25 Jun 2011

A QUESTION FOR BLIND PEOPLE IN SYRIA/ UNA PREGUNTA PARA LOS CIEGOS EN SIRIA

Another Friday in Syria, more of the same, people protesting peacefully, and excesive violence in the crackdown from the regime. At least 15 people killed, according to conservative sources, more than 20 according to syrian activists. More of the same, people still denying the violence of the regime. People still saying: "everything is fine, nothing happens". People shutting firmly their eyes so they can't see the truth: you don't see it, you don't feel it.

OK. Just a question for this voluntarily blind people: if security forces are protecting nice and honorable syrian people and their properties from the "bad ones", what are they doing in this video recorded at Barzeh, in Damascus?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ml4yJhNrZJQ

As I said, is just a question...



Otro viernes en Siria, más de lo mismo, gente que protesta pacíficamente y excesiva violencia en la represión por parte del régimen. Por lo menos 15 muertos, según fuentes muy conservadoras, más de 20 según algunos activistas sirios. Más de lo mismo, gente que todavía niega la violencia del régimen. Gente que todavía dice: "todo está bien. No ocurre nada". Gente que cierra sus ojos firmemente para no ver la realidad: ojos que no ven, corazón que no siente.

De acuerdo. Una pregunta para esta gente ciega voluntariamente: si las fuerzas de seguridad están protegiendo al agradable y decente pueblo sirio y a sus propiedades de "los malos", ¿qué están haciendo en este video grabado en Barzeh, barrio de Damasco?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ml4yJhNrZJQ

Como he dicho, es solo una preguntita...

24 Jun 2011

BLOGGING FOR SYRIA TODAY / BLOGUEANDO POR SIRIA HOY

#Blog4Syria

Today we have the opportunity of blogging together for Syria. Please join us!!!

Take a look here: http://blog4syria.tumblr.com/

Hoy tenemos la oportunidad de bloguear todos juntos por Siria. ¡Únete a nosotros!

Echa un vistazo aquí: http://blog4syria.tumblr.com/

TODAY IS FRIDAY / HOY ES VIERNES...

23 Jun 2011

article in the Guardian (UK) about protests and women

'The regime has been rattled'. A human rights activist and lawyer describes the situation in Syria Link to this video
They came for the men first, as the security forces of Syria's PresidentBashar al-Assad killed, beat and arrested people protesting against his regime.
Next, they came for the women of Syria's revolution. Despite the threats, however, they refuse to be silenced.

