It kwaba ebusuku buthule kwaze kwaba yilapho amabhomu eqala ukuphahlazeka esibhakabhakeni. Emizuzwini embalwa nje ngaphambili, ophahleni lwesakhiwo esimpunga, esiyisitezi esisodwa esingekude nedolobha laseManbij enyakatho yeSyria, uJosh Walker ubelele ngokuthula. Manje izindonga zase zidilika ngaphansi kwakhe, ezungezwe umlilo, nabangane bakhe befile.
U-Walker, oneminyaka engu-26 ubudala wasenyuvesi yase-Wales e-United Kingdom, ubeseSyria evolontiya ne-People's Protection Units, noma i-YPG, ibutho eliholwa ngamaKurd ebelizihola phambili ekulweni ne-Islamic State. Wayethathe uhambo olude oluya e-Syria ngemva kokundiza ephuma esikhumulweni sezindiza sase-London ngethikithi lokuya e-Istanbul, ethuswa ubuzwe obunonya be-Islamic State futhi egqugquzelwa izimiso zentando yeningi ze-YPG zentando yeningi.
Phakathi nezinyanga eziyisithupha ngonyaka odlule, u-Walker wafunda ukukhuluma isiKurdish nokudubula izibhamu ze-AK-47. Waqeqesha futhi walwa kanye namasosha akhiwe amaKurds, ama-Arabhu, namavolontiya asemancane aseMelika, aseCanada, nawaseYurophu. Ubhekane namadelakufa e-Islamic State empini futhi wasiza i-YPG njengoba iqhubekela phambili ibheke eRaqqa, inhloko-dolobha yaleli qembu elalizibiza ngokuthi โi-caliphateโ.
Ekupheleni kukaDisemba, u-Walker wabuyela eLondon. Kwakungekho mcimbi owamukelekile ekhaya owawulinde ukumbingelela. Kunalokho, bekunamaphoyisa amathathu esikhumulweni sezindiza ambopha ngokushesha. Amaphoyisa amthatha amfaka esitokisini, amphenya ngemibuzo, asesha indlu yakhe, athatha i-laptop yakhe kanye nezincwadi zokubhalela. Ngemva kokufaka impilo yakhe engozini ukuze alwe noMbuso WamaSulumane, u-Walker wabekwa icala ngaphansi kwemithetho yaseBrithani yokulwa nobushokobezi - hhayi ngokuqondile ngenxa yezenzo zakhe eSyria, kodwa ngoba amaphoyisa athole eshalofini elingaphansi kombhede wakhe ikhophi yengxenye ye-"Anarchist Cookbook" โ umhlahlandlela weziqhumane we-DIY owashicilelwa ngo-1971 odayise amakhophi angaphezu kwezigidi ezimbili emhlabeni jikelele.
Icala elibhekene no-Walker alijwayelekile kakhulu. Ungumlweli wokuqala omelene ne-Islamic State ukushushiswa yiziphathimandla zaseBrithani ngaphansi kwemithetho yobuphekula ngemuva kokubuyela e-UK, futhi ubonakala ewukuphela komuntu ezweni owake wabhekana necala lobushokobezi ngenxa nje yokuba nezingxenye ze-"Anarchist". Incwadi yokupheka.โ Iziphathimandla azikaze zithi wayebandakanyeka kunoma yiluphi uhlobo lwetulo lobuphekula; kunalokho, bathi ngenxa yokuthi wathola izingxenye ze-โCookbookโ - etholakala mahhala iyonke ku-inthanethi - waqoqa ulwazi "lohlobo olungase lube usizo kumuntu owenza noma olungiselela isenzo sobuphekula."
U-Walker uzoquliswa icala ngo-Okthoba, lapho esimweni esibi kakhulu angase agwetshwe iminyaka engu-10 ejele. Kuze kube yileso sikhathi, ukhululekile ngebheyili, uhlala nomama wakhe futhi ebamba amatoho ekhishini esitolo sokudla. Engxoxweni abe nayo ne-The Intercept, ukhulume ngokujulile ngezinto ahlangabezane nazo eSyria futhi wabelana ngezindaba ngezigcawu ezisabisayo azibonele phambili, ezibe nomthelela omkhulu empilweni yakhe. Uphinde wadingida okokuqala ngamacala kahulumeni waseBrithani abekwe wona, abengakadalulwa ngenxa yemithetho ebekwe yinkantolo evimbela izinhlangano zezindaba e-UK ukuthi zidalule imininingwane ngemvelaphi yecala lakhe. Ijaji layisusa imingcele ngasekupheleni kwenyanga edlule.
