SYRIA: In a video obtained by Reuters, relatives and friends of Colonel Hassan Hamada call on 'honourable' Syrian air force pilots to choose defection over the killing of civilians

Record ID: 280937

  • Title: SYRIA: In a video obtained by Reuters, relatives and friends of Colonel Hassan Hamada call on 'honourable' Syrian air force pilots to choose defection over the killing of civilians
  • Date: 24th June 2012
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) COLONEL HASSAN HAMADA'S COUSIN, UNNAMED, SAYING: "The Syrian Army asked Colonel Hassan Hamada to bomb Deraa, but his heart did not let him attack innocent civilians and children. Therefore he went to the Jordanian land. We ask all honourable pilots like this colonel to defect with their airplanes and go elsewhere. It is better than killing children. Ev
  • Embargoed: 9th July 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Syrian Arab Republic
  • Country: Syria
  • Topics: Conflict,International Relations,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA18MQE9HKV1OQNID812ELM2GWX
  • Story Text: In a video obtained by Reuters, relatives and friends of Colonel Hassan Hamada called on other Syrian air force pilots to follow their defected colleague's lead instead of killing innocent civilians.
    The video said to be filmed on Friday (June 22) in Milles - Hamada's hometown, 12 kilometres northwest of the city of Idlib - showed his house and pictures of him in military uniform hanging on the wall.
    Friends and relatives expressed their support for the colonel's action.
    "The Syrian Army asked Colonel Hassan Hamada to bomb Deraa, but his heart did not let him attack innocent civilians and children. Therefore he went to the Jordanian land. We ask all honourable pilots like this colonel to defect with their airplanes and go elsewhere. It is better than killing children. Even if they do not want to defect from the Syrian Army, we ask them not to kill children or destroy buildings," said Hamada's cousin, who did not mention his name.
    Another relative confirmed that the pilot defected from the Syrian air force after his leadership ordered him to attack civilians in Deraa.
    "I am one of his friends and colleagues. The leadership of the army asked him to kill innocent people. He refused to attack his own people while they are asleep. He was not raised to be a killer. He refused killing children, women, youth and elderly. He refused to attack homes. This is why the pilot defected," said one of Hassan's relatives, who covered his face to hide his identity.
    On Thursday (June 21) Colonel Hassan Hamada -- a Syrian air force pilot -- flew his MiG-21 fighter plane over the border to Jordan and was granted political asylum, which was the first defection with a military aircraft since the start of the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad.
    Jordanian officials said that the pilot landed at the King Hussein military air base 80 km (50 miles) northeast of Amman and immediately asked for sanctuary.
    Jordanian Minister of State for Information Samih al-Maaytah told Reuters that the Jordanian cabinet decided to grant him asylum upon his request.
    Syria's Defense Ministry called the pilot a "traitor to his country and his military honour", saying it would punish Hamada under military law and was in contact with Jordan to retrieve the aircraft.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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