First signs of the popular movement in the province of Latakia appeared on Friday 25/03/2011. The first demonstration started that day after Friday prayers from various points. Protesters called for freedom and condemned crimes committed in Daraa and emphasized the unity of the Syrian people.
The demonstration roamed many of the city streets before gathering in Sheikh Dahir square. Security forces were waiting for the 10.000 protesters gathered in the square and few minutes after their arrival, security forces started firing live bullets and tear gas to disperse the demonstration. Shortly later, Three buses full of people collaborating with security forces and working as mercenary (better known under the name of Shabiha) arrived. Their goal was to suppress protesters. Direct fire was shot at protesters and they were prosecuted . Five people were killed after they were shot in chest or head… or due to direct attacks from Shabiha using white weapons… They continued chasing protesters and arresting them until late at night.
The next day, several demonstrations came out and headed to Sheikh Dahir square. Security forces and Shabiha suppressed protesters with the help of elements from military police and they opened direct fire on protesters. Eight people were killed after being hit in the chest and head .. Chasing protesters and arbitrary arrests continued until first hours of the night. During that time, army and security forces started to deploy in several neighborhoods of the city (Sheikh Dahir – Aweyneh – Ugarit – Saliba – Kousour neighborhood – Mashroua Saliba – Taabiyat – Boustane Sidawi) , the entrances and exits Ramel Felstini and al-Skantory areas were under siege after security and military checkpoints were set in those areas. This deployment and siege is still going on until today.
Demonstrations and violent answers from the regime continued. On 30/03/2011, after the president’s first speech, a demonstration went out in both Skantory and Saliba areas, and it was suppressed in a violent manner… by firing directly using live bullets on protesters, which led to the killing of several people hit in the stomach and head.
After this, demonstrations became almost daily… and in several areas in city, but demonstrations were regularly met with repression and shooting at protesters.
On 17/04/2011 (Evacuation Day)… a big demonstration went out in several areas of the city. Protesters were ambushed at Saliba- Taabiyat intersection.. Security forces were hiding in one of the gardens and suddenly started shooting at protesters using live bullets and from a close distance. 20 people were killed and several dead bodies were kidnapped. Citizens reported seeing several dead bodies being kidnapped and streets were washed afterwards to hide the massacre traces.
One of that day’s martyrs was a young man who was hit by bullet in the shoulder according to the person who rescued him on behalf of the “National hospital”. According to the martyr’s mother, the doctor had told her that her son underwent a minor surgery and his health condition is very good. Before she was allowed to see her son, two unknown persons entered the room accompanied by one of the nurses… They went out few minutes later, and the mother was told that her son died. She was forced to sign a pledge saying that her son was killed by “unidentified armed gangs”, and this was the condition for receiving the body. When the body was received one day later, it turned out that he had been shot directly in the front of the head.
On 06/05/2011 (martyrs day), security forces launched a campaign on Ramel felestini’s area while worshipers were going out of the mosque and started shooting randomly on everything that moves. 3 people were killed, two of which (Bassel el-Turk and Abdallah Shaabouk, 16 and 19 years old respectively) were left heavily bleeding on one security checkpoints for more than 20 minutes and they died before arriving to hospital.
In the following period, random and targeted arrest waves continued. Security grip was tightened in the areas where demonstrations used to start. Demonstrations continued going out in Ramel Felestini and Skantouri areas, without trying to get to other areas fearing the repression of security forces.
On 10/06/2011, a big demonstration went out in Ramel Felestini area… Security forces and snipers, ambushed the demonstration when it got near Baath camp in that area. 11 persons were killed… Most injuries were in the head by fragment or explosive bullets.
One of the martyrs (Ezz el-dine Shuraiki), was shot in the shoulder and was left bleeding at a security checkpoints for more than 40 minutes before medical teams were able to intervene.
On the same day, a demonstration was repressed in Taabiyat area and snipers deployed on high buildings killed 2 young men.
Arbitrary arrests are still going on since 4 months in the city, and lots of disappearance cases were reported, not to mention testimonies of detainees tortured in the cellars of the different security branches.
The detainee (Nour Mustafa al-bazem) was arrested on 16/06/2011 and is currently in a coma in the military hospital while security forces are denying his presence in the hospital and are preventing his parents from seeing their son.
All wounded during demonstrations and all the bodies of the martyrs are being detained upon their arrival to the public hospital, while they are denied of going to private hospitals. Parents don’t have other choice than sending injured to simple clinics belonging to doctors present in those areas.
Those doctors are being prosecuted and threatened in various ways. Several cases of doctors being arrested because of their involvement in the rescue of demonstration victims were reported.
Security grip is severely tight in the besieged areas. Cars are subject to strict inspection.. Lots of necessary materials are prevented from entering the area. People wishing to enter or exit those areas have their ID cards checked, are being inspected in a humiliated way and are being insulted.
The city is still subject to a wide and intensive security deployment in many neighborhoods. Snipers are deployed on most high buildings, however, demonstrations are still out going out with great momentum and determination.
Some of the martyrs of Latakia Governorate since the beginning of the revolution:
http://www.vdc-sy.org/killed/grid.php?main_tablePage=1&main_tablePageSize=50&s_ID=&s_first_name=&s_father_name=&s_last_name=&s_mother_name=&s_killed_place=%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%B0%D9%82%D9%8A%D8%A9&s_age=&s_birth_place=&s_job=&s_date_kill=&s_note=
Some of the detainees of Latakia Governorate since the beginning of the revolution:
http://vdc-sy.org/arresteds/grid.php?s_id=&s_full_name=&s_city=%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%B0%D9%82%D9%8A%D8%A9&s_birth_city=&s_arres_date=&s_job=&s_arres_backround=&s_mo7akame=&s_free_date=&s_note=