Ilanga liyashisa ehlobo eBristol, idolobha elikhulu kunawo wonke eningizimu-ntshonalanga yeNgilandi, elinabantu abangaba ngu-449,000. Ngaphandle kwesitolo sezinto zikagesi esingasebenzi esisesitaladini esihlala abantu abaningi endaweni yase-St. Werburgh edolobheni, u-Josh Walker ulindile. Mncane, cishe u-5 foot 9 nekhanda eliwugqinsi elimagagasi, izinwele ezinsundu ngokumnyama, ugqoke isikibha esiluhlaza esifiphele, ibhulukwe elimnyama, namateku, futhi uphethe upulasitiki omhlophe. Sihamba siya epaki eliseduze, lapho u-Walker ekhipha amathini amabili kabhiya obandayo esikhwameni sakhe, alayithe ugwayi, futhi aqale ukuchaza ukuthi uqede kanjani ohambweni lokulwa ne-Islamic State eSyria.
Ngemva kokushiya esikoleni esiphakeme eneminyaka engu-18 ngo-2009, u-Walker wayenemisebenzi yetoho eyahlukahlukene - wasebenza kwezokwakha, engadini, nasehhovisi njengevolontiya likasopolitiki owayezoba yimeya yaseBristol kamuva. Ngo-2014, wanquma ukubhalisa enyuvesi e-Aberystwyth eWales, cishe ngamamayela angu-210 entshonalanga yeBristol, futhi waqala ukufundela iziqu zezombusazwe zamazwe ngamazwe kanye nezifundo zamasu.
Njengomlandeli oshisekayo wezindaba zomhlaba, u-Walker ubegade ngeso elibukhali ukuqubuka kwe-Arab Spring - ukuvukela ngentando yeningi okwathi ngasekupheleni kuka-2010 kwasabalala eMpumalanga Ephakathi naseNyakatho Afrika. Ngo-2016, izibhelu ezinkulu emazweni amaningi - njenge-Tunisia, Yemen, Bahrain, ne-Egypt - zase ziphelile. ESyria, nokho, imibhikisho yaphenduka impi yombango egcwele futhi yaholela enhlekeleleni embi kakhulu yabantu kusukela ngeMpi Yezwe II.
Okwaqala njengokubhikishela ubuholi obunonya buka-Bashar al-Assad kwashintsha kwaba yinto eyinkimbinkimbi kakhulu, nenqwaba yamasosha alwayo elwa yodwa ukuze alawule indawo ezweni lonke. Abashisekeli benkolo yamaSulumane basheshe basizakala ngalezi zinxushunxushu. Iqembu le-Islamic State, elake lasebenza ikakhulukazi e-Iraq, langena kulo mbango futhi lalawula izindawo ezinkulu zaseSyria ngo-2013 nango-2014, labeka imithetho eqinile yamaSulumane kanye nezijeziso ezinzima kunoma ubani ongalaleli.
Enyuvesi, u-Walker wayekubukele konke kwenzeka futhi waxoxa ngezenzakalo nabangane bakhe kanye noprofesa. Kodwa akenelisanga ukubuka le nkinga kumabonakude njengomuntu obukele nje. Wayefuna ukusiza.
โNganele ngokukhuluma ngomlando ngesikhathi usenziwa,โ uyakhumbula. โBengingeke ngivele ngikuvumele ukuthi kudlale ngaphandle kokubandakanyeka ngandlela thize futhi ngaphandle kokuzibonela ngawami.
Ngakho wakha icebo eliyimfihlo lokuya eSiriya.
Walker ikakhulukazi idonseleke kulokho okwakwenzeka esifundeni sase-Rojava enyakatho yeSyria, lapho i-YPG eholwa amaKurd yayithathe indawo ehlobo lika-2012. Iqembu eligxile kwesokunxele lalisebenzisa "uguquko lwezenhlalo," lakha imiphakathi yezwe, exube izinhlanga eqhakambisa ubulili. ukulingana, i-ecology, kanye nentando yeningi eqondile.
U-Walker wayefunde incwadi kaGeorge Orwell ethi โHomage to Catalonia,โ echaza uhambo lombhali lokulwa eMpini Yombango yaseSpain ngokumelene nama-fascist nationalists ngawo-1930. Uke wafunda nezindaba ezimayelana nabasebenzi basezimayini baseWales abathi - njengo-Orwell nabanye abangama-Brits abangaba ngu-3,000 - baya eSpain ukuyothatha izikhali ngokumelene ne-fascism, belwa kanye nomfelandawonye wama-ragtag we-anarchist, socialist, kanye nezidlamlilo zamakhomanisi.
Wagqugquzelwa yilezi zindaba futhi wabona ukufana nokwakwenzeka eRojava. Njengenqwaba yentsha yaseNtshonalanga ethathe uhambo olukhohlisayo oluya e-Rojava eminyakeni yamuva nje, uhlonze umphakathi othuthukayo i-YPG eyayizama ukuwenza, futhi ngokulinganayo, wadelela ubufashisti obunobudlova be-Islamic State. "Yizici ezimbi kakhulu zombuso kanye ne-conservative order," kusho u-Walker. "Impi, izikhulu, ingcindezelo, ubandlululo, inzondo - konke kugoqe kwaba yinto eyodwa yombuso wayo omkhulu, wokuqothula uhlanga."
