Syrian Revolution Digest, April 17, 2011
Wide-spread protests across the country seem to indicate that the protests are growing, despite the violence used to crack them down.
Homs
There were demonstrations in different parts of the city as well as in surrounding towns, including Rastan and Talbiseh. Earlier reports of bombardment using tanks and artillery could not be confirmed, but tanks and artillery were indeed used to lay siege to both towns. Still, gunfire left dozens of casualties, with several confirmed dead. There were reports that hospitals were often prevented from providing adequate treatment to the wounded and that security officers have been seen brutalizing the wounded even as they lay in hospital beds. Three fatalities were also reported in Bab Al-Sibaa, especially near the local hospital where protesters tried to prevent security forces from entering and arresting the wounded and from snatching the bodies of the dead.
Lattakia
Security crackdowns were reported in both the Sleibeh and Tabiat neighborhoods. No exact words yet on fatalities and casualties, but early reports from a number of eyewitnesses in the city mention that dozens have fallen. It’s very difficult to get confirmation at this stage. If these figures and those reported from Homs and Mouaddamiyyah below are confirmed, this could be the bloodiest day of the revolution.
Mouaddammiyyah
Major protests demanding regime fall were also met with heavy security crackdown, including tear gas and life ammunition. At one point, reports claimed that women threw boiling water and gas tanks at the security officers s they stormed the narrow streets of the neighborhood. Five fatalities are reported.
Suweida
A small protest of 300 participants was brutally dispersed by local authorities, and though no major casualties were reported, the incident generated much anger among Syria’s Druze community whose capital is Suweida. Hani Al-Atrash, the grandson of Suleiman Pasha Al-Atrash, the Grandfather of the Syrian Revolution that paved the way to independence was among the brutalized. As such, what started as small protests could quickly snowball into a major development that could engulf the entire governorate following the example of neighboring Deraa.
From Social Networking Websites
Damascus and Damascus suburbs
Video of the disperse of the sit-in of Mouaddamiya
Video of the free bare-chested youth of Mouaddamiya facing security forces
Video of Mouaddamiya demos
Video of Al-dameer (Damascus suburbs) demo
Video of Duma’s demo
Video of the marks of exploded bullets on the chaste body of the martyr Muwafa Dakhl-Allah
Daraa
Video of torture marks on the chaste body of the martyr conscript Mohamed Kuman from Al-Herak
Video of the funeral of the conscript Mohamed Kuman
Video of a statement by a relative of the killed Mohamed Kuman
Video of the youth of Al-Sanamein and Inkhil putting on their grouds yearning for martyrdom
Video of a poem recited by a girl from Horan dedicated to the fallen heros
Video of Daraa demos today
Homs
Video 1 , v 2 of the fallen heros of brave Homs
Video 1, v 2, v 3 of demo in Albaida rising up to aid Bab Al-Sebaa
Video 1, v 2 , v 3, v 4, v 5, v 6, v 7 of the demos of Bab Al-Sebaa
Video 1, v 2 of ambulances in Bab Al-Sebaa
Video of the start of the attack in Talbeesa and heavy shooting at unarmed demonstrators
Video , v 2 of the rise of the people of Bab Al-Dreib and Al-Seteen street to aid Bab Al-Sebaa
Video of the demo of Bab Amr
Video 1, v 2 of the funeral of Omar Owaygan in Talbeesa
Video 1, v 2، v 3 of the marks of heavy shooting near Al-meregia mosque in Homs
Video 1, v 2 of Khaled Abu Al-Saud who was killed in Bab Al-Sebaa
Video 1, v 2 of the army surrounding Bab Al-Sebaa and inexpressibly-heavy shooting
Video of aiding a wounded demonstrator in Talbeesa
Video of an eye-witness to the brutality of the regime at Al-Bar hospital in Homs
Video of the martyr of Al-Wazeery family in the demo of Bab Al-Sebaa in Homs
Video of the wounded in Al-Bayada
Video summarizing the events in Talbeesa on Sunday
Hama
Video of the security forces running from the brave people of Hama today
Lattakia
Video 1, v 2، v 3 , v 4, v 5 from the fallen heros of Lattakia today
Video 1 , v 2 shows security forces randomly firing at civilians in Lattakia
Video of the response of the security forces to the peacefulness of the demos
Video showing the snipers centered on the roofs of buildings in Lattakia Sunday afternoon
Video showing the continuation of shooting until a late hour at night in Lattakia today
Banias
Video of the demo of Banias
Video 1 , v 2 of witnesses from the people of Bayda about the aggressions on citizens and the mosque
Jableh
Video 1 , v 2, v 3, v 4, v 5, v 6, v 7 of night demons in Jableh of Qassam in support of other Syrian cities
Idlib
Video of the demo of Kafr Nabl today
Aleppo
Video 1 , v 2, v 3, v 4 of demo in Aleppo on the Sunday of Evacuation beside Hanano graveyard
From Around the World
Video of a demo in support of the Syrian revolution in Sydney, Australia 17th April
Video 1, v 2 , v 3, v 4 of a demo in support of the Arab revolutions and the Syrian revolution in Frankfurt Saturday 16th April
Some press and TV coverage
Video of the reports on Syrian media and France24’s comment
Video of an eye-witness’ recount from Talbeesa on Aljazeera
Video of the comment of the activist Ali Al-Ahmad on Bashar Al-Assad’s second speech
Video of Al-Dunya channel’s interview with a member of Daraa’s construction contractors syndicate singing the praises of the regime
Video of Al-Dunya channel’s report about seizing a weaponry shipment coming from Iraq
Video from Dunya channel about the sit-in in front of Aljazeera’s office showing the hired chanters bands
Video of Aljazeera’s report on the events of the Sunday of Evacuation
Video of Aljazeera’s report on the demos and the demands of the demonstrators to topple the regime
Video of BBC’s report on the demos today
Miscellaneous
Video of the marks of torture on one of the freedom demonstrators and his testimony to what happened
The digest is produced in cooperation with Kafa Samtan and the Strategic Research and Communication Centre.
Damascus Bureau is not responsible for the content of external links.
