At the time the outskirts of Damascus city witness brutal clashes and battles between rebels factions and regime forces amid losses and casualties of the latter, regime institutions pursue their duties fully as if nothing happened so that regime officials prove as usual their keenness to fulfill their work and achieve their missions regarding the advantage of citizens in general as if they were applying the common saying “The party in Harasta while the wedding in Douma”.
Pro regime newspaper “Mortar Missile Dairies” published an article with a title ” Under the pretext of Irregularities and without alarms… Damascus Province Bulldozed inhabited Buildings”; without any alarm, several houses were completely bulldozed in a discordant neighborhood in Riken Aldaian area in Damascus. It is unfamiliar scene to the citizens of the neighborhood. Earlier, Township facility staff used to make an opening in the ceiling or in a wall after having a bribe- according to a worker in construction field, while police used to arrive after earlier alarm by a staff in the Township facility.
According to some witnesses from the neighborhood, the house which were bulldozed by township facility, were inhabited by displaced and poor families who chose to live in random houses due to high rents of houses in Damascus. These houses turned to be to them shelter after dire circumstances to be surprised with the decision to bulldoze them. The author of the article wondered “how can complete floors be built and how can the materials for construction can reach the random areas without township knowing? How can electricity and water facilities approved services for Irregular buildings? Then how owners rent those houses after registering contracts in the township? Then who is the responsible? Where is the right of the buyers and those poor who seek shelter?”
A citizen commented on the news in anger: “because they are a weak government, they oppress the weaker. Leave the people alone, their lives are so bad. This step is intended for raising bribes taking money from those poor people. May Allah avenges those poor”; while another commented: “It is normal.. the regular buildings were bombed.. what is this government problem with houses; they hate to see houses not destroyed”.
It seems that regime and its officials are accustomed to the policy of demolishing and destruction where oppressing simple poor people one of their favorite hobbies as if they were taking joy of people miseries and pains, there are many people whose houses were brought down on their inhabitants’ heads by their fighting jets without any mercy or consideration for people’s lives; those who house were bulldozed for irregularity are envied for being better than this people for sparing their lives.
By Samah Alkhaled
Translated by Sabah Najem
Syrian Press Center