Kodwa kwakungaphezu nje kokuyengwa kokuhlolwa komphakathi kwe-YPG kanye nesifiso sokulwa ne-fascism okwamkhuthaza. Uphinde wazizwa esondelene nabantu baseKurdish, asebebhekane nengcindezelo kulo lonke elaseMpumalanga Ephakathi amashumi eminyaka, ikakhulukazi eTurkey, lapho nokufundisa izingane ukukhuluma isiKurd isihloko okuqhunyiswa ngaso ngemva kokuvinjelwa ingxenye engcono yekhulu leminyaka. U-Walker, owazalelwa eWales, wabona ukufana okuthile phakathi kosizi lwamaKurds nolwabantu baseWales, abalulimi lwabo lwaluyizici. icindezelwe ngivuna isiNgisi kwezinye izikole zaseWales engxenyeni yokugcina yekhulu le-19.
"Kunokuthile okufanele kushiwo ngabantu abahlala ezintabeni abanomlando wokumelana nolimi lwabo olungavamile," kusho u-Walker, ebhekisela ekuxhumaneni kwesiKurdish-Welsh. โAbantu abaqonywayo bayabukana futhi bayasizana. Imayelana nobumbano โ real ubumbano.โ
Entwasahlobo ka-2016, u-Walker waxhumana neqembu elibizwa ngokuthi Amabhubesi aseRojava, ehlangene ne-YPG futhi esiza ukunxenxa abantu bangaphandle ukuze balwe eSyria.
UWalker utshele leli qembu, ngemiyalezo ethunyelwe ngekhasi likaFacebook, ukuthi ufuna ukuphumela obala afunde ngomsebenzi walo. Wachaza ukuthi ufunde isu lezempi njengengxenye yezifundo zakhe zasenyuvesi futhi waphawula ukuthi ufunde โiDemocratic Confederalism,โ ipheshana elibhalwe ngu-Abdullah รcalan, ongomunye wamalungu asungula i-Kurdistan Workers' Party. Umbhalo ka-รcalan onamakhasi angu-47 - uthonywe kakhulu inkolelo ye-anarchist kanye ne-libertarian - uveza umbono wakhe wentando yeningi engenazwe, ebambe iqhaza elawulwa futhi ehlelwe emazingeni aphansi ngemihlangano nemikhandlu yokuzithandela. E-Rojava, i-YPG izamile ukusebenzisa imigomo ka-รcalan, isebenzisa ipheshana lakhe njengohlobo lwepulani loguquko lwayo esifundeni.
Amavolontiya alandela iLions of Rojava abonakale ehlabeke umxhwele ngolwazi lukaWalker. Okungenani, bahlabeka umxhwele ngokwanele ukuba bammeme ukuba ahambe aye eSiriya futhi ahlanganyele nabo.
Ekuqaleni, u-Walker wayekhathazeke ngokuthi uhulumeni waseBrithani ungase uzame ukumvimbela ukuba aye endaweni ekhungethwe impi. Emzamweni wokugwema noma yikuphi ukugadwa kwe-inthanethi okungase kube khona, walinganisela ukuthintana kwakhe neqembu le-Facebook le-Rojava emilayezweni embalwa kuphela futhi wazibamba ekwenzeni ngisho nosesho oluyisisekelo lwe-Google mayelana, ngokwesibonelo, ukufunda ukukhuluma isi-Kurdish.
Uthenge ithikithi lokundiza esuka eLondon eya e-Istanbul enkampanini eyodwa yezokuvakasha. Kwenye inkampani, wabhuka indiza esuka e-Istanbul eya eSulaymaniyah, idolobha elisenyakatho-mpumalanga ye-Iraq elilawulwa iqembu lamaKurd lamaSocialist elihlangene ngokusemthethweni ne-YPG eRojava.
U-Walker utshele abangani bakhe ababili abaseduze kuphela ngezinhlelo zakhe. Wagcina abazali bakhe - abahlukene - ebumnyameni kakhulu, etshela umama wakhe ukuthi uya eMpumalanga Ephakathi ukuyosebenza nababaleki kanye noyise ukuthi uzoya e-Iraqi Kurdistan ukuze asize abantu abalwa ne-Islamic State.
โNgangingafuni ukutshela muntu ngoba ngangingafuni ukumiswa ngaphambi kokuba ngiye lapho,โ kuchaza u-Walker, ephinda edonsa ugwayi wakhe. โImiphumela ngemuva kokuthi ngihambile yaba enye into, ngoba ngingahle ngingabuyi, ngingase ngife. Kodwa uma ngingafiki nhlobo lapho, noma ngigcine ngibhekene nenkinga yezomthetho noma ngithathwe ipasipoti yami ... bekuyokwenza yonke le nto ibe ukuchitha isikhathi futhi kubangele izinkinga eziningi ngaphandle kokuhlomula kwangempela."
