Damascus, first defection in regime as Hama chief prosecutor resigns
In a video message Adnan Bakkour leaves his post, denouncing the violence by militias loyal to President Assad. He adds that he has evidence of massacres and the names of those responsible. The Syrian official news agency had reported the kidnapping of the government official on August 29. Yesterday al-Jazeera broadcast the video.
Damascus (AsiaNews / Agencies) - The highest ranking government official in the city of Hama has resigned, becoming the first leader within the Syrian regime to leave office, as a gesture of protest against the violence of the Bashar al-Assad regime. In recent days, coinciding with the celebrations for the end of Ramadan, at least seven people were killed during anti-government demonstrations that were held across the country.
In a video message broadcast yesterday by al-Jazeera satellite channel, the attorney general of the city of Hama, Adnan Bakkour - the highest judicial official in the city - submitted his resignation, denouncing the atrocities of the regime. Five reasons, read in a statement that prompted him to leave his post: the murder of 72 prisoners in central jail which took place on July 31, including political activists and peaceful protesters, the burial of 420 bodies in mass graves; arbitrary arrests, systematic torture of prisoners, the demolition of homes by the army.
The official added that he has documentary evidence of the violence committed by the regime, as well as the names of "criminals" who massacred defenseless people. These would include the local representative of the Ministry of Interior, the heads of police, military and Syrian intelligence. As video was broadcast the Syrian army carried out a series of raids yesterday in Hama. Militias loyal to President Assad intended to "flush out" protesters and anti-regime activists house to house.
However, there are some elements that overshadow the case of Bakkour Adnan (pictured), such as when the video message was recorded. On 29 August the official SANA news agency had reported the abduction of the attorney general, on his way to work. An armed commando apparently abducted the man, his driver and bodyguard in the village of Karnaza. For three days there have been no further news of the official, until the video message of his resignation broadcast yesterday by the Arabic television.
Hama, a city of 800 thousand inhabitants in central Syria, is one of the bastions of anti-regime revolt and plays a special role in the country's recent history. In 1982 then-President Hafez al-Assad, Bashar's father, sent the army to quell a Sunni opposition revolt, led by the Muslim Brotherhood. The crackdown left tens of thousands of dead and destroyed the city.
In a video message broadcast yesterday by al-Jazeera satellite channel, the attorney general of the city of Hama, Adnan Bakkour - the highest judicial official in the city - submitted his resignation, denouncing the atrocities of the regime. Five reasons, read in a statement that prompted him to leave his post: the murder of 72 prisoners in central jail which took place on July 31, including political activists and peaceful protesters, the burial of 420 bodies in mass graves; arbitrary arrests, systematic torture of prisoners, the demolition of homes by the army.
The official added that he has documentary evidence of the violence committed by the regime, as well as the names of "criminals" who massacred defenseless people. These would include the local representative of the Ministry of Interior, the heads of police, military and Syrian intelligence. As video was broadcast the Syrian army carried out a series of raids yesterday in Hama. Militias loyal to President Assad intended to "flush out" protesters and anti-regime activists house to house.
However, there are some elements that overshadow the case of Bakkour Adnan (pictured), such as when the video message was recorded. On 29 August the official SANA news agency had reported the abduction of the attorney general, on his way to work. An armed commando apparently abducted the man, his driver and bodyguard in the village of Karnaza. For three days there have been no further news of the official, until the video message of his resignation broadcast yesterday by the Arabic television.
Hama, a city of 800 thousand inhabitants in central Syria, is one of the bastions of anti-regime revolt and plays a special role in the country's recent history. In 1982 then-President Hafez al-Assad, Bashar's father, sent the army to quell a Sunni opposition revolt, led by the Muslim Brotherhood. The crackdown left tens of thousands of dead and destroyed the city.
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