Syria - History of Politics and Conflict From 1920 to 2013!

With more than 100,000 dead, and over one million children displaced, the three-year-old Syrian civil war began with students spray-painting graffiti on a wall, escalating into one of the worst humanitarian crises of the 21st century. Thousands of refugees stream out of the country into Turkey, Jordan, Iraq and other countries.

Believably long-time one of the Middle East's most 'secretive countries', and long time allied with the Soviet Union now Russia, Syria's response to its civil unrest was naked military violence that shock even war-hardened neighbors.

Things have not always been this way, for history has it that the nation 'Syria' began when it shrugged off French colonial rule and embraced hopes of Pan-Arab unity. The nation was one of the first members of the 22-Nation Arab League. However, a burgeoning Cold War-era relationship with the Soviet Union resulted in Syria adopting the worst characteristics of a totalitarian regime. It amassed one of the world's largest chemical weapons arsenals as a deterrent against neighboring Israel, and invested billions of dollars in Soviet and Russian-built military equipment thereby isolating itself almost completely from the rest of the world.

In retrospect, going back to 1920 to be precise, and fast-forward to the present, shows the beginning of a Syrian nation with hope for Arab unity, ideas, prosperity, though they were short-lived as throughout the last three decades, Syria became synonymous with the 'SIR' syndrome: Silence, Isolation, and Repression.

Sequentially listed below is a pictorial of decades of Syria's unrests, as it evolves to the present state, that has left the once blooming nation 'almost sacked'. 

Pictorial of Syria's conflicts in history:

Photo below: November 1925, a shot of the ruined city of Damascus, near the American Consulate; French barricade to save the Christian quarters of the city.  Reportedly shelled by the French under General Sarrail.  

Photo below: November 1925, a shot of the ruined city of Damascus, near the American Consulate; French barricade to save the Christian quarters of the city.  Reportedly shelled by the French under General Sarrail. 

Photo below:11th Nov. 1925, the world woke to the shocking news of the bombardment of the beautiful city of Damascus under the command of Gen Sarrail. he reportedly stated that the bombardment was necessary because the French were cooped in Damascus city by 'Mohammedan uprising'. 2000 people were reportedly killed including non combatant foreigners.

Photo Below: Riot broke out in Damascus on March  31, 1936, after some nationalists were banished to the desert near Dier- El- zor for allegedly fomenting trouble. As a result a general strike was declared which spread to other parts of Syria. Many were reportedly injured. The situation was so bad that the French High Commissioner Comte De-Martel granted amnesty to the banished Nationalists and freed political prisoners.

Photo below: On Sept.10th 1936,the Franco Syrian Alliance was signed at the Quai D-Orsay by representatives of the two nations, given Independent to the Syrian people.  

Photo below: Vichy's High Commissioner for Syria, Gen. Henri Dentz on May 10th 1941, in Beruit Lebanon.



Photo below: Fred French troops and vehicles cheered by residents in Damascus, after after Vichy's forces evacuated Syria in June 1941.

Above photo shows British artillery unit in position on a gentle rolling slope during their entry into Syria on July 21st 1941.

Above photo shows when the British and 'free French' took over Syria from 'Vichy French', they also took over the job of providing food for needy Syrians. here is a typical example of a food distribution center.

Above photo shows Syrians burning 'French book' in a burn fire to celebrate independence in 1946

Above photo shows July 11 1949, Damascus - Syria. Col Husni al- za'im during his inauguration as President of Syrian Republic.

Above photo shows Dec. 12 1955, Syrian troop reinforcements rushing into mountain positions dominating the narrow breaches of the Sea of Galilee.

Above photo shows Dec. 16 1955, Tel Aviv- Yafo Israel: Threats of join military actions by Egypt and Syria against Israel brought about more dangerous crisis ion the middle east, helped by some armed supplies by communist Czechoslovakia with 'the blessing of Russia'.

