Free Michel Kilo Now - Enough Already

I admit I did not know Joseph Smaha that much, I might have read some of his articles. It seems like his death few days ago has saddened many people specially intellectual who admired him. The writer apparently was very respected by even the people who did not agree with his opinion and articles. I was sad since he is a young guy (5 to die so tragically. Reading the arabic article made me want to post it, the main idea is that he was considered pro-Syrian and above the lebanese infighting; but he had refused recently to visit Damascus when he was invited to lecture about Lebanon state of affaires. Since Damascus invited him, they know that he would be friendly to them and explain things from a similar angle to their position. His refusal was based on two arguments : can’t visit while national and democratic people are persecuted in Syria and put in jail because of their opinions. The second one whould upset people who like the Syrians actions in Lebanon: Can’t address Lebanon and its situation without talking frankly about the past 30 years of Civil war and Syrian control and Syrians won’t accept to be criticized from an official lecture center in the heart of Damasucs.

 He was very open and said “I won’t enter Damascus in my life as an official guest if there is one Prisoner of opinion or conscience”! May God Bless you Mr Smaha (Allah Yirhamak) and I wish other people can have that attitude which put pressure on the regime from its own friends and backyard. Unlike Salim Hoss who keeps visiting and asking for Michel Kilo’s freedom only to be played with and humiliated, but he shows no tough attitude and that is what he gets.

There are plenty of Syrians and Lebanese who make me proud but there is no shortage of regime defenders and you would be surprised to see how hypocryte they are and how all their arguments are for cosmetic purposes and hide their true intentions which is only “Keep the regime” regardless of their actions and disastrous consequences on Syria and the region.

Thanks for Abu Kareem of Levantine Dreamhouse with Coming up with the Idea and the text. This blog endorses the freedom of Kareem Amer and see it as a common natural struggle for freedom of speech in the arab world. No intellectual or political thinker or writer or blogger should be jailed for expressing their opinion. Save the jails to real criminals including corrupt politicians. Also many thanks to whoever responds to Abu Kareem’s call and post an appeal for freedom.
 

We, as a community of Syrian bloggers, condemn the arrest and sentencing of Egyptian blogger Abdel Kareem Nabil Soliman for the peaceful expression of his dissenting views. We ask the Egyptian government to reconsider its decision to arrest and prosecute Abdel Kareem. The stated reasons for their action include the preservation of the public peace and state security, and the prevention of incitement against Islam. We contend that his arrest will achieve neither. Silencing such dissenting voices as Abdel Kareem’s, serves only to strengthen the hands of extremists who will not shy away from violence to achieve their goals. Moreover, we remind the Egyptian government that his arrest and prosecution violates at least two articles (see below) of the 1948 United Nations universal declaration of human rights to which Egypt was a signatory. Relevant United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights articles:

From http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=21036

Reporters Without Borders condemned the adjournment today of imprisoned writer and journalist Michel Kilo’s trial for the third time.

“Kilo has already spent more than nine months in prison awaiting the start of his trial,” Reporters Without Borders said. “We call on the judicial authorities to try him separately from the two fugitive opposition members in order to put an end to a wait that is unbearable for both him and his family.”

Call for the release of Michel Kilo before the trial, now held for more than nine months:

 “What are the Syrian authorities trying to prove by keeping Kilo in detention,” the press freedom organisation asked. “The regime no longer has to demonstrate its control of the justice system and thereby crush any critical desires on the part of the few civil society actors who still dare to speak out in Syria.”

Reporters Without Borders added: “Journalists, writers and human rights activists are brutally repressed by a formidable security apparatus. As this is an authoritarian government with no scruples, we urge western diplomats in Syria to take action and, in particular, to attend Kilo’s trial in order to get him freed as soon as possible.”

Kilo used to hope he would see Syria embark on reforms. He said in 2004: “A new wind is blowing in Syria. The people are less afraid and they are more taken with democracy.” He has been held for the past nine months for signing a joint statement called “Beirut-Damascus, Damascus-Beirut” that called for an improvement in relations between Syria and Lebanon.

