Free Michel Kilo Now - Enough Already

The last couple of days have been really hard…not only we are witnessing violence and aggressions in the Palestinian territories. But we have to shut up and tone it down in asking sorry begging for the release of our prisoners…In the Middle East it is called “blame the victim” and follow what the rulers want. Rulers now want us Syrians to intervene in Lebanese politics and campaign for Aoun/Nasrallah to assume power in Lebanon. Rulers are saying Michel Kilo was doing exactly the right thing until he exercised his right to express his solidarity with the Lebanese demands, he should not done that. He was too confrontational!

Meanwhile some people who I was impressed with and thought that they are trying to change things, reverted back and repositioned themselves to be close to the Syrian regime positions (after they got all the signals loud and clear about the regime strategy) because it is better than doing nothing. As someone told them “you said earlier putting Michel Kilo in prison is wrong, now you are trying to finesse your position, by blaming the problem partially on his (Kilo) outspoken remarks at such a critical time for our nation and at being misrepresented by journalists. Someone else commented “What a waste, I see so many talented personalities, being misused by this awful regime”

Zenobia a fellow participant in the debate wrote this magnificent comment with a story:I believe as you - with no reservations at all- that we have to protect the voice of dissent. We need to listen to our metaphoric canaries.For anyone not familiar, an old American linguistic usage refers to those who are our “canaries in the mines”. This refers to the habit of miners who historically used canaries to take down into the mines. If the mines became too toxically full of carbon monoxide, the canaries would begin to sing! (or I suppose fall over dead) as a sign that the miners were in mortal danger. Regardless, if people make wrong decisions, we must, for certain, protect those who are our canaries, and never imprison them for singing out.

Here are some relevant defense comments that I made in no particular order during the heated debate on Odds and Ends

• In that same interview of Al hayat, Bashar said regarding the arrests: “We warned them and This is an internal matter, no one tells us what to do!” who is he :GOD!!!!!!!! the Syrian people were not created by him and don’t owe him anything…His diapers were being changed when Michel Kilo started writing!

• All what Bashar is capable and wants to do in terms of reform is listen to the Austrian opera performs in Damascus…but he does not mind inflaming the people at the mosques with security-Mukhabarat people like Abu Ka3ka3, or burning embassies in Damascus or becoming an ayatullah himself…in the process becoming a toy in Iran’s hand, promoting Islamic forces like Hamas and Hizbullah, and weakening up all secular national people in the middle east.

• Lebanon is our only remaining window and all you do is justify Syria’s position in making it an enemy.

• You are hoping to get something from the regime (reform wise) but they are playing you and you know that but you have no alternative but to blame the victim.

• Your strategy of leaning on people that you can lean on and not tell the regime or the other side what they ought to do won’t work for that long. Specially when I see not even a 2 percent budging…where are the results of working with the regime???

• There is a minimum acceptable and it is not democracy, it is called human respect. When they start treating people with respect and dignity then the country will move forward.

• It does not matter how much money gets pumped into the country and the corrupted pockets, that won’t advance the country. You can decorate a tomb with so much gold and luxury but it is still a tomb with dead people in it.

• Can you ask yourself one second what does the regime lose by releasing Kilo and the others arrested recently (well 45-50 days now)…then ask yourself why don’t they do it (free them). The conclusion is they want to humiliate us and have their boots on our necks. It is called suffocating Syria and Lebanon. Once they start playing nice and show us that they intend to rule in a more civilized way then as far as I am concerned they can stay.

• So in other words, Michel kilo will be free when the whole Middle East problem will be solved…great let’s prepare for his funeral in jail because I don’t see that happening pretty soon.

• Again what does it matter who rules Lebanon with Kilo being in Jail, I don’t see the relation, Michel Kilo is not Lebanese and he did not ally himself with anyone, he was just saying let’s open a new page.

• So from now on Syria will be friendly with Lebanon when the leader is a little puppet in their hand … Last time I checked Lebanon is not a province like Aleppo or Tartous, it is an independent state…

• Again Michel Kilo does not belong in Jail, regardless of what is happening in
  Lebanon or Syria or the opposition

• The Hypocrisy here is what does Syria achieve by confronting the US and the West, what does the US want from Syria? How come a lot of countries who made up with the west advance and have a lot of individual freedoms (look at Puerto Rico/Dominican republic for example and compare them to Cuba, or compare Poland versus Belarus) and people/countries who call for confrontation end up being oppressed by their rulers.

