Syrian Revolution Digest, March 23, 2011
The main focus of the uprising continues to be Daraa in Southern Syria. The Assad regime seems to be determined to end the uprising in Daraa through the use of force. At early dawn security forces surrounded and attacked the Omari Mosque in downtown Daraa, which has become a gathering place for the protesters and a field hospital of sorts. Heavy gunfire could be heard, and numerous casualties were reported. Imams called from Minarets on people to come to the rescue. Power supply was shut down all over the city, and thousands of people poured into the streets. There were also reports of explosions.
A widely circulated video showed security forces firing on protesters in the dark, despite desperate appeals from the protesters not to shoot at them. Twitter-verse managed to provide immediate coverage resulting in prompt media reports and live interviews on Al-Arabiya TV.
The exact number of casualties is hard to confirm on account of the information blackout imposed by the regime. Most news agencies reported 15 confirmed dead, but activists on the ground report that the number might be as high as 150, as many of the wounded were in serious condition when they were removed from the streets by army vehicle and taken to unknown destinations. Sources confirm that they were not taken to any hospitals in Daraa or surrounding counties.
The brutal crack-down on the mosque received wide international attention, with many media outlets reporting on it as it happened, due to buzz generated on Twitter and outreach efforts by activists both in Syria and exile as well as human rights groups. Meanwhile, Syrian officials are mounting an extensive public relations campaign, as their spokesmen flood TV stations, announcing reforms, admitting mistakes, saying the “President” intends to call for a major conference on political reform. Yet at the same time officials like presidential adviser Bouthania Shaaban accuses “foreign forces” for the events in Daraa.
In Damascus, Mazen Darwish, director of the Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression, was arrested after having been called in for a “meeting” with security forces in the morning. It is Darwish´s second arrest within a week: On March 16 he was among 40 people arrested after participating in a protest in front of the Ministry of Interior organized by families of political prisoners but was released the same day.
Daraa
Video of the dead during the massacre.
Video of people dead in the streets.
Video show how Daraa is under heavy gunfire.
Video shows how protester ties a tourniquet around another’s leg to stop the bleeding after being shot in Daraa.
Video shows martyrs in Daraa hospital. Security forces used anti-tanks bullets against peaceful protesters.
Video from Daraa hospital.
Video of early dawn raid at Omari Mosque.
Video shows how security forces are killing people in Daraa.
Video of Daraa martyrs.
Video of funeral processions.
Video of unarmed protesters shouting “Peaceful Peaceful” as security forces open fire.
Video shows how security forces attack and insult protesters.
Video shows security forces conduct arrests.
Video of gunfire in Daraa in the afternoon; a battlefield.
Video of Daraa inhabitants welcoming army units with chants of jubilation, thinking that the army was on their side, or in the hope of co-opting it.
Video shows how demonstrators in Daraa greeted the Syrian military.
Syrian soldier shot dead (3 bullets) by security forces for refusing to kill demonstrators.
Reports: After the funeral of the child Ibtissam Masalmeh in Daraa security forces are said to have fired live ammunition at mourners.
Eyewitness: Hundreds of injured in Daraa were treated in homes as there were rumours of security forces taking injured protesters from hospitals.
Tafas
Video showing the martyrs in Tafas town near Daraa.
Damascus
Video of a protest in front of the Palace of Justice in Damascus.
Video released today of Damascus protest last Friday 18.03.2011.
Syrian regime is planning a huge demonstration in support of Bashar Assad
TV Coverage
Alarabiya report on the dawn massacre in Daraa.
Alarabiya talks to an eyewitness reporting on the massacre.
Alarabiya report on today’s event and interview with Omari mosque Imam Ahmad Sayasne.
Alarabiya report on Daraa and interview with Haytham Manna.
BBC Arabic report on Daraa massacre.
France 24 interview with eyewitness on Daraa massacre.
France 24 TV interview with Haytham Manna on Daraa massacre at dawn.
BBC report on Daraa.
BBC interview with Syrian activist Haytham Manna on Daraa massacre.
BBC interview with Abdulrazak Eid and Abdulbari Atwan on Daraa massacre.
Alarabiya report: Syrian security forces kill civilians in Daraa.
Euronews report on massacre in Daraa.
CNN report on the uprising in Syria.
CNN interview with Wissam Tarif.
France 24 interview with Mountaha Atrash commenting on Daraa massacre.
Russia Today TV broadcasts images of Daraa massacre.
Aljazeera interview with Mouaz Khatib on the uprising in Syria.
Aljazeera English interview with Malik Abdeh.
Nile TV Interview with Thaer Nashef.
This digest was produced in cooperation with Kafa Samtan and the Strategic Research and Communication Centre.
