Press Release.
San Francisco Bay Area residents Rick Sterling and Paul Larudee have just returned from two weeks in Lebanon and Syria. In Syria they were part of an international delegation of approximately 50 members including 12 nationalities and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Mairead Maguire. A Canadian member of the delegation, Eva Bartlett, remains in Syria. She is posting video and written observations at www.ingaza.wordpress.com. All three are members of the Syria Solidarity Movement Steering Committee.
The delegation
* Witnessed and experienced a terror attack first hand as a mortar shell landed within thirty yards of our Damascus hotel, killing one soldier and three civilians.
* Visited the cities of Homs and Latakia, observing conditions and meeting with political and religious leaders in both cities.
* Visited and met with refugees – both very recent refugees from Kessab (near the border with Turkey) and Palestinian and Syrian refugees from Yarmouk in greater Damascus.
* Met with leaders of six opposition parties.
* Talked with Syrians on the streets and wherever we went. There were sufficient Arabic speakers in the delegation to provide on the spot conversations.
* Observed the scene of a recent car bomb attack in Homs and talked with local residents and the families of victims.
One of the delegation leaders was Mother Agnes Mariam, a nun who leads the Syrian national effort for Reconciliation. She will be speaking at St Mary’s College in Moraga on April 29. We encourage all interested persons to attend her presentation.
We will be reporting on our observations and experiences over the coming weeks and welcome inquiries.
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Syria Solidarity Movement was founded in 2013 to present accurate information on the conflict in Syria, to oppose foreign aggression and support peace, reconciliation and justice.
