Who are the Syrian protesters and what do they want?
One of the Syrian protesters in Banias speaks in English directly to the international media and community about the false accusations by the regime about the nature of the peaceful protesters.
Let's go to the videotape.
I have to admit that even I thought that removing Assad would lead to ethnic conflict, but given what a thug he is, I thought that was preferable to the current situation. If even that's not true, why doesn't the 'international community' want to get rid of him?
Syrian tanks are poised to attack the city of Banias on the Mediterranean coast.
Syrian protesters in Banias chanted "the people want the overthrow of the regime" on Tuesday as forces deployed around the small coastal city for a possible attack, a rights campaigner in contact with Banias said.
"Our demands are peaceful. Syrian security forces have shot dead at least 400 civilians in their campaign to crush month-long pro-democracy protests, Syrian human rights organization Sawasiah said on Tuesday.
The group, founded by jailed human rights lawyer Mohannad al-Hassani, said the UN Security Council must convene to start proceedings against Syrian officials in the International Criminal Court and "reign in the security apparatus."
"This savage behavior, which is aimed at keeping the ruling clique in power at the expense of a rising number of civilian lives, calls for immediate international action beyond condemnations," Sawasiah said in a statement sent to Reuters.
"The murderers in the Syrian regime must be held accountable. The rivers of blood spilt by this oppressive regime for the past four decades are enough," the statement said.
Sawasiah's board includes Syrian philosophy professor Sadeq Jalal al-Azem, whose book Self-criticism After the Defeat helped set the stage for a revival in Arab political thought after Israel's victory in the 1967 Middle East War.If they kill us, our souls will rise from our graves and demand freedom," Sheikh Anas Airout, a preacher in the city, told 2,000 to 3,000 protesters, according to the rights campaigner.
Something tells me that Assad's not exactly quaking in his boots at the prospect of being held accountable.
I am an Orthodox Jew - some would even call me 'ultra-Orthodox.' Born in Boston, I was a corporate and securities attorney in New York City for seven years before making aliya to Israel in 1991 (I don't look it but I really am that old :-). I have been happily married to the same woman for thirty-five years, and we have eight children (bli ayin hara) ranging in age from 13 to 33 years and nine grandchildren. Four of our children are married! Before I started blogging I was a heavy contributor on a number of email lists and ran an email list called the Matzav from 2000-2004. You can contact me at: IsraelMatzav at gmail dot com
