commander

Lower: Garzan, YPG commander, 05:00

You should be proud that your son has died. We are proud of him, too. We will remember him.

5:09
God willing, his blood will be avenged.

5:13
All martyrs’ families have a hard time.

5:17
They claim, 21 Kurdish men and women lost their lives in Hasakah. The battle lasted 39 days.

5:28
The following day we drive to the Kurdish frontlines - on the top of Mount Abdul Aziz, southwest of Hasakah.

5:39
A detachment of the female YPJ troops is also stationed on the mountain. Even though slightly further south IS fighters are on the lookout, this does not affect today’s spirits. The Kurds feel safe.

5:53
The women, too, have a nom de guerre, and don’t reveal their real names.

5:59 Original voice Rosa (not translated)

(Rosa. I do not know English.)

6:06
Comrade Rosa shows us one of the two new bunkers which the Kurds recently completed. A few months earlier they chased IS-militia from this area.
The Kurds know the mountains. They are in their element.

6:20 Original sound
Lower: Pink, YPJ-soldier, 06:21

This side is controlled by our YPG-comrades. But we are not sure if there are any IS fighters on the other side. When they attacked, they came from over there and mined our streets. They don’t manage to defeat us, but they are unpredictable.

6:40
Lewend and his commanding officer, Saud, don’t want to draw the border at the current defensive positions on the mountain. Rather, the mountain is crucial for further operations against IS, such as an attack on their headquarters in Raqqa.

6:55
Strategic explanations in the commander’s tent.

7:00 Original voice (no faders)

Here is Mount Abdul Aziz, which is a very important position. Before any operation against Raqqa can be launched, it is really important that you’ve got Mount Abdul Aziz covered.

7:18
Back to Hasakah, the city free of IS fighters, and the headquarters of the YPG.

7:26
Today is a big day for Comrade Lewend.

7:30 Natural ambiance sounds

7:33
Together with his soldiers, Lewend prepares a reception. They are expecting a distinguished guest.

7:39 Natural sounds – military commands

7.46
Everyone undergoes security checks. The women who have been invited must also be scanned for weapons and explosives.

7:52
And then he comes: Hamidi Daham Al Hadi, the governor of the autonomous Kurdish canton Cizîrê. An Arab sheik.

8:03 Original sound of welcome

8:08
The fact that the governor of the canton is an Arab, carries obvious political significance. The Kurds are building alliances.

8:17
In the conference room - under the portrait of Öcalan, the head of the PKK party currently imprisoned in Turkey - sits the Arab sheik, protected by his private guards. Comforted by the arms they bear, cooperation between Kurds and Arabs will be discussed. One common enemy is obvious: IS in the South. But today the YPG militias feel especially threatened in the northern regions. Comrade Lewend explains what the YPG think of Turkey.

8:43 Original sound

The crucial and sole supporter of the IS is Turkey. IS is just the name of a phenomenon. Ideology and training come from the Turkish secret service and its government, supported by the AKP party. There is evidence; documents and videos.

9:08
Outside we meet a distinguished figure: Michael Enright, a British Hollywood actor, and since early 2015 a member of the YPG. He also cautions against Turkey:
9:20 Original sound

Lower: Michael Enright, YPG fighters, 09:22

Wake up, Switzerland! Check your relationship with the Turkish government. I do not know why the West needs Turkey so desperately that it is allowing for this. Stop them. Do it for the sake of morality! Do the right thing! Danke schön. (NOTE: Original is in English. Depending on which separate audio channels available, you may just want to keep the original.)

9:39
To the north is the heroes’ cemetery Hasakahs Dejwar - named after the first YPG martyr of the city. Here they lie in rank and file, the martyrs - men and women side by side, laid to rest by gravedigger Sabri.

9:58 Natural sound - ambiance (no faders)

Thank you for coming. You can see here how it really is in our country.

10:08 a.m.
There are always new graves. The heroes of the most recent battle still need to be put to rest here. The cemetery is on a large patch of land, but it looks like it could soon become crowded.