Protests and writing on walls.. Will people anger explode in face of Damascus government?

 Today, the manifestations of the beginning of the popular movement in Syria in 2011 are back to the fore, with unidentified people writing anti-government graffiti on the walls calling for “the overthrow of the regime” and a comprehensive political solution for the country, in a number of Syrian cities under the control of the Damascus government, including the capital and its countryside, As-Suwayda, and Hama.

 "Down with the regime", "Freedom for the detainees" and "No to humiliation" are phrases that recall the beginnings of the Syrian movement that erupted against the Damascus government, against tyranny, oppression, corruption and suppression of freedoms. Today, after more than 11 years have passed since the Syrian crisis,  These phrases return again through sit-ins, demonstrations, and graffiti writing on walls in the southern and interior regions under the control of the Damascus government.

 Cities are rising in presence and cities are stepping on walls

 Since last year, As-Suwayda has witnessed widespread popular movement and anger against the security and economic policies of the Damascus government and the blockage of prospects for a political solution. It reached the point of explosion on December 4, when protesters stormed and burned the governorate building and removed the image of Bashar al-Assad from its facade.

In Daraa, in which hardly a day goes by without a killing, assassination, or liquidation occurring involving all the actors involved, this city located in southern Syria is witnessing a horrific security chaos, which has greatly increased after the Damascus government and its security apparatus carried out the so-called “settlements.”  Barely a week passes without a shipment of drugs intended for smuggling by various methods being seized on the border with Jordan, amidst a sharp increase in drug smuggling networks and Captagon dealers.

 Between the sharp increase in liquidation and assassination operations and the dilemma of Captagon, the security situation in Daraa is on the brink of a hole. As for the living and economic situation, there is no problem, especially in light of the hunger and the high cost, which has become a tragic reality for most Syrians living in the areas under the control of the Damascus government.

 Last week, Daraa witnessed a series of demonstrations in the cities and towns of Jassem, Muzayrib, Ghabaghab, Al-Sanamayn, Dael and Tal Shihab, calling for "the overthrow of the regime" and "the release of detainees." The activities  also circulated a video clip of a demonstration in the city of Jassim, north of Daraa, and chanted slogans.  "Syria is free, free...  down with Assad... the people want to overthrow the regime," in a scene that brings to mind the beginnings of the popular movement in Syria.

 In the capital, Damascus, and its countryside, where the Damascus government forces are tightening their security grip on the citizens, unknown persons wrote graffiti against the Damascus government in Al-Midan neighborhood, Al-Kiswah city, and Al-Hajar Al-Aswad, calling for "toppling the regime" and others criticizing the high prices and corruption in the country, in solidarity with the rest of the protesting areas. 

 The region is witnessing a security alert and a campaign of arrests targeting civilians including former detainees, medical personnel and ex-military personnel.

 And in central Syria, specifically in Hama, the security forces affiliated with the Damascus government deployed heavily in the south al-Malaab neighborhood, against the background of unknown persons writing anti-Damascus graffiti on the walls of the neighborhood, including “Down with the regime, and Hama is free.” Soon after, the neighborhood was cordoned off, the walls painted and passers-by were searched.  And vowing to move night patrols to monitor the neighborhood and arrest the perpetrators.  

Observers warn of the consequences of ignoring the people's demands and the deterioration of their living conditions, pointing out that the social situation there is close to exploding in light of hunger, poverty and economic collapse. They did not rule out that this could cause new social explosions if the Damascus government continues in her intransigence.

 How do Syrians live in areas under the control of the Damascus government?

 Economic experts and analysts describe the living situation in the areas controlled by the Damascus government as "the worst ever" after 93% of the Syrian people suffer from poverty and hunger.  Their only concern is to get a living.

 In light of all this, the "Ministry of Interior and Consumer Protection" in the Damascus government surprised the people at the end of 2022 by raising the price of 90-octane gasoline for the consumer to 3000 LL.  SP per liter, and the selling price of free 90-octane petrol to 4,900 SP per liter, and the selling price of 95-octane petrol to 5,300 SP per liter, if they are secured.

 This increase and its loss sometimes contributed to revitalizing the black market and strengthening the treasury of warmongers and money whales, as the price of a gas cylinder on the black market is sold at 200,000 SP, while the price of a liter of diesel is about 12,000 SP, while the price of a liter of gasoline is about 20,000 SP.

 The prices of some materials in the capital, Damascus, increased by more than 30%, as the price of a kilo of sugar reached 7,000 SP, and a kilo of tea 70,000 SP, while the price of 4 liters of vegetable oil is 72,000 SP, and the price of a kilo of bulgur is 7,500 SP.  Q, while the price of a kilo of meat is 50,000 SP, and it has become a missing element on most Syrian tables.

According to a study conducted by Qasioun website, with the end of 2022, the average cost of living for a Syrian family is about 4,012,178 SP, which means that costs increased by 12.2% during the last three months of last year, which exceeds the citizen’s purchasing power, which does not exceed 120,000 SP.  Q, about 18 US dollars.

 Resorting to self-administration areas

 The disastrous living situation prompted citizens living in the areas under the control of the Damascus government to seek refuge in the areas of the Autonomous Administration in northern and eastern Syria, where there is safety and a good economic situation in relation to the rest of the Syrian regions, where the price of a liter of diesel on the smart card is 400 SP and the price of a liter of gasoline is 250.  The price of filling a gas cylinder is 8000 SP.

 The price of a kilo of sugar is 5,500 SP, while the price of a kilo of tea is 50,000 SP, i.e. a difference of 20,000 Syrian pounds from the areas of the Damascus government, while the price of 4 liters of vegetable oil is 43,000 SP, and the price of a kilo of bulgur is 5,500.  Las.

 In a previous interview with our agency, Assem Al-Shami (a pseudonym for security reasons), who came from the areas of the Damascus government to Qamishlo, explained that "Unlike the economic situation, the residents of Damascus wish to live under the security and safety that the areas of the Autonomous Administration live in, here you feel life. And the safety available here is not  He is there, you do not know at what moment your house may be raided and you will be taken to prison without even knowing the crime you have committed.”

 Economic experts expect the continuation of the living crisis in the areas controlled by the Damascus government for another decade, at least.  The latter has always continued its intransigence, its old mentality, and its disregard for the real solution that depends on ending the causes of the Syrian crisis. This is an option that observers rule out in the foreseeable future, while others wonder: Will graffiti on the walls spark a new popular uprising against the Damascus government?

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