Syrian Revolution Digest, April 7, 2011
Today, President Bashar al-Assad issued decrees granting citizenship to more than 250,000 Kurds who have been deprived of it since a census of 1962. He also fired the governor of Homs and Deraa in the hope of appeasing the local populations. Yesterday, he called for closing the casino that had opened for business less than 2 months ago, and order the reinstatement of Niqab-clad teachers who had been removed from their positions last Summer .
But while Assad announced these “reforms”, protesters were preparing for tomorrow’s protests. In Deraa Governorate, inhabitants of Sanamein and Hara kicked police officers who tried to retake their old stations , leaving behind all their weapons, which the inhabitants left in the armory, insisting on keeping their revolution peaceful. There was also demonstrations in Inkhel and Jassem meant as dress rehearsals for tomorrow. In Inkhel, the new chief met with local protest leaders and asked them for their demands. “Toppling the regime,” came the response according to eyewitnesses, at which point the security chief and his escort left the gathering, and women literally threw old shoes at them until their convoy left town.
There were also demonstrations in Dariyyah Suburb near Damascus, Lattakia, Banyas and Deir Ezzor. In Homs, members of the Fawair and Ouaydat clans poured into the streets of the old town to be ready for an early start of their protests tomorrow. In Qamishly, hundreds of Kurdish protesters showed their rejection of Assad’s overtures and declared their solidarity with their fellow Arabs in their demands for freedom.
From Social Media Networks
Daraa
A full video of Daraa’s people strike on Thursday evening in preparation for the “Friday of Withstand”, video1, vid2, vid3, vid4, vid5, vid6
Video of the demo in Daraa today in honor of the Fallen Heroes of the Syrian Revolution
Video shows women’s participation in Daraa demonstration in honor of the Fallen Heroes of the Syrian Revolution
Video for the participation of religious scholars in Daraa demonstration with the slogan “death rather than humiliation”
Video of Daraa’s demo today shows how the youth kick out the thugs of Syrian regime
Video of Daraa’s demonstration shows the shooting on demonstrators by security force
Douma
Video of Mrs. Atrash, Muntaha’s speech to the Fallen Heroes’ families at their funeral
Video, A prayer of one of the Fallen Heroes’ brother at the funeral
Video of Douma’s demonstrations today in preparation for the “Friday of Withstand”
Text of Statement of Demands by the people of Douma
Kafar Souseh
Video shows thugs groups in front of Al-Rifai mosque before Friday prayers on the Friday of Fallen Heroes
Daraiya
Video shows demonstrations on Thursday and logos of the united Syrian people
Alhrak (near Daraa)
Video of the mass demo in the city of Alhrak today in preparation for the Friday of Withstand
Banyas
New video of mass demo in Banyas with the chant “the people want to topple the regime”
Video of Banyas demonstrations summarizes the demands of the Syrian Revolution Youth
Lattakia
Video of a mass demonstration outside the house of MP Zakaria Selwaya
Alhara
Video shows demonstration of Alhara in solidarity with the people of Daraa
Qamishli
Video of Thursday’s evening demonstration of the people of Qamishli evening insisting on the demands of all Syrian people
Jassim and Inkhel
Video of the demos of Jassim and Inkhel with slogans denouncing traitors and regime
Spain
New video of a demonstration in Spain in support of the Syrian Revolution
Selection of TV coverage
Intervention of Mr. Abdul Basit Hammo about the decision to grant citizenship to some of the Kurds to appease them
France 24 dialogue with Sarkis on the Syrian Revolution
France 24 dialogue with Mohamed Ajlan about Syrian youth revolution
France 24, Mr. Maleh, Haitham the human rights activist comments on the killing of two policemen in Kafr Batna in Damascus
Orient TV report on the rejection of revolution youth of “reforms” offered by the regime
Orient TV report of the Syrian people demands
Orient TV report on the status of Kurds (What happens after the citizenship retrieval?)
Selection of Press reports
Aljazeera report on the arrest of journalist Mohamed Zaid Mesto by the Syrian authorities
Aljazeera report on the steps taken by Assad to placate the Kurds
The Economist survey of Syrians thoughts on the Parliament members
Al-Quds Al-Arabi newspaper, an article by Mohamed Mansour about the stupidity of the Syrian media
New York Times, Dissidents from Syria seek haven in Lebanon
Reaction of the Syrian regime
Video of a pro-regime march
Syrian media report about the cancellation of request for security approval of some civil procedure, immigration and passports
This digest was produced in cooperation with Kafa Samtan and the Strategic Research and Communication Centre.
Damascus Bureau is not responsible for the content of external links.
