Saturday, April 2, 2011

Growing Pains: More violent crackdown as revolution expands

A storm of protests hit major Syrian cities, with people demanding freedom and end to Assad regime.

As expected, protests against Assad rule in Syria grew bigger, although, one can hardly tell from the reporting on it whether by international or regional media. This is still a somehow underreported revolution, or an obliquely revolution. Due to government controls, foreign correspondents in Syria are often out of the loop, while Arab and regional satellite stations seem plagued by all sorts of political and individual calculations. 

But the YouTube videos below tell the whole story for those willing to see.  This is an anti-Assad uprising, it’s growing by the day, with more cities and segments of the population joining and Assad’s thugs hitting back hard in hope to forestalling the inevitable. There is definitely a need for a tougher stand by the international community.

Deraa: new massacres in Sanamein. Snipers caught on tape in Deraa City itself.

Homs: became a hotbed in the afternoon with Bedouin population joining the protesters and taking brut of casualties with 2 reported dead, a development likely to energize the larger Bedouin population in suburbs.

Banyas: thousands of protesters take over the streets, establish a “permanent” sit-in, chant “Down With Bashar.”

Qamsihly: thousands of protesters take over streets for few hours, but no clashes with authorities reported. But border with Turkey were closed.

Douma: thousands take to the streets, take down Assad banner, shout “People Want to Topple regime,” at which time they get shot at by thugs that eyewitnesses say received their Kalashnikovs and other weapons from local security people.

Lattakia, Deir Ezzor, Dariyyah Suburb in Damascus, Amoudah (on border with Turkey), Idlib, Hama… all witnesses massive demonstrations today. Kurds and Bedouin tribes of central Syria (Homs) seem to have thrown their lot with the protesters.

More than a 100 clips of videos were received today, below is only a small sampling.

Deraa

Deraa – Ankhel: Military Checkpoint “The people and the Army One Hand”
Deraa: Military checkpoint between Ankhen & Sanamein where massacre took place
Deraa – Jassem: Chants “From Horan the Good News Will Come” Signs: “Maher, You Coward, Send Your Troops to Golan” “No more Fear” “The people and the Army One Hand”
Deraa – Jassem: Hospital
Deraa – Jassem: Road to Jassem. Chant: “People Want to Topple the Regime”
Deraa – Sanamain: Massacre at the Military Checkpoint
(Not clear if videos below are from today or previous Massacres in Deraa. They are very revealing nonetheless)
Deraa Massacre
Deraa Snipers on Top of Governor’s Office

Banyas Videos

Protesters occupy Main Street
“Oh Banyas, your people are the bravest”
“We’ll sacrifice ourselves for you, Syria.” Speaker: “Where are the Shaikhs of Aleppo?” Protester: “Up My Ass”
Banays: “Yasqut Bashar: Down With Bashar”
Banyas Sit-in at night: Music and celebrations. Chants:People Want to Topple the President”

Douma Town (Damascus)

Protesters take down Bashar Banner
Protesters effected by tear gas
Protesters under fire
Douma Dead

Lattakia Videos

Lattakia: “The People and the Army One Hand”
“Rise Lattakia, Rose of the Coast”
Lattakia – Rahman Mosque. “The People Want Freedom, and nothing more.”

Homs Videos

Homs: Suq Al-Hasheesh. Chant: “God, Syria, Freedom, and nothing more.”
Homs – Hawleh
Homs Protesters assailed by security

Miscellaneous Videos

Damascus – Kafar Sousseh: security officers in civvies carrying batons and sticks with which they beat the protesters
Amoudah: Kurdish town in Northern Syria
Qamishly: “Kurds and Arabs cannot be humiliated. Kurds and Arabs stand for national unity”
Idlib – Kafar Nabel
Dariyyah: “Syrian People Will Not Be Humiliated”
Damascus – Rifai Mosque: “We sacrifice our blood and soul for you Deraa” “One One One, the Syrian People Are One”
Deir Ezzor

Interviews

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