TODAY WAS A VERY BAD DAY

April 17> day 60 of the protests. it's been two months since the demonstration started and the protesters were for the first time shot at.

after we got back home from the square and after seeing many new soldiers in full gear and "ready for action" just in front of the main entrance to the bazaar, I was preparing dinner, when we started getting phone calls about the shooting and tear gas being used against the protesters. Our close friend called to tell us that her husband is in hospital because of the tear gas attack. Three of us got in a taxi and went back. When we arrived square was surrounded by hundreds of different kinds of soldiers. We happenned to get through the first line and wanted to go towards the surrounded group of protesters around the stage,, a horde of soldiers started running towards the group and beating them with the big batons, i heard two shots... I had the camera and tried to document the attack when one of the soldiers started running at us with a stick, we backed off and withdrew a little to the side of the square.
soldiers were beating people with the batons, people were running, vehicles with water tanks arrived, shooting, chaos, ambulances one by one coming and leaving with the injured. We don't know how many people were shot, the media report about approximately 50 injured (= hospitalized). Many more people were beaten.
Our another good friend's journalist friend was shot in her hand, she was just operated. The secret police arrested several people even in hospitals.
There was group of angry young men that supposedly attacked the military with the stones. It happenned down the Maulawi street at the bazaar, not at the square, where was the demonstration held. The fully armed forces came to the square, encircled the peaceful demonstrators, blasted the tear gas and started beating people and even shooting at some.
why were there today so many new (a number of military buses from outside of Suli) fully armed soldiers, some of them wearing colors we haven't seen before?? what were they doing in Suleimani?? why were just today two of the main protest organizers taken by the Asaish ("security" force/intelligency agency) for a 4-hour long interrogation??

What will the upcoming days look like now??

another BIG (bloody) mess :(

** if you do so, please, pray,, and/or share this on **

now, sitting at home,, my mind full of what happened today...
feeling very tired.. but so safe and healthy..
unlike those so many others..