Green Movement condemns Syria massacres

GVF — The Green Movement’s highest decision-making authority has once again condemned the upsurge of violence in Syria and warned that the Syrian regime’s increasingly brutal crackdown on protesters could pave the way for yet another foreign intervention in the Middle East.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Coordination Council of the Green Path of Hope condemned any support provided to the Assad regime in its fourteen-month military onslaught, which has left more than 9,000 dead, and expressed solidarity with the Syrian people. The council’s spokesperson Ardeshir Amir-Arjomand stressed the body’s support for “the renewed efforts by the freedom seeking Syrian citizens to achieve freedom and establish an independent and democratic government based on justice and human rights.”

The statement came just days after the massacre of more than a hundred civilians in Houla, including many children. Following the murderous assault, a number of countries including the United States, Canada, the UK, Germany, Italy, Spain, Australia, the Netherlands, France and Switzerland expelled senior Syrian diplomats in their countries.

“The freedom seeking Iranians and companions of Iran’s Green Movement are truly concerned and deeply regretful regarding the killing of innocent Syrian citizens and in particular women and children at the hands of the dictators in Damascus. The persistent repression of Syrian citizens and the utter disregard for their opinions, votes and a democratic process will only deepen the existing crisis, lead to further human rights violations and ripen the conditions for foreign intervention in the region,” the Coordinating Council added.

On Sunday, the deputy commander of the Revolutionary Guards’ elite Quds Force told the semi-official ISNA news agency that the IRGC had indeed been involved in providing assistance to the Assad regime, but argued that the intervention had actually prevented further bloodshed in the country.

The full text of the statement:

In the name of God the Merciful,

The freedom seeking Iranians and companions of Iran’s Green Movement are truly concerned and deeply regretful regarding the killing of innocent Syrian citizens and in particular women and children at the hands of the dictators in Damascus. The persistent repression of Syrian citizens and the utter disregard for their opinions, votes and a democratic process will only deepen the existing crisis, lead to further human rights violations and ripen the conditions for foreign intervention in the region.

While condemning any and all support of such inhumane acts, The Coordination Council for the Green Path of Hope once again extends its deepest condolences and the solidarity of the Iranian people and the activists of the Green People’s Movement of Iran to each and every Syrian citizen. Furthermore, we reiterate our support for the renewed efforts by the freedom seeking Syrian citizens to achieve freedom and establish an independent and democratic government based on justice and human rights.

Ardeshir Amir Arjomand

Spokesperson for The Coordination Council for the Green Path of Hope

May 29th, 2012