Arab League says Syria monitors are helping

[David__77]

BEIRUT (Reuters) - The head of the Arab League has said its peace monitors are helping to ease a violent crackdown on anti-government protests in Syria, but urged President Bashar al-Assad's government to carry out a peace plan in full.

Meanwhile army defectors whose armed insurgency has threatened to overshadow the peaceful popular uprising captured dozens of members of the security forces by seizing two checkpoints Monday, the opposition said.

...

Elaraby said the monitors had secured the release of 3,484 prisoners and succeeded in getting food supplies into Homs, one of the centres of the violence. "Give the monitoring mission the chance to prove its presence on the ground," he said.

http://au.news.yahoo.com/world/a/-/world/12483223/arab-league-says-syria-monitors-are-helping/

[joshcryer]

1. Good news. A political solution is the only way to end this without civil war.

[tabatha]

2. I hope Assad is sincere.

I read something about him wanting the Golan Heights.

[David__77]

3. All sides in the conflict want Syria to regain sovereignty over the Golan Heights.

The opposition forces also issued a call for the liberation of the Golan Heights a statement recently.

http://www.nctimes.com/entertainment/syrian-opposition-groups-unite-against-assad/article_c03ea6aa-93db-5426-a123-b7f4c92dacf3.html

[ellisonz]

9. I don't think...

...Assad will leave or there will be peace without a civil war.

[joshcryer]

10. That is possible. The Arab League is trying very hard here, though.

[ellisonz]

11. As they should...

I just don't think it will be successful.

"As to the history of the revolution, my ideas may be peculiar, perhaps singular. What do we mean by the Revolution? The war? That was no part of the revolution; it was only an effect and consequence of it. The revolution was in the minds of the people, and this was effected from 1760–1775, in the course of fifteen years, before a drop of blood was shed at Lexington."

- John Adams - Letter to Thomas Jefferson (24 August 1815)

[tabatha]

4. IMPORTANT: ALL FORMAL HEALTH SERVICES HAVE NOW CEASED IN HOMS: PLEASE SHARE.

SNN | #Syria | Homs: IMPORTANT: ALL FORMAL HEALTH SERVICES HAVE NOW CEASED IN HOMS: PLEASE SHARE.

In addition to the humanitarian problems in the post below, Homs has an additional problem with the withdrawal of Red Crescent Ambulances from 31st December, which hopefully monitors are aware of: In Homs Revolution Council's own words "The only organisation that was aiding people in Homs was the Red Crescent which stopped due to security harassment and gun firing at its vehicles.

As a result, with no hospital service, any wounded person is sentenced to death. The health ministry's cars never move and during the night there is no one to cover the Red Crescent's role, any pregnant woman or sick person (with diabetes, heart problems, or a stroke) is exposed to risk.

The security forces bear all responsibility for this tragedy; they never stopped pressurizing this organization, from which no official personnel dares to state the truth about what's going on, out of fear from the regime's terrorism. And we totally understand their position.

But we should not stand idly by and stay silent. We should lift the suffering of these young people who are the hope of survival for a whole city. All the formal health services have been stopped in this city due to the terrorist policy adopted by the Assad regime.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=288003067914142&set=a.176433502404433.39432.175386715842445&type=1&utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed

[David__77]

5. Totally untrue. This is disinformation.

The Arab monitoring group visited one of the hospitals today in fact: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2012-01/03/c_122526880.htm

There are many hundreds of medical doctors and nurses working in Homs. The security situation is difficult in some neighborhoods certainly; hopefully all parties allow unimpeded access by medical staff.

But it is true that the Syrian Arab Red Crescent has ceased activities in Homs due to the security situation. See: http://www.dp-news.com/en/detail.aspx?articleid=107309

The Syrian Arab Red Crescent is clear in its rationale and its site relays its communiques: http://www.sarc.sy/

SARC is - by far - not the only provider of ambulance services in Homs. It is playing an admirable role where it can work unimpeded.

[tabatha]

6. Totally true. It was about FORMAL services.

There is no service at night, and the Red Crescent has with drawn. Those were the two main issues, ones of which you conceded.

Nothing about informal services was stated.

Edit:

And by the way, since no press is allowed into Syria, how can your report even be verified?

[David__77]

8. What does "formal services" mean?

There are ambulances at night. I don't think a network of public and private hospitals and clinics and ambulances is anything other than "formal" medical service. All that happened is Red Crescent withdrew. The Arab monitors commented on their visit to these hospitals - I guess they could be lying and the TV footage could be doctored, I concede.

And by the logic of "verification" by the standard, can anything at all be "verified?" Anything?

[tabatha]

7. S.N.N | Shaam News Network

SNN | #Syria | Duma: The Syrian Revolution Coordination Committee of Douma (Duma) City
A summary and videos of events on Monday, 2 Jan. 2012

The main event today was in Al-Shifouniya town –to the east of Douma city
Since the morning, large numbers of security forces raided the farms in Al-Shifouniya vandalizing and destroying them. Unconfirmed reports of the death of victim Muhammad Jamous Abu Khaled, he is 62 years old and was in his farm during the raid, the reports has it that he was shot then abducted, no news of his whereabouts till now. Also, 7 people were injured and dozens were arrested including farm laborers, farm owners, and passersby. Even animals were killed, including the cows, goats, and chicken in several farms. The raid was accompanied with cutting off electricity which caused great panic to the inhabitants.

In Douma city
Electricity was cut off since the morning, security and Shabiha (regime-sponsored gangs) spread at all the entrances. Sporadic gunfire was heard. Reports of continuing of arrest campaigns.

Confirmed news of the arrest of the 30 years old, Saeed Khaled Al-Salhani, he was arrested on 30 Dec 2011.
Nighttime demonstration were held and broadcasted live on Al-Jazeera, the chants were for toppling the regime and in solidarity with stricken Homs.

Featured Videos:
see list

http://www.facebook.com/ShaamNewsNetwork