March 15, 1956, Cairo Egypt: The Arab "big 3" earlier on March 12, announced the completion of coordinated Arab defense plans to meet any Israeli aggression.

Above photo shows Feb 1, 1958, Cairo - Egypt: Cheering crowd as Egypt President Gamel Abdel Naser and Syrian President Shukri al-Quwatli rode to the Presidency to sign the papers making the final merger of Egypt  and Syria into a United Arab state.

Above photo shows Feb. 26, 1958, Damascus - Syria: Syrian president Shukri al-Quwatli castes his ballot in the plebiscite  during the vote that made Syria and Egypt  a united Arab Republic. 

Above photo shows Dec 9, 1961, Damascus Syria: Men and boys parade in support of the new government in Syria.

Above photo shows March 31 1963, Damascus - Syria: A Syrian led a pro-Nesser demonstration at Damascus air-port to welcome an Algerian delegation visiting Syria for talk on 'Arab Unity' with the nation's revolution by regime.

Above photo shows March 8, 1966, Gen Hafez Assaad taking salute at a parade marking the 3rd anniversary of the revolt that brought the Ba'ath socialist party to power.



Above photo shows Syrian soldiers at Golan Heights after it's capture by Israel in 1967



Above photo shows June 7, 1967: Israeli tanks advanced into Syria during the 6 day war, by June 10, when the war was halted Israel controlled the entire Sinai Peninsula, all Jordanian territory west of the river Jordan, and the Golan Height of Syria.

Above photo shows 1968: Syrian refugee children play at a water bump in the Duma refugee camp.

Above photo shows Feb 13, 1969: Damascus - Syria: Arab women demonstration in support of UN intervention in the middle east.

Above photo shows Jan 1, 1971: Gen  Hafez Assaad marks his 1st yr in power. major achievement then being his ability to bring Syria into the mainstream of Arab politics after years of isolation.

Above photo shows Syria's Premier and Defence minister, Hafez Assaad waves after he was welcomed on arrival in Moscow by Soviet Premier Alexei Kosygin.

Above photo shows Jan 20, 1974, U.S Secretary of state Henry Kissinger and Syrian president Hafez Assaad.

Above photo shows May 2, 1974 U.S Secretary of state Henry Kissinger meets with Israeli Prime Minister Golda meir in her Jerusalem garden.

Above photo shows June 1, 1974, Syrian soldiers search for mine buried in the ground,  following initial  Israeli pullout from Golan Heights sector it captured in the 1973 war.

Above photo shows June 1, 1974, Syrian POWs arrive Damascus  from Israel after the Oct, 1974 war.

Above photo shows Dec. 14, 1981, Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin read the controversial Golan Heights annexation bill to the parliament.

Above photo shows Nov. 1990, Syrian troops arrived Saudi Arabia,  as part of the international coalition mobilized during the gulf war  to expel Irag from Kuwait.

Above photo shows April 22, 1996, Syrian president talks with U.S secretary of state Warren Christopher who was in Damascus to hear Hezbollah's term to halt the 12 day old conflict with Israel.

Above photo shows July 17, 1998, Hafez Asaad at the Arabian Institute in Paris. there were signs the septuagenarian wanted peace with Israel as a way of ensuring a lasting legacy.

Above photo shows Dec 10, 1999, a group of men waved Syrian flag and pictures of their President in the Golan Heights town of  Ein-el Tineh on the Syrian side of the frontier with majdal shams.

Above photo shows Dec 13, 1999: Israeli peace activist wave signs during a peace rally to support the Prime Minister Ehud barak in Jerusalem.

Above photo shows Dec 16 1999, President Clinton remarks on the two days talk between Israeli Prime Minister and Syria Foreign Minister, Farouk al-sharaa during a statement at the White House in Washington.

Above photo shows March 26, 2000: U.S President shakes hands with his Syrian counterpart at the opening of their meeting in Geneva. the leaders were expected to announce a date for the resumption of the Syria/ Israeli negotiations stalled since January.

