Blood Never Sleeps

Blood Never Sleeps

by

Mark Morey

All rights reserved

Names, characters and incidents depicted in this book are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organisations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and beyond the intent of the author.

No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author

Publilshed by Mark Morey

Copyright © Mark Morey

http://markmorey.blogspot.com

978-0-6480647-7-0

March, 2018

Other Works by Mark Morey

The Red Sun will Come - June 2012

Souls in Darkness - August 2012

The Governess and the Stalker - July 2014

Maidens in the Night - September 2014

One Hundred Days - September 2015

The Last Great Race – April 2016

The Adulterous Bride – October 2016

No Darkness – March 2017

In Our Memories – November 2017

Blood Never Sleeps

Sarya knelt on the dusty roof, looking towards the DAESH sniper's position. Olan fired the PK one shot at a time, with Gulan feeding the ammunition belt. Barî, Keya and Soran contributed with their rifles, but it was obvious their target was just out of range, even for the PK. Sarya looked for a building closer to the sniper, but they were all half-destroyed and unable to be used. Only this house was intact enough, but it was just out of range. Just then Sarya sensed movement. She looked across the roof to the upstairs rooms of the house, where she saw three figures in semi-darkness. Keeping low out of habit, Sarya sprinted across a roof littered with spent cartridge cases. There she faced a YPG comrade, and two men wearing camouflage with body-armour and beige vests; no doubt with 'press' on their backs. One of those men held a professional-looking camera.

Rojbash Havel, Sarya greeted the comrade.

Rojbash Komutan Sarya, he replied. I have Daniel and Brett from Vice Television.

Sarya shook hands with Daniel, and then with Brett the cameraman. Do you speak English? she asked in English.

We do, Daniel said.

Okay, Sarya said while she gathered her thoughts. We have a DAESH sniper under fire, but he's just out of range so I was going to call an airstrike. Come with me and I will show you.

Sarya led the way towards the parapet, and knelt beside Olan still firing.

The DAESH sniper is there, she said while she pointed out his building. I will call for the strike, and we will keep firing so the sniper won't get suspicious and leave his building.

Daniel nodded while Sarya told Olan what she was going to do. He nodded while he kept at one shot after the next. Sarya sat cross-legged on the dirty roof and took the tablet computer out of its cover.

This tablet has a satellite image of all DAESH positions, real time, Sarya said. She used her fingers to zoom the image and centre it. We are here, she said while the cameraman filmed over her shoulder. The DAESH sniper is there. Now I will call for the airstrike. She pulled her radio from her sleeve pocket and pressed the transmit button. Komutan Sarya Goran from Team Martyr Agir, she said in Kurdish. Airstrike on DAESH sniper, coordinate seventeen-twelve, she said.

Airstrike on DAESH sniper, coordinate seventeen-twelve, the operator confirmed.

Sarya put her radio away, and moments later heard the roar of a jet closing. She stood to watch while the cameraman filmed the jet flying low and fast, until the aircraft suddenly climbed vertically, straight up into the sky. Moments later there was a massive explosion, and the sniper's position was obliterated by a cloud of concrete dust. The rest of the team celebrated, while Sarya told Daniel they got the sniper. The cloud of dust and debris slowly cleared to reveal a heap of rubble and smashed concrete. Nobody could have survived that.

This is a good outcome, Sarya said in English to Daniel.

How many are left? Daniel asked.

Maybe four-hundred, Sarya said. But they will fight to the last. She slid her tablet into its cover, and slipped her trusty AK47 over her shoulder. Now we must go. There's another sniper in the next street. Perhaps this time we will get him with our rifles. Olan already had the PK over his shoulder, while Gulan was burdened with the RPG and her backpack. Barî, Keya and Soran were also ready.

Daniel shook Sarya's hand. Thank you so much, Commander Sarya, he said.

She nodded while the cameraman, Brett, shook her hand.