• Thank you for deciding for the Syrian people that they can’t afford and don’t want democracy…I bet similar Romanian people decided that during Ceausescu, and Chileans during Pinochet…the list is long. Eastern Europe and South America made so much progress the last 15 years, Asia made so much money during the same time and we are still debating whether it is right or wrong for someone to be put in Prison.

• Learn from Serbia and Montenegro who just few years ago were hellishly bombed by the US planes and now they are ready to open a new page. I am not not advocating violence here, but I am stating how the people are ready to overlook the past for a better future.

• Not all Americans are behind their presidents who keep telling them they are in danger, why do all Syrians have to follow blindly their leaders that got them nowhere…

But people made up their minds however and no one will be convinced… the Syrian regime apparently got big boost of Solidarity from other Arab rulers regarding the Israeli planes visit to Assad’s palace. The regime strives on incidents like that and its popularity rating will sky rocket just like it did for Bush after Sept 11. I can now imagine a whole circus going on in Syria, even probably the prisoners must issue an ironic show of support for the regime…there is no justice in the middle east, people need dictators to feel safe!!! And it is not healthy for the canaries to exist or survive there.

As I was reading on nothing else but Alarabiya.net which contains very big talkers in the comments, I saw some very enthusiastic calls for Jihad, resistance, revenge and hatred for Israel and its policies and actions, how the Arabs and specially their leaders are weak and cowards and they do nothing, calling for Egyptian and Jordanian borders to open, talking with a historical language about swords and fighting (not knowing that warfare games and power balances have evolved since that time)  etc…

It reminded me of growing up and how the people lived in the middle east… I heard these Slogans so much during my relatively short lifetime, ever since I was 5-6 and I understood what was going on around me a little bit (during that time I thought Hafez Assad was God, I was surprised to see him on TV giving a speech and talking to people, my dad was laughing with his friends about that) …that was in the late 70s: camp David, resistance to Israel etc… 

Then I lived through the 80s: Muslim brothers conflict with the regime and the unrest/terrorism/massacres in Aleppo and Hama, the 82 Invasion of Lebanon, Tawhid organization in Tripoli Lebanon in 83 and later, Lebanese civil war, Iran-Iraq war, boycott of Egypt, Rifaat failed coup, Assad’s glorification on TV during every possible occasion (he was the teacher, laborer and the farmer, the soldier, the baathist, the athlete, the father and the mother -no that was too much) and the leader and the Arab musketeer: so many songs and poetry was dedicated to him, it seemed like he was worshipped, even worshipping is not the right word, he was omnipresent everywhere…his pictures and achievements were over every inch of Syrian land…a Syrian I just met told me: when I was in Syria I thought from what I learned in school and TV that he was a great leader, then I realize it was all lies and bullshit. 

 Anyway that is on the Syrian front, on the Palestinian and south Lebanon front, the first intifada started and we glorified Hamida Al Taher (young girl) in school and on TV for committing a suicide bombing in southern Lebanon, she became the hero and the martyr, sacrificing her blood to water the soil.  

I started reading political newspapers and magazines (and later books) with predictions and analysis of what is going on the Arabic and international scene, as well as recounting histories of events…I started reading books on Abdel Nasser and attempts to revive the Arab dreams, how Zionism was the enemy and Arab internal infighting was the worst thing (of course Baathist countries were right and the others were wrong and traitors). Yasser Arafat was still not welcome in Syria (now that he is dead, he is our hero) nor was Hosni Mubarak, or Saddam Hussein, hell even the singer Sabah was banned for a while for singing in Egypt… 

We went on support demonstrations when Syria was labeled a terrorist state by
London in 86-87? and on any occasion when they wanted shows of support, for us it was a good way to escape school and walk in the streets, may be socialize with other students, we were shouting all kind of memorized slogans nationalist or baathist or against the enemy, we knew them by heart and we sang them with a convincing tone: it was just to stay off trouble and avoid teachers or mukhabarat’s wrath. Our voices were loud but the brain and hearts were disconnected, we knew it was all a farce and so useless. Even my 5 years old brother, anytime we mentioned Hafez, would raise his hands in the same way he did during his speeches…

The big joke was the “Mu3askar” or the compulsory military/civil camp in the summer of grade 10, where students participated in cleaning factories or public government sites (that was done with dirty water), tried to preserve useless chemical masks with an expired dirty powder, ate some poisonous food at unclean workers sandwich places, learned how to shoot with empty bullets, suffered long hours under the burning sun with no water, some guys liked it because it was mixed (with boys/girls) so it was their first occasion and encounter with the opposite sex.  