I-YPG izibonakalise ukuthi ingamandla amakhulu ngokumelene ne-Islamic State eSyria, idlala indima ebalulekile ekuthatheni idolobha elibalulekile ngokwecebo lase-Kobani ekuqaleni kuka-2015 futhi manje lenza inqubekelaphambili emaphethelweni e-Raqqa. Leli qembu lixhaswe wuhulumeni waseMelika, oqinise ukusebenza kwalo ngeziteleka zasemoyeni wavuma ukulihlinzeka ngezikhali nezinhlamvu.
Kodwa u-Walker wayekhathazekile ngokuthi phakathi kwezinxushunxushu nokungaqiniseki eSyria, isimo saseNtshonalanga ku-YPG singashintsha ngokushesha. Okuhamba phambili emqondweni wakhe kwakuwukuzihlanganisa okuxekethile kwe-YPG ne-Kurdistan Workers' Party - eyaziwa nangokuthi i-PKK - i-US kanye ne-European Union baqoke iqembu lamaphekula.
"Ngangizilungiselele ukuthi ngingagcina ngithathwa 'njengephekula' ngenkathi ngikhona ngoshintsho kunqubomgomo kahulumeni okungenzeka yadlalisa izixhumanisi ze-YPG ku-PKK noma ngikhothamele ingcindezi yaseTurkey," kusho u-Walker. โLeso esinye isizathu esenza ngingafuni ukutshela abazali bami ukuthi ngizolwa ne-YPG. Into yokugcina engangiyifuna kwakuwukuba amaphoyisa akwazi ukugasela umndeni wami futhi awusole ngokusiza nokunciphisa ubushokobezi.โ
Ekupheleni kukaJuni 2016, u-Walker wafika esikhumulweni sezindiza eSulaymaniyah. Wasuka lapho waqonda enxanxatheleni yezitolo edolobheni, lapho owayexhumene neLions of Rojava wayehlele ukuthi alandwe. Wayiswa endlini ephephile eseduze futhi wahlangana nabanye abantu bangaphandle abane ababehambe bezovolontiya ne-YPG - owaseCanada, amaMelika amabili kanye nomJalimane.
Ngemva kwezinsuku ezimbalwa sisendlini ephephile, iqhawe le-YPG le-Danish-Kurdish okuthiwa u-Joanna Palani lashayela u-Walker namanye amavolontiya enyakatho-ntshonalanga elibangise emngceleni waseSiriya. Ebusuku, zanikelwa kubashushumbisi, abasiza ukuhola leli qembu ngezinyawo endaweni eyomile, enamagquma egcwele izihlahla ezinameva. Uhambo belugcwele ubungozi: Iqembu kwadingeka livimbe izindawo eziqhunyiswa ngamabhomu kanye nokugada ngezikhali okuhlelwe yi-Kurdistan Democratic Party, iqembu lezombusazwe elincike kwesokudla e-Iraqi Kurdistan ebelilokhu lizama ukuvimba ukugeleza kwezilwi eRojava.
Uhambo lwathatha cishe amahora ayisishiyagalombili esewonke, futhi u-Walker wayengenawo amanzi okuphuza phakathi nawo amaningi awo. Ngesinye isikhathi, yena nabanye bezinye izizwe bakwazi ukukha amanzi osebeni loMfula iTigris futhi bawaphuze ngesisefo. Ngesikhathi efika lapho ayeya khona eSyria, wayesekhathele futhi ephelelwe amanzi emzimbeni. โSonke besilokhu senza ukuzivocavoca okuningi nokuzilungiselela, kodwa namanje ngaphansi kwezimo bekuwukuwela okunzima kakhulu,โ kukhumbula u-Walker.
Walethwa kanye namanye amavolontiya akwamanye amazwe esikoleni sokuqeqesha se-YPG esisenyakatho-mpumalanga yeSyria. Lalitholakala emthunzini wentaba, ngaphansi kwesisekelo esasithe ukucasha ukuze singabonakali ukude. Izindawo zokuhlala zaziyisisekelo. Kwakukhona i-TV neshawa, ihholo lokudlela, nekhishi lokudlela. Ababuthiwe babelala kumata phansi nemicamelo eyayiqinile kangangokuthi ngesinye isikhathi yayisetshenziswa njengezikhwama zesihlabathi zokuzenzela. โZazifana nokhonkolo,โ kusho u-Walker ehleka.
Ukuqeqeshwa ngokwako kwathatha cishe inyanga. Usuku ngalunye lwaluqala cishe ngehora lesi-5 ekuseni ngokuzivocavoca ihora noma ngaphezulu. Kuzoba nesidlo sasekuseni, bese kuba amahora ambalwa ezifundo, ezigxile emlandweni nokufunda ulimi lwesiKurdish. Vele, bekukhona nesici esiqinile sezempi kulesi sikole, futhi kulapha lapho u-Walker afunda khona ukudubula i-AK-47 okokuqala ngqa. Kwesinye isikhathi abaphathi bakhe babebaqamekele, balungisele amasosha amasha ukuze ahlasele ngokuzumayo ababezobhekana nakho lapho bebhekene nezilwi ze-Islamic State.
