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Live Webchat: Inside Syria With Sky's Stuart Ramsay
Sky's Stuart Ramsay talks about his report on Syria
Watch Stuart Ramsay's full report from Syria. WARNING: This video contains graphic images of a seriously injured man being treated in hospital - and images of a wounded child in distress.
The UN says the Syrian Government's deadly crackdown on protesters has killed at least 4,000 civilians.
- Ramsay: "Not once in four days in this city of 850,000 people did I feel even remotely safe."
- Read Stuart Ramsay's full report on the Syria uprising - and how residents in the city of Homs fear for their lives as they are constantly under gunfire. news.sky.com
- Stuart Ramsay is answering your question live
- Hello, i wish to know, how will a no fly-zone help Syria, when the war is on the ground?
- Hi Parsonsda and everyone else. Will try and answer as much as possible. The no-fly zone would stop the President deploying helicopter gunships and jets to the areas of unrest. He has used them before over the past few months and the Free Syrian Army say that can't move any of their heavier weapons about while there is an air force that will strike them.
- Hello Stuart is the situation getting worse where you are?
- Tim it certainly seemed to be getting worse. reports today of over 30 bodies dumped in Homs. There was a lot of fighting while we were there although the undergound said it was actually a bit quieter than normal. Latest pics show tanks on the road to Homs so it could get very nasty
- Thank you for the report. But you must admit that you owe it to the total commitment of the Syrian people to protect the free press.
- Absolutely we owe the guys who looked after us everything - they would be tortured and or executed if caught. They are mainly young men, students as a rule and not extremists.
- I lived and worked in Syria (Damascus)until July when the EU project that I worked on (ironically designed to reform Government procedures) was suspended. I saw no trouble at all and extensive support for the Government. Syrian colleagues travelled to Aleppo and Latakia by road and again saw no trouble. Syria seems extremely polarised and it is incorrect to portray a population demanding regime change. It is far more complicated than that.
- Douglas that's a fair point although I would say that this is the second time I have entered Syria without permission and I have to say that I have witnessed a lot of fighting, a lot of trouble and a lot of unhappiness with the government everywhere I have been. It is not simple for sure. There are huge sectarian issues that need to considered as well. But in Homs, a very ethnically mixed city the overwhelming impression was that the majority want change.
- Hi Stuart, Glad your safe...Do you think the reason that the West hasnt took action is that its over stretched everywhere else?
- Tam I think that the west is worried that the whole region could go up in flames with Iran and Israel and Lebanon brought into the conflict. Obviously they are stretched but I don't think that is part of the calculation. Russia and China wont support anything involving military intervention. Nato doesn't want to and more importantly the people in Syria don't want foreign troops on their soil. Many would like a no fly zone however.
- I have friends and family across Syria including Homs and your reporting is totally inaccurate. I'm not sure whether this is intentional or not. The truth on the ground is that there have been armed groups of foreign fighters killing,sabotaging and kidnapping civilians and soldiers in Homs and across Syria since the start of this so called "revolution" and the people have been pleading for the army to fight these groups and get rid of them. The people you refer to as "defectors" are armed insurgents killing security forces, 1500 soldiers and police have been killed so far, so obviously this revolution isn ot peaceful and you are not reporting the truth. Can you please stop distorting the facts on the ground! 90% of Syrians DO NOT WANT FOREIGN INTERVENTION, the only ones that do are the ones who don't care about the stability of the country and have hteir own personal interests. I'm sure you will ignore my post as it doesnt fit the image you are trying to portray but you as a journalist have a responsibility to be neutral and that is not what this report shows!
- Ramy hi. I just posted that point about most not wanting intervention and I agree with you. I disagree with you about the fighters - I met loads of them. They were ALL Syrian and they weren't attacking anything. However I have seen some horrendous video of policemen being attacked and whoever was doing that is wrong. I did not meet that sort however. The defected soldiers were reasonable young men who said they couldn't follow orders to fire on demonstrating crowds.
- Dear Stuart,
I'm curious that you sounded very confident that the little girl in the hospital was shot by a sniper from the security forces? Why would the security kill little kids and provoke more pressure on themselves and on the regime? It's beyond belief that anyone would suggest that with no hard evidence to back it up?
Many believe those snipers are the very ARMED militants who are committing sectarian crimes in Homs!! Just in the last two days around 200 people were reported to be killed, in Homs, NOT by the army or the security but by those armed sectarian militants who the International media has consistently fail to recognise!!
