Emboldened by a revolt against President Bashar Assad, residents coated many streets of the Syrian city of Hama with red paint on Feb 2 to commemorate for the first time a massacre committed 30 years ago by forces loyal to Bashar’s father. Some of the paint spilled into the Orontes river which runs through the ancient city in central Syria and footage posted on the Internet showed the river tinged red.
Activists said the paint was a symbol of the blood shed during the 28 days of the assault in Feb 1982 in which 10,000 people were killed in the city, the fourth largest in Syria with a population of 700,000. “Our memory was awakened by the crimes that are happening now. It is the same oppression, same torture, same style of killing,” said activist Yasser Al-Hamawi, who is from the city but now lives elsewhere. “It is being repeated now even if on a smaller measure, people will not forget or forgive,” he said.
Hama has become a symbol of defiance against Bashar Assad in the 11-month uprising against his rule. Residents, fearing reprisals, had until now not been able to mark the massacre. The city was paralysed on Feb 2, residents said. Schools and shops were closed and employees stayed at home.