Syrian Revolution Digest, March 21, 2011
Protests in Syria are no longer restricted to Daraa City, but now expanded to many towns and villages nearby, especially Jassem, Daael, Sanamain and Inkhil. Ongoing arrests were reported, and hundreds of protesters are still unaccounted for.
In Jassem, the uprising began when Imams called out from mosques saying, “People of Dignity, People of Honor, your folks in Daraa are being slaughtered.” 1,500 gathered within minutes. “The demonstration came in response to the siege of Daraa City” one eyewitness said. “We walked in the direction of Abu Tammam Square… People wanted to go and throw stones at the District Director, but we insisted on keeping things peaceful by chanting “Silmiyyah.” [Arabic for “Peaceful”, note of the editor] Party officials came to us and asked us what we want, and we replied: Freedom. That ended our communication.“
In Inkhel, the protesters destroyed the local party headquarter and tore down a poster of President Assad. No security officer showed up during the entire demonstration.
In Daraa, the statue of Hafiz Al-Assad in the main square was demolished yesterday, all posters of Bashar were torn, and “Down With Assad” slogans were sprayed on walls of many schools.
In Qamishly, Kurds poured into the streets to celebrate Nowruz, the traditional Kurdish New Year. Though no clashes with authority were reported, speakers at the celebrations called for ending the state of emergency, the release of political prisoners and respect for political freedoms. In a gesture of support to the revolution, protesters raised the Syrian flag on the stage. At night, celebrations turned into protests, with people filling the narrow streets of the city, shouting “Freedom, Freedom, Freedom” and cars honked their horns.
Small demonstrations continued to take part in various Damascene neighbourhoods and suburbs, including Kafar Sousseh, Douma, Mouaddamiyah and Al-Hajar Al-Aswad.
Daraa
Video shows empty rounds of ammunition used against demonstrators.
Video shows Mohammed Jawabra body. He was killed by direct shot in the neck.
Video of ambulances in Daraa.
Video shows the body of a person killed yesterday’s demonstrations.
Video shows Omari mosque turning into a field hospital.
Video of thousands chanting: Peaceful.. Peaceful.
Video shows the renaming of a square in Daraa where people are gathering to “Dignity Square”.
Video shows thousands demand the regime to leave.
Reports on army batallions imposing blockade on Daraa.
Video shows one demonstrator killed by security forces live bullets.
Bashar Assad phoned notable tribal leaders gathered in Omari mosque to offer condolences and promise reform.
Child Momen Masalmeh (11 years) died from teargas fired by security forces yesterday.
Numerous arrests of citizens on security checkpoints across the city.
Jassem
Video of demonstrations chanting for freedom.
Inkhel
Video of demonstrations spreading in the south.
Sanamain
Video of demonstrations.
Video of continued demonstrations at late night.
Damascus
Calls for sit-in in front of Palace of Justice tomorrow to demand the release of political prisoners.
Damasucs Suburbs
Video of demonstration in Mouaddamiya town where tens were arrested afterwards.
Video of demonstration in Al-Hajar Al-Aswad.
Qamishly
Video shows thousands protesting in Qamishly.
Video shows thousands of protestors in Qamishly.
Video of Syrian Kurdish Sheikh, Maashouq Al-Khaznawi, in which he calls Kurds to demonstrate.
Video shows Qamishly protestors shouting, “Freedom, freedom!”.
No security presence in areas of Kurdish celebrations on the Persian new year festival of Nowruz.
Aleppo
Reports of the arrest of young people distributing leaflets calling for demonstrations.
Tunisia
Announcement of a demonstration next Thursday in front of the Syrian embassy in the capital Tunis in solidarity with the Syrian revolution.
Egypt
Announcement of a protest next Tuesday in front of the Syrian embassy in Cairo in solidarity with the Syrian revolution.
Reports
Senior security officers threaten employees of the Syrian “Orient TV” for their coverage of the events of the revolution.
Release of some political prisoners from Sednaya prison.
Syrian regime falsly accuses Jund Al-Sham and Fatah Al-Islam for events in Deraa.
TV Coverage
Syrian State TV report on events in Syria showing the baseless propaganda and accusations that the demonstrators are hired.
Euronews report on the day’s events.
BBC report analysing the Deraa revolution.
Nile TV Egyptian channel report on the Deraa revolution.
Orient TV interview with the activist Muntaha Sultan Al-Atrash.
Al Arabiya interview with the activist Mazen Darwish on the thousand-strong demonstrations in Jassim and Ankhal.
Al Arabiya channel interview with the lawyer Haitham Al-Maleh who said that events in Syria are a growing snowball.
BBC interview with the activist Muntaha Sultan Al-Atrash who directed an influential message at the Syrian President.
Euronews report on the spread of demonstrations in southern Syria.
BBC evening bulletin report on the events of the Syrian revolution.
Al Arabiya evening bulletin report on the day’s events in Syria.
France 24 interview with the rights activist Rizan Zaytouna.
International reactions
United States calls the Syrian regime to stop using violence against demonstrators in Syria immediately.
Canada condemns the Syrian regime’s violence in suppressing the demonstrations.
France condemns the use of violence against demonstrators in Syria.
This digest is produced in cooperation with Kafa Samtan.
