Free Michel Kilo Now - Enough Already

We are prisoners of conscience and opinion in Damascus Central Prison, lawyer Anwar Al Bunni, writer Michel Kilo, Dr. Kamal Labwani, activists Mahmoud Issa, and Faek Al Mir, and Professor Aref Dalila who could not be reached as he spends his sixth year in solitary confinement. After the sentencing of lawyer Anwar Al Bunni on 24 April 2007, we would like to say thank you and greet our families, friends, and all the people, groups, committees, organizations, associations, parties and political assemblies of Arabs, Kurds and Assyrians in Syria and the Arab world. We thank and greet the official representatives, countries, media and websites that support us by protesting our trials and arrests, and denying the accusations against our colleague Anwar Al Bunni.

We would like to send our heartfelt greetings and thanks to all of you and hope that your noble and brave attitude will not stop only with denying these accusations and supporting our cause. Our case as prisoners of conscience is part of the continuing crisis of basic freedoms and human rights in Syria that began with the Emergency Law 44 years ago. This crisis reached its height in the 1980s and again today by an increase in tyranny, arrests and the suppression of fundamental freedoms.

Tens of thousands of Syrians have paid a horrible price, some with their lives, others with the loss of years and youth from inhumane prison conditions and cruel torture. Still more have suffered by being forced to escape the tyranny or enter into voluntary exile, another difficult experience. Other Syrians stayed, throwing salt on their wounds and binding their tongues to save themselves pain. Those that couldn’t live with their tongues tied faced a future in prison, homeless and alone. For the few people that climbed to the top of the tyranny and darkened Syrian society, they have contributed to the corruption, theft and poverty that have strangled the necks of the people.

The denial of fundamental human rights in Syria is the main case that we work for and your support for prisoners of conscience is part of this fight. Fighting for the release of these prisoners is a duty, not only to decrease their suffering and their families’ pain, but also to encourage others by knowing they are not alone. We must give society hope, making sure its doors and streets are not closed. With the power of hope it is possible to fight the crisis of freedom and human rights in Syria in a peaceful way.

Terrorism is the enemy of mankind and civilization itself. It flourishes in societies that lack freedom and close doors to peaceful expression, leaving violence as a way of expressing oneself. Inside these societies suffering from poverty, where they find no well being on earth they will turn to the heavens and the answers that it may provide them. The lack of basic freedoms and human rights coupled with poverty are two faces of the same coin in the Third World. Syria is at the forefront of totalitarian countries, ruled from an isolated point of view with its citizens either idle passengers or doomed to be labeled traitors

The lack of freedom, means of expression, political participation and accountability leads to the growth of corruption, despotism, looting of public funds, rampant poverty and the collapse of moral values. The real fight against terrorism must not only be about combating extremist ideas. These ideas have existed throughout history, though they will always remain on the periphery, isolated and shunned, unless they find fertile soil to take root and grow. If they are allowed to develop in the soil of society, they will spread like toxic plants, poisoning communities and innocent people.

Addressing the root causes of terrorism requires opening up pathways to free expression and the peaceful exchange of ideas. By giving people unfettered freedom we can blunt the sword of injustice, oppression and domination to grant full political participation, a hand in future decision-making, accountability, the preservation of equality and a life of dignity. This would make the world a safer place and improve international security.

Syrians have paid a high price for their rights and freedom and we hope to be the last group forced to pay this price to help the great Syrian people. To do this we need more than your solidarity and denunciations. We need constant and tireless efforts to compel Syrian authorities to respect human rights, international law and the treaties and agreements it has signed which demand freedom of expression and opinion. The release of political prisoners is a necessary first step, including the abolition of the State Emergency Law and other such laws like Decree 49 signed in 1980 or the Hasakah Accountability Decree of 1962. Syria must abolish the State Security Court, compensate those that have suffered, create an independent judiciary, end torture and hold perpetrators responsible. They must stop political arrests and ensure the freedom of the press, allowing political participation and the formation of parties, organizations and civil society.

They must stop the looting of public funds and policies of impoverishment and domination. However, these steps are just the beginning necessary to put Syria on the path to security and move towards development, progress and the protection of national unity that now suffers from division and tension. These rifts and divisions are now impossible to conceal, despite the dancing and celebrations and empty rhetoric about a healthy society that in reality is sick and suffering. As prisoners of conscience and opinion we are apprehensive about the future of our homeland, our children and our very decision to shape Syria’s future. However, we will not be deterred by threats, intimidation, and the repression of long years of imprisonment that we face to save our country and ourselves

Adra Prison. 28-4-2007

Please Republish in your blogs in you can, Fares

My friend Hashem responded to Alex (a very visible Regime Apologist) on Mosaics in a formidable way as usual, please read.

