STATEMENT REGARDING THE ONGOING VIOLENCE IN SYRIA; Congressional Record Vol. 157, No. 120

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STATEMENT REGARDING THE ONGOING VIOLENCE IN SYRIA

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HON. GARY C. PETERS

of michigan

in the house of representatives

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Mr. PETERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my deep concern

regarding the loss of life in Syria. In Hama, the site of massive anti-

regime protests, dozens of innocent citizens chanting for freedom and

democracy have been ruthlessly murdered by Syrian security forces under

orders from the Syrian regime led by President Bashar Assad.

This heartless attack came on the eve before the Islamic Holy Month

of Ramadan, which only makes this assault on the Syrian people all the

more despicable. Assad has yet again failed to understand that the

Syrian people are no longer afraid. Violence will only further convince

the Syrian people that Assad is no longer their legitimate president.

Assad has ruled with an iron fist for too long. During this uprising,

Assad has made fake reforms designed to give the world a false

impression that he is a reformer. Reports of inhumane torture of

innocent men, women, and children clearly show that the last thing he

is interested in is reform. The Syrian people have spoken: they want

the Assad regime to fall. I therefore reiterate my call for Assad to

step down, before any more innocents are murdered.

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