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Local Elections in Syria's Rebel-Held Deir Ezzor despite Bombardment
[An Nahar] In rebel-held Deir Ezzor in eastern Syria, opponents of Hereditary President-for-Life Bashir Pencilneck al-Assad
Lord of the Baath...
's regime hold local elections despite daily bombardment, putting into practice the democracy they have been deprived of for decades.

"For the first time in 40 years, we are voting freely," said Khodr Orfali, a former lawyer who became politically active during Syria's 23-month revolt against President Bashir al-Assad.

On Sunday, Orfali became one of five local council chiefs elected in Deir Ezzor by residents of rebel-held areas, following a model of local leadership set up in several towns and city districts across the country in past months.

"It's a historic day for all residents of Deir Ezzor. People feel free to choose the person they see most fit to help them," the council member-elect told Agence La Belle France Presse.

The councils' role is to help run the daily life of residents in areas where the regime's authority has collapsed, freedom fighters say.

Pasted on the walls of a handful of Death Eater-controlled areas of the city of Deir Ezzor are posters and pamphlets calling on residents to vote.

But the festive atmosphere among voters is marred by heavy rain and incessant bombardment by regime forces, leading election organizers in the Death Eater-held district of Sheikh Yassin to set up a polling station in the basement of a souk.

Dozens of voters gathered, leafing through lists of candidates' names.

"I want to take part in this election to tell Bashar (Assad) that all we wanted was the freedom to vote, and participate in decisions about our country," said Umm Shadi, 56, voting for the first time in her life.

Posted by: Fred 2013-02-26
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=363053