Category Archives: Updates
Hama, 30 Years on!
Did you know today is the anniversary of the death of 10 000-40 000 people!
Today marks the anniversary of one of the most bloodiest days that the people of Syria have ever witnessed.
Bashar al Assad has proved to the world that he will carry on the legacy of his father Hafiz al Assad and suppress any threat of a revolution even at the expense of hundred and thousands of innocent men, women and children.
For some, it’s an emotional day, perhaps they lost loved ones whilst for others they may not even know about what took place during this bloody period.
neighborhoods were raised to the ground when protestors took to the streets 30 years ago and the security forces opened fire on the inhabitants of Hama indiscriminately killing innocent civilians.
I think it’s crucial that we are aware of not only our history as a nation and as a civilisation, but also our contemporary history.
The people of Hama, for the first time in 30 years have the opportunity to openly mourn the death of their relatives and openly discuss the events of that horrid campaign that lasted 27 days.
Bodies were left in the streets for days as the loved ones were too scared to retrieve the dead bodies and bury them.
Reports have been made of dogs descending into the town and eating the bodies whilst the women sought refuge in the mosques and hid in their homes.
Today I attended a protest outside the Syrian embassy but was saddened to find only a handful of people who attended.
Outside embassy
Hama 1982, destroyed after the government assault.
The affair of Hama and what is currently taking place is not a Syrian issue nor is it an Arab issue, but rather its an issue of belief, creed, righteousness, principle, moral and humanity.
Related articles
- Syria marks anniversary of Hama massacre (ctv.ca)
- Syria marks 30th anniversary of massacre – Sydney Morning Herald (news.smh.com.au)
- Syria marks anniversary of Hama massacre (foxnews.com)
latest developments!!! for more info call 07949286133
On behalf of the convoy organizers, I would like to express our appreciation to those who have got in contact with us and offered their support. So far we’ve had individuals offering us medical supplies, volunteers and some media expertise. However we are still asking for financial donations and that which is mentioned in the video. As a reminder we are in need of the following donations:
- Children s Medicines
- blankets
- tinned food
- marquees
- sleeping bags
- camping stretcher beds similar to the following http://www.outdoormegastore.co.uk/acatalog/Kampa_Dream_Camp_Bed.html
Additionally we’re looking for volunteers who would like to participate and raise money for a vehicle.
JazakumAllah khair
Wa Asalamu Alaykum wr wb
For more information please call 07949286133
Aid Convoy 2 Syria – New Project!
It’s all over the news and internet, how can we avoid it? The Syrian unrest started in March 2011 and has taken a turn for the worse.
We, a group of people from London, have got together and are aiming to drive with a convoy of vans to delivery medical aid, food and clothes to the Syrian refugees in refugee camps in Turkey. We are non-political and are looking for volunteers who can help us out. If anyone can lend us their expertise or donate money or aid we would greatly appreciate it.
We hope to leave early March 2012!
Please contact us via email at: aidconvoy2syria@yahoo.co.uk
Syrian Refugees in Turkey
Please see the following article to read about the thousands of Syrian refugees living in camps in Turkey.
‘Captive’ aid workers arrive in Greece after ship trip
A ship carrying a group of 10 aid workers – including seven Britons who alleged that the captain had held them captive – has docked at a Greek port.
The captain of Strofades IV took the volunteers to his native Greece after leaving his Libya moorings on Thursday.
But ship managers said the “activists” jumped on board and the captain set sail to stop others boarding amid fears they would divert the ship to Gaza.
Officials from the Foreign Office were at the port to meet the aid workers.
Earlier Greek commandos boarded the ship as it waited outside Piraeus Harbour in Athens following the journey from Libya’s Derna Harbour.
Ellie Merton, the London liaison for the group – part of the Road to Hope aid convoy – confirmed all of those who were on-board were safe and uninjured.
She said Kieran Turner, originally from Liverpool and among those on board the boat, had told her via the telephone that the Greek authorities had been “lovely” and “very sympathetic” and were looking after the volunteers.
She said the aid workers were hoping to disembark within the next half hour.
The FCO said the British Embassy in Athens had been in contact with the ship’s owners and the Greek authorities throughout the incident.
Gaza-bound
Earlier Tauqir Sharif from Walthamstow in London told the BBC that the situation had been worrying.
“Six of us are Muslims and have beards, it’s not looking good,” he said, adding that the captain had called them terrorists.
The other British nationals on-board include Mustapha El-Guerbouzi, Raheal Parveez, Yunus Malik, Nagib Elgarib Elbarrami, who are all from London.