Above photo shows June 13, 2000: Syrian soldiers carry the coffin of the late Syrian President Hafez Assad in Damascus, Hafez died at the age of 69.

Above photo shows June 12, 2000: Two mourners carrying portraits of their late president and his son Bashar, hit their chest, cutting themselves with knives to express sadness over the death of their President.

Above photo shows Syrians troop the street carrying portraits of the late president and his son Bashar who was nominated to succeed his father as president.

Above photo shows June 17, 2000: a general view of the opening session of Syria ruling Baath party conference (the 1st in 15 yrs)  in Damascus, expected to declare Bashar presidential candidate and setting him to replace his father who died on June 10th. 

Above photo shows Jan 18, 2003: Syrian troop in thousands to protest against a possible war on Irag, and to express support for Palestinians.

Above photo shows April2 2003, About 1,500 Syrian school children stage a sit-in outside UNICEF office in Damascus, to pretest the U.S-British war on Irag.

 

Above photo shows Nov. 6 2004: U.S observe activities on the Syrian side of the border, from their Iragi side at the Abu-Kamal border crossing.

Above photo shows Feb. 14, 2005: Lebanese Police block through the massive bomb attack scene that tore through the motorcade of former Prime minister Rafik Hariri in Bruit Lebanon. Hariri who resigned the previous fall following a sharp dispute with Syria died in the blast alongside an estimated 9 other people.

Above photo shows Feb. 15th, 2005: Syrian's Vice President Abdul Halim khadam pays condolence to Bahaa Hariri son of slain former Prime Minister, Rafik Hariri at the memorial service for Hariri in Beruit - Lebanon. An attack the United States government called a "terrible reminder" that Lebanon still must shake free of occupation by Syria.

Above photo shows Sept. 16, 2005: supporters of former prime minister Rafik Hariri at his funeral procession in Beirut Lebanon.

Above photo shows Feb. 21, 2005: Lebanese carry anti-Syrian banners during a demonstration.

Above photo shows Oct. 31st 2005: U.S Secretary of States Condoleezza Rice and U.S Ambassador John Bolton, at a ministerial level security council meeting  at which a resolution threatening Syria with economic sanctions if it does not corporate fully with the probe into the murder of Lebanon's ex-premier at the U.N head quarters.

Above photo shows March 5th, 2005: Lebanese opposition protesters watch a live outside broadcast of the speech by Syrian President Bashar that Syria would move it's troops to the country's eastern region; to be followed by a with drawl to the Syrian/ Lebanese border. 

Above photo shows March 7, 2005: Lebanese President Emile Lahoud and his Syrian counterpart exchanged documents in Damascus.

Above photo shows January 19, 2006; Syrian President and his Iranian counterpart Mahmoud Ahmadinejad walk past the guard of honour in Damascus.

Above photo shows March 21st, 2011. Syrian's Policeman stands in front of burnt building that was set in fire by Syrian's anti-government protesters in the northern city of Daraa-Syria.

Above photo shows March 25th, 2011: A supporter of President Bashar Assad carries his picture during a rally after Friday prayers outside the Omayyad mosque in Damascus.

Above photo shows Anti-Syrian government protesters and pro Syrian government protesters clash after a Friday prayers in Damascus.

Above photo shows March 29, 2011; Pro Assad protest in Damascus - Syria.

Above photo shows June 15, 2011, Syrian refugee children walk over bricks stored for road repairs.

Above photo shows Nov. 24, 2011, Syrians foreign minister's seat empty during during a meeting for Arab Foreign Ministers in Cairo!

Above photo shows January 31, 2012; U.S Secretary of States Hilary Clinton, listens as Syrian's ambassador to United Nation, speaks at a U.N's Security Council meeting on the crisis in Syria.

Pictures of the Syrian War as it escalates
















 

What next for the Syrian nation???

