Residents of a blockaded rebel-held town near Damascus raised the flag used by the government of President Bashar Assad in a deal that sees them accept symbolic humiliation in exchange for food, activists said today.
The deal accepted by the town of Moadamiyeh is one of a number of short-lived, local truces reached between opposition-held towns and government forces in recent months, although the terms which also included the rebels handing over heavy weapons and expelling outsiders are unusual.
Residents described it as a bitter pill to swallow. For nearly a year, the sprawling community west of Damascus was shelled and starved, surrounded by government checkpoints that refused to allow through food, clean water and fuel, pressuring residents to expel anti-Assad rebels among them.
At least two women and four children died of hunger-related illnesses by September, said activists. The agreement also demanded rebels hand over their heavy weapons and that only registered residents of Moadamiyeh may remain in the town, in a condition likely to thin rebel ranks.
"There's sadness inside us, but we raised the flag because nobody helped us, nobody extended their hands to us," said a Moadamiyeh resident who identified only as Ahmad, fearing retribution from Syrian security forces. "We are ready to save the lives of (hungry) children. There's no bread in Moadamiyeh. For three months, there's been not even a grain of rice," he said.
The Syrian national flag of red, black and white stripes with two green stars could be seen from a distance flying over a water tanker, according to footage broadcast on a Lebanon-based news channel.
That flag is often associated with the ruling Baath party, and many rebels fighting Assad use a flag with green, white and black stripes and three red stars. Hard-line groups use a range of Islamic banners.
Syrian legislator George Nakhleh said that after the rebels hand over their heavy weapons, residents will establish local armed groups whose job will be to protect the town. He said the army will not enter the area but will guard it from outside.
"The army will protect Moadamiyeh but inside the town the residents will protect it. They will carry weapons and set up checkpoints to prevent the entrance of strangers who came from around the world to destroy our country," said Nakhleh in an interview with the Lebanon-based Al-Mayadeen TV.
He added that state institutions will gradually return to normal work and all gates will be opened in order for food and other stuff to enter the town so that life returns to normal.