Sarya led their team into the three-storey house, very dark after the intense sunlight outside, down the stairway, and outside to a dirty, dusty street. She trudged over rubble while looking out for IEDs and grenade drones, and sensing the camera filming from behind.

Map of Syria

Parties Involved with the Syrian Civil War

Islamic State (IS)

This group was founded in 1999 by Sunni Jordanian Abu Musab al-Zarqawi as The Organisation of Monotheism and Jihad. Following the 2003 invasion of Iraq by America, Britain and Australia, al-Zarqawi and The Organisation of Monotheism and Jihad undertook suicide attacks on Iraqi Shia mosques, Iraqi civilians, and Iraqi government institutions. In October 2004, when al-Zarqawi swore loyalty to Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda, he renamed the group The Organisation of Jihad's Base in Mesopotamia. In July 2005, al-Qaeda outlined a four-stage plan to expand the Iraq War. This plan included expelling US forces from Iraq, establishing an Islamic authority as a caliphate, spreading the conflict to Iraq's secular neighbours, and clashing with Israel.

On 7 June 2006, a US airstrike killed al-Zarqawi, who was succeeded as leader of the group by the Egyptian militant Abu Ayyub al-Masri. On 13 October 2006, the group declared the establishment of the Islamic State of Iraq (ISI), with Abu Omar al-Baghdadi as emir.

After the death of Abu Omar al-Baghdadi in April, 2010; Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was appointed the leader of ISI. Al-Baghdadi replenished the group's leadership by appointing former Iraqi Army Officers, and Iraqi Intelligence Service Officers, who, like he, spent time imprisoned by the US military. In July 2012, al-Baghdadi declared the start of a new offensive in Iraq, aimed at freeing members of the group held in Iraqi prisons. Violence in Iraq began to escalate in June 2012, primarily with car bomb attacks.

In 2013 following a split with al-Qaeda, ISI became involved with the Syrian Civil War. On 8 April 2013, al-Baghdadi announced a new name Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), sometimes being known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). The Arabic acronym of this is DAESH. On 29 June 2014, ISIL proclaimed itself to be a worldwide caliphate with Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi named caliph, and the group renamed itself Islamic State (IS).  As a Caliphate it claims religious, political and military authority over all Muslims worldwide.

Democratic Union Party (PYD)

Formed in 2003 in Kurdish-dominated Northern Syria, the PYD is the leading political party for that area known as Rojava. In 2004 the PYD formed a self-defence militia known as the People's Protection Units (YPG). For many years the PYD suffered persecution from the ruling Arab Socialist Baath Party, including imprisonment and torture of PYD activists. Following the outbreak of the Syrian Civil War, the YPG was dramatically increased in size, and included a new brigade, the Women's Protection Units (YPJ), for female volunteers. The YPG and the YPJ subsequently formed the backbone of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which went on to achieve success against Islamic State (IS or DAESH).

The PYD follows teachings of imprisoned Turkish PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan. For more than 30 years the PKK has conducted a war of armed conflict against Turkey, and as a result the PKK is recognised as a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the United States, the Europe Union, NATO, and several other countries. Turkey has stated that the PYD is the same as the PKK, and Turkey is currently supporting an invasion of the canton of Afrin inside Syria.

Chapter One

Vache leaned against the balcony rail with a mug of coffee in his hand, while he watched crowds streaming past. He had a good view from their second-floor apartment of men and boys shouting and cheering, some carrying banners and flags; looking like supporters for a major football match. But that wasn't a football crowd. In towns and cities all over Syria on Friday the 22nd of April, 2011; crowds were calling for the overthrow of the Assad regime. And in Raqqah, crowds were moving towards Naeem Roundabout as the assembly point for their protest.

Vache sipped his coffee just as Erna came alongside. Do you want to go to the protest? she asked.

This is only for men and boys, Vache said.

Assad is a friend of Armenians.

As a Shia in a Sunni-majority country, he needs support of minority groups like Christians.

