World Threats:

The Revolution in Syria is Underway
Posted by Ryan Mauro On March - 20 - 2011

It took some time but the powerful protests in the region have finally come to Syria. It began on March 15. On March 17, the regime arrested 33 people who silently protested the previous day at the Interior Ministry for “weakening national morale and compromising the state.” They wanted the release of the 3-4,000 political prisoners.

On Friday, March 18, there were simultaneous protests in four cities, including an assembly of thousands in Deraa in southern Syria, where six of the protesters were killed. According to the Reform Party of Syria, there were protests in Homs, Aleppo, Qamoshli, Banias and Damascus. The organization also sent out a link to a video of the first person killed in Deraa. Video from Deir al-Zour shows vehicles burning, which likely belong to security forces.

On Saturday, over 20,000 demonstrated at their funerals and the security forces used tear gas and batons to put them down. That is a huge number for a protest in Syria, where any sign of a gathering lately has been immediately acted against. The authorities met with local power-brokers in Deraa afterwards and were given a list of demands that included firing the governor, getting rid of the secret police building, releasing 15 children arrested for writing pro-revolution slogans and putting those responsible for the murders of the protesters on trial.

There were clashes Saturday at Omayyad Mosque in Damascus and protests in Deir al-Zour, Hassakeh, Qamoshli and Suda’a and about 2,000 in Homs, though estimates at this time should be considered unreliable. Video from Homs shows clashes taking place and there are rumors of casualties.

The Reform Party of Syria also reports that a Facebook page against the regime claims a security officer has informed the opposition that plans are in place to cut off all communication if protests reach a critical mass. It also reported on Saturday that an alleged statement from tribal leaders in Deraa is going around that is threatening war against the regime. It states, “If our demands are not met, all security centers in the region, including Military Security, Political Security, National Security, and Air Force Security may be burned to the ground.”

Sheikh Ahmad al-Sayasseneh has also issued a call for all Syrians to protest against the regime in response to the deaths over the weekend.

RPS also reports that a Facebook group for a protest in As-Suwada in the southwest on March 26 has been made.