Quote Originally Posted by UhOhXplode View Post
Please provide a source or sources. I wasn't aware that Assad ordered anyone to shoot peaceful demonstrators.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeli...–April_2011)

Friday 18 March, named "Day of Dignity" by some protesters,[2] after Islamic Friday prayers, protests for freedom and democracy were held in four cities.[23]
In Daraa locals gathered peacefully and marched through the city, demanding release of the teenagers detained since 6 March and calling for democracy, greater freedom,[7] political freedom and an end to corruption.[24] An amateur video purportedly shows watercanons being used in Daraa to disperse demonstrators.[23] A resident told news agency Reuters that "thousands" of demonstrators chanted: "God, Syria, Freedom".[24] According to Western media, security forces opened fire killing four,[7] according to witnesses six[17] demonstrators, while hundreds were reported injured.[25] The Syrian government reacted by saying that "infiltrators had caused chaos and riots" in Daraa.[23]

23 March, in Daraa, security forces using tear gas and firearms stormed on thousand demonstrators near the Omari mosque (see also 22 March),[42][43][44] an Associated Press reporter heard semi-automatic gunfire.[43] At least 37 people were killed, according to a hospital communication.[45][46] Mobile phone connections to Daraa were cut, and checkpoints in town were manned by uniformed soldiers and plainclothes security agents with rifles.[43]


Friday 1 April, after Friday prayers,[65] thousands of protesters in several cities demonstrated themselves to be unsatisfied with, and unimpressed by, the vague promises of reform President Assad had made the previous day (see above).[69]
In Douma, a working-class[69] northern suburb[70] of Damascus, citizens gathered on the Municipality Square, hundreds according to Syrian officials, 2,000 according to witnesses who said they were chanting: "Freedom, freedom" when police opened fire on them.[70] At least eleven people were killed.[70][71] Officials however said, an armed group had taken to the rooftops and fired on both citizens and security forces.[70]
In Daraa, according to an eyewitness 5,000 people demonstrated, shouting: "We want freedom!"[72] Hundreds tried to march from Daraa to the nearby city of Al-Sanamayn when police fired on them, killing five marchers, reports say.[69]
In Homs, according to the state news agency, an armed group fired on citizens, killing one girl.[70]

etc. etc. etc.

Even though you can hardly find anything that would say Assad personally gave those orders, the thing is, he's the chairman of that whole country, and those security forces submit to him. After they committed all those shootings, the only right course of action would be to arrest and try them by the criminal code. But that was never done, leaving no doubt all they committed had been arranged on the highest governmental level.