Saturday, December 31, 2011

The March to Freedom Square!

While Arab League monitors might eventually fail in achieving their specified objective, one which they themselves seem unable to define, their mere presence on the ground has served to galvanize the protest movement, by giving protesters a new focus for their frustration and hopes – an unintended consequence perhaps, but a welcome one nonetheless.

Friday 30, 2011

Today’s death toll:  32. The Breakdown:  9 in Hama City, 6 in Deraa City, 5 in Homs City (protesters who were arrested on Thursday), 4 in Tal Kalakh (Homs Province), 6 in Idlib Province, and 2 in the Damascene Suburbs of Daraya and Moadamiyah. 24 four people were injured in the Damascene Suburb of Douma when loyalist security officers used nail bombs when dispersing a local protest rally featuring 50,000 participants.   

Arab League monitors toured the provinces of Idlib Hama and Deraa/Hauran. Over 1 million protesters took part in this Friday’s rallies, including close to 250,000 throughout the Idlib Province. Over 500 separate rallies in total took place throughout the country.

Maj. Gen. Riad Al-Ass’aad, leader of the Free Syrian Army, announced that he had issue a directive stopping all offensive operations during the AL monitoring mission expressing hopes that the final report would prove “professional” and fair.

The Syrian National Council and the National Coordination Committee sign an agreement to unify their efforts. The first article of the agreement rejects any “foreign intervention that undermines the sovereignty and independence of the country,” but does not consider Arab intervention to be a foreign intervention.

Tunisia has reportedly closed the Syrian embassy in Tunis on Wednesday ordering the Assad’s ambassador to leave the country.

The general Strike continues to be observed throughout protest communities.

Links
Homs in grief after 'eye of truth' dies Comment: By the time he passed away, Basil had already inspired so many to pick up their cameras and do what he does: let the images they capture convey the truth of what's happening in Syria to the world, and to History. That’s truly a wonderful legacy. Basil managed to document even his own death http://youtu.be/Wr7865hS8LM

The town of Kafrenbel in Idlib Province, December 30, 2011 http://youtu.be/4HhkKar14o8
For their part, the inhabitant of nearby Sarmada, demonstrates how justice can best served at this stage http://youtu.be/lUt_44Fl2lw

HOMS CITY:

Residents of Baba Amr tell AL monitors about their living conditions and their arrests of their sons http://youtu.be/DOWdrDE-H5Q This man tells monitors all about looting by loyalists http://youtu.be/UBvFC8X5nig This woman speaks of witnessing summary executions http://youtu.be/HyyivkpYOuk This man inquires about the fate of detainees http://youtu.be/kObzDdby_64 Later, people held a mass protest rally http://youtu.be/QTZn5t5vi3Y , http://youtu.be/h89JMIUSg6c , http://youtu.be/rpJJz-qXQ2U And snipers took their usual blood tax http://youtu.be/OGqjDoNlz5E

Thousands rally in Bab Al-Sibaa after weeks of loyalist-imposed blockade http://youtu.be/DyfvMFJ0cUA A group of new defectors address the crowd http://youtu.be/61t02tG-zqs Then they are carried on the shoulders http://youtu.be/b6zAvgjC86w


A protest rally in Qoussour http://youtu.be/1ABWL4O6-Do , http://youtu.be/IoFdAh6vTXM is carefully watched by Loyalist security officers http://youtu.be/q654QzjL4QA and s finally dispersed http://youtu.be/u-o4dvLoNFM , http://youtu.be/kduVhYaFfNQ

Protesters in Ghoutah http://youtu.be/P1n4Y5SWGxA come under fire http://youtu.be/J7ry3miU9ig Protesters in the Clock-Tower Square are dispersed http://youtu.be/RxJtEQ9XWo4 Protesters in Dablan http://youtu.be/xprMQOgAZ9k come under fire http://youtu.be/z9dVayGfyBY

The “water” used in the crackdown against protesters seem to contain acid that burns through the cloths and burn the skin http://youtu.be/D5xFt76dKrQ



HOMS PROVINCE:


IDLIB:

Protesters in the village of Joseph in Jabla Al-Zawiyeh come under heavy fire but remain defiant http://youtu.be/a3B57zw-QYw

People from all over the province go by car and on foot http://youtu.be/o2R_oTHOINU to Idlib City to receive AL monitors with a mass rally http://youtu.be/-dEEONL14_s , http://youtu.be/LZL1BSF-3WQ , http://youtu.be/vn-v5TXmMsw People chanted saying “ the people wan tot liberate the country” http://youtu.be/Z87SGaq8ezA Soon, they came under heavy fire http://youtu.be/8gLZ4ayu_ok , http://youtu.be/rjxN6zlW0xU , http://youtu.be/6vyguEMdibU , and the cameraman is shot http://youtu.be/beeSBQfaEm4 Another martyr falls http://youtu.be/fNvkn96sDMY A chaotic scene http://youtu.be/kXezskS_Hjw , http://youtu.be/xye4GW-p9OU Saving the wounded http://youtu.be/U1On6-qum_Q An injured child http://youtu.be/JUTNKfoRUP0 Black smoke fills the sky over the city http://youtu.be/7FQXxSostWs

