Devil in the Details #Syria

11/02/12

by DR

Pro-Assad rallies. The epitome of a civilized rally. The balloons, the flags, the dancing everyone happy and singing their praises to a supreme leader, denouncing violence and sectarianism. It’s a utopia of free speech and unwavering support. It is the example the Assad regime points to for proof of their success at ruling the country. It is a far cry from the tear gas, bullets and indeed heavy artillery that rain down on protests in other parts of the country. Proof, the government says, that these other protests are not peaceful at all, that they are, in fact, armed gangs paid for and financed from a number of external forces.

Activists have long claimed pro-Assad rallies are fabricated, that if one were to look closer the crowds are made up of the secret police or moukhabarat and a few die-hard loyalists. That these are planned in advance, funded by the regime no less and are not, as the government claims, spontaneous showcases of love and adoration.

It seems the devil truly is in the detail. The hacktivist syndicate Anyonymous recently dumped emails from MOPA, the Ministry of Presidential Affairs, President Assad’s personal office. Emails uncovered sent to Presidential aid Akram Issa, detail billings and accounts and efforts made in advance to create these spontaneous rallies in support of the President.

The email in question marked SPAM in the subject header, states Governors involved offered their verbal commitment to pay the supplier of these protests yet have not paid up their dues as per the Minister’s request. Attachments in the email detail itemized descriptions of the outstanding balance, which reach a total of 1.1 Million SYP in October 2011 (before the inflation of the SYP) at the time equaling $20,000.

The rally in Lattakia province alone cost the administration 315,000 SYP the bare minimum, the supplier writes, to make the rally seem like an acceptable turnout.

An attachment titled “Details of the Flag Raising Rally in Lattakia” includes 45,000 SYP ($800) spent on 60 kg of confetti to be thrown in the air the moment the Syrian flag is raised.  One hundred sweaters for the flag raising crew in the colors of the flag totaling 2,500 SYP ($580) and sound system rental for the rally at 500,000 SYP ($9000).

In another attachment titled “Detailed billings to the personal account of Monhal Zeitoun” costs for rallies held in Damascus, Sweida and Hasakeh province are itemized.  The supplier writes under the header for Damascus “Campaign: Our martyrs, your blood runs in our veins” and details expenditures of 150,000 SYP ($2,600) to cover sound and broadcast of the event including another 49,000 SYP ($875) for printed t-shirts.  A miscellaneous amount of 57,000 SYP includes costs for ironing clothes, supply of water, taxi cabs and a refrigerator and its transport.

At a time when cities and towns were surrounded by regime tanks and protesters died on the streets by army bullets, when heating oil in Homs was scarce and when international opinion towards the regime came into question the President’s office was gearing up for a fanfare of pomp and circumstance in an effort almost too bureaucratic to believe to prove their support is indeed a spontaneous act of love sheltered in the heart of every Syrian.

Source: ayyam.org

River runs red in Syrian massacre protest #Syria

Posted February 03, 2012 08:15:25

Residents in the central Syrian city of Hama have defiantly painted roads red and staged a general strike in memory of a massacre carried out by the regime there 30 years ago.

The Syrian opposition had called for demonstrations throughout the country on Thursday to remember up to 40,000 people who were killed in Hama in 1982.

Rallies were also held elsewhere in Syria, including in the capital Damascus and in the central province of Homs.

In Hama itself footage posted on the internet showed the city’s Orontes River tinged red after paint was spilled into it.

“Our memory was awakened by the crimes that are happening now. It is the same oppression, same torture, same style of killing,” said activist Yasser al-Hamawi, who is from the city but now lives elsewhere.

“It is being repeated now even if on a smaller measure, people will not forget or forgive.”

Hama has become a symbol of defiance during the 11-month uprising against president Bashar al-Assad’s rule.

Residents, fearing reprisals, had until now not been able to mark the massacre.

By they reported that the city was paralysed on Thursday.

Schools and shops were closed and employees stayed at home.

Activists says a heavy government security presence, including snipers deployed throughout the city, prevented them from holding demonstrations to recall the day when forces loyal to then-president Hafez al-Assad attacked Hama.

“We did not mark it the way we wanted. The heavy security prevented us from protesting but at least now we can talk about it and it is acknowledged,” activist Mohamed abu al-Kheir said from the city.

The internet footage also showed graffiti which residents said dotted walls in the city, reading: “Hafez died and Hama did not, Bashar will die and Hama will never die.”

1982 massacre

The elder Assad was fighting an Islamist uprising in which the banned Muslim Brotherhood and its armed wing, the Fighting Vanguard, made a last stand in Hama.

For Sunni Islamist Syrians, Hama is synonymous with an assault on their religion by Mr Assad, a member of the minority Alawite sect which they deem heretical.

Thirty years later, his son is struggling to crush a revolt that began with mass demonstrations and now features an armed insurgency, which Bashar al-Assad calls an Islamist fifth column funded and directed from abroad.

The Brotherhood is playing a prominent role in the drive to topple Mr Assad in the present uprising - in which the United Nations says more than 5,000 people have been killed.

In a separate development, diplomats say a new draft of a UN Security Council resolution aimed at stopping the violence in Syria contains concessions to Russia.

Russia has consistently opposed any foreign intervention in Syria.

Source: abc.net.au

Syrian women, backbone of the revolution #Syria

By Electron Libre

The women of Deraa, where the Syrian uprising began back in March, took to the streets on Saturday, calling for the release of their husbands, brothers or sons currently detained by security forces. The rally illustrates how women are playing a crucial role in the uprising against the regime of Bashar al-Assad.

Rime Allaf, a researcher at London based laboratory Chatham House has described them as the backbone of the revolution, placing particular emphasis on their involvement in organizing protests and rallies. She uses the actress Fadwa Suleiman as an example, who, as we can see in this amateur video footage, has led a number of demonstrations in Homs in recent weeks.

And when they are not on the streets, the women of Syria are working behind the scenes. Some tending to wounded protesters who cannot get to hospital, others in factories or workshops like this one, making banners and Syrian flags to be used in the anti-government rallies.

But women are not exempt from the brutal and bloody crackdown. And to avoid arrest, torture and rape, many prefer to protest from home, as we can see in these online videos. And although women are at the forefront of the uprising against the Damascus regime, it looks as if they plan on being equally involved in the Syria of tomorrow.

Source: france24.com