Another joke was during grade 11 for students to go and collect cotton from the cotton state farms 2 hours from Aleppo (in order to save the government and not pay the greedy (I mean poor) farmers. We had to wake up at 4 or 5 to catch a train ride of 2 hours then be shoved into trucks like sheep (no safety whatsoever, it was dangerous as hell) for half an hour to arrive to the location with bruises and dusty clothes, burning sun and no water…the only pastime there was to aim some unopened cotton nuts into our friends and start a war…we were so productive (sarcasm), working 4 hours on the field but wasting 14 hours each day for it and you fail your year if you abstain or miss the only train. Good thing the second week that we got assigned to a month later was raining so it was cancelled.  I forgot to talk about the filthy bathrooms in the publc schools, the cold classrooms with broken windows, who needs electricity during the day, the civilized students conversations…the best time was when were out of the school!

That history was so rich, then my context changed, I was now in Canada, I have so many other memories regarding Saddam’s invasion of Kuwait and how me and my Arabic friends thought that he is going to win the war and liberate Palestine…I mastered the English at that time watching non stop news and reading all kind of newspapers (no internet yet) and explaining to my Canadian friends how the arabs Oil belong the the Arab and how we need to unite and become a glorified nation once again… then it was a sad and cruel war, after that the dream was shattered and I realized that Israel is there to stay!  

A year later and in a different university where I met other sets of friends, luckily the Peace talks started…We were all optimistic and I was telling my friends that Syria wants peace and the Middle East will prosper again if we all work together… 

Sadly now the dream becomes more and more impossible and so many tragic events and setbacks have happened since…But after every armed conflict or hope in resistance, I realize that it won’t work, we need to change the approach and end the hostilities because just like Ammar said   the price in all these situations have been too high and, for this reason, we’d better not take the issue of confrontation with powers that are politically, economically and military far superior to us too lightly and callously.

But here is a comment from a reader on alrabiya that inspired me to write this article and I’ll try to translate it below…

where is the brain?

Written by a wise Muslim

Why is all this attack on people who are saying the truth, which is that there no benefit and use from Palestenian terrorism, because of all palestinian victims who succumb and die every day, their houses get destroyed, their young die, and Hamas mouvement gathers the money and steals it to build palaces and go after enjoyments and desires.

The Arab leaders cheat and lie their people and make them holocaust fuel to their wars with Israel to divert their people from their national and democratic rights. They inflame their ignorant youth and the dummest from their masses under the illusion of Jihad against Israel. I answer who ever attacks the people demanding the abandoning of terrorist methods (kidnapping, launching useless missiles on Israeli settlements) which the palestinian people pay for dearly later on, stop the stupidities, ignorance and thinking backwardly…if the war with Isreal was beneficial it would not have lasted till now…there is no way ahead of the palestinians but Peace, if they insist on terrorism then they are the big losers, and the gains are for the palestinians war lords that enrich themselves and enlarge their external bank accounts. 

Stop playing with the young Muslims minds, terrorism is not their path to Heaven. Continuing the war with Israel is an advantage for Arab rulers and not their people. Stop overbidding and talks about Jihad and Martyrdom and paradise, ask your arab leaders, why their sons did not go to one military operation agaisnt Israel. The answer is simple their kids and families life has value but the rest of the population can go to Hell and face its destiny, and the ordinary people pay the price with their young lives and blood because of being stupid, brainwashed and believe the talk about victory and Jihad. Sadly, the arabs and muslims don’t learn from history…all the other people live in comfort except us, we are dedicated to the struggle agaisnt Israel hoping that it gets defeated but it won’t, except in illusion and imagination…whoever does not agree, I need a proof not emotions or anger or fake patriotism!!!

http://www.alarabiya.net/Articles/2006/06/28/25170.htm

282 - اين العقل

مسلم عاقل |28/06/2006 م، 04:50 مساء (السـعودية) 01:50 مساء (جرينيتش)