Femi Fani Kayode responds to Bianca Ojukwu's threat to sue him!

Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode has replied Bianca Ojukwu over her threat to sue him, if he fails to retract his ‘libellous publication’ about her within seven days.


 Mrs. Ojukwu had on friday morning vowed to drag Fani-Kayode to court for claiming to have dated her as a spinster in an article published by Fani-Kayode few weeks ago, in an attempt to exonerate himself of being tribalistic over the Lagos deportation saga.

Reacting to Bianca’s threat, Fani-Kayode in a statement made available through his Press Secretary, Mr. Bisi Lawal said the matter has since been referred to his lawyers who will now take it up. The statement reads, “This morning Cheif Femi Fani-Kayode woke up to find a letter that was published as an advertorial in Thisday Newspaper purportedly by Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu’s lawyer threatening to sue him for mentioning her in his article and claiming that she has never met him before. She also said that he was being malicious. The matter has of course been reffered to Chief Fani-Kayode’s lawyers who will now take it up. 

“Ordinarily, he would not have said a word about this matter because he sympathises with her for whatever she may have been going through. 

“However, now that she has put it in the public realm, Chief Fani-Kayode is compelled to formally respond. To the assertion that he never knew her and that they were never friends, he says this is false and he asks why would he lie? The public evidence is to the contrary. Chief Fani-Kayode would not want to say anything to embarrass her because that would be ungentlemanly."
"He sympathises with her delicate situation and once again he expresses his regrets about the fact that his statement about her was misconstrued. We shall just leave it at that,” the statement added.

It was gathered however that Fani-Kayode has enough proofs regarding his relationship with former beauty Queen and may be forced to roll them out should the case go beyond this stage.


Bianca Ojukwu was married to the late Biafran war lord Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojwukwu. 

Bianca and her late husband, Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojwukwu.

Kate Middleton Makes First Post-Baby Appearance In Skinny Pants, Wedges!

The Duke of Cambridge  kicked off the 135-mile Ring O’ Fire marathon in Anglesey, North Wales,  with a 'surprise visitor'  a surprise visitor...... Kate Middleton

This is Kate' Middleton's first public appearance since giving birth to baby George at St. Mary’s Hospital in London July 22. The duchess donned skinny jeans, looking as glamorous as ever, showing she’s shed that baby weight.

Beverly Osu says she didn't have sex with Angelo in the BBA House!

Beverly Osu

Beverly Osu says that she never had sex with Angelo in the Big Brother Africa house. 

"Angelo and I never had sex.I didn’t have sex in the house. I never had sex in the house". 

Punch: But we saw the two of you in the bath tub, making love

Beverly: We didn’t have sex. It was not an option for us. I don’t know where the people outside got the story from. I was shocked when I came out of the house and learnt that we had sex. I cannot take my bath with a swimming suit. We all take our bath naked. I shouldn’t be singled out because I went for a reality show. I am not different

Punch: What of all the other intimate things you did with Angelo? Didn’t you mind that the whole world was watching?


Beverly: Whatever I was doing with Angelo, I didn’t even think I was on TV. It was just the two of us. We didn’t plan anything, we were just happy. No matter how people will look at it, I don’t regret anything I did with Angelo. I didn’t bring out the video and said everybody should look at me. Big Brother brought out the video.

Punch: How come it was Angelo you fell in love with in the house?

Beverly:I had so many options to choose from in the house but I wasn’t attracted to any of them. But for some reasons I still do not understand, I fell in love with Angelo. I got attracted to him from the first day I saw him. For now, I will see where the relationship will take us.
 Punch: So, you don’t mind the difference in nationalities?

Beverly: There is no race when it comes to love. I can always go there and he can come here.

 Punch: Don’t you think you embarrassed Nigeria in the house?

Beverly: I was in the house to represent Nigeria. Of all the people that went for the audition, I was chosen. If anybody feels he can do better, he should go and get BBA form next year and apply and get in the house. I know I represented Nigeria very well.