As the violence has become worse, women activists have organised a Friday protest of Free Women showing solidarity with those seized or killed. Women-only protests in towns across the country have led the effort to let the outside world know what is happening in Syria. But they are now being targeted as well, with the same lethal brutality.
Two weeks ago three women were shot dead at an all-women march near the besieged city of Banias. A week later human rights activist Catherine al-Talli, 32, was detained in the Barzeh district of Damascus after being forced off a minibus when it was stopped at a checkpoint by the secret police.
Others, such as Razan Zeitouneh, whose husband has been arrested, have been forced into hiding as evidence emerges that the regime is targeting relatives of those it is seeking to arrest.
Yesterday it was Zeitouneh who reported that the final death toll for the latest crackdown on Friday protests by the regime had been 30. Twelve were reported dead in Ma'aret al-Nu'man, south of Syria's second city Aleppo, after tanks entered the town earlier in the day to disperse protesters; 11 in the central city of Homs and seven in Deraa, Latakia, the Damascus suburbs and Hama.
"Reem" – we have changed her name to protect her family – spoke to the Observer from Syria last week. Aged 22, she is expecting her first child in the next few weeks. Her husband, an anti-regime activist, has been arrested twice and is now in detention. Her father was invited to a meeting with a senior member of the regime and detained afterwards.
Reem has been arrested once. In common with activist friends, she expects a knock on her door from the security forces at any moment. She is still ready to risk prison by talking about the murderous repression in her country.
"I have women friends who have been arrested like me," she said. "But then they just go out again to protest. One of my friends was arrested for collecting medical supplies for the people in Deraa. She was beaten at the security branch and they forced her to take off her headscarf. She was held for two weeks and released two days ago.
"She is very enthusiastic and active. She is getting ready to protest again. The only thing that is keeping me at home right now is that I'm expecting a baby in two weeks."
For now, Reem has to content herself with reporting what she has seen and what she knows, which is dangerous enough in a country where the international media are largely banned. "If you tell the truth," she said, "there is a big chance of arrest. You risk being beaten and being treated with no dignity."
That treatment was described last week by Dorothy Parvaz, an al-Jazeera journalist who was arrested by the Syrians in Damascus and encountered a number of terrified young women in the security barracks where she was held. Upon her release, Parvaz described how two of the young women she met had simply been plucked off the street for no apparent reason. "One had been there for eight days when I met her," wrote Parvaz last week. "And she looked ill. The food we were given three times a day – fetid, random and at times rotting – mostly had the effect of making her vomit, but she was too hungry to stop eating ."
Reem has an explanation for the detention of these young women. "They have been arresting anyone with a phone they see in the streets," she said. "They do not want anyone to take pictures, to tell the world what is happening."
Reem describes seeing one young woman being dragged by security forces into a shop at a demonstration. "We saw a young girl and some security men in civilian clothes. They grabbed her by the head and dragged her off, calling her a traitor. She said: 'I'm not a traitor!' They pulled her into a shop and we tried to reach her, but they shut the door on us and then took her somewhere else.
"Women have played a really important role since the first protests in March – non-violent activists like myself and the mothers and sisters of prisoners of conscience."
And the part women are playing has become ever more important. "In some areas," says Ameera, a human rights lawyer, "so many of the men have been killed, arrested or injured it is the women who have been left to protest. The biggest problem is trying to find the people who have disappeared. The security forces won't say where they are, and the families are afraid to speak out."
For some – like Ameera – the threat has succeeded in persuading them to stay at home. She now feels unable to protest. "It feels like you are waiting for your turn to be arrested. I am expecting to be arrested at any moment. I am not scared for myself, but I am afraid for my family."
Read more at:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/may/21/syria-women-unrest-repression

22 Jun 2011

Women's demonstration in Homs / Manifestación de mujeres en Homs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVCYe1seitc&sns=fb

In this link you can see a video of the demonstration of really brave syrian women in Homs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVCYe1seitc&sns=fb

En este enlace podéis ver un video de la manifestación de las auténticamente valientes mujeres sirias en Homs.

21 Jun 2011

TRUE SUPPORT / APOYO AUTÉNTICO




This document speaks by itself, issued by the Ministry of Religious Affairs, directorate of Deir Zour, asking everyone to be ready today, 21st of June,  in the morning for a demonstration supporting government... signed by regional director Adel Mahmoud Jasem.

If the regime needs to recruit support this way, won't be highly spirited...

El documento habla por sí mismo, emitido por el Ministerio de Asuntos Religiosos, delegación de Deir Zour, pidiendo a todo el mundo que se presenten hoy, 21 de junio, por la mañana para una demostración en apoyo del gobierno... firma el director regional, Adel Mahmoud Jasem.

Si el régimen necesita reclutar apoyos de esta forma, no serán demasiado entusiastas...

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH / BASTA YA

More than enough!!!

It's time for us, women from Syria, to raise our voices, to say "ENOUGH!"

Today we have the right and the duty to speak out loud and clear, no more bloodshed, no more crackdown on peaceful protesters, no more torture for children, women and men in Syria just because they were in the wrong place at the wrong time.

We want to wake up without fear, we want to support our men going on demonstrations. We want to prove that everything is possible, just with  hope.

We have the right to live without a boot over our heads, so it's time to make a move.

Next 30th of June, Syria will raise their voices. Let the syrian women's voices be heard also...


Basta ya!!

Es el momento para nosotras, mujeres de Siria, de decir "¡BASTA!"

Hoy tenemos el derecho y el deber de gritar alto y claro, no más derramamiento de sangre, no más represión brutal contra manifestantes pacíficos, no más torturas contra los niños, las mujeres y los hombres de Siria sólo porque estaban en el lugar equivocado en el momento equivocado.

Queremos despertar sin miedo, queremos apoyar a nuestros hombres yendo a las manifestaciones. Queremos probar que todo es posible, simplemente teniendo esperanza.

Tenemos el derecho a vivir sin una bota pisando nuestras cabezas, así que es hora de moverse.

El próximo 30 de junio, Siria dejará que se oigan sus voces. Que se oigan también las voces de las mujeres de Siria...