penned in
facing the wrong embassy!
shouting anti-Syrian government slogans
singing the Kurdish national anthem
posing for tv camera
rainy end
once again, a video camera spotted in the embassy windows filming protesters
Bribe? the cop guarding the embassy is offered Syrian cookies by embassy staff
About 200 people had gathered on a road in the western part of Qamishli. They lit candles on the side of the road and a bonfire in the middle, around which some performed a Kurdish traditional dance.
This is not the first time that the Syrian authorities have used force to break up a Kurdish celebration. In March 2006, security forces arrested dozens of Kurds and used tear gas and batons to stop a candle-lit night procession in celebration of Newroz.
For more details, see:
http://hrw.org/english/docs/2008/03/24/syria18332.htm Video of the killings:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uh9eZNKk8qw Previous Kurdish protests at the Syrian embassy:
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/03/393634.html http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/03/364941.html