I can never understand Shia and Sunni. A Shia man can marry a Sunni woman and that's no problem. Both families are happy, and wishing the happy couple a long life together with many children. Or they live and work side-by-side with no issues at all, but once it gets to politics, then that's a big problem.

For whatever reason, Shia and Sunni was an inevitable part of Arab politics.

Something's going to come out of this, Vache said. Protests have gone from demanding democratic reforms and the release of political prisoners, to overthrowing the government.

Change is inevitable, Erna said. Look at these past few months. Tunisia in December, then Algeria, Jordan, Oman, Egypt. Who would have thought Libya would overthrow Gaddafi?

Social media..., Vache said, and Erna smiled. Dictators can control conventional media, but they can't control Facebook and Twitter.

Yes; without the internet there never would have been an Arab Spring, or the protests today.

Assad is as brutal and corrupt as any dictator, and he won't go without a fight.

Unless the army deserts him.

Vache sipped his coffee. True, he said.

It was stupid, no, arrogant to torture and kill that seven year old for writing anti-government graffiti on a wall.

That was true too, and the catalyst for nationwide protests that day. I think we should keep a low profile, because it's best to be on the winning side. He finished his coffee and put the mug on the table. With this chaos, surgery is cancelled for the doctor today, Vache said. I wonder what we can do to pass the time? he asked rhetorically.

Erna laughed, and punched his shoulder.

Are you interested? Vache asked Erna.

Always, she said.

He hugged and kissed his beautiful wife, before leading her inside and sliding the door closed behind.

* * *

It was chaos at Naeem Roundabout, with crowds pushing, shoving and jostling. In his nineteen years, Adnan had never seen anything like that. Never seen anything remotely like that. With his cousin Fadi, Adnan made a banner demanding Assad be exiled, while many others had banners of their demands. And to show their patriotism many, including Adnan's father, held Syrian flags. Men with loud hailers called for the end of the dictatorship and the exiling of the dictator, with free and fair elections to follow. The crush slowly moved along broad al-Mogmaa Street towards al-Rasheed Park. There was much chanting and cheering as the crowd filled the street with a mass of humanity. Maybe a hundred-thousand, and all wanting the same thing. Adnan was elated to be part of such a historic day. Surely with so many united in Raqqah, and so many more united across Syria, change would come. Surely that day was the beginning of the end of the brutal and corrupt leadership of his great country.

* * *

On a cool, spring morning, they gathered at Memorial Park. Hundreds and hundreds of teenagers, and young men and young women too. Sarya felt the buzz of excitement while she gathered with her friends Gulan, Dila and Medya. From what she could see almost all of the older children from her school, the girl's school, and many teenagers from the co-educational school were there. For once they could protest against Assad and his anti-Kurdish policies, without fear of violence or fear of a massacre. Mohammad Wali must have been proud of this protest of youth in Amûdê.

Sarya unfurled the banner she and Gulan made over previous nights; written in Kurdish and demanding that Kurdish language and Kurdish culture be respected within a new Federation of Syria. Writing Kurdish or speaking their language in public was against Arab-Syrian law, or even having a Kurdish name like Sarya was against their laws. Like most Kurds, Sarya was registered with an Arab name, which was never used. Others had banners, where the most important issue was citizenship. The vast majority of Syrian Kurds were stripped of Syrian citizenship decades before, despite Syria being their land for many generations.

Their protest march gradually sorted into order, with Sarya and Gulan proudly holding their banner finished in the colours of the Syrian Kurdish flag: yellow, red and green. For once they could march and not be subjected to violence and brutality, because the regime was losing control. There were too many protests that day, organised through the internet and social media, for Assad to deal with.

They marched through the city centre, along streets lined by their parents, cheerfully singing songs in Kurdish and defying anyone to stop them. Hundreds and hundreds of young people clustered together, many with banners and flags, on a day of defiance. Unfortunately their march was over far too quickly, but many had filmed their demonstration on smartphones as a reminder of a great day in the city of Amûdê.