Khalid Mohamed Omar Ali, whose hometown has not yet been reported, is also from the UK.
Algerian Aziz Mekkati, and David Callender and Kenneth O’Keefe from Ireland, are also on-board.
Mr Sharif, who is also known as Tox, was also on the Gaza-bound aid ship Mavi Marmara which tried to breach an Israeli naval blockade in May this year.
The charity said the captain had become irritable in the port area over payments, but insisted the group had given the money in cash to a shipping agent.
She said the captain appeared to fear that the agent would not pay him the £56,000 ($90,000) fee for the trip to Gaza.
But the Greek managing company behind the Strofades IV has denied reports the aid workers were held against their will.
Ionian Bridge Shipmanagement said 10 of around 150 activists had jumped on board the ship at Derna, forcing the captain to set off to prevent all of them boarding and taking over the ship.
It said the captain was afraid more would board and divert the ship to Gaza, which is under an Israeli naval blockade.
The company said in a statement: “We never intended to transfer the activists, because we realised they wanted to lead the ship not to El Arish but Gaza, to break the embargo and pitch us against the Israeli navy. We wanted to leave, fearing for our lives.”
BBC News Report Video and Names of of the 10 Aid Workers
KIDNAPPED AID-WORKERS SPEAK OF CONTINUING ORDEAL ABOARD ABSCONDING GREEK SHIP
10 aid workers have made their first contact by mobile phone text messages to family and friends. They have spoken at length about their ordeal onboard “Strofades IV” Greek-owned ship, registered in Malta.
The 10 aid workers are out of physical danger, sitting together in one small cabin in the lower-deck’s crew quarters of the ship. They want to reassure everyone they are OK:
Mustapha El-Guerbouzi (46) – UK National, resident in West London
Kieran L Turner (38) – UK National, resident in Liverpool
Raheal Parveez (25) – UK National, resident in North East London
Aziz Mekkati (43) – Algerian National, resident in Algeria
Yunus Malik (23) – UK National, resident in London
Nagib Elgarib Elbarrami (32) – UK National
David T Callander (35) – Irish National
Tauqir A Sharif (23)- UK National, resident in North East London
Kenneth O’Keefe (41)- Irish National
Khalid Mohamed Omar Ali (21) – UK National
There are 7 (more than previously reported) Libyans on the ship as well. The Libyans include customs inspectors, border police and the harbour manager for Derna Port. The Libyans are being treated better than the aid workers, seem to have separate cabins, have more freedom of movement and are in contact with Libyan authorities by radio and mobile phone.
Kieran Turner says: “At one point we managed to get hold of a ship’s radio, and got through to a nearby tanker – OCL Oakland. Through the tanker we sent out distress messages, requesting help, and these got passed onto two alleged Nato warships in the area P492 and F452.”
Ken O’Keefe added: “They said they would help, but no one has come to rescue us. That was some hours ago.”
Kieran adds: “At first we were made to stay in the loading bay area at the rear of the ship, which was really dangerous once the ship got out to sea – the ship’s loading door is still open at a 45degree angle! They didn’t give us any life jackets. And that was when the weather was still calm. The weather is rough now – you can just imagine…”
Kieran further adds: “Initially we were stopped from moving around the ship and had to stay in the bottom of the lower deck. Eventually we just walked through to the crew quarters, and they’ve let us occupy their small smoking room. At least we are safe and in the dry, and it has a couch so we can try to sleep. We’ve been given one meal, of sorts, since the ship left Derna. We’ve got access to water, but it’s not drinking water.”
Ken O’Keefe has tried to talk to the Captain on a number of occasions. At first he succeeded in talking to him, but since then the captain has blanked him.
The 10 convoyers still do not know where the boat is headed. They asked Ellie to describe to them where the ship appeared on an internet “ship tracking” website. She described they were about 25 miles off the western tip of Crete, heading due north further into Greek territorial waters. The guess is that the berthing port chosen by the captain will be a small, regional port west of Athens on mainland Greece, several hours sail away.
Ellie says: “The relief being able to talk to them was huge: to know they are physically safe and unharmed. However, we remain extremely worried about their overall safety – rough seas, and a bow door open at 45degree angle? It’s criminal the captain is sailing in rough weather with an unsecured vessel. Really shocking. I am also disappointed to hear the ship owner and his assistant are armed, and refuse to give the convoyers freedom of movement around the ship. The aid workers are genuine hostages. It is still deeply worrying.”
For further information, please contact:
Ellie Merton
London Liaison
Road to Hope, Convoy to Gaza
http://roadtohope.co.uk/
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid…