U-Walker waba umngane oseduze nelinye lamavolontiya angaphandle - waseCanada oneminyaka engu-24 ubudala ogama lakhe linguNazzarino Tassone, owaziwa ngelikaNaz. U-Tassone wayeno-Walker kusukela ekuqaleni kohambo lwakhe; babeqale ukuhlangana endlini ephephile e-Iraq. โEqinisweni, akakaze athule,โ kukhumbula u-Walker. โUbekhuluma kakhulu futhi enamahlaya angasho lutho. Wayegxile kakhulu kwezepolitiki yakhe, kodwa ezwelana nesizathu samaKurdish. " U-Tassone wayengenasithakazelo kangako ohlangothini lwezemfundo lokuqeqeshwa njengoba ayeyingxenye yezempi. Wayeyinadi yesibhamu futhi efuna ukuphuma phambili.
Kungakabiphi, wayezothola ithuba lakhe.
Tokokuqala U-Walker wahlangana ne-Islamic State, wayesesakhiweni sepulazi edolobhaneni elingasasetshenziswanga elingekude neDamu laseTishrin, eliqhele ngamamayela angu-80 empumalanga ye-Aleppo. Yena noTassone babegade iwashi ngesibhamu se-sniper nezibonakude lapho bebona okuthile okusolisayo. Cishe ikhilomitha buqamama, kwakukhona umuntu owayeza ngemoto enkulu ngokungavamile. Laba bamemezeli abanye bamasosha endawo, amaKurdish, abiza umkhuzi ukuba abalungisele isikhali esinqanda indiza ababengasisebenzisa emotweni ezayo. Nokho, ngaphambi kokuba umkhuzi wamaphoyisa afike, uTassone wabona iqhawe le-Islamic State likhasa libheke endaweni yalo lihamba ngezinyawo, wabe esedubula ebhekise kuye ngokushesha. Khona-ke โkwavele kwahlanya,โ kusho u-Walker. โI-ISIS yaqala yasidubula, sadubula sibuyisela emuva. Futhi ngiyaqala ukuba kulesi simo.โ Wayesaba, ethukile, futhi engasagxilile - ngaphambi kokuthi uTassone ammemeze ukuthi aphume kukho.
Wabeka phansi isibhamu ayesiphethe, wacosha iKalashnikov, wadubula. Kube khona ukuqhuma kwezibhamu, futhi phakathi kwalo msindo, idelakufa le-Islamic State lizame ukushayela iloli endaweni ye-YPG. Ngenhlanhla, iloli likhubazekile ngemuva kokuthi elinye lamasosha aseKurd liliqhumise ngebhomu eliqhunyiswa ngerokhethi. Lapho impi isidambile, iyunithi ka-Walker yabuyela endaweni yayo, futhi enye iyunithi ye-YPG yabamba isikhundla endlini yasepulazini.
U-Walker no-Tassone bagcina behlukene futhi bathunyelwa emayunithi ahlukene. U-Walker uchithe cishe amasonto ayisithupha empini, lapho elinganisela khona ukuthi wahileleka cishe ezinsukwini eziyisithupha zokulwa sezizonke. Kwakuyisipiliyoni sakhe sokugcina sengxabano esamthinta kakhulu.
Ngomhla zingama-24 kuLwezi, u-Walker wathunyelwa kanye namasosha amaningi endaweni edolobheni elincane elibizwa nge-Arima, phakathi kwamadolobha asenyakatho yeSyria iManbij ne-Al Bab. Uphiko lwakhe belunomsebenzi wokuqapha indawo ewela indawo esempumalanga yedolobha. Ithimba lakhe lakha isizinda ngaphakathi kwenkomponi eyayinezicabha ezinkulu zensimbi ezibomvu nezindlu ezimbili ngaphakathi. Bafike e-Arima ekuseni kakhulu, ilanga seliphuma, bachitha usuku lonke besebenzisa izibhamu ukuze bavimbele amabhomu e-Islamic State, abebakhokhisa ngezimoto ezigcwele iziqhumane.
Ngokuhwalala, ukulwa kwase kumile. U-Walker namanye ama-fighters amahlanu ophikweni lwakhe babeshintshana ngokugada nokulala. Phakathi kwamabili, ophahleni lwesinye sezakhiwo ezisenkompolo, u-Walker wavuswa omunye wamasosha asemancane ama-Arab ophikweni lwakhe, njengoba kwase kuyithuba lakhe lokugada. Umkhuzi wakhe wayesanda kubuyela endaweni yesigameko ehamba ngemoto yezikhali, futhi wezwa ukuduma kwenjini ngemuva.
