Syria : Manbij Residents, Autonomous Administration comply with Abolish Compulsory Conscription
The Autonomous Administration in Manbij and its Military Council withdrew a law per compulsory conscription, amid ongoing talks between the region’s leaders, tribal chiefs and administration officials so as to calm things after protests that saw the killing of 5 persons.
In comments to Asharq Al-Awsat, Mohammed Abu Adel, the commander-in-chief of the Manbij Military Council, said that a gathering was persisted Wednesday with the city’s officials, during which a choice was taken to halt the compulsory military service and release all those that were detained within the recent protests.
Abu Adel added that a committee would be formed to research cases of firing at protesters and hold those involved accountable.
The civil society leaders, as a goodwill gesture, decided to simply accept mediation and stop all protests, giving the administration until Friday to satisfy their demands, including the discharge of detainees, treating those that got injured during the protests at the administration’s expense and providing fuel, domestic gas and cement at a suitable price.
The head of the legislature in Manbij, Mohammad Ali al-Abbo, accused “malicious hands of seeking to stir sedition and strike security and stability within the city.”
“We are a part of Syria, and Manbij is of great importance because of its geographic location, the homogeneity that exists between its components, and therefore the state of stability it’s reached. Such conditions don’t please those that seek to harm the safety and stability of our city,” he remarked.
The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) are seeking assistance from Russia to calm things in Manbij and neighboring villages.
An activist said a Russian military convoy was seen entering the town on Wednesday, together with SDF members.
In turn, activist Marwan Al-Halabi said that the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army’s Third Corps sent military reinforcements, including military vehicles and fighters to the contact lines with Manbij, north of Aleppo, to watch the developments within the area.
He noted that negotiations are expected to require place between the SDF and therefore the Syrian regime handy over the Manbij area to the latter, unless the SDF was ready to control things .
