Al Arabiya, Beirut, 13