Khona-ke, ngokuphazima kweso, kwaba nokuqhuma okukhulu okwakubonakala kuvele kuvele nje. U-Walker waphonswa phansi, ikhanda lakhe laphihlika ngamandla onqenqemeni lophahla. Ngenhlanhla, wayesanda kufaka isigqoko sakhe sokuzivikela, okungenzeka samsindisa ngaleso sikhathi.
Kwathula okwesibili noma okubili okuthusayo ngokushesha ngemva kokuqhuma, kulandelwa umsindo omubi. U-Walker waphakamisa amehlo endaweni yakhe phezu kophahla, futhi isosha lase-Arab elalimvuse emizuzwaneni edlule lase linyamalele futhi uhlangothi olulodwa lwebhilidi lwabhidlika lodwa. Indiza yokulwa yaseTurkey yayiqhumise indawo yabo.
โBesingeke silale ophahleni uma besilindele ukuthi sizoqhunyiswa ngamabhomu,โ kusho u-Walker. โBesilwa ne-Islamic State. Besingacabangi ukuthi umbuso [ka-Assad] uzosiqhumisa ngamabhomu futhi singalindele ukuthi abaseTurkey bangafika kude kangaka eningizimu.โ
U-Walker wazama ukuzihlanganisa. Waqalaza kodwa wazama ukubona ngale kodonga lwentuthu nomlilo owawumzungezile. Ngaphambi kokuthi i-YPG ishaqe idolobhana, amasosha ayebaleka e-Islamic State ayefake ubuthi kuwo wonke amathange amanzi ngokuthela uwoyela kuwo. Lapho ukuhlasela kwezindiza kuhlasela, ukuqhuma kwaqhuma amathange amanzi kwathungela uwoyela, kwadala umlilo. Ngokulandelayo, umlilo wabhebhetheka kuzo zonke izimpahla ze-YPG zezinhlamvu, futhi kwaba nezinhlamvu ezinhlanhlathayo zidubula nhlangothi zonke, ziklabhaka okophophoni njengoba ziqhuma ekushiseni.
U-Walker wabona uKajin, elinye isosha elingum-Arab eliselisha lebutho lakhe, elalikhubeka lilimele kabi futhi lididekile. Ingxenye yekhanda lakhe yayivutha umlilo futhi amehlo akhe ecwebezela, kodwa kwakusekhona ukuphila kuye. U-Walker wacisha umlilo ekhanda lakhe, wambamba isandla, wazama ukumdonsela esitebhisini esifika phansi, ememeza ngesi-Arabhu nangesiKurdish ethi kufanele baphume. Kodwa ngaphambi kokuba behle ophahleni, enye yezinhlamvu eyayidukile yashaya le ndoda encane entanyeni, yambulala.
โKwakuyinto embi kakhulu engake ngabhekana nayo,โ kukhumbula u-Walker, obukeka ethuthumela lapho echaza lesi sigameko. โBathi 'impi isihogo,' kodwa angizange ngibone ukuthi baqonde ukuthini. Ngasibona isihogo. Bekuwumlilo nje nokuklabalasa.โ
Ngandlela thize, u-Walker ukwazile ukubaleka engenakulimala kabi. Ukube ibhomu lalihlale eduze kwamamitha ambalwa nje, ubengeke asinde. Wehla ngezitebhisi ezikhubazekile, esebenzisa insimbi ecijile ukuze aziqondise phansi. Waguduza emfucumfucwini ekude wezwa umsindo womsakazo womkhuzi wakhe. Umkhuzi ubengekho ebhilidini ngesikhathi lishaywa. Kodwa amanye amasosha ayesevele enyamalele. Kamuva kwavela ukuthi ingxenye yophiko luka-Walker ishonile noma yalimala kulokhu kuqhuma. Elinye iqembu le-YPG eliqhele ngamamitha angu-200 nalo lilahlekelwe kakhulu. Abangane ababili baka-Walker abaseduze - umMelika ogama lakhe linguMichael Israel kanye nomJalimane okuthiwa u-Anton Leschek - babulawa, njengoba kwabulawa izimpi ezimbili zamaKurdish endawo: umdubuli wesifazane ogama lakhe linguSarya kanye nensizwa eyayibuthiwe okuthiwa nguMordem.
Ibutho lika-Walker lakhishwa edolobhaneni lathathelwa indawo elinye iqembu lamasosha. Ukuhlasela kwezindiza kwase kuphazamise ukuziphatha kwakhe, futhi manje wayesesele nomsebenzi onzima wokuthola izidumbu ezigugile zabangane bakhe u-Israel noLeschek esibhedlela esiseduze. Kudingeke ukuthi aqoqe nezimpahla zalaba abashonile esizindeni se-YPG ukuze zibuyiselwe emindenini yabo emazweni abo. Futhi kwakunemingcwabo eyayizohambela ama-Arab endawo namaKurdish fighters abulawa.
