Asayish calls for not being dragged into sedition in Syria’s AANES regions
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – On Tuesday, the Internal Security Forces of North and East Syria (Asayish) issued a statement, in which it warned of what it described as “not to be dragged into seditions and the parties that tamper with civil peace, the security and stability of the Autonomous Administration regions.”
The Asayish’s statement came after protests took place in several cities in northeastern Syria to reject the Autonomous Administration’s decision to raise fuel prices.
Yesterday, the Autonomous Administration’s Executive Council issued Resolution 119, raised the prices of many fuel items; the price of super grade gasoline rose from 210 to 410 Syrian pounds (SYP), the price of imported premium gasoline rose from 1350 SYP to 1950 SYP, and a household propane tank rose from 3,000 to 8,000 SYP.
“As a result of the launch of several peaceful demonstrations today, some traitors and those who tamper with public security have taken advantage of the strife between the communities of the people and the military and security forces,” the Asayish statement said.
“This was exploited by attacking military and civilian headquarters, centers, and institutions, and creating a state of chaos,” it added.
The Asayish accused unnamed parties of “using weapons” against the demonstrators and their forces, which led to the injury of a number of civilians and Asayish members in the city of Shaddadi, south of Hasakah.
Today, residents and political parties of northeast Syria began to protest yesterday’s decision by the AANES to raise the prices of fuel and household propane, while merchants and traders gathered in the main market of Qamishli city, closing their shops in protest of the decision, and many shopkeepers stated that they do not know which prices to set and how to calculate new production and shipping costs amid the price increase.
Similar protests also broke out in the cities of Shaddadi and in Girke Lege, where shopkeepers shut their doors to protest the decision.
In this regard, Fuel Directorate co-chair Sadiq Muhammad Amin stated to North Press that the old fuel prices were too low to cover costs of production and importation of fuels, especially as fuel needs to be imported from the Kurdistan Region of Iraq due to the inability of oil wells in northeast Syria to cover the needs of the whole region.
In an exclusive statement to North Press, Siham Qaryo, co-chair of the AANES General Council, said that the new decision was discussed, and proposals were submitted to the Executive Council with the aim of re-examining the decision.
While Berivan Khaled, co-chair of the AANES Executive Council said that they are about to hold an “urgent” meeting tomorrow.