Growing popular anger | SOHR calls for canceling Autonomous Administration’s decision of raising fuel prices
In light of the current economic hardship throughout Syria, including the areas controlled by the Autonomous Administration, especially with a large number of citizens being affected by Turkey’s seizure of Syria’s share of Euphrates river’s water, we, at the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, demand the Autonomous Administration in northern and north-eastern Syria retract its decision and reset the fuel prices of what they were like before the decision which met with considerable popular discontent. It is worth noting that residents in Autonomous Administration’s areas staged strikes and demonstrations in several areas, al-Hasakah province in particular, protesting the new decision which stipulates for raising fuel prices.
SOHR sources monitored earlier today growing tension in al-Shaddadi city and the 47th area in southern al-Hasakah, as protestors opposing the decision of raising fuel prices, including gunmen, attacked a military headquarters of Syria Democratic Forces and Asayish Forces, injuring one member. The attack created a state of disorder in the region, spurring members of SDF and Asayish Forces to open fire on the protestors, leaving five injured, amid unconfirmed reports of one fatality.
On the other hand, some protesters lifting the internationally recognized Syrian flag were seen attacking headquarters of SDF and Asayish Forces in al-Nashwah neighbourhood in al-Hasakah city, which resulted in the injury of three people.
A few hours earlier, SOHR sources monitored growing popular anger and discontent over the decision of the Autonomous Administration in northern and north-eastern Syria of raising the price of fuel, as demonstrations and sit-in protests took place in several areas, along with the closure of many shops as a part of a strike, opposing the new prices.
The demonstrations took place in al-Shaddadi city, the 47th area, al-Attalah village and other towns and villages in al-Hasakah countryside, where the protestors blocked the roads using rubber tires. While in al-Qahtaniyyah in al-Hasakah countryside, all shops were closed. Also, many shops were closed in Ma’badah, Tel Hamis, and other areas in al-Hasakah.
Moreover, a protest took place in al-Malikiyah (Dayrik), while officials in the Autonomous Administration expressed solidarity with the people’s demands on social media, as the “Head of Qamishlo District” and the “Minister of Energy and Power” in the Jazeera region demanded the authorities review the decision.