I-YPG ibilokhu iphusha ibheke eRaqqa, isizinda esikhulu se-Islamic State eSyria. Kodwa manje ukuhlinzwa kwabambezeleka. Ukuhlasela kwezindiza zaseTurkey kuphazamise inqubekelaphambili. Izici zangaphandle - ikakhulukazi umphumela wokhetho lwase-US - nazo zibe nomthelela oqondile.
Ngoguquko olwalandela ukhetho lwangoNovemba 8 lukaDonald Trump, izikhulu zika-Obama eziphumayo zafuna abaphathi be-Trump ukuthi basayine ukuthumela izikhali ze-YPG ukusiza ekuhlaseleni kwayo i-Raqqa. Kepha ithimba lezinguquko likaTrump - ngaphansi kokuholwa ngumeluleki walo wezokuphepha kuzwelonke ngaleso sikhathi, uMichael Flynn - laluchitha lolu hlelo.
Kamuva kwavela ukuthi uFlynn ubesebenza njenge-ejenti ekhokhelwayo kahulumeni waseTurkey, obheka amaqembu amaKurd njengezitha zawo futhi omelene nokuwahlomisa. Flynn ushiye ngoFebhuwari kulo nyaka; ezinyangeni ezintathu kamuva, ukuphathwa kukaTrump ekugcineni kuvunyelwene ukuqala ukuhlomisa i-YPG.
By maphakathi no-December odlule ngonyaka, u-Walker wayengakabuyi emgqeni ongaphambili. Wayebuyele endaweni ye-YPG eduze nosebe olusempumalanga ye-Euphrates, lapho ayehlanganiswe khona nomngane wakhe uTassone, waseCanada.
Ukubuyelana noTassone kwakumvusile ngandlela thize. Kodwa wayeseqala ukucabanga ngokubuyela eNgilandi. Ingxenye yakhe yayifuna ukulinda ukuthi kuqale ukuhlasela kukaRaqqa, kodwa enye ingxenye yakhe yacabanga ukuthi kwase kuyisikhathi sokubuyela ekhaya. Wayesechithe cishe izinyanga eziyisithupha eSyria, futhi wayehlale ehlele ukubuyela ekhaya uma eseyinde kangako. UTassone ubemkhuthaza ukuthi aqhubeke nempi enkulu elandelayo, kodwa iningi labanye esizindeni belimeluleka ukuthi ahambe, limtshela ukuthi akumele alinge isiphetho okokugcina.
U-Walker wenze isinqumo sokusuka futhi waphuma eSyria elibangise e-Iraq. E-Sulaymaniyah, wayiswa endlini ephephile lapho abantu abaxhumene ne-YPG bamsiza khona ukuhlela uhambo lwakhe oluya e-UK Ngesikhathi esalinde ukuhlelwa kwendiza yakhe, ngoSuku LukaKhisimusi, wathola izindaba ezibuhlungu.
UTassone ubebuyele eqhulwini futhi wabulawa ekuhlaselweni kwe-Islamic State.
Njengoba efika eGatwick Airport eLondon, u-Walker wayazi ukuthi kukhona okungahambi kahle.
Ngesikhathi esalinde ulayini ukuze adlule endaweni yokulawula amapasi, waqaphela ukuthi kunamadoda ambalwa agqoke amasudi elele ngemuva kwesithiyo sezokuphepha, namaphoyisa amaningi kunokuvamile. Wathi engangena nje esangweni lamapasi, uWalker waqhathwa ngomunye wamadoda agqoke isudi, wamcela ukuba aphinde abonise ipasi lakhe. Wabe esengeniswa eceleni kwegumbi futhi wethulwa kumseshi we-Metropolitan Police yaseLondon kanye nabaseshi ababili baseWales. iyunithi ye-extremism kanye ne-antiterrorism - owesilisa oyedwa, omunye wesifazane. Umphenyi wesifazane wamfundela amalungelo akhe futhi wamtshela ukuthi uboshiwe ngezinsolo zokubandakanyeka โekhomishini, ekulungiseleleni, noma ekugqugquzeleni izenzo zobuphekula.โ
Emuva kwemoto yamaphoyisa engamakiwe, u-Walker ushayelwe endaweni engamakhilomitha angu-215 ukuya entshonalanga esiteshini samaphoyisa e-Ammanford, eWales, lapho achitha khona ubusuku esitokisini. La maphoyisa ashaqe izimpahla abehamba nazo okubalwa umfaniswano we-YPG, umakhalekhukhwini, ama-diary namabhuku okubhala. Ngakusasa kwaxoxwa naye mayelana nesikhathi sakhe eSyria. La maphoyisa amtshele ukuthi ake abhekana nabantu ababuya eMiddle East okusolakala ukuthi bayalwa nge i-Islamic State, kodwa akekho owayekade elwa ngokumelene i-Islamic State. Bambuza imibuzo eyisisekelo mayelana nokuthi kungani aye eSyria kanye nolwazi lwakhe lwezempi lapho, bebuza ukuthi wayefundile yini ukwenza amabhomu. Ku-Walker, sonke isigameko sasididekile. Uthi: โNgangishaqekile. โBengingazi ukuthi kwenzekani. Ngahlala ngicabanga, 'Ngisindile ... kodwa shit, ngiboshiwe.'โ
