Social Media Monitor: A massacre near Damascus

 Social Media Monitor: A massacre near Damascus

There were several conflicting reports about the death toll resulting from the military operation launched by Syrian government troops in Jdaidet Al fadel and Jdaidet Artouz, two suburbs southwest of Damascus. This military operation lasted for nearly six days and ended on Sunday, April 21. Several reports estimated 500 civilians died in the attack,  while the Facebook page of the Local Coordination Committee of Jdaidet Artouz says at least 121 people were killed, many of whom were not identified.

The Facebook page Al Haqiqa Al-Souriyya (The Syrian Truth), which supports the Syrian government, republished photos taken by the official Syrian state news agency, SANA. The photos presumably show opposition fighters killed during the fighting in Jdaidet Al Fadel.

"Our armed forces cleanse Jdaidat Al Fadel in the Damascus countryside from terrorists; units from our armed forces carry out several operations against the dens of terrorists in Jdaidat Al Fadel and restore security in the area."
“Our armed forces cleanse Jdaidat Al Fadel in the Damascus countryside from terrorists; units from our armed forces carry out several operations against the dens of terrorists in Jdaidat Al Fadel and restore security in the area.”

The ex-spokesman of the Syrian National Council Radwan Ziadeh said government-allied militiamen massacred civilians. He tweeted:

"The massacre of Jdaidat Al Fadel, which happened today, is similar to previous massacres; after the Free Syrian Army withdrew, Assad's shabiha went in to slaughter and abuse whoever was left of the civilians…"
“The massacre of Jdaidat Al Fadel, which happened today, is similar to previous massacres; after the Free Syrian Army withdrew, Assad’s shabiha went in to slaughter and abuse whoever was left of the civilians…”

A columnist at the London-based daily Al Quds Al Arabi, Subhi Hadidi, criticized the opposition based outside Syria for failing to do anything about this and previous massacres. He tweeted:

"Dozens of bodies, perhaps 300, who were slaughtered or burned in Jdaidet Al Fadel. All the glory to [your] void statements, oh [Syrian] National Council and National Coalition and Syrian intellectuals…"
“Dozens of bodies, perhaps 300, who were slaughtered or burned in Jdaidet Al Fadel. All the glory to [your] void statements, oh [Syrian] National Council and National Coalition and Syrian intellectuals…”

Moaz al-Khatib confirms his resignation

The head of the opposition-led National Coalition Moaz al-Khatib confirmed his resignation on Sunday, April 21, on the day following the Friends of Syria conference, which was held in Istanbul. Khatib was reported to have said that the countries that support the opposition were not supplying it with adequate military aid. The National Coalition elected the head of the Syrian National Council George Sabra as the new chairman.

A statement on Khatib’s official Facebook page compared his resignation to being set free:

"When a bird is in a cage, it remains captive and helpless. Yesterday I got out of the deceitful golden cage that I was in. I will continue my journey towards freedom with the people of Syria and nothing else. "
“When a bird is in a cage, it remains captive and helpless. Yesterday I got out of the deceitful golden cage that I was in. I will continue my journey towards freedom with the people of Syria and nothing else. “

Boston bombing reminds Syrians of their tragedy

Many Syrians posted their online reactions to the bombings that killed three and injured more than 100 people in Boston on April 15. Samir Mteini, a program presenter at Suria Al Ghad (The Syria of Tomorrow) TV, which is based in Cairo and opposes President Bashar al-Assad’s regime, commented on Facebook, saying:

"Despite all the killing and destruction in Syria, the Boston bombing has stolen the light."
“Despite all the killing and destruction in Syria, the Boston bombing has stolen the light.”

Syrian youth in Kafr Nebel in the province of Idlib sent their condolences to Boston while also reminding the world of their own condition with an English language sign. Al Mundassa Al Suriyya blog published this photo that went viral on the Internet.

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Al Jazeera talk show “blemishes” the opposition

The April 16 episode of the popular Al Jazeera talk show, Al Ittijah Al Muaakis (The Opposite Direction) turned into a shouting match. One of the two guests, Abdel Jalil Saeed, and opposition supporter and the former media officer of Dar Iftaa, Syria’s highest official Islamic clerical body, threw water in the face of his opponent, American University of Beirut Professor of Political Science Ahmed Mousalli, calling him a “shabih.” Drenched in water, Mousalli went after Saeed with his belt, cursing his sister.

Syrian writer and activist Imad al-Abbar commented on Facebook, saying:

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“As bad as it is, Al Ittijah Al Muaakis shows us that shabiha culture is not something that only [political] regimes practice and that regimes did not come from another world…and [it shows us] that God will not change anything until we change…”

Journalist Mustafa Alloush criticized the effect this show has on the image of the Syrian opposition. He wrote on his Facebook page:

"Two years after the revolution has started, I don’t believe anybody has blemished the Syrian opposition and offended its martyrs as much as Al Ittijah Al Muaakis did…not even [the pro-government] Al Dunia TV!"
“Two years after the revolution has started, I don’t believe anybody has blemished the Syrian opposition and offended its martyrs as much as Al Ittijah Al Muaakis did…not even [the pro-government] Al Dunia TV!”