The killing throughout Syria continues, so does the befuddlement of
world and Syrian opposition leaders as to what can and should be done.
Saturday 19, 2011
24 people were killed in search-and-destroy operations
led by pro-Assad militias in Hama, Idlib and Homs provinces. The operations
included pounding the towns of Kafar Takhareem in Idlib, leaving at least
7 residents dead, and Himsaya in Hama leaving 4 dead. For their part
troops affiliated with the Free Syrian Army attacked a security convoy
on the Salamiyah-Homs road, killing 4. Another FSA operation left 2 loyalists
dead and a number of armored vehicles destroyed near the town of Qseir
in Homs province.
On Friday, a day dedicated to calling on the international community
to chase out Assad Ambassadors, 18 protesters were killed as more than
210 communities around the country fielded demonstrations calling for end of
Assad rule.
On Thursday
20 people were killed, including 9 in Hama, 8 in Homs, 3 in Deir Ezzor
and 4 in Idlib. Clashes were also reported between FSa troops and loyalists in
the city of M’arrat Al-Nouman following an attack on a local security
headquarters.
On Wednesday
22 people were killed including 11 in Homs and 8 in Idlib.
Links
I am currently undertaking a
new European tour, which will cause some interruptions in updating the blog, I
apologize for that, but things will return to normal by early December.
As part
of ongoing efforts by different opposition groups, councils and coalitions to
find unity and relevance, a new initiative was launched in Cairo earlier today
by a group of Syrian intellectuals, activists and dissidents. The National
Initiative for Unifying the Syrian Opposition merits some attention on account
of the diverse backgrounds of its authors and their approach which basically
seeks unity around a specific set of clearly stated goals rather than bicker
regarding quota allocations to different political groups.
The main goals
include: Toppling the regime including ouster of Assad, demanding international
protection for civilians including the creation of safe havens and the
imposition of a no-fly zone, supporting the Free Syrian Army and all defectors,
referring all human rights abuses to ICC and the freezing of regime assets.
The Group
also asserts its commitment to the creation of a parliamentary system and to
protection of the basic rights of all ethnic and religious communities in Syria.
Signatories
include: Syria’s foremost political philosopher Dr. Sadeq Jalal Al-Azm (and his
son, Dr. Amr Al-Azm, an anthropology professor at Shaunee University in Ohio),
the well-known thinker and head of the Damascus Declaration Council abroad, Dr.
Abdurrazzaq Eid, the well-known Kurdish leader Salah Badreddine and the well-known
human rights activist and current president of the Antalya Group Executive
Committee, Dr. Ammar Qurabi. Other signatories come from diverse ethnic
backgrounds, including Kurdish, tribal, Christian, Alawite and Druze figures. Last
but definitely not least, my wife, Khawla Yusuf, a member of the Antalya Group Executive Committee, was also included as signatory.
As for me, I am willing to advise as usual.
Meanwhile, the killing continues.
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