لماذا كل هذا الهجوم على من يقولون الحقيقة وهى انه لا فائدة من الارهاب الفلسطينى لان الضحايا من الفلسطينين كل يوم يسقطون وبيوتهم تتهدم وشبابهم يموتون وحركة حماس تجمع الاموال وتسرقها لبنء القصور والسعى وراء الملذات ان الزعماء العرب يخدعون شعوبهم ويجعلونهم وقودا فى المحرقة وقودا لمعاركهم مع اسرائيل حتى يصرفون شعوبهم عن حقوقهم الديمقراطية والوطنية ويهيجود الشباب الاحمق والاغبياء من شعوبهم تحت وهم الجهاد ضد اسرائيل ارد بذللك على كل من يهاجم الذين طالبوا الفلسطينين بترك الاساليب الارهابية سواء الخطف او اطلاق صواريخ على المستوطنات بلا فائدة ويدفع ثمنها الشعب الفلسطينى كفى حماقات وغباء وتخلف لوكانت الحرب مع اسرائيل ذات فائدة مابقيت الى الان ليس امام الفلسطنين سوى طريق السلام اما اذا اصروا على الارهاب فهم الخاسرين والمكاسب ستكون لزعماء الحرب الفلسطنيين الذين تضخمت حساباتهم فى الخارج وكفى لعبا بعقول شباب المسلمين فالارهاب ليس طريقهم الى الجنة ان استمرار الحرب مع اسرائيل هو فى صالح الحكام العرب وليس فى صالح شعوبهم كفى مزايدات وكلام عن الجهاد والاستشهاد والجنة واسالؤ القادة العرب لماذا لم يذهب اولادهم للقيام بعملية عسكرية واحدة ضد اسرائيل الاجابة ان اولادهم واسرهم لهم ثمن اما باقى الشعب فليذهب الى الجحيم ويلقى مصيره المحتوم ويدفع الناس العاديين حياة شبابهم ثمنا للغباء والحماقة وتصديق الكلام عن النصر والجهاد للاسف ان العرب والمسلمين لايتعلمون من دروس التاريخ وكل الشعوب الاخري يعيشون فى رفاهية الا الشعوب العربية ستبقى للصراع مع اسرائيل على امل ان تهزم ولكنها لن تهزم الا فى الوهم والخيال ومن يعترض على كلامى عليه ان يرد بالدليل والبرهان لا بالتشنج والعصبية والوطنية الزائفة

This message is great and needs to get across but it is so hard to change the people mentality given all the current conditions…however it is very positive that people think that way and are defending their position. More wisdom is needed, and healthy debates, not empty words…

Freedom for Michel Kilo and our intellectuals, free speech and respect for human dignity to be able to achieve that change.

I just found this article on Aleppo through some blogs and after reasearch I found the source on "Courrier International", it is in french and details someone's personal trip to Aleppo, it is pretty interesting and cultural…it made me feel very nostalgic. Actually my dream is to have my own company there and help the country and the people move forward. The dream however means professional freedom: no corruption, no harassment by the government or any officials, and no dirty tricks or reputation tainting by competition or jealous people.

Here is the link and some paragraphs as well as some extra tourism tips… 

CLOCHERS ET MINARETS •  Que reste-t-il d’Alep la chrétienne ?

Sobre, élégante mais sans faste, Alep fut le berceau des églises chrétiennes et un haut lieu de la mémoire arménienne. Un voyageur libanais revisite pour nous cet Orient qui disparaît.

“Pourquoi aller à Alep, à la frontière de la Turquie, alors que tu peux acheter tes nappes et tes pâtisseries ici, à Beyrouth ?” Mais j’avais envie d’aller à Alep pour d’autres raisons. Dans ma tête défilaient les livres de voyageurs européens qui avaient vanté la grandeur de cette ville historique jusqu’à en faire la plus prestigieuse cité du Moyen-Orient, qui s’étendait jadis de la ville d’Izmir (autrefois appelée Smyrne), au bord de la mer Noire, à Alexandrie, sur le littoral égyptien. Enfant, j’associais Alep à des choses quotidiennes : les pistaches, le thym, le savon, le kebab, et aussi les koudoud [chants d’amour traditionnels]… Plus tard, je lus l’histoire des royaumes et empires qui établirent leur capitale dans le nord de la Syrie, ainsi que des grands poètes arabes qui y ont vécu. 