Kulinganiselwa ukuthi okungenani abantu baseNtshonalanga abangama-300 baye bavakashela eMpumalanga Ephakathi beyolwa noMbuso WamaSulumane, kodwa impatho abayithola lapho bebuyela emakhaya iye yahlukahluka kakhulu. Amasosha aseMelika alwe eduze kwe-YPG kanye namanye amasosha asekela intando yeningi alwe iphinde yangena e-US ngaphandle kobunzima. E-Australia, amaphoyisa aye kubuzwa futhi ashaqa ama-passport amasosha ayebuya lapho ebuyela ezweni. E-Netherlands, iziphathimandla zibophe umakadebona wezempi ngezinsolo zokubulala ngoba wayelwe ne-YPG eSyria, kodwa kamuva. ihlile icala ngemuva kokukhala komphakathi. Futhi eDenmark, iziphathimandla zasebenzela umlwi we-YPG owabuya eSyria ukuvinjelwa kokuhamba, wamfaka esitokisini emva kokuba ephule umthetho.
Maphakathi noMeyi eLondon, u-Walker waba necala ekuseni enkantolo yase-Old Bailey, ephethe amacala abucayi obugebengu. Aqhamuke ebukeka ekhathele egqoke ijakhethi yesudi emnyama, ihembe eliluhlaza, ibhulukwe elimnyama, namateku amhlophe. Ukulalelwa kwecala lakhe bekuhlelelwe ukuba kube phakathi kwabanye ababili - eyodwa ebandakanya umdlwenguli osolwayo, kanti enye ibandakanya iqeqebana labasolwa abathathu abangama-Islamist okusolakala ukuthi bebelungiselela ukwenza ukuhlasela kwamaphekula.
Ngobusuku bangaphambili, u-Walker wayenenkinga yokulala. Ube nephupho elibi ngendiza yaseTurkey eqhumisa ibhomu umuzi kayise nabangani bakhe bonke belele ngaphakathi, okukhumbuza isigameko abhekana naso eSyria. Uthi: โKwakuyiphupho elicace kunawo wonke engake ngaba nawo esikhathini eside. โUmzimba wami wawuzwa okufanayo. Imisindo yayifana.โ
Ukwethuka akubona, ngokungamangazi, kuyishintshile impilo yakhe. Manje uyakhathazeka lapho izindiza ezithwala abantu zindiza phezulu, futhi uhlushwa ama-flashbacks. Ngenye intambama muva nje, ubehlanza ikhishi lesitolo sokudla eseBristol lapho abebambe khona itoho ngesikhathi ezwa iphunga legazi elishile kwelinye lamabhodwe noma amapani abekade epheka inyama. Kwambuyisela emuva ngqo emakhazeni asesibhedlela, lapho kwadingeka abone khona izidumbu ezigugile zabangane bakhe u-Israel noLeschek. Kwadingeka aphume ngokushesha ekhishini aphumele ngaphandle ukuze asuke ephunga.
Abaningi babangane u-Walker abenza eSyria basekhona - bayaphila futhi baphilile - futhi bayaqhubeka nokulwa. U-Walker uyanqikaza ukuba semkhankasweni, kodwa uthemba ukuthi ukunaka kwabezindaba ngodaba lwakhe kungasiza ukufundisa abantu nge-YPG nosizi lwayo e-Rojava. Uthi: โAngibalulekile kangako kukho konke lokhu. "Basekhona abanye abantu laphaya."
Esikhathini esifushane, njengoba kusalindwe umphumela wecala likahulumeni elibhekene naye, uhlela ukubhalisa kabusha enyuvesi aqedele izifundo zakhe. Uhlose nokubuyela eSyria ngelinye ilanga, uma impi isiphelile, ayosiza ekwakheni kabusha izwe. โNgezinye izikhathi ngisenawo umuzwa wokulwa kahle ngokumelene nama-fascists amabi,โ esho emamatheka kabi. โUkunqoba impi - abantu abazama ukukubulala bese behluleka - kuwumuzwa omangalisayo. Ngikukhumbula ngezindlela eziningi.โ Athule kancane, aphefumulele phezulu. โNgesikhathi esifanayo, ngiyazi ukuthi nginenhlanhla,โ uyanezela. โNgagingqa ayisithupha edayisini, futhi ngakwazi ukusinda.โ
I-ZNetwork ixhaswa kuphela ngokuphana kwabafundi bayo.
Nikela