Statement on Kobani
13 October 2014 at 00:00:00
Please read below my statement on Kobani that was issued on Saturday 11 October 2014.
Hackney MP Meg Hillier is “horrified” by threat of massacre in Kobani
Meg Hillier, Labour MP for Hackney South & Shoreditch, says she is as horrified as the Kurdish population in her constituency at the threat of massacre in Kobani - while seemingly, the Turkish military which could help, looks on, and western powers carry out bombing with a limited effect against the ISIS advance.
Meg said - "I will be raising this issue in Parliament when it returns next week."
Only a few weeks ago Meg Hillier hosted a meeting on the crisis and heard from Bayan Sami Adbul Rahman, Kurdistan Regional Government High Representative to the UK, about the support the Pashmerga need to hold off IS fighters.
Meg emphasised: “People are being killed and Turkey has forces and tanks close enough to help.
“Turkey aspires to join the EU. If it is serious in its ambitions it needs to demonstrate that it can step up to its international responsibilities.
“Both the Turkish government and the Kurds have the opportunity to unite against IS. The current crisis needs joint action.
"We note that the Kurdish defence forces, YPG, are heroically defending the city and its civilians against the ISIS attacks, with very limited weapons and no technical support against ISIS advanced weapons. They need a corridor to allow for logistics and other supplies to be brought in."
UN Secretary General Ban -Ki Moon has denounced IS’s barbarous campaign and called for "immediate action to protect the beleaguered civilian population in Kobani".
There is a stark warning from the Chairman of Kobani Canton, Mr Enver Muslim, who has called on the international coalition to break their silence and stated: "If IS enters Kobani and commits a massacre of thousands of people, all international powers will be responsible."
ENDS