L’entrée sud d’Alep offre le spectacle impressionnant de buildings, d’usines, de restaurants avec leurs jardins, de stations d’essence. Le bus s’engage brusquement dans une large avenue et s’arrête au terminus sur une grande place. Il fait déjà nuit. Je saute à terre, ne sachant comment m’orienter

[...]

Le soir, une amie me propose une visite d’Alep by night, ce qui me permet d’admirer la propreté des rues, l’élégance sobre et sans faste de la ville, contrairement à Beyrouth. Soudain, je me rappelle que je ne peux rentrer les mains vides à Beyrouth. et nous voilà dans une pâtisserie, la célèbre Mahroussa. Je repars lesté de mes kilos de pâtisseries, plus la boîte de barazek que le magasin ne manque jamais d’offrir aux Libanais qui attendent le bus du retour. [Fin]

Extra de l'article

OU DORMIR ?
Pour les petits budgets, l’Hotel Tourist, central et propre, appartient à l’Etat syrien. L’hôtel Al-Jawaher offre le meilleur rapport qualité-prix de la ville. Dans la vieille ville, on commence à trouver des formules de chambres d’hôtes. Pour plus de luxe, optez pour le moderne 5-étoiles Chahba Cham Palace, qui fait partie du même groupe que le Royal Monceau à Paris. Enfin, pour les nostalgiques, le fameux Hôtel Baron, assez décati et bruyant, mais où ont séjourné de nombreuses célébrités – Lawrence d’Arabie, Agatha Christie…

OÙ MANGER ?
Alep est réputé posséder la meilleure cuisine du Moyen-Orient. Les restaurants traditionnels, généralement tenus par des familles arméniennes, offrent de copieuses portions. Dans un bâtiment construit il y a trois siècles, entièrement restauré et superbement décoré, le Bazar Al-Chark propose une excellente cuisine typiquement alépine. Dans le quartier Jedaideh, le Dar Zamari (Martini House), qui date du XVIIe siècle, propose une cuisine alépine raffinée dans un cadre exceptionnel. Au Beit Wakil, vous pourrez déguster une excellente cuisine moyen-orientale dans une belle construction du style alépin du XVIe. Installé dans un hôtel particulier du XVIIe au cœur du quartier chrétien, le Sissi House est incontestablement un des meilleurs restaurants syriens.

À VOIR
A ne rater sous aucun prétexte, les souks historiques d’Alep, où l’on trouve beaux tapis, argenterie et bijoux à des prix raisonnables – si l’on sait marchander. Une mention particulière pour les souks du Khan Al-Jumruk (XVIe siècle), juste en face de la Grande Mosquée. La citadelle du XIIe siècle, emblème de la ville, est un véritable château fort médiéval partiellement restauré. En face de la citadelle, on peut se prélasser dans les nombreux cafés ou au hammam historique de Yalbougha.

Hopefully the day of thinking about going back will get closer and closer…

It looks like the Syrian Foreign ministers specialize in lying with a straight face specially on Arab or Lebanese issues…I thought Farouk Al Sharraa was the master of lying when he replied on CNN more than a year ago before Syrian Withdrawal that they still need 2 years to be there to ensure Lebanese stability! What he was doing in fact is just trying to buy time until the storm passes… 

Now the new genius foreign minister Walid Al Moualem who is supposedly more diplomatic recycles the same lies with new arguments, according to various news reports:

Syria's foreign minister said on Thursday the time was not right to open an embassy in Lebanon, despite recent Lebanese and U.N. pleas that Syria establish formal diplomatic ties and mark out a common border.

"Any plan of this kind needs an opportune atmosphere between the two nations … If there was an embassy in the shadow of a bad atmosphere, the ambassadors would be withdrawn or diplomatic relations would be ended," Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem told a news conference in Cairo.

"We think that there would not be a problem of embassies but we need an opportune time. In demarcating the border, there are committees on the ground dealing with this," al-Moualem said.

