27.06.11 Menas Borders
Syrian government widens border crackdown
Some 12,000 people have fled Syria to Turkey
Uncertainty continues in Syria's border areas as the government's security
forces widen their reach and thousands more are forced to flee from their
homes.
On Saturday, 25th June, tanks moved into the village of Najia, after similar
operations were carried out in Jisr al-Shughur on 12th June and Khirbet al-Joz
on
Thursday 23rd June.
Troops also moved into the village of Bdama on Saturday, which Reuters called a 'nerve centre', providing food and supplies to several thousand Syrians who have fled the
besieged frontier towns, but have chosen to take shelter in fields on the
Syrian
side of the border, rather than cross into Turkey.
Umit Bektas, a Reuters photographer said he had seen armoured vehicles taking up positions
on the Syrian hillside, apparently with the aim of preventing more Syrians from
crossing the border.
It is believed that the government is carrying out a 'scorched earth' policy in the border region.
Some 12,000 Syrians have crossed into Turkey in recent weeks, and most are now
residing in temporary refugee camps set up by the Turkish government.
The crackdown has been portrayed in a very different light by the Syrian
government. The pro-government daily newspaper Al-Watan said of the attacks on Khirbet al-Joz, that the town was a "key crossing for armed groups from and to the Turkish" border. It said the army was 'now cleansing' the village of armed gangs, securing roads and protecting residents.
The State news agency SANA took a similar approach on the refugee question, saying families were returning
from Turkey to Jisr Al-Shughur.
“Almost 730 people have returned…They had fled from the terror of the terrorist
groups in the region,” it said.
Violence is also occurring near the Lebanese borders, with activists saying
people were forced to flee from the border towns of Al-Hit, Dweik and Quseir on
Friday and Saturday.
At least five civilians were killed in Quseir on Saturday during house searches
and funerals for anti-government protestors, killed during demonstrations on
Friday. Quseir is located near the flashpoint city of Homs and only 15km from
the
Lebanese border.
The government of Syria's President Bashar al-Assad has been hit by waves of protests since mid-March.
Sources: Al-Jazeera, BBC News, Dawn.com, Reuters
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