Azadî Friday 20 May 2011: from Qamishlo to Houran: In preparation for tomorrow, some sites have included the tag lines ‘From Qamishlo to Houran’ to show support for protesters nationwide, and ‘The Syrian people will not be humiliated.’ Everyone will be protesting tomorrow to demand freedom and the restoration of dignity to the people.
http://kurdistancommentary.wordpress.com/2011/05/19/azadi-friday-from-qamislo-to-houran …
Facebook/Twitter:
Syrian Uprising 2011 Information Centre: SUMMARY (19/5/2011): After a 5-day attack in which at least 35 people were killed, the army pulled out of Talkalakh to attack neighbouring villages. There was also a renewed crackdown in suburbs of Damascus. Meanwhile there were protests in Damascus, Homs, Qamishli and Kobani while Obama gave a speech in which he urged Assad to end the repression and begin the transition to democracy. Syria – Thursday 19/05/11
Damascus: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPtL_KebKLw&feature=player_embedded#at=12
Kobani today: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eiyrX5Yu5_I&feature=player_embedded
Homs: security forces are breaking into random houses in Baba Amro and Kafar Aaya stealing whatever get their attention and arresting random people
Eyewitnesses in Tal Kalakh have stated that they found the charred remains of 14 people, burnt in fields, and had trouble identifying them. Residents also said there were many more unidentified bodies at the morgue of the local Alwatani Hospital, which the town’s mayor had previously attempted to identify. The town’s infirmary had also been partialy destroyed due to the shelling of residential areas in the past few days.
Gunfire was heard at 5:30 today, emanating from army positions, with no known casualties, however security forces and Shabeha thugs were responsible for shooting and injuring several people who could not be immediately reached and rescued.
For the second week running, security forces continue to harass the residents of Tal Kalakh who have been protesting for freedom. After the continued siege, shelling and displacement of refugees, security forces have redeployed around the town, and communication was restored. However, residents who attempted to contact relatives and family, were arrested by security forces and thugs, as were refugees returning to houses shelled and attacked earlier by snipers and machine gun fire.
Eyewitness stated that the town continues to be under heave security lock down, with roadblocks and thugs in many areas.
by ???? ??????? ??????? ?? ????? on Thursday, 19 May 2011 (the link will work)
Students being arrested in their pyjamas https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJOmSN0B0rU&feature=player_embedded
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NOW! Lebanon
[local]
19:33 Twitter user @SyrianJasmine tweets that the charred remains of 14 people were discovered in Tall Kalakh.
19:09 The Foundation of Human and Humanitarian Rights in Lebanon issued a statement that if the Syrian army soldiers handed over to their country’s authority had been defectors, then the act would be a violation of the Geneva Accord.
17:20 There is heavy army deployment in the Damascus suburb of Douma, telecommunication was blocked a while ago. (F.N.N.)
17:10 Twitter user @SyrianJasmine tweets that all communication has been cut off in Daraya, a suburb of Damascus.
15:40 High security measures have been taken in the Edleb region to prevent residents of neighboring villages from reaching the city for Friday’s demonstrations. (S.N.N.)
15:30 LBC television reported that Lebanese and Syrian army members reinforced their presence along Lebanon’s northern border with Syria
12:38 A YouTube video purportedly filmed Thursday in Daraa’s neighborhood of Karak shows a Syrian tank stationed in a residential area following the Syrian regime’s announcement on May 5 that all troops have withdrawn from the city. The person who posted the video filmed yesterday’s newspaper to prove the date was May 18.
12:38 A YouTube video purportedly filmed in Daraa and posted on Thursday shows a sniper, who is allegedly a member of the security forces, located on the roof of a building. His alleged aim is to shoot down anti-regime protestors. (S.N.N)
11:22 Security forces are currently surrounding the city of Harak situated in southern Syria. (The Syrian Revolution 2011)
11:10 There are reports of increased military activity in the Sunmeen and Kfar Shams cities of Houran. (S.N.N)
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President Obama said:
[…] Most recently, the Syrian regime has chosen the path of murder and the mass arrests of its citizens. The United States has condemned these actions, and working with the international community we have stepped up our sanctions on the Syrian regime – including sanctions announced yesterday on President Assad and those around him.
“The Syrian people have shown their courage in demanding a transition to democracy. President Assad now has a choice: he can lead that transition, or get out of the way. The Syrian government must stop shooting demonstrators and allow peaceful protests; release political prisoners and stop unjust arrests; allow human rights monitors to have access to cities like Daraa; and start a serious dialogue to advance a democratic transition. Otherwise, President Assad and his regime will continue to be challenged from within and isolated abroad.
“Thus far, Syria has followed its Iranian ally, seeking assistance from Tehran in the tactics of suppression. […]
In Syria, we see it in the courage of those who brave bullets while chanting, ‘peaceful,’ ‘peaceful. […]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXL07b5DDwM
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REUTERS: Troops enter Syrian village, ignorning U.S. pressure
Syrian troops backed by tanks deployed in a border village Thursday, witnesses said, ignoring growing pressure from Washington, which has imposed sanctions on President Bashar al-Assad for rights abuses.
Looking across the border from the Lebanese village of Boqaya, Syrian soldiers could be seen deploying along a stream in Arida village and entering homes. Lebanese soldiers fanned out on their side of the frontier.
Earlier, sporadic gunfire and shelling were heard from the village. Arida is near the mostly Sunni Muslim town of Tel Kelakh, where one rights activist says Syrian troops have killed at least 27 civilians since entering it Saturday.
Thursday a resident said that armored personnel carriers and dozens of buses filled with soldiers had begun pulling out of Tel Kelakh around noon and were heading north.
“The army is largely gone. There are no security police on the streets, but they are still in and around their headquarters away from the center of Tel Kelakh and they are still occupying the main hospital,” the witness said.
Syrian security forces have used tanks, gunfire and mass arrests to crack down on flashpoints in an attempt to crush a two-month-old revolt against four decades of authoritarian rule by the Assad family. Bashar himself has ruled for 11 years.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/05/19/us-syria-idUSLDE73N02P20110519