The minister said the assertion by Lebanese Cabinet members that Damascus was behind former prime minister Rafik Hariri's assassination was what was holding Syria back from establishing ties…

I would like to ask the Minister why the bad atmosphere exist: is it because of the continuous media and politician attacks on Lebanese politicians considered anti-Syrian? or because the Hariri's assassination happened under Syrian watch and after various attacks on him by Syria calling him a traitor and working against Syria: not to mention his own account of being threatened by Assad and the account of Khaddam on the matter, never mind that, why would Ghazi Kanaan commit suicide or get killed during the investigation? or because of the various blackmailing and heavy handed approach and meddling in Lebanese internal affairs by Syria or Lebanese acting on Syrian orders? or because of the asassinations and attempts to kill anti-Syrian figures such as Samir Kassir, Jubran Tuweini, Geoges Hawi etc? or because of smuggling weapons and arming various palestinian factions? or because of the arrests of Intellectual Syrians calling for better and healthy ties between Syria and Lebanon and refusing to listen to any voice calling for their release…

Is it a coincidence that Attacks and bombings in Lebanese Christians areas of last year ceased after the Pact between Aoun and Nasrallah, are the political heroes in Syria paying with their arrest and other heroes with their lost jobs (being fired from gov jobs for calling the prisoners release) a price for Stability in Lebanon to a Syrian regime bent on revenge and not letting go…credit to Assad for being less sanguine and barbaric…accepting to flex muscles for now instead of demanding spilled blood. Is it not enough that Syrians are being subject to daily corruption and oppression? why do Lebanese have to face similar injustice!

When would be the right time for good relations with Lebanon Mr Minister! I don't think that you want to have a right time and you would keep piling your excuses and justifications to avoid recognizing that Lebanon should be free from Syrian rule.

What does Syria lose from dealing with Lebanon like a brother who became adult and wants to try things little different from the previous era under control of the big brother. I had a personal experience with this when I had envisioned my younger brother's future and helped him thoughout high school and University only to see him do other things than planned after graduation. It was a hard pill for me to swallow but he is my brother and all I want is his happiness. I could give him advise whether he asks for it or not but I respect his decisions.

Lebanon was the Syrian regime milky cow providing it with all kind of stolen money and resources plus contact with the outside world, regardless of what was said about Syrian regional power and the need to control it by Syria to put pressure on Israel to gain back the Golan. It was all about control, domination and money. Lebanon was losing money under the Syrians and has currently 40 Billion in Debt. But if they make more on their own then Syria would benefit and the wealth would rub off regionally. But Syrian Regime have their eyes only on the quick buck. They are day traders or thiefs keen on making the most while they can before things change. I just read that France Banks have about 40 Billions yes Billons $ of Syrian private money in accounts of people tied to the regime. That's their private money, God bless them…

Also for the record pro-Syrians in Lebanon need Syria as an external force to help secure their interests so it does not matter Syria/Israel or the devil, they need an ally to preserve power…same could be said about the opposite camp but Syria is mainly playing a negative role and has no strategy except to keep the country dominated and backward…I think Lebanon paid too much a price for the Palestenian cause, it is time for it to stop being the only open border to fight or pressure Israel. 

A free and prosperous Lebanon is a flu that would be contageous and deadly for the regime in Syria. On the other hand Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Iran are great and shining examples in the eyes of the regime for Syrian people to value and appreciate their relatively better situation, never mind the historical and social differences. The regime will be so happy to see Jamal Mubarak inherits the kingdom of Egypt soon (2007 as Mubarak has labeled it would see a revolution in Egyptian reforms, he probably would voluntarely step down for his son) to join his peer Bashar who inherited the Syrian Assad kingdom in  the priviliged new breed of arab rulers second generation club. Hell, we are just trying to imitate the US who had W succeed his dad but he turned out to be much worse.

—————————–

More to the issue of Michel Kilo's arrest, I asked Alex on the efforts to win his release on Rime's Mosaics and she is trying hard…her response was

Alex

Thursday, June 22, 2006, 08:20

Dear Fares,

I promise to tell Dr. Moustapha about Michel Kilo. He will be back to Washington in a week. He was in Europe for the past three weeks. But what can we do? the ex-German chancellor met with president Assad last week and made the same point to him (about freeing Michel Kilo and the others) …

My response was:

Alex thanks for the update…what confuses me is how can people justify and support the regime while it refuses to listen to internal and external voices on issues of banal and meaningless significance such as the freedom of 10-15 people who did nothing to deserve their arrest.

I happened to watch mexican news yesterday and their coverage of their team play in the world cup, they even showed prisoners in prison watching the match and cheering their country on. We are talking about Mexico which had its share of corruption and social injustice.