Meanwhile, the inhabitants of the town of Kafrenbel deliver another potent message: http://youtu.be/4HhkKar14o8


HAMA CITY:


Protesters in Hadir are dispersed http://youtu.be/G_muXNGozlE , http://youtu.be/NR-me5vBNmA Loyalists shoot at protesters http://youtu.be/PLMmqTKVsxw The crackdown leaves several wounded and dead http://youtu.be/g6_vbl9_gN8 , http://youtu.be/npMi4Ja0s1k , http://youtu.be/YAWVDmXMIZg A child martyr http://youtu.be/ggdGBZq2l20 Another martyr http://youtu.be/mQs3gco-s0c Another martyr http://youtu.be/q51dyEoIcug A man with a serious chest injury http://youtu.be/3yajwTgFVM4 Another martyr http://youtu.be/y0zq2jj3ln8 Moving the wounded and the dead http://youtu.be/REOUlHG2myU , http://youtu.be/_kfMTwkR8Kg

The usual deadly game of cat-and-mouse between snipers and protesters trying to cross the streets take place with deadly consequences http://youtu.be/GpGwsbLbo2E , http://youtu.be/RsGZLcKx63Y


Worshippers in the mosque are not spared http://youtu.be/kKG-FjnP3h4 Whose dead child is this? http://youtu.be/zmzgrHG4RCY

A funeral in Bab Qibli http://youtu.be/0RSX7TM9_mM Protesters chanted “the people want international protection” http://youtu.be/6Rz4deIERMM

A foreign correspondent pays a visit to Aleppo Road http://youtu.be/X1uQtPHBDXc  where this rally took place http://youtu.be/Gm5GKA2-75g the rally was dispersed using water canon http://youtu.be/BB88PKcfRt4 And other means, the kind that kills http://youtu.be/PhawdVv2oD4 A woman martyr http://youtu.be/yfrOWkSAJbs Another one is killed on camera http://youtu.be/QiXC1cD0erU But protesters remain defiant http://youtu.be/ccI47QSs8sE

Staring contest between loyalists and protesters in Eleilat Neighborhood http://youtu.be/AG335UW4TqI

Protesters in Sabouniyeh are attacked as well http://youtu.be/XBiapGoNXls , http://youtu.be/cjR_dEx7Tj4 They come under fire http://youtu.be/2gfu03CkUtQ , http://youtu.be/92tGKN76ZM0  


At night, more rallies take place: Frayeh http://youtu.be/tnSMPct1EcM Kazoo http://youtu.be/-Z1Hw5SbYV0 Bab Qibli http://youtu.be/XNMBJUlas7o

HAMA PROVINCE:

Rallies: Taybat Al-Imam words on ground “We seek freedom and peace, we are neither thieves nor bandits” Hilfaya http://youtu.be/ndi2l4bwBbI Saudran http://youtu.be/Lj1Z6GkG2Ic Mourek http://youtu.be/2ktzVTQPd2w Khattab http://youtu.be/2K6PhKs8dtY Kafar Zita http://youtu.be/yHKXd1Vbrm8 Karnaz http://youtu.be/sZJmslPzYoA Ellatamneh http://youtu.be/fTSZZ0WBl7k Madeeq http://youtu.be/xR-d9Mgim1U Ma’ardis http://youtu.be/893mtb18OOY Tweini http://youtu.be/gPrW7GOz2dk Treimseh http://youtu.be/pjVagZ5LOjI

DAMASCUS – EASTERN GHOUTAH:

Douma’s protest rally http://youtu.be/IMirfYCd3bc , http://youtu.be/mwALxc7vuas , http://youtu.be/gtwMHkPvL_c comes under attack from loyalist troops http://youtu.be/k78BwJ5mGYQ , http://youtu.be/bN0UstUV-Fs , http://youtu.be/_vEDiN-0l5M The cameraman is hit while filing the crackdown http://youtu.be/8_o1rv-x2S8 A child is seriously injured http://youtu.be/f2-SY6AKvUE , http://youtu.be/BM0jyW23sPo Nail bombs were used as these injured protesters shows http://youtu.be/ERV0kNUqoGQ Saving the wounded http://youtu.be/cA-v5GHowdo Local hospital refused to receive the wounded http://youtu.be/T-mwoMP2WnQ Protesters stand up to loyalists http://youtu.be/iqEWGhaaiFo All these developments happened after the arrival of AL Monitors http://youtu.be/3PQ3wkCqV6w

Loyalist security troops enter the town of Ain Terma where locals destroyed on Thursday an Assad sculpture http://youtu.be/-Q9A6GgRbg4

In Harasta http://youtu.be/BqovXcWRQgE Protesters wait for AL monitors with olive branches http://youtu.be/ba3EbFHE6uw and release pigeons the celebrate their arrival http://youtu.be/kmymLTKfusE , http://youtu.be/UYFAYeHFgN0 , http://youtu.be/go1NEsRQu2w , http://youtu.be/BYgXg9Arwns Then they hoist the monitors on their shoulders http://youtu.be/P08f-AX95Io

