The Return to Homs Page #3

started to grow...

relying on what rebels plunder

from the army...

and on individual donations

from abroad.

However, they didn't learn

to secure their support lines.

The rebels of Homs lost the big battle...

after being lured by their small victories.

This is a gift from Abdul Basset Saroot...

to our "terrorist" brother, who is armed

only with a camera, the journalist Ossama.

This is a photo of when he was young,

with his father and younger siblings.

We found it here in your house.

Those are your cups, my dear, so that

you can wash them when you come back.

This is the destruction caused by a rocket.

You were targeted, brother.

We're proud of you, Ossama.

I told you, we should've fought

peacefully with olive branches...

You insisted on arming the revolution!

or was it the other way around?

Calm down.

Go and stand next to the cars.

They've burnt down our homes and

displaced us. Please, dont film my face.

Sister, this is Abdul-Basset Saroot

from Homs, Khalediya.

UN observers arrived here yesterday,

we wanted to take them into Bayada.

The regime stopped shelling yesterday

while the observers were here.

They spared Muslim souls only

in front of the 6 UN observers.

Observers said they only had 30min

Homs and all the destruction...

they only had half an hour to see it.

Six observers for the whole city.

They were unable to do anything.

- What's that in his elbow?

- A shrapnel.

- Is it out?

- No, it's deeply embedded.

Can you get out mortar shrapnel

with a magnet?

- It's made of aluminum.

- No it is not!

Kamel has to attend tonights meeting.

Go get him to go...

- He should demand ammo!

- All meetings are a futile.

I know, but that's

cos' we should be working!

We are the only ones fighting

on this battlefront.

He has to go and ask for

ammunition and supplies.

Come in!

Hello, we're coming in, make way!

Man, I want to understand,

where are the sofas?

The battlefront is there, isn't it?

- Are we in danger here?

- No, don't worry.

What's the deal with this gas cylinder?

It hasn't blown up!

And this is the fridge. It's gone.

My mug!

I had a shirt with the same design.

Well, now it has a thermal print,

so it'll stay like this forever.

This is my sisters mug.

They need to be washed.

Do you remember when I filmed

your destroyed house?

Yes.

Now it's my turn.

My old "Sony" camera lens

should be here somewhere.

Steadfast, dear homeland,

we remain steadfast.

Nothing in this world can replace you.

My perfume.

O Damascus, land of the honorable,

we remain steadfast.

Steadfast, O Syria,

we remain steadfast.

Take the finger, sniper!

Welcome back.

Have a seat, rest!

- How are you, guys?

- We missed you! What about you?

Why is it so dark here?

Open a window.

The period Ossama spent away

since his injury...

managed to change the face

of the city and its people.

The Homs he knew

had drastically changed.

Passion for weapons had spread endemically

amongst those who were once non-violent.

Everyone talks about battles

and the army's losses in Homs.

He was like an immigrant

discovering a new city.

And when he wanted to be alone...

he'd 'sake his camera and leave...

looking for the missing details in his city.

Look, look... it's a bee!

Guess where I was then?

I was with one of Bakr's

guys on one of the upper floors.

I didn't realize that the building

was collapsing.

Anas told me:
"Basset, the tank

is shooting at us from behind".

Then came the second shell.

He said:
"The building is falling".

I said:
"it's just a shaking

when a tank shoots".

I had no idea the building was collapsing.

I had an RPG on my shoulder...

waiting for the tank to come closer.

When the third shell struck,

I swear to God, Abu Adnan...

The building I was in

swayed like this, then back...

"It's nothing you said?", I said to him!

Move it!

We found the street right there!

Since when was that the ground floor'?!

Everything was completely destroyed.

I swear, Abu Adnan!

We just ran off!

He made all the mothers widows.

He who kills his awn people is a traitor.

Your protocol, Annan, is killing us.

O world, what are you waiting for'?

Your observers are causing death.

Kofi Annan, what are you waiting for?

Bring NATO and come to us.

He who kills his awn people is a traitor.

It's only freedom we yearn for.

We who don't feel safe even at our homes.

Young and old, we agree on one thing.

God, you are all we have left.

We're ready to die for our freedom.

Assad's rule we reject.

We're ready to die for our freedom.

Assad's rule we reject.

Homs, the audacious, is destroyed.

God, you are all we have left.

Bashar, you Pig-

We're the men of Zeer street!

Come on, reload my gun.

God, you are all we have left.

God is great!

Move yourself, Issa.

Thy guy who offered us tea,

a few hours ago, died.

The guy who told me about the girl

he'll propose to, after victory died.

The plan to liberate Bayada failed.

A sniper's buffet hit Basset's foot.

but he survived and returned to Khalediya.

We ask God almighty for the honor

of making us martyrs.

"Do not say about those who are killed

in the way of God They are dead"...

for they are alive, by God's side".

Sign." "Stand with respect." Here lies

God's Sword, Khaled Ibn AI Walid".

Welcome back, Basset,

welcome back!

Basset, may God protect you.

Homs, the audacious.

Paradise, paradise,

our homeland is Paradise.

Paradise, paradise,

our homeland is Paradise.

O our clear homeland...

Dear Ossama. ..

We published the photos

of the destruction on Cairo Sir...

carrying your same old optimism...

that they would make a change for the world

to hear and to see what is happening.

I recall your optimism after

publishing the videos of snipers...

videos of martyrs...

videos of protesting masses...

videos of the regime checkpoint

and of the tanks throughout the city...

of the massacres

and the slaughtered children...

of the shelling and displacement...

of the fighter-jets that bomb us.

My optimism echoed yours

and I thought that...

these images would shake

the world to its core...

I see Abu Adnan, I notice

the hoarseness in his voice...

I whisper to him to calm down...

and to turn these photos

into a souvenir, nothing more.

The world watches what is happening...

how we're getting killed, one by one...

while it remains as silent as a graveyard.

June 9th, 2012.

The liberated districts in Homs

were under siege...

thousands were be-sieged in it.

The last access point fell

into regime hands.

Along with it, supplies were cut off.

Going in or getting out became impossible.

"Liberated areas" turned into a prison.

Basset and his comrades

were now stuck inside Streets.

Homes and shops were besieged.

Homes, rooms, even the clothes

were besieged.

Cats, squares and graffiti were besieged.

I don't want talk, I want action.

God willing,

God willing, we will stay here.

But everybody is promising

and not delivering.

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