Syria is slowly approaching the bottom of Civilization, shame on Bashar and his so called policy strategists…

Freedom for Michel Kilo and the others
freesyria.wordpress.com
Fares

———-

On another note, I heard that Syria is blocking more and more web sites thateven Elaph is blocked…I don't know about this one but they can't silence us all, the regime chose freedom of speech to be his last battle but they won't win.

The freedom and dignity of Syrians would prevail, no matter what arguments get used by the regime. Lebanon overcame 15 years of civil war and 15 years of total Syrian control, Syria would follow on the path to freedom. Kudos to the prisoners and also to all people calling for their freedom and making the point.

Long live Syria.

I am very proud of my fellow compatriot Syrians as well as all arab and international sympathizers with the freedom cause in Syria and other oppressed countries. I can't help but notice that the arrest of Michel Kilo and his other comrades is not being brushed aside or forgotten. What is this issue is doing more than anything is exposing the regime's ugly face and true nature. It is uniting all Syrians in refusing this unacceptable crackdown.

Don't worry Michel, people are with you in their minds and hearts. Peaceful Demonstrations and debates are unfortunately not allowed in Syria otherwise People would have gone down the streets in huge masses. One internal demonstration or debate would have been enough for the regime to realise its grave mistake. But arab democracy is illustrated in the above cartoon…We are only allowed to show a barbaric face in attacking and burning embassies or demontrate against the zionists and imperialist attacks or to support Syria's ruling family. 

The regime puts its head in the sand like an ostrich and refuses to realize that we are in the 21st century. This regime decision makers and ignorant strategists think they won the battle, but they should not enjoy it too much, the main sources of anger and frustrations are sill there and lived by Syrians every minute and every day.

How long do they intend to keep the prisoners suffering? do they intend to use them as a bargain for Peace with Israel (judging how stupid they think) or are they now the new Weapon to use agaisnt Lebanon's freedom? What does the baathist Zoo think about the situation? How about Mr Sharaa who managed to Isolate Syrian and destroy its diplomatic reputation?

A lot of articles and comments have been written in Arabic in all medias by all kind of intellectuals and opposition about this issue. It is bound to produce some results, just needs time for people to grasp them and gain the courage to act. The people, this time, will be faster than the regime to change their strategy, they will be days where the regime is forced to listen or faces extintion. Prison won't be enough for all these criminals in power…no rule can stay powerful forever… 

From the blog community, a new freedom weapon, I just gathered a sample of quotes and comments of sympathy with our prisoners heroes and I would like to share them. There are many more, this is just sample and I am sorry if I did not include other ones (searching is hard and can't do it in a short time), but if you find some more please let me know by comment and I'll add them. 

Maamoun al-Homsi, who spent almost 5 years in prison, told Reuters:
"I left Syria 10 days ago and I am not going back. I left so I can deliver the message of the Damascus Spring to the world — save the political prisoners of Syria. The Europeans should do more to press for these prisoners' release and withdraw their ambassadors from Syria if it does not respond to their calls. At least 13 were detained in this round but there are hundreds of political prisoners and we want them all freed as no one should be jailed for expressing his opinion. Some of these people are in their 60s and they are sharing cells with common criminals. They need doctors and human rights groups to visit them because they are being mistreated"

Hind Aboud Kabawat: ( All4Syria ) 9/6/2006
"I decided it was time to speak with my children about my friend and role model, Michel Kilo. I decided that they need to know about this man, who taught me that what is right for my country, my Syria, should always be uppermost in my mind. To be a mother, to teach my children what is right, I need to teach them about this man, who showed us all that there is no sacrifice too great to make for ones country.

Blogs Writers and Contributors
Rime Allaf on Mosaics, Tuesday, June 6, 2006
"In the past month alone, respected Syrian citizens such as Michel Kilo and Anwar Bunni have been slandered and vilified by pathetic propaganda rags such as Tishreen, which gloated about the arrest of "17 traitors." Every regime sycophant has tried and failed to rationalize the accusations of treason by implying this was not the time for criticism or for pushing such agendas. Yet, none of the accused even considered the possibility of US assistance. Nor did they socialize with hostile powers. Nor have they shaken the hands of Israeli leaders. "

Joshua Landis on Syria Comment, Monday, May 15, 2006
"Kilo was one of the most respected members of Syria's internal opposition and his arrest marks a new low for the regime in its present crackdown on dissidents and reformers. Michel Kilo had always been extremely careful to separate his opposition efforts from US backed plans to destabilize the regime."