Rallies: Major Rally in Hamouriyeh http://youtu.be/tzveY7OdJWUand in Saqba http://youtu.be/zNwF6tZ6g4k  Zamalka http://youtu.be/GOUgZDMgCnc


DAMASCUS – SOUTHERN SUBURBS: loyalist troops invade the town of Qatana http://youtu.be/4gnrtS0bFuU , http://youtu.be/_9JV7HctOVU In Kisweh, loyalists open fire on protesters http://youtu.be/nYM7ZaRJz3k


DAMASCUS – NORTHWESTERN SUBURBS:



DAMASCUS - THE CITY:


A local mosque in Daraya Suburb where some protesters were gathering http://youtu.be/DmOIdeDhco4 was quickly besieged by loyalist security officers http://youtu.be/40M9nedor1U  Elsewhere, protesters come under fire http://youtu.be/fHYdVNVYtv8 leaving several wounded, including this young man http://youtu.be/h6etyR33OXU , http://youtu.be/qZ_-zetBRfc Loyalists in action http://youtu.be/PvMmt9JQO1A

A rally in Al-Hajar Al-Aswad http://youtu.be/3MPpg0e2I9c is broken up by loyalists http://youtu.be/qKpiUJcpQQw , http://youtu.be/ypl9uzw3MsQ Protesters come under heavy fire http://youtu.be/zX3kXmTN9N4 but remain defiant http://youtu.be/vgdXTvXaWxY A martyr http://youtu.be/6E-eTcaXviI Locals burn a security checkpoint http://youtu.be/-ykK3xQQxoI The neighborhood is mixed, but security officers taking part in the crackdown are derived mostly from Alawite residents, naturally, this stokes the sectarian firs. A protester in this video is heard calling out at security officers firing at him: “you Alawite dog!” http://youtu.be/CjHlNJyPVS8

Loyalist security forces disperse http://youtu.be/j8-C96Ezlc4 a protest in Midan http://youtu.be/sBpFf_05ctU Elsewhere in Midan, another rally takes place http://youtu.be/QEnSci6tUPA And the mosque of Zein Al-Abideen, another one begins http://youtu.be/9Q8HRgaC3Sc “God Protect the Free Army” http://youtu.be/KzuBhVWsbI8


At dusk, a small rally in Old Mazzeh was fired on leaving few wounded http://youtu.be/yAwuiztknlU

DERAA CITY: Loyalist security officers break up a rally in Qoussour Neighborhood http://youtu.be/JOPQOdwZTFI A martyr http://youtu.be/YoeSlIfzn90


In Sadd neighborhood, AL monitors arrive http://youtu.be/4Vw2LqXPSgs , http://youtu.be/mjzedpqK4k8 , http://youtu.be/zBW171jNTy0 One of them admits on camera to have seen snipers position around town, and demand that authorities do something about that within 24 hours http://youtu.be/6TZxQeV1Iak He also urges protesters to tell him their demands otherwise, the mission would be useless.

Nighttime crackdown http://youtu.be/4XmKQi12y5Q , http://youtu.be/n87bT7klXh4 , http://youtu.be/ZfunhHz_Sl4 , http://youtu.be/eLTBLeEZnlU leaves martyrs http://youtu.be/jaaY3-iZLDk The clashes went on for hours  http://youtu.be/hNwT-CB6xxc as protesters tried to reach Al-Omari Mosque to no avail http://youtu.be/7nf8-a06M-w The AL monitors were stationed at the Mosque, people wanted to tell them their stories http://youtu.be/z5rZxplAhNU


DERAA/HAURAN: Attempts at breaking up a rally in Ankhel http://youtu.be/esMfvSp469Q paves the way for clashes between stone-wielding protesters and armed loyalists http://youtu.be/VhCgFsNMN-w Sanamein security patrols are omnipresent http://youtu.be/hPSV90k6OEQ


DEIR EZZOR: Loyalist troops storm into the town of Tayyaneh http://youtu.be/TbNZeHli8Js Despite heavy security presence elsewhere in town, locals in Qouriyeh still manage a small rally http://youtu.be/1Uln3-Zqhio Gharaneej http://youtu.be/Mkb1Z-anzkM

Albou Kamal http://youtu.be/mj2SLm9xU-Y Loyalists fire at protesters http://youtu.be/vGVN-YjvjZ0


ALEPPO: Aleppo City (the Great Mosque) http://youtu.be/R-NGbFDhGS0 Kallasseh http://youtu.be/quRP0Y1Z8JI Loyalists attack protesters in Salaheddine http://youtu.be/ZcWxWMvzAFY

Loyalists storm through the town of Elbab http://youtu.be/kovW1Taht9Y



Lattakia City loyalist militias patrol the neighborhood of Sleibeh http://youtu.be/qi8dFQG0jqo Chasing after protesters near Hussein Mosque http://youtu.be/tsaPxOQTuX8 Elsewhere, loyalists demonstrators stop traffic http://youtu.be/d3HggnOOMbg

RAQQAH: Tabaqah http://youtu.be/x8JV-RyaJgQ

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