Revolt not over say refugees

Refugees who have crossed the Turkish border say the shaky ceasefire in Syria has done nothing to convince them that the year-long revolt against President Bashar al-Assad is over.

“The killing in Syria hasn’t even started yet,” said Abdullah Kartan, a teacher who fled to the Reyhanli refugee camp in Turkey.

“Syrians have made a decision and if three-quarters of them have to die, if their houses have to burn, they will do it to get Assad out. There is no going home until the regime falls.”

“The rebels are waiting, preparing right now because they have the right to respond,” whispered one man, who called himself Abdulrahman. He and the men around him said they worked with the rebel Free Syrian Army (FSA), slipping in and out of Syria.

No-one at Reyhanli was explicit about the extent of their involvement with the FSA. Comments from refugees suggested it ranges from moral support to aiding combat.

“Of course if we had the power we would resist the regime,” Abdulrahman said. “We’re committing to the truce by default because we have no choice. We don’t have enough weapons.” “This is the problem: if the FSA turns in its weapons as the regime will ask us to do, we will either be thrown in prison or our bodies will be dumped on the street,” said Maher, 26.

“The army has not committed to the most important part, withdrawing their forces and their tanks.”