Ammar Abdul Hammid on Heretic's wrote May 16,2006

"Clamping down on dissidents, especially moderate ones as is the case with Michel Kilo, in times of increased international pressures and security is meant as a sign of defiance and inflexibility. The Assad regime is simply upping the ante, then, and demonstrating its continued internal strength, while underscoring the failure of the international community, for all its criticisms, complaints, condemnations and resolutions, to produce any serious outcome on the ground."

May 17, 2006 "As the serious charges leveled against Michel Kilo indicate, and as the crackdown against democracy activists continues, culminating in the arrest of Anwar al-Bunni a few hours ago, one thing is becoming clear: the Assad regime is throwing the glove in the face of the international community and all its resolutions."

Abou Kareem on LevantDream, Thur May 18,2006

"I would like to see such attention directed towards the ongoing campaign of intimidation and arrests the Syrian government is mounting against democratic reformists and human rights activists. Making noise about these arrests serves two purposes. One is to increase international pressure on the Syrian government. The other, perhaps more important, is to show the cowed people of Syria that this is not "business as usual", that the regime's modus operandi is no longer acceptable to the world and should not be acceptable to the people of Syria."

Reality Hurts on YaLibnan, Tuesday, 6 June, 2006
How long will we remain mute spectators to this dynastic farce?
"Brave men like Michel Kilo, Yasser Melhem, Omar Idilbi, Ammar Kurabi, Abdul Karim Rehawi, Riad Syef and many more have put their lives in jeopardy because they genuinely want a better future for our beloved nation … it's high time that the Syrian people pay heed to these brave men and challenge the Baathist regime of Bashar Assad."
"Nobody in Syria said one word when the men mentioned above were illegally detained. The only crime that these people committed was that they demanded an end to emergency laws, human rights violations, and rampant corruption. These brave souls took it upon themselves to say "enough is enough."

Recent Comments on the blogs
Mosaics,
Hashem, Thursday, June 8, 2006
"How do they find it so easy to accuse decent Syrians of being American or Mossad agents as they referred to Mr Kilo et al only two days ago on Al-Jazeera is beyond my comprehension."

Hashem, Thursday, June 15, 2006
"And what about the Statue? Why are we now shocked at a mere Statue? I think what’s going on in Syria now outstrips the Statue-in-the-background situation. Michel Kilo labeled a Mossad agent, a Statue in prison. One of the most peaceful people we know is humiliated in this way. Isn’t that insulting all Syrians directly?"

Gottfried Stutz, Thursday, June 15, 2006
"I think that Syria deserves better than an individual figure (Rime, don't take that badly, I would vote for you!), and that those in prison these days (Kilo, Bunni…) and others outside it (Ghalyoun…) can form a collective current which would bring about a better, and a more concerted, alternative. They can debate, they can suggest, they can call on people to react. None of those things in bold letters exist in the regime's vocabulary and practice.

That's why I think that one of the first things to do is to get those folks out of prison, even by pressure (not from ANYBODY, of course.) This cannot be done in collaboration with the regime, and can certainly not wait another five or six years which could obliterate the mere notion of a civil society."

Syria Comment:
At Monday, May 15, 2006, yaman said…
"Best wishes to Michel Kilo, the dozens of other prisoners of conscience in Syria, and their families."
 
At Tuesday, May 16, 2006, Alex said…
"Best luck to Michel Kilo. I just read some pathetic comments from "readers" at champress making fun of Kilo … how silly."

This blog, FreeSyria
Kilo Admirer  |  May 17th, 2006 at 8:22 pm
"I have been following his articles (writings) for few year and he is a great writer and peaceful guy, a great voice of moderation!!! things like that are very troublesome and don't need to happen, we are allowed to be free like other nations and entitled to express our opinions."

Ghassan  |  May 19th, 2006 at 7:37 am
"Michel Kilo and all other syrian HEROES, sitting in jails , their only crime is to care for others , to care for their comunity and their country , their bleeding country , where the criminals prevail , where the humans are worth nothing ."

 Syria: There will be light after the tunnel and hope after Darkness