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officials and opposition activists said that government forces had largely regained control
in Damascus. 24
After opposition forces retreated from Qaboun, government forces started demolishing
houses and shops in the neighborhood. Human Rights Watch interviewed two local
residents who witnessed the demolitions. One local restaurant owner told Human Rights
Watch:
Around 9:30 a.m. one morning, Syrian security forces arrived in our
neighborhood and asked us to leave the premises immediately. I saw three
bulldozers with them. They did not give us any prior warning. They just
showed up unannounced. When I asked why, the soldier said ‘no more
questions’ or else I would be detained. I asked him if I could remove the
things in the restaurant, but he said no. I had a motorcycle but they didn’t
allow me to take it and forced me to leave on foot. As I was walking I looked
back and I saw the bulldozer demolishing my shop. The shop was opened
by my grandfather many years ago. I personally managed the restaurant for
eight years. Before my eyes, all of my family’s hard work was destroyed in
one second. 25
Walid told Human Rights Watch that the army started demolishing buildings on July 21,
2012 and that the operation lasted for about 50 days. He told Human Rights Watch:
The army demolished 1,250 shops and 650 homes. Eighteen-hundred
families had to evacuate. There were two or three families in every house.
The Syrian army gave the shop owners 24 hours to empty their shops.
Homeowners were given only three hours to pack their stuff and leave. It
was not enough time. People barely took anything with them. 26
24 “Syrian Army Retakes Most of Damascus,” Naharnet, July 23, 2012, http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/47542-syrianarmy-retakes-most-of-damascus
(accessed January 9, 2014); Bassem Mroue and Zeina Karam, “Syria conflict: Damascus
Suffers Destruction, Hunger As Fighting hits Country’s Heart,” Huffington Post, July 23, 2012,
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/23/syria-conflict-damascus_n_1695623.html (accessed January 9, 2014).
25 Human Rights Watch phone interview, November 24, 2013.
26 Human Rights Watch phone interview, November 5, 2012.
21 HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH | JANUARY 2014