Alex:

We’ve had this conversation before and we are just going round in circles. All I’d like to say is, Bunni doesn’t deserve 5 years in jail whatever he said. I don’t believe anyone is an advocator of civil war in Syria, but this is what the regime wants us all to believe to stay in power. And please excuse me for not believing anything this regime says, I have my reasons you see. In any case, things *have* got worse since our last conversation. Let’s not forget the atrocities of the Syrian regime either, which were more than just words. I’ll stop right here…

When you say that one should meet the regime half way, isn’t that what Michel Kilo did for many years – Some even accused him of being too soft on the regime. He did meet them half way, look were he ended up. His arrest was a warning to all Syrians, it has a profound warning behind it, since Bashar supported it even though he always used to show off on TV that he had opposition (meaning Michel), but then he turned against him when it suited him. The same happened to the Damascus spring lot. They were very civil and met the regime half way. Look what happened to them. This regime doesn’t understand the word civil. They react to a bullet by bombs and to words by beatings and jailing.

Thanks to George (Bush) and Bashar who have made sure that there is no real or credible opposition in our region let alone Syria. That’s where I really disagree with you or anyone who attacks the notion of opposition. Of course there is no credible opposition, they are all in jail if not dead and others wouldn’t dare utter a word even if it’s for the good of the country anymore.

While we don’t have a choice for having Bashar for another 7 years, but I do have a choice that I will always voice my opinion in opposition to their atrocities. At least, I refuse to accept the rhetoric of the Syrian regime and more importantly their blatant belligerence against our good people.

When you say there are no alternative solutions, when the Syrian regime stops the atrocities against its own citizens (unlikely) then there’ll be many solutions, otherwise it will not happen. The regime reacts with contempt against our people when they feel threatened or strong and there’s no end to this behaviour in sight. When the regime stops the atrocities, (killing, stealing, jailing …) then things will change. However, they won’t allow this to happen. Why should they loose power? And don’t blame me for thinking that the only way this regime understands is force. Look how they were kicked out of Lebanon like dogs. They humiliated Syria, they couldn’t have used an ounce of brain power (I know it’s difficult for them) and realised that it’s time to go, and keep relations good between the two neighbours who have a lot in common. We had colonial powers who kept excellent relationships to this day with the countries they colonised, but for the Syrian regime, this is incomprehensible. It’s better to commit atrocities, overstay their welcome then expect everyone to be on their side. This alone explains what kind of people make up this defunct regime.

Meanwhile, am I supposed to listen to you and wait indefinitely while the best Syrians are rotting in medieval prisons in horrible conditions?

Having said that, the Syrian regime is showing its true colours to a whole new generation and the way their plans are going will ensure they will not be able to continue in this manner. They might be feeling strong now because of a couple of foreign visits (scraping the barrel or what) but this is transitory. Their economic direction alone will cause them problems. The very system they used to rob the country will work against them.

I don’t trust the regime and their backward cronies who are too scared to voice an opinion and are just there as yes half men – I knew I could one day find a more appropriate use for this instead of calling all Arab leaders half men on public television. What travesty…

 Twenty million Syrians deserve to have a real choice

عشرون مليون سوري يستحقوا أن يكون عندهم خيار الحقيقي

Very Interesting Read, I just found out about this site (they linked to my blog). It has a lot of great opposition ideas.

On another note, I am hoping for better days for Syria where people are not considered traitors by the regime and need to be locked out for speaking out. On top of that you have a) The cheer leaders crew who either ask for more punishment and saying that people deserve it, in other words the baathist lunatics.

b) The people who disapprove and condemn but try to explain the regime point of view and justify it. They don’t mind throwing jabs here and there at the opposition people that they hold high respect for!!!

c)  The majority who does not care or does not really concern them since it is done deal and they know to ingore it to avoid facing problems. The frozen Society.

d) The people who compare Syria to other middle eastern contries or its own past and say everything is relative. They specially try to make point that Syria is not Norway, Sweeden, Switzerland. For me Greece, Italy or Spain is a good goal, hell even Croatia, instead of looking too high up. 

e) The people who are afraid of chaos so they stick with the devil they know even if it means slow death.

f) The people who try to divert your attention to the regional fights and balance with Israel or Lebanon or remind you about Iraq or the US imperialism.

This is where the regime popular support (there is no love) come from internally.

UPDATE: Yazan on GlobalVoices summarizes very nicely the events of the last 2 weeks relating to Syria and what bloggers have said.