——– 

Anyone interested in a pool or bets on when Michel Kilo will be freed if ever!!! I can setup a paypal account for that purpose fuckAssad@Freedom.sy. It looks like baby Assad has graduated from his first 7 years boot camp “Ibtida’i” of being a ruthless dictator. He learned to copy dad in anything he does and lie about it because no one inside dares to criticise him. And if they do criticize they are considered traitors and help add to his fake national credentials.  

Where is Justice??? Where are the great people of Syria? How come no one is speaking up loudly about this tragedy of abusing Syrian human rights, oppressing Syrian potential and taming the people freedom and creativity!!! No one questions how most of the public money is being stolen in the Open by the rulers from the Syrian people!!! No one questions how this regime offered nothing for Syria since 1963??? their only contribution was empty slogans, brainwashing and the ultimate destruction of the country and the region! Can anyone have hope in a better Future??? I am not sure of that. Any pride left to stand up and refuse to be silenced???

People with dignity rise up and denounce the criminal mentality of people who are creating chaos and destroying our normal lives.

Stand up and say NO nothing justifies what is going on.

Denounce the killers and say ENOUGH.

Cry for your dead brother or sister because you might be next.

People who are enjoying seeing Lebanon in that state after the Syrian regime withdrew are nothing but sorry souls who know nothing about patriotism.

Killing anyone specially civilians by bombing is coward terrorsim and nothing justifies it.

As for the absurd saying and notion that the victims inflicted  damage on themselves, nothing could be more sick than that.

Lebanon will stay strong and Syrian people will follow. Enough Terrorism and Oppresion. Say no to the Mafias that are sucking our wealth and blood and dignity of life.

To the criminals I say the people will have the last say…

A lot of people might have disliked Mr Hariri and his immense wealth, but the truth is that he had a great heart and he loved Lebanon and his people. As a politician he was a target of a lot of malicious rumors and tries to pin him to different scandals and abuses. No matter how you disagreed politically or personally with the man, he had no blood on his hand.

He worked for the well being of the country and he had great public relations skills and many international friends. He is a model of what Arab or Syrian politicians should be: accomplish and share instead of lie, steal and rub it in your face, then come up with empty speeches and rethorics. He was a practical person trying to come up with solutions serving the well being of his people. He succeeded in rebuilding Lebanon after a disastrous war and brought back all the prestige needed. In contrast to the Syrian rulers who managed to bankrupt Syria and made their people one of the poorest despite no continuous wars or natural disastors.

I don’t know much about how clean the person was but I know one thing: He is much better than all the arab leaders combined. Also He did not deserve to be killed that way or be humiliated and pressured before his death. Bashar is denying anything bad happened before the death, he is lying once again. You can just read the pre-bombing press and the news of Syrian puppets in Lebanon calling Hariri and his camp traitors. Syrian envoy (Mouallem) distributing certificates of well behaving to any kiss-ass he can find.

I was following post Lahoud’s extension era very closely and I followed the assassination attempt on Hamade. When the Valentine’s bombing happened, it did not take me much to guess who is the obvious killer.

Post assassination speeches and how it was handled did not contradict my theories. ASSAD KILLED HARIRI under Syrian watch.  If that did not happen, different behaviour would have emerged and Syrians would have been keen on presenting the killers. The way Syrian regime talks to defend themselves make them guilty. 

They spend so much energy denying and twisting their crimes thinking people are idiots. Just like Bashar denying the existance of Syrian Prisoners of Conscience or Syrian press talking about Hariri as a martyr but refusing to find out who did it and refusing to deal with his family. Not to mention keep labeling him as an anti-Syrian agent working for US and French interests. No regime attacks people after they are dead unless they wanted them dead. and Yes the Syrians are guilty of the other bombings and assasinations that happened in Lebanon afterward! It is ironic how Syrians rulers talk about respecting laws and sovereignty to avoid being caught but they have no problem jailing people or distributing lies or labeling traitors with no evidence.

The poor 22 people did not deserve to die on that tragic day and justice should be served to prevent future acts of barbarism. Having differnt political views does not warrant killing and death. Human life is valuable and no Peace and prosperity would be achieved in the middle east until this mentality of eliminating the other dissapears.

Allah Yirhamak Ya Rafic and God help Lebanon and Syria and all the good people who deserve a better life and future. You’ll be remembered as a great person and your killers will enter the trash of history.