Sarya bid her friends farewell, and rather than find her parents in the confusion, she headed home. Amûdê was flat, so flat that water towers were needed to provide water pressure to the city, although there were rolling hills in the near distance. Houses and commercial buildings were mostly simple rectangular with flat rooves, and built of concrete bricks. Uniformly sand-coloured, with only those water towers, the television transmission tower, and the mosque minaret rising above. Sarya let herself into their three-bedroom home to find Mama and Papa waiting. Her Papa hugged her.

This was a great day and I'm proud of you, he said.

That made Sarya feel even more elated, if such a thing were possible. This is just the beginning, Sarya said. Freedom is coming, and for us in Rojava that means a democratically confederal state within a federation of Syria.

Like you've been taught in school?

He knew, because he was the headmaster. Like we've been taught in school, she echoed. Here in Rojava, we'll unshackle ourselves from capitalism and the patriarchy, and live a life of collectivism.

Mama rustled Sarya's hair. Before collectivism we must eat, and as much as your father believes in equality, he doesn't know how to cook! So can you help me please?

Today was too important, and too good an opportunity. Papa, you can help, Sarya said. You can make our tea, and you can carry our dishes too.

Papa chuckled. That's collectivism, she said.

Yes it is.

Three in the kitchen was somewhat crowded, but worth it. Soon they were sitting on the floor of the living room with dishes spread before them, and Papa's tea to accompany their Friday lunch.

It's a pity Daran missed today, Mama said.

Sarya's older brother Daran was away studying law. Perhaps he protested in Damascus, Sarya offered.

That will be the day, Papa grumbled.

Elind! Mama exclaimed.

Perhaps he protested in Damascus, Papa said, but Sarya knew he didn't mean that.

Now that we've protested across Syria, Sarya said. Where does this go from here?

Papa sipped his tea. I truly don't know, he said. It'll take more than a day of protest to unseat Bashar al-Assad, and many days of protests could drive him to take action. We shall see.

Sarya sipped her tea. She knew they'd done the right thing, and she hoped that was the start of a new order for her and for her people. But how that new order came about would only be known in time.

Chapter Two

Vache kissed Erna on her cheek before they separated: she towards the hospital where she managed nurses in the outpatients department, and he to his general practice. It wasn't a long walk, about ten minutes along al-Mogmaa Street and past 50-year old concrete apartment buildings and office blocks, many with shops, banks, restaurants and cafes at the ground floor; not yet open at that time of the morning. He worked in the wealthier district of Raqqah, and they rented a spacious and expensive apartment nearby. Raqqah had the reputation of the most boring city in Syria, and for a man raised in bustling Aleppo; that was mostly true. But now that Vache was married, living in a boring city didn't matter so much, and Raqqah had offered a great opportunity. Just as he was finishing his internship at Aleppo University Hospital, where he met Erna, his father told him the Armenian doctor at Raqqah was retiring and the practice was for sale. Raqqah wasn't so far from family and friends in Aleppo, and as a bonus Erna obtained a more senior position at the National Hospital. So Raqqah it was, with its bustling city centre located between Naeem Roundabout and the iconic Clock Tower Roundabout, and also around the corner from there. Further away were ramshackle-looking small apartment buildings with ground floor shops and small businesses; all squashed together and crowding busy streets; with modern and spacious apartments further away again. At the edges of Raqqah were bleak outskirts of small industry and cheap houses, and this area was dusty in dry weather and muddy when it rained. The highlight of the city was the broad Euphrates River to the south, and especially Bridge Park on the far banks of that river. When they had children, which would happen in time, mingling with the many families who enjoyed Bridge Park on weekends would be wonderful.

There were many faults with the Assad regime, father and son, but their greatest achievements were the promotion of sectarianism and the rejection of Islamic fundamentalism. That made cities like Raqqah, peaceful and tolerant homes for all. The greatest weaknesses of the Assads had been autocratic rule through an almost permanent state of emergency,