 Punch: You said so many things in the house. Were they all true or were you looking for sympathy?


Beverly: I am a shy person. I shy away from a lot of things. But I was ‘open’ in the house. I say what is on my mind. For me to reveal myself to the world, I was just talking to my housemates. I don’t regret anything I said about myself or my family. People have to know the real me.
 Punch: You mentioned something about a boyfriend that abused you. Were you referring to 2shots?


Beverly: No. I wasn’t referring to him. For me, 2shots is history. Thank you for reminding me about him.

 Punch: Is your mother happy with you?

Beverly: Even if the whole world rejects me, my mother cannot reject me. I love her so much. I am her only daughter and last born. She has always been there for me. I wouldn’t want to disappoint my mum intentionally.

 Punch: Were there things you did in the house you regret?

Beverly: Nothing. I don’t have any regrets. I was in a beautiful house. I loved Melvin. He was the best in the house. Meeting everybody in the house was a blessing. I don’t regret anything.

 Punch: What would you have done with the prize money if you had won?

Beverly: I would have finished school. I would have started my make-up line. Trust me; I would have done a lot of things. Everybody has a degree. I must get a degree. With my degree, I can go further and do anything I want to do.

Photos of the intimate moments below:

Lekki-Epe Road: Lagos to Raise N87.5bn to Acquire Concession Rights!

Nigeria:

The Lagos State Government has unveiled a plan to issue bonds totalling N87.5 billion before the end of the 2013 fiscal year to take over the concession rights of the Lekki-Epe Expressway from the Lekki Concession Company (LCC).

The state government also spoke on plans to restructure its borrowing plan, noting that the N30 billion previously sought under the World Bank Development Policy Operation (DPO II) “will no longer materialise this year.”

The plan was contained in a letter dated August 19, which Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN), addressed to the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji, thereby seeking approval of the assembly.

Governor Babatunde Fashola 

In his letter, the governor pointed out the need for the state government “to issue bonds totalling N87.5 billion in this year, instead of the N35 billion originally envisaged” under the 2013 fiscal regime.

He, therefore, explained the rationales behind a change in the state fiscal plan, which he ascribed to the need “to cover the shortfall in the internally generated revenue (IGR) and the delay in disbursement of the World Bank DPO II.”

The governor added that the plan to issue the N87.5 billion bonds was basically to finance the acquisition of the concession rights (of the Lekki-Epe expressway) and take control of the toll regime for the benefit of our citizens.”

Fashola said the state government would continue “to maintain its fiscal strategy designed to promote sustainable economic growth through the adoption of more accurate revenue estimates; gradual diversification of the state economy into new areas and provision of enabling investment climate in the state.”

He expressed the state government’s willingness, “to maintain sustainable public borrowing and efficient public debt management. Even though the resultant deficit has risen to N79.865 billion, it is still consistent with our fiscal policy of declining deficit when compared with the 2012 actual deficit, which was N89.45 billion.”

At the assembly’s plenary yesterday, the state Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Mr. Ben Akabueze, said the decision to acquire the concession was for the interest of the residents of the state.

The commissioner explained that part of the plan by government for the review of the agreement with the LCC was to pay them off in order to take full possession of the road.

Akabueze said the government had already committed about N10 billion “to the funding of the project which took off in 2004 billed to cost N50 billion,” addingthat: “The state government will determine how much to be paid by motorists as toll on the road instead of allowing the concessionaire to fix prices when and how it likes.”

Also last night, the state government explained its position on the plan to buy-back the concession rights, attributing it to the agitation by the concessionaire to jack up the toll.

It also said the concession agreement with the concessionaire was not terminated as reported by a section of the media.

The state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Adeola Ipaye and his finance counterpart, Mr. Ayodele Gbeleyi, explained the state's decision in a statement they jointly signed yesterday.

