Friday, March 25, 2011

Massacre in Syria

This is forwarded from an e-mail message:

Syrian Revolution News Round-up

http://www.icontact-archive.com/Bm8lHV2mhxCcOgrfaR4ODHJsQ4nyeAH1?w=3
 
Day 8 - Massacre in Daraa: Wednesday, 23 March 2011

 

The main focus of the uprising continues to be Daraa in Southern Syria. Assad regime seems to have made the decision to end the uprising in Daraa through the use of force. A full-scale attack was mounted at early dawn on Omari Mosque in downtown Daraa, which has become a gathering place for the protesters and a field hospital of sorts. Heavy gunfire and numerous casualties reported. Imams called from Minarets on people to come to the rescue. Power supply is down all over the city, and thousands of people have poured into the streets. Explosions also reported. Syrian security forces is the party responsible for the attack. Twitter-verse managed to provide immediate coverage resulting in prompt media reports and live interviews on Al-Arabiya TV.

 

The numbers of how many dead and injured are hard to confirm on account of the information blackout imposed by the regime. Most news agencies seem willing to report that 15 are confirmed dead, but activists on the ground report that the number is well beyond 150, as many of the wounded were in serious condition when they were removed from the streets by army vehicle and taken to unknown destinations. Sources confirm that they were not taken to any hospitals in Daraa or surrounding counties.

 

The massacre received wide international attention, with many media outlets reporting on it as it happened, due to buzz generated on Twitter and outreach efforts by exiled activists and human rights groups. Meanwhile, Syrian officials are mounting an extensive public relations campaign, as their spokesmen flood TV stations speaking as if they were members of the opposition, calling for reforms, admitting mistakes, saying the "President" intends to call for a major conference on political reform, all while raising all sorts of doubts about foreign agendas, infiltrators and suspicious happenings in Daraa. This is an old tactic and, despite the greater exposure by Syrians to different versions of the "truth" thanks to social media tools satellite channels, it can still be effective, among those too scared to act ad are in search of excuses and justifications for their behavior.


How effective this tactic will be demonstrated on coming Friday. Activists are calling for mass demonstrations to take place following the Noon prayers, the size of the crowds willing to respond will divulge much about the pace, course and nature of events in the days and weeks to come.

 

 

From Social Media Networks

 

Daraa

Video of the dead during the massacre.

Video of people dead in the streets.

Video show how Daraa is under heavy gunfire.

Video shows how protester ties a tourniquet around another's leg to stop the bleeding after being shot in Daraa.
Video shows martyrs in Daraa hospital. Security forces used anti-tanks bullets against peaceful protesters.

Video from Daraa hospital.

Video of early dawn raid at Omari Mosque.
Video shows how security forces are killing people in Daraa.

Video of Daraa martyrs.

Video of funeral processions.

Video of unarmed protesters shouting "Peaceful Peaceful" as security forces open fire.

Video shows how security forces attack and insult protesters.

Video shows security forces conduct arrests.

Video of gunfire in Daraa in the afternoon; a battlefield.

Video of Daraa inhabitants welcoming army units with chants of jubilation, thinking that the army was on their side, or in the hope of co-opting it.

Video shows how demonstrators in Daraa greeted the Syrian military.
Syrian soldier shot dead (3 bullets) by security forces for refusing to kill demonstrators.
After the funeral of Ibtissam Masalmeh (kid) in Daraa security forces fired live ammunition at mourners.
Eyewitness: Hundreds of injured in Daraa were treated in homes as security forces are kidnapping the injured from hospitals.

 

Tafas

Video showing the martyrs in Tafas town near Daraa.

 

Damascus

Video of a protest in front of the Palace of Justice in Damascus.

Video released today of Damascus protest last Friday 18.03.2011.
Syrian regime is planning a huge demonstration in support of Bashar Assad

 

Promo

Video has been circulating on social media sites urging Syrians to protest.

 

TV Coverage

Alarabiya report on the dawn massacre in Daraa.

Alarabiya talks to an eyewitness reporting on the massacre.

Alarabiya report on today's event and interview with Omari mosque Imam Ahmad Sayasne.
Alarabiya report on Daraa and interview with Haytham Manna.

BBC Arabic report on Daraa massacre.

France 24 interview with eyewitness on Daraa massacre.

France 24 TV interview with Haytham Manna on Daraa massacre at dawn.
BBC report on Daraa.
BBC interview with Syrian activist Haytham Manna on Daraa massacre.
BBC interview with Abdulrazak Eid and Abdulbari Atwan on Daraa massacre.
Alarabiya report: Syrian security forces kill civilians in Daraa.
Euronews report on massacre in Daraa.
CNN report on the uprising in Syria.
CNN interview with Wissam Tarif.
France 24 interview with Mountaha Atrash commenting on Daraa massacre.
Russia Today TV broadcasts images of Daraa massacre.
Aljazeera interview with Mouaz Khatib on the uprising in Syria.
Aljazeera English interview with Malik Abdeh.
Nile TV Interview with Thaer Nashef.