Thank you - I totally agree Stuart, the West's involvement in Lybia supported their own people to bring positive change and any troops on their soil would only escalate an already fractured region. The trouble is that like Iraq, there are so many factions and tribes whereas in Afganistan, what they are united in is wanting foreign troops out. Do you think the Arab League would support a No Fly Zone with their own airforces?
- Hiba the shooting came from a building with an army checkpoint beneath it. I suspect the girl was a casualty of the shooting which is often, I believe, designed to create fear rather than to actually kill anyone. The man was hit by a single shot - in my experience of many wars and of avoiding many snipers - a single shot hit is the work of a professional sniper. What I did notice often is that the various checkpoints often fired sporadically I suspect because they are scared as well and are trying to keep the FSA away.
- how long have u been doing this
- Hi - doing this for 20 years maybe a little longer I forget!!
- Have you any recent news from Hama, which was the main focus of opposition to Hafez Al-Assad and suffered accordingly in the 1982 massacre. It all seems to have gone quiet there again. No news from Deraa either. Is Homs the only city where there is still active resistance?
- David there was alot of fighting in Hama over the last couple of days according to the underground. I think Deraa carries on having protests but it appears to be more locked down. Homs is certainly the most active as far as I can tell.
- I understand you can't give specifics, but can you give us an idea of what was required to enter the most unstable city in Syria?
Smoke rises from the city of Homs
- Ziad, basically the FSA and the underground networks arrange our entry - it couldn't be done without them. In our area there are 42 checkpoints so going round them needs to done by the locals and they are incredibly well organised and very brave.
- Stuart, this is a hard evidence; a family that was attacked few days ago in Homs by armed militants; if you didn't see them that doesn't mean they don't exist.. Does it?
** This is yet another heart breaking story of a Mother in Homs who lost four members of her family for this violent revolution that made mockery of the word "peaceful";
Mohammad Mustafa Teba, her Husband
Mustafa Teba, her oldest son.
Mulham Teba, her 11 years old son
... Hind Taba, her 12 years old daughter
They were all killed in cold blood, when they were attacked at night. It was reported that the Dad had refused to join in the protests and the attack came as act of revenge and intimidation. Many families from the minorities have fled the areas where the militants are in control.. Surely, it’s obvious who is causing the sectarian divide and the sectarian killing in Homs.
Warning: video contains images of dead bodies
www.youtube.com! - Hiba, I am not condoning violence on any side and I don't doubt that this type of thing is happening and it is horrendous. But I can only tell you what I saw and that was people living in a war zone. The sectarian violence scenario is just about the worst thing that could happen to Syria. The people I was with and I spent hours talking were proud of their Shia, Sunni and Christian friends - they did not want a sectarian war.
- Stuart I'm from Baba Amro but live outside, wanted to thank you for your bravery and efforts in going inside to show the world what is happening.
Due to the siege and cut of the area from basic humanitarian needs, how did you find the situation? Walking around, in terms of basic needs? Were people managing, suffering..how was it? - No question, but good luck, be safe and keep the news coming, Harrold. the Netherlands
- thanks for reporting , hope you and your team are safe as can be
- Hi Rose - electricity is sporadic and if they have a big gathering it is cut off. Food and water fine if a little limited in selection. But it very miserable for everyone - schools are closed so the kids having nothing to do. Not many businesses are open. And the constant rattle of gunfire is horrendous for children to grow up hearing everyday. Very miserable basically.
- Stuart, a question on reporting on these sort of events more generally, if that's ok. How concerned are you that by reporting conflict situations like that in Syria you may inadvertently influence the outcome, either by providing one side or another with information, or by giving coverage to certain views? Thanks
- Sam, it is a good point. One tries to be objective although it is not always easy. I think our coverage of any event tries to take in all sides. Please note I went to Syria undercover because Syria wont give me a visa not because I wanted to. Now if the government is convinced they are only fighting an armed militant insurgency why wont they let foreign press report it freely. If that was the case and I saw it i would report it.
- Thankyou for your reply & courageous reporting Stuart.
- good luck and stay safe
- I completely agree with ramy 2012!!
Stuart,
NATO intervention is a disaster for Syria. You cannot help the people of Syria by killing them and destroying their country!