Update2: Rime Allaf has a great post on the cruelty of the Syrian regime against its citizens when they are in their comfort zone, she also slams the regime’s apologits and ask them to show more respect to our prisoners instead of insulting our intelligence.

Syria: Harsh Sentence for Prominent Rights Lawyer

Anwar al-Bunni Gets Five Years for Expressing Opinion

(New York, April 25, 2007) – Syrian President Bashar al-Assad should immediately order the release of a prominent human rights lawyer who was sentenced to five years in prison on politically motivated charges, Human Rights Watch said today.

On April 24, the First Damascus Criminal Court convicted Anwar al-Bunni for “spreading false or exaggerated news that weaken the spirit of the nation,” and ordered him to pay the equivalent of US$2,000 to the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor for his membership in a unlicensed and now-closed human rights center.

The court issued the sentence on the same day that United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon arrived in Damascus for his first official visit to Syria.

“The Syrian government reminded the entire world, including the visiting UN Secretary-General, that it won’t allow its citizens to express themselves freely,” said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director at Human Rights Watch. “The government has no business prosecuting people like al-Bunni on charges that unlawfully restrict speech.”

The general prosecutor’s office charged al-Bunni with “spreading false news” in connection with a statement by al-Bunni claiming that a man had died in a Syrian jail because of the inhumane conditions under which he had been held. However, the timing and conduct of the trial indicate that it was driven by a broader desire to punish al-Bunni for his political activism and human rights work.

Officials from State Security (Amn al-Dawla) arrested al-Bunni on May 17 after he signed the Beirut-Damascus Declaration, which called for improved Lebanese-Syrian relations based on respect for each country’s sovereignty (http://hrw.org/english/docs/2006/05/20/syria13425.htm). Since his arrest, authorities have detained him in a wing with convicted criminals at the `Adra central prison, near Damascus.

Prior to his arrest, Syrian security agencies had frequently harassed al-Bunni for representing political activists, such as Kamal al-Labwani, who is also on trial, and publicizing their plight. Al-Bunni had been slated to run the first center for human rights training in Syria, but the authorities shut down the center, which was to be funded by the European Commission, shortly after it opened in March 2006.

“Al-Bunni’s sentence comes as foreign diplomats and politicians are knocking at Syria’s door to encourage it to play a more positive role in the Middle East,” Whitson said. “They should also urge Syria to start respecting peaceful internal dissent.”

During his detention, reports emerged that al-Bunni was ill-treated. On December 31, a criminal detainee pushed al-Bunni down some stairs and then beat him on the head in the presence of prison guards who reportedly failed to intervene. A few weeks later, on January 25, prison guards made al-Bunni crawl on the ground and forcibly shaved his head as punishment during a crackdown on a ward where criminal detainees had mounted a protest after being excluded from a recent amnesty.

Al-Bunni’s sentence comes ahead of verdicts in other high-profile trials of Syrian activists. Human rights activist Kamal al-Labwani’s trial is expected to conclude on May 10 (http://hrw.org/english/docs/2007/04/07/syria15667.htm). The last session in the trial of prominent journalist and writer Michel Kilo, who is charged in connection with his signature of the Beirut-Damascus declaration, was recently postponed.

For more information, please contact:
In Beirut, Nadim Houry (English, Arabic, French): +961-3-639244 (mobile)

In Cairo, Fadi Al-Qadi (English, Arabic): +20-12-135-9232 (mobile)

In New York, Sarah Leah Whitson (English): +1-212-126-1230; or +1-718-362-0172 (mobile)

In Brussels, Reed Brody (English, French, Portuguese, Spanish): +32-498-625786 (mobile)

In London, Tom Porteous (English): +44-20-7713-2766; or +44-79-8398-4982 (mobile)

Syria celebrated its conclusion of its national democratic elections which it called “the democratic wedding”, 2% voting turnout in some areas, by throwing the prominet lawyer and human right activist Anwar Bunni (imprisoned with Michel Kilo last year) a five year jail sentence!!!!!! and 2000 $ fine. That was because the judge claimed he tried to spread false news !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hello Modern Justice and welcome to Hell in Syria.

Did Assad get the green light from all the major powers that he is staying on so now he can oppress his people even more? what is his message to the Syrian people except to rub it in their eyes. FREE ANWAR NOW, enough baathist reforms!!!! 

Update: Here is a new English News Link and another detailed one

Update2: More detailed news and analysis are emerging as the news spread and reactions to it. This is another article.

Also some courageous Syrian bloggers started to write on this much controversial verdict. Kudos to Syrian for expressing the views of most of the Syrians. Also Yazan has something, waiting for others to react since we can’t stay silenced.

Update 3: Human Rights First Press Release on the sentence