On the 100th day of the Revolution, protesters observe a general strike, while Assad courts war with neighboring Turkey.
Thursday June 23, 2011
Protests communities all across Syria observe a national strike, as security and Assad loyalists forced shop owners to reopen … Syrian army units storm another border town (Khirbet Al-Jouz) creating a tense showdown with Turkish units and driving across hundreds more refugees … A wave of mass arrests is taking place in Aleppo and environs, and roadblocks have been established on the highway connecting Aleppo with Turkey, in an attempt to prevent mass demonstrations planned for tomorrow and keep control of the city squarely in the hands of Assad loyalists …
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Turkish and Syrian forces engaged in a tense cross-border standoff on Thursday as a fresh military operation against Syrian dissidents threatened to spark a major regional crisis.
Blake Hounshell, a Qatar-based editor of Foreign Policy magazine, says the Russians have stepped up criticism but are unlikely to change the policy on a U.N. vote. "I think Russia would like to have a mediating role, but they are not ready to put serious pressure on the regime," Hounshell said.
As the uprising enters its fourth month, Syria's second city is becoming increasingly unsettled.
They have resisted crossing the border to Turkey, where aid organizations run formal refugee camps, because they want to return to their home in the village of Ashtouria.
Bayan al-Bayasi had been steadily growing disillusioned with her president over the years, but like most Syrians raised on fear and submission, she kept silent. When the Arab protest wave reached Syria, she even defended Bashar Assad to her friends, saying she was sure he was a reformer at heart.
Assad loyalists might be able to orchestrate a demonstration or two every few weeks, but protesters are out there every day and night, in every nuke and corner of Syria under no one’s protection, and in the face of all danger. We often hear talk about protesters getting tired or disheartened by Bashar’s tenacity, by the violent, by world silence, but realities on the ground belie that. The protest movement continues to spread to more neighborhoods and communities all over the country. We said it before and we say it again: Assad’s control does not extend far beyond the shadows of his tanks. Where his tanks are absent, protesters rule. Heavens only know what sort of vengeance his tanks will wreak tomorrow. Could it Hama’s turn again?
Richard Grenell, the longest serving U.S. Spokesman in the history of the United Nations, makes the following recommendations to the Obama Administration. Time has indeed come for these kind steps (article):
1. Order Ford home immediately, and shut down the Embassy.
2. Publicly call upon Assad to resign and ask other countries to do the same.
3. Call upon the Europeans and others to pull their Ambassadors from Damascus too.
4. Restrict the movement of the Syrian Ambassador to Washington and the Syrian Ambassador to the UN to a small radius around their offices.
5. Ask European capitals to restrict the movement of Syrian Ambassadors in their countries too.
6. Force the UN resolution on Syria to a vote and dare the Russians to veto it.
7. Move USAid employees into southern Turkey to care for the Syrian refugees arriving daily.
8. Schedule an Al Jazeera TV interview with President Obama to explain our actions and why Assad must go.
9. Demand the IAEA inspect Al Kibar and offer an immediate UN resolution authorizing it.
Hama / June 22: over 100,000 protesters repeat “the people want to topple the regime” “Death is better than humiliation” and “Do you want Bashar? No, by God”
Another defection / June 23
Lieutenant Ahmad Moustapha Khalaf from Rastan says that he saw with his own eyes fellow soldiers looting and killing unarmed civilans in Deraa. He says that he defects because he saw an army that is meant to protect people protecting the Assads instead. He then tells Assad that he is the one who needs an amnesty from the Syria people, where the real power lies. He who is surrounded by such a corrupt entourage cannot reform, and the time that Assad spent in power without carrying out any reforms is the proof. If you really love the people, he tells him, then you should resign and let us be free. Her, then, sends his regards and thanks to Turkish PM, the Turkish people and the Emir of Kuwait for their support of the revolution.
Lieutenant Ahmad Moustapha Khalaf from Rastan says that he saw with his own eyes fellow soldiers looting and killing unarmed civilans in Deraa. He says that he defects because he saw an army that is meant to protect people protecting the Assads instead. He then tells Assad that he is the one who needs an amnesty from the Syria people, where the real power lies. He who is surrounded by such a corrupt entourage cannot reform, and the time that Assad spent in power without carrying out any reforms is the proof. If you really love the people, he tells him, then you should resign and let us be free. Her, then, sends his regards and thanks to Turkish PM, the Turkish people and the Emir of Kuwait for their support of the revolution.
Bdama / June 22: tanks movement
Bdama / June 22: tanks leaving the city towards Khirbet Al-Joz
Khirbet Al-Joz / June 23: Army units enter the city, and take up positions
Bdama / June 22: army troops occupy houses of the local residents.
Bdama / June 22: snipers at rooftops
Homs / Tal Kalakh: a recently uploaded video showing the army’s incursion into a village near Tal-Kalakh three weeks ago.
Lattakia / June 23: Assad loyalists acting like Assad loyalists in the streets of Lattakia.
Homs / Jun 23
Homs / Rastan / June 22: the resident of this thrice invaded city still show up for demonstration and call for toppling the regime.
Homs / Wa’er / June 22: an anti-Assad vigil.
Hama / Hama City: security officers and Assad loyalists conduct an extensive negotiations sessiosnwith protesters
Hama / Karnaz/ June 22: an Anti-Assad vigil.
Damascus / Darayyah / June 22: an all-women demonstration “Long live Syria, down with Bashar Al-Assad”
Damascus / Mouaddamiyyah / June 22: a demonstration in commemoration of Day 100 of the Revolution.
Damascus / Barzeh / June 22: a mass night-time demonstration. “Leave, leave.”
Alboukamal / June 22: a mass night-time demonstration. “Down with the Baath Party” “Syria is free, Bashar get out”
Deir Ezzor / Mayadeen: an anti-Assad vigil
Deir Ezzor / Deir Ezzor City / June 22: an anti-Assad vigil
Lattakia / June 22: Banner “We use smartphones to report your crimes, o Bashar”
Deraa / Da’el / June 22: an all-women demonstration call on Bashar to leave
Deraa / Al-Mseifrah / June 22: mass demonstration confirms endurance of the evolutionary spirit in the province known as the cradle of the revolution.
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