On occasion of the series of explosions and shellings in Damascus on Thursday, 21 February 2013, we document two press releases by opposition bodies. The first is of the National Coalition of Syrian Revolution and Opposition Forces (Syrian Coalition, SC), that condemns “these heinous crimes [of the Assad regime] that have resulted in the fall of innocent civilians”. The second is of the Network of Local Coordination Committees, that accuses the regime of “murder, torture, abuse, and arbitrary detention” and documented the following Friday 307 demonstrations for freedom and dignity across various cities in Syria.
Press release by Syrian Coalition
Press Release: *Syrian Coalition condemns the series of explosions in Damascus*
Cairo, Egypt. February 21, 2013.
*The National Coalition of Syrian Revolution and Opposition Forces (“Syrian Coalition” or “SC”) condemns the series of explosions in Damascus earlier today and holds the Assad regime responsible for them.*
Several heinous explosions rocked the city of Damascus today. Two explosions occurred in the Mazrah neighborhood, the first of which targeted the center for transportation heading to Douma, Harasta, and alTel; close to the headquarters of the Baath party. The second explosion occurred 100 meters from a heavily populated pedestrian bridge, alHaya. Another explosion was reported in the city of Barzah, causing severe damage to the structure of the intelligence office 211.
Reports are confirming that until now the death toll has reached 31 civilians and the number of injured has reached 208. The National Coalition for Revolutionary Forces and Syrian Opposition strongly condemns these heinous crimes that have resulted in the fall of innocent civilians, regardless of whether the crimes were premeditated or
uncalculated attacks.
The National Coalition recognizes that the Assad regime is responsible for causing terror and instability in the country. The Assad regime has opened the doors for anarchy in Syria in order to justify committing heinous and unprecedented crimes against the innocent Syrian population. 70,000 Syrians have lost their lives at the hands of this regime, which is evidence enough that the Assad regime is actually the only terrorist organization in the country.
This terrorist regime never hesitates to plan and carryout explosions in residential locations. This is the same regime that has bombed residential areas and destroyed homes atop of their inhabitants. They have caused severe destruction and loss of life to entire neighborhoods with ballistic missiles. The goal of such crimes is to put fear and terror in the hearts of civilians, pushing them to the brink of despair,
and disuniting the civilian opposition that refuses the rule of criminals. This regime proves day after day that it can only rule with terror, oppression, murder and destruction, and will continue to destabilize the entire region if the Syrian people do not succeed in their quest for freedom.
Press release by Local Coordination Committees
Despite the regime’s continued murder, torture, abuse, and arbitrary detention of Syrian youth activists, the activists insisted on setting out in demonstrations for freedom and dignity, during which they reiterated the principles of the Syrian Revolution, for which so many youth were martyred. The activists also maintained that they will accept nothing less than the ouster of the regime.
The Local Coordination Committees in Syria (LCC) was able to document 307 demonstrations across various cities in Syria. The most demonstrations were in Idlib, where 78 separate protests appealed for the proper use of weapons. This was followed by Deir Ezzor, where 69 demonstrations appealed to the regime to stop its barbaric shelling of Syrian cities. In Hama, 52 separate demonstrations saw protesters chanting in solidarity with the martyrs of Raqqa. In Aleppo, protesters set out in 37 separate demonstrations to demand that the international community take a stand against the systematic destruction of their city.
