In Syria, Death Toll Continues To Rise

Anti-government protests in Syria continue to spread, and the death toll continues to rise. Melissa Block speaks with Khaled Yacoub Oweis, senior correspondent for Reuters in Jordan, about the latest developments in Syria.

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MELISSA BLOCK, host:

Anti-government protests in Syria continue to spread and the death toll continues to rise. Human rights groups estimate that at least 200 people have been killed since protests began last month. Among them, four protesters killed yesterday in the Mediterranean port City of Banias and 37 killed in protests after last Friday's prayers.

Correspondent Khaled Oweis has been following the unrest for the Reuters news agency. He was based in Damascus, but was recently expelled by the Syrian regime. And he joins me now by Skype from Amman, Jordan. Welcome to the program.

Mr. KHALED OWEIS (Correspondent, Reuters): Hello.

BLOCK: And there are reports today of university students protesting in the capital, in Damascus. What have you heard about that?

Mr. OWEIS: There were some small protests today in Damascus University. I mean, I saw a YouTube video of maybe a couple of hundred students coming out of the science building and shouting God (unintelligible) freedom, freedom, freedom. And they managed to stage a small march, small protest before secret police dispersed them.

But as far as the size of this protest, it was quite small. It is significant because Damascus University started control. It's a Soviet flight system. So, that the fact that these students, however small in number, managed to actually stage a demonstration, that is something about the emboldened spirit or the number of Syrians who feel like they need to do something.

BLOCK: You're saying the students are emboldened and that says something about the climate in Syria right now.

Mr. OWEIS: Yes, yes. It is - the fear barrier has broken. And it seems like it's just being broken every day.

BLOCK: You're saying this signifies you that the fear barrier has been broken. How do you read the recent statement from Syria's interior ministry - it came out on Friday - that said there is no more room for leniency or tolerance in enforcing law and preserving the security of the country? In other words, do you anticipate a far bloodier crackdown than what we've seen so far?

Mr. OWEIS: Talking with Syrians and with diplomats based in Damascus and up road, the feeling is that, yes, the government will come and fight this violent campaign and campaign of arrests against protestors. I've talked to one senior diplomat in Damascus and it is you see the protestors are quite naive. They underestimate the willingness of Syria's ruling hierarchy to use violence to remain in power.

BLOCK: Khaled Oweis, I mentioned that you have been expelled by the Syrian regime for your reporting - they weren't happy with that. There was also news that an editor at the Syrian state-run newspaper was fired after she criticized shootings by security forces. It does point to the difficulty in getting solid information out of Syria right now.

Mr. OWEIS: It doesn't actually. I was - about myself - I was thinking if I was based Damascus right now, you know, movement is quite restricted for journalists and regular Syrians in Syria. You can't go anywhere without having the risk of being followed by the secret police or arrested. So, actually, you'd have more freedom in working these circumstances outside Syria than inside it.

BLOCK: So, when you hear a statement from President Assad that the country is on the course to comprehensive reform, what do you make of that?

Mr. OWEIS: The feeling is that as one senior Western official put it recently, he has no interest in reform. It's a (unintelligible) that the Syrian ruling hierarchy faces reform versus control. This is a system based on ruthless, unabated total control. How do you reform it? Is it reformable?

BLOCK: Khaled Oweis is a correspondent with the Reuters news agency. He spoke with me by Skype from Amman, Jordan. Mr. Oweis, thanks very much.

Mr. OWEIS: Thank you, thank you.

(Soundbite of music)

ROBERT SIEGEL, host:

This is ALL THINGS CONSIDERED from NPR News.

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Source: http://www.npr.org/2011/04/11/135324862/in-syria-death-toll-continues-to-rise?ft=1&f=1009

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