The majority support peaceful reforms, dialogue and a transition period, rather than the overthrow of a regime!! It is a fact that the opposition and the protesters have no consensus among the Syrians for asking the President to step down!! This has nothing to do with democracy and more to do with a coup attempt supported by the West to break Iran through breaking the Syrian regime (that is still very popular inside Syria, like or hate it!!) - Salam, Good point and I don't disagree that negotiation the proper way forward. But the President - unelected took over from his father - has promised loads of changes and a new set of laws and constitution but the activists say he hasn't delivered. perhaps he will. Also note the Arab League are at the forefront of criticism here and he is ignoring his natural allies.
- Many in Jordan say , the west do not care for Arab lives,they simply fan the flames of division to weaken the Arabs , so Israel can be secure, they also still work behind the seen to elect leaders that are going to be their servants,is it time for the West to keep their hands of the middle east, as records show us they never help, from the Egyption war in 1958 to all the Vetos they use to prop up Israel
- Hmoud - the west doesn't have a good record in the middle east does it. Obviously the "Israel" issue is never far beneath the surface. It one of the reasons they aren't doing alot in regards to Syria. I don't know about you but the impression I get from Libya and Egypt is that the governments are trying to let them get on with it. Obviously countries meddle in other people's business all the time and I am not a fan of that and have reported such for years.
- after living in Homs for the last 20 years, Inwas firced to leave a few months ago, after my son Danny was shot, and we had helped bring reporters into the city, my question is, did you find it easy to get into the area, as friends of mine are having difficulty leaving. Excellent job, I must say, we need so much more of this kind of reporting, btw I am English, husband Syrian, and enjoyed the report, because it truly showed the reality of the situation we lived through since the revolution began.
- Hi Helen, It is very difficult moving around and very difficult to leave. We haven't broadcast this but we basically escaped under fire. Without the networks assistance it would be impossible. That said I was illegal - I think your friends can pack up and leave by passing the checkpoints. As many of the contributors have pointed out there is a regular army that are NOT animals. However the Shabiha are on the ground and they are very unpredictable.
- stuart, what is the feeling like to be in the midst of all the action over there?
- Craig - very very scary!! Random shooting, mortars, RPG's and the fact that we were never further than 200 metres from a checkpoint where would be arrested certainly kept the heart beating.
- I noticed you mentionted the Arab league as "allies" of the Syrian regime but this in fact was never the case. In addition surely the inaction of the Arab league and media alike regarding the uprising in Bahrain is proof that support for popular movements is selective depending on whther it benefits certain parties?
- Saleh, My friend and colleague Alex Crawford and I both reported from Bahrain and will continue to do so. But you do have a point - alot of it is selective and one must conclude that governments make decisions based on their own self interest. Not particularly uplifting but it seems to be the case doesn't it.
- So far in 2011, we have seen many countries with "regimes" that have been in power for 10+ years and were stable, This is another Propaganda BS! Sky focus in Syria is ridiculous. What does a woman in her 50s on your report know about "no fly zone" a new regime is not going to make prospects for people any better, look at the other countries that have had new governments in place.
- Free Thinker, Hi - I think she was really just appealing for help. And I would think that a new regime voted in with a popular mandate could make things a lot better - well it should in theory; although democracy can be fairly messy and as we see in Tunisia and Egypt it is hard. But it is their choice not the dictat of a guy who has run the country like a personal business - Tunisa, Egypt, Yemen, Libya to name the most obvious.
- It may be that the President of Syria was not elected in the same way as in Britain or France. However, none of the individuals who you term the ‘opposition’ stood the test of elections. Also, how can the Arab League criticise Syria when none of its regimes was elected, some of its members are the most draconian in the world and the Nato governments have close relations with them?!
- Observer, good point about the Arab League and its members but despite their own murky pasts they seem to feel that something has to be done. And the opposition are not a political party - they are literally opponents of the government and want elections as far as I could tell.
- Hello Stuart, thank you for risking your life and that of your crew just to bring us news. I am sure it must be harrowing for all. I'd like to know your views on why Russia and China as usual, can't be bothered to lift a finger to help? When it's usually the West, in partocular NATO who are always left to pick up the broken crockery and foot the bill.
- Emyr - Russia and China have a long held suspicion of western governments and have a natural tendency to disagree with them. They felt hoodwinked by the west's dodgy interpretation of the UN mandate for Libya so they wont go that route again. Russia and China believe that they can force a negotiated settlement with Assad so they will block other moves for now. However they may change if he was to do something seriously nasty to a large part of the population.
- Ok everyone I MUST go the desk is going bonkers. Hope it was worth it for you it certainly has been for me - thankyou
Stuart Ramsay answers your question.
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