Baladi News – (Yasser Al-atrash, Saleh Al Dahhiek)
In the 4th anniversary of Houla massacre that took place on 25 May 2012, Syrians still recall this barbaric crime in huge agony. The massacre that shook the world was given several names such as “knives massacre” and “childhood massacre”. However, words cannot describe how horrific and inhuman it is to slaughter innocent children, women, and old people.
On this day, which must be marked as one of the worst days in the history of humanity, 110 civilians, including 50 children, were slaughtered out of spite by sectarian militias
The regime forces were directly involved in the massacre by closely coordinating with sectarian militias from the surrounding allied villages. Under the cover of the regime artillery that shelled the area, sectarian militants, who were dressed in civilian and military uniforms, stormed the empty streets of Houla reaching out to the houses in the environs of the village. Before sunset, they broke into the houses and took everybody out. Women, children, and the elderly were not exempted. People were grouped in several places, then the militias pulled out their knives and cleavers and killed the defenseless people. Meanwhile, those who were difficult to slaughter were shot at, which enabled some of them to escape by faking death after receiving none-deadly shots.
Those survivors told the whole story. According to them, “Children were slaughtered before each other. Every child was waiting for their turn, and more than 20 of them urinated before death because of fear.” They have not forgotten yet the blood and urine odors that mingled and filled the place, wishing that the world would do something for the victims.
However, four years after the massacre, the international community has not sought to hold criminals accountable yet, and the killer is still free-handed to commit more massacres.
After the revolution entered its six year, death is still lurking in every corner of the poor village, which has lost additional 1000 of its people, 40 of whom were killed last week due to the continued air strikes on the area by the regime air forces.
Given the chemical massacre in Al-ghouta, the slaughtering of people in Al-Qubeir, Banias, and Karm Al-zeitoun, the bombardment of bakeries in Halfaya….etc., Houla massacre is a mere episode of a long series of humanitarian crimes committed by the Syrian regime and its allies. Still, the international community has not taken serious action to do justice to people who revolted to attain freedom.