Finally Michel Kilo will be Free to Participate in the Cultural Events of Damascus
December 27, 2007
Sorry that is just wishful thinking!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
But the decision makers in Culture less Syria could may be shock us by releasing the prisoners of conscience. They can help welcoming the celebrities, making them more comfortable that they are not approving a regime that suffocates cultural and free thinkers. The prisoners would really make the celebrations and fireworks meaningful instead of an empty culture that only offers crushing hope and silencing the voices of the society. Is it too much to ask? Of course, nothing is expected from a bunch of cowards who pride themselves on oppression and the language of terror.
The Arab and international guests should insist on visiting the prisoners or they better boycott such a tasteless farce. They can also insist on witnessing the destruction of important parts of old Damascus or destroying nature in the name of making money.
Happy New Cultural Year Michel, Kamal, Aref, the list is becoming too long and be happy that others are joining you I write…
Here is part of the news article:
Damascus heads into a new year as the cultural capital of the Arab world for 2008, hosting a year-long series of theatrical and musical events, along with talks by renowned intellectuals. American linguist and leftist intellectual Noam Chomsky, Czech writer Milan Kundera and Lebanon’s famed songstress Fairuz are among the personalities coming to Syria as Damascus assumes the cultural mantle from Algiers.
But not everyone welcomes the planned events, with Syrian writer Ibrahim Haj Abdi calling them “ephemeral cultural festivities.”
“Syrian intellectuals might have believed these promises (by the organisers) if only they had been accompanied by efforts to free one of the country’s most important intellectuals, Michel Kilo,” he wrote in Sunday’s pan-Arab daily newspaper Al-Hayat, published in London. Kilo was jailed in 2006 for being a co-signatory of the Beirut-Damascus Declaration, along with nearly 300 Syrian and Lebanese intellectuals. In May this year he was sentenced to three years in prison.
The declaration called for an overhaul of ties between the two states and for Syrian recognition of the independence of Lebanon, where Damascus was the major powerbroker for three decades until 2005.
“My experience with the organisers quickly dismissed any hope… of seeing it revive the role of culture that has been destroyed over decades” in Syrian society, wrote Samar Yazbek.
The cultural year will get under way on January 10 with a fireworks display on Mount Qassiun overlooking Damascus, followed by an official ceremony nine days later.
Entry Filed under: Brave Arab Liberals, For a Better Syria, Michel Kilo. .
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1.
abu kareem | January 2, 2008 at 3:27 am
Happy new year to you too, Fares. It is good to see you posting again.
2.
True Syrian Voice | January 22, 2008 at 6:13 am
President. Bashar, change our tarnished image and prove to the world your intention in justice toward your citizens and to the world. I am a Syrian immigrant who look forward for the day to return to my country and volunteer my wealth and professional experience to improve Syria. In fact, I am one of so many who are welling to shake hands with someone with a bloody hands and help him washing his hands to set the stage for a better start.
Bashar, you may not read this comment, but definitely one of your people will read it. Michel Kilo does not deserve to be prisoned. There is no shame to be criticized for the sake of reforming your country, Syria, and shedding the lights one your representatives weaknesses. It is always better to be criticized from you own family rather than from an outsider. I read Michel Kilo books and articles, Mr. Kilo thoughts are full of shine for a better Syria and regime. Syrian immigrants acknowledge and appreciate what you have been doing to improve and protect Syria. However, preventing the freedom of thoughts should not be in your agenda. In fact, giving a room for people to write and criticize are the best ways to turn your enemies to friends. After reading their thoughts, it would be great to invite them for an open discussion so they can contribute in reforming and translating their words or may intentions into actions and civil movements. Put yourself in their situation for a second, break your heart for a moment and imagine the family member of Michel Kilo and others feelings. Bashar, instead of spending money on Punishing Initiatives, invest this money on people themselves. Prove them wrong by giving them the opportunity to set their actions in a real life situation.
When you placed a woman as a vice president, we were expecting the heart of a women and the passion of a mother toward her children, Syrian citizens. May be Ms. Najat Al- Atar should visit all prisoners with Psychiatrists and invite all prisoners for a discussion to build a channel of communication between one another. I hope my comment will reach your hands so you can rethink of your people as diverse not only in religions, and ethnicity but mostly in thoughts, and perspectives. However,we hope that Syria reform will happen at your time.. We look for a better Syria with much more respect to human rights and freedom of thoughts and speech.
Finally, i would like to ask you to free Michel Kilo and Anwar al- Bounni from Syrian prisons. Bashar, you still have the time to rewrite Syria history and future according to the series of actions you take toward your own people or as you once called bigger family.