It is currently Thu Mar 28, 2024 2:53 pm

All times are UTC




Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 2 posts ] 
Author Message
PostPosted: Thu Jun 07, 2012 2:18 pm 
Offline

Joined: Tue Aug 11, 2009 7:44 pm
Posts: 1121
Location: Sussex, England
Short, must watch report by Seamus. Some disturbing images:

http://www.viistories.com/the-videos/syrian-spring.aspx

Syrian Spring

on 03 May 2012

by Seamus Murphy

For most Syrians the Arab Spring is proving tragically late with the massacre of more than 100 people, many of them children on Friday May 25th. in the villages that constitute Houla, near Homs. It seems that the present cease fire is beneficial to everyone except the Syrian opposition and the innocent civilians who are paying with their lives. Regional powers who have agendas, western powers who fear losing domestic popularity and of course the Assad regime. The regime has powerful military forces, which are being used to drive armed rebels out of important centers of revolt. They started in the Damascus suburbs, moved on to Homs, then Idlib.

We traveled into Syria from Turkey with the opposition network using smuggling routes and spent a short period of time in Idlib Province. And the network is everywhere. It has cells in Turkish refugee camps, smugglers on the border, guides in the mountains; safe houses in every village and town inside northern Syria. Children act as look-outs and courier messages ; medics operate secret clinics; scouts use motorbikes and horses and, of course, there are the rebel fighters among the hills, farms and olive orchards.

The network is the arterial core of the Syrian revolution and the main target for Assad in his efforts to crush dissent. No wonder then, that not a single member of the dozens of cell members we encountered as we were passed from village to village deeper into Syria ever used their real name.

The networks zones of support are not so clearly defined, with large Shia villages in clear view of roads we traveled, as we very nearly discovered to our cost.

In one terrifying moment on our first day in Syria, driving through a mixed Sunni-Allawite town, we drove straight into a crossroads where there was a Syrian army tank and checkpoint. Neither slowing down or accelerating our driver turned to the right beside the tank and we escaped unmolested.
"It is the afternoon," said our guide as we struggled to regain our breath, "so the soldiers were probably asleep."

To view more of Seamus's images and videos go to:

http://seamusmurphy.com/

_________________
Wiggins is so superbly unassuming, he looks like he's about to say 'Pop the gold medal in the post, I'm nipping out for some biscuits'

Mark Steel


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Fri Jun 08, 2012 1:30 am 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Mon Apr 11, 2011 1:28 am
Posts: 119
Location: England
Thanks for the posting these links, I will share them elsewhere. I'm stunned by Seamus Murphy's work and courage.

Avaaz have a new petition to try to halt the flow of weapons to the Syrian regime: http://www.avaaz.org/en/us_and_india_stop_syrias_merchants_of_death/?cUjCVbb


Top
 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 2 posts ] 

All times are UTC


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 18 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: