Notes from Damascus – ‘Day of Rage’ unites Syrians

Syrian anti-government protesters gather in Banias on April 29, 2010, during the "Day of Rage" demonstrations called by activists to pile pressure of President Bashar al-Assad as his regime pressed a violent crackdown on dissent. - AFP Photo DAMASCUS: A spectacular show of strength was put up by the Syrians who braved heavy teargas shelling and extra-judicial arrests by President Bashar’s troops on Friday. As the ‘Day of Rage’ progressed the death toll rose to over 60 but this not deter the protestors. Friday was signified with widespread courage and symbolism as children and women took to the streets carrying banners ‘I am not a terrorist’ and ‘Let’s kick Assad’. While Bashar’s Army tanks dared unarmed civilians, the multicultural city of Aleppo belatedly took out their maiden pro-democracy processions. Though the protests became noisier and unprecedented across the Syrian towns and villages, the armed forces led by Maher al-Assad exercised relative restraint in most cities following the visit of a high profile Turkish delegation lead by Turk National Intelligence Organisation (NİT) chief Hakan Fidan. The Turks are the only Muslim nation putting pressure on the Baath leadership against using force and adopting swift reform process. While many towns and cities remain unconnected due to power and communication breakdown, the towns of Daraa and Homs remain besieged otherwise. More protestors lost their life in military firing and sniper shots of Alawite-dominated corps deployed there. The sentiment across the country, according to TV channels, telephonic interviews and social media Arabic websites, remained centered around the plight of Daraa residents, a city that has inspired a revolutionary movement. “We have seen death and misery on our doorstep despite living in fear since 1963. Enough is enough,” says a daring young mother in headscarf, holding the hand of her five-year old son, in an interview with Al-Arabiya TV footage. In Damascus, military has been called in but only to scare the innocent. More news of arrests of men, women and children storm the social media networks. The TV footages also showed young men tearing down government erected banners warning against ‘illegal’ public rallies. While men shouted angry slogans against the regime’s trigger happy reaction, women pleaded for opening food and medical supplies for the people of Daraa, living amid indiscriminate firing with no electricity, internet or telecommunication connectivity with the world. On the southern Jordanian border, Syrians escaping the military witch hunt held various protests with some risking their lives by attempting to return back. Journalists and social activists note that hundreds have fled to Lebanon. The figure of displaced Syrians heading to Lebanon and Jordan is said to be almost 1 million. There is no confirmation of the number while migration is an undeniable reality. A family, which escaped from Daraa, told horrific stories to this correspondent. Abdullah, who does not share his second name, says, “Bodies of martyrs are being preserved in refrigerated trucks, normally used for edible products.” He explains that funerals and burials are impossible given military’s habit of shooting even the smallest gathering of people. “We are pouring alcohol on martyr’s bodies in a desperate to contain decomposition and stench,” says Abdullah, with tears in eyes and anger on his face. For the first time, women in Homs, holding olive branches in hands and wearing Syrian traditional costumes, left homes to stand shoulder to shoulder with the sons and brothers. They made passionate calls for mercy on the besieged people of Daraa. A Facebook activist Mouddamiyyeh quoted a woman named, Amal, saying: “My children went to see their father in Daraa but never came back. She finds no way to reach them to know about their well-being.” Raed Al-Ali, a Daraa resident told the BBC, “There is shooting almost everywhere, in desperate attempts to prevent Muslims from attending Friday prayers in a large number.” He noted that many people, especially children, are dying from hunger, pleading the government to permit food supplies to Daraa. Ahmed sent out a Tweet, noting that some of the defecting military personnel are trying to protect people from Maher’s forces. Meanwhile, the otherwise low-profile Muslim Brotherhood gave a call for a demonstration while seeking resignation the Baath party members. The party may pose the most serious threat to the Bashar’s regime. Bassam Abu Abdullah, a pro-government professor of international relations at the University of Damascus, finds protests unjustified after Bashsar announced ‘reforms’. He alleges the Muslim Brotherhood of using the processions for political gain. The ‘Day of Rage’ has taken the pace of protest to next level, limiting Bashar’s options and tremendously enhancing the confidence of a common Syrian. According to Al-Quds newspaper, the Syrian government has claimed losses of troops and policemen while the state television claimed to broadcast their funerals. Independent analysts on Facebook and foreign media refused to buy such ‘propaganda’. “The military killed the protestors’ and then used the same as the victims of activists, this is a shame,” says Yassin in chat with this correspondent on Gtalk. However, the news of defection in Daraa and some other besieged areas has proven to be a silver lining amid dark clouds. The writer is a young journalist and social media activist whose family struggled against Hafiz Al-Assad's tyrannical rule and policies. She has traveled to the Americas, Europe, and the Middle East for her work.