According to the statement, the state government had neither terminated nor cancelled the concession agreement it entered into with the LCC to reconstruct and expand the expressway.

The statement said the state government "is engaged in buying back the rights pertaining to the concession ahead of the 30-year period stipulated in the Design, Build, Operate and Transfer (DBOT) Concession Agreement. This is to be achieved by purchasing all the shares in the LCC."

The statement explained that the state government came "to this decision to buy back the rights in the light of several developments clearly not envisaged in the 2006 Concession Agreement (which became effective in 2008).

"The project, given its pioneering nature, had some underlying assumptions and market indicators under which the transaction was concluded which have since drastically changed in a manner that it can no longer be sustained in its current form. Such include the devaluation of the Naira and costs of construction

"The LCC, which is the special purpose vehicle representing the investors, formally brought it to the attention of the state government that given the rapid rise in interest rates on local loans, and other cost parameters, it is compelled to raise tolls currently being charged at Toll Plaza One from N120.00 to N144.00 per car.

"The concessionaire also brought it to the attention of the state government, that as provided for under the agreement, tolling would have to commence at Toll Plaza Two.

"In addition, the concessionaire indicated that unless it realised more income from increased rates at Toll Plaza One and commence tolling at the same rate per Car at Toll Plaza Two, it would not be able to meet its commitments to investors in the project and continue to fund completion of the remaining sections of the road.

"The LCC stated that Toll Plaza Three, as contained in the agreement, must be built and tolls collected for the continued viability of the project. Under such circumstances, the state government felt obliged to buy out the interests of the concessionaire in advance of the hand-over date of 2038 under a mutual settlement option also expressly provided for in the Concession Agreement," the statement said.

The statement added that the decision to acquire the concession was taken after due consultation with all major stakeholders including the State House of Assembly based on various feedback and agitation the state government received from the concessionaire

Boy's Eyes Gouged Out By Woman in china!

A six-year-old boy is recovering in hospital after his eyes were gouged out in an horrific attack in China.

Guo Bin receiving treatment in hospital

The child, who has been named as Guo Bin, went missing from his home in the country’s Shanxi Province on Saturday evening.

He had failed to return home for dinner after playing outside.

Five hours later, the child was discovered by his parents with both eyes missing.

The young boy's mother said she found her son near their home.

His face was covered with blood but he was conscious and spoke to her, reportedly claiming that he had been attacked by a female who spoke with a strange accent.

Speaking from the hospital where he is being treated, the youngster's father explained what he said happened.

"[He was] walking down the street, then someone just carried him away. This is what my son told me. We asked him on the way [to hospital].

"He knew exactly what was happening. He said there was a person gouging his eyes with 'a thing', and he cried.

"The person then told him: 'Don't cry. If you stop crying I'll stop gouging your eyes'."

An initial suggestion in the Chinese media claimed the child's eyes were found nearby with the cornea missing.

Uncorroborated reports said that the attack may have been connected to China's illegal trafficking of human organs.

However, local police have now said they do not believe the attack was in any way related to organ trafficking and that while the eyes were found near the boy, the cornea had not been removed.

It remains possible that authorities are denying the link to trafficking in order to cover-up an embarrassing problem.

The director of Shanxi Eye Hospital, where the boy is being treated, has said that the child is now making a recovery but that his sight will never be recovered.

"The boy's general condition is stable. We conducted a three-hour check on his eyes yesterday, mainly on the trauma his eyes suffered," Yang Caizhen said.

"Our hospital established a treatment group for this case, and it's been confirmed that the boy is definitely going to be blind.

"His eyeballs are gone. Current medical technology has no means to help a patient whose eyeballs are gone by installing artificial eyes. There is no such technology in the world yet."

A local police chief, named only as Liu, said that he could not speculate on a motive for the attack.

"We are sparing no efforts trying to solve this case," he added.

A reward of RMB100,000 (£10,000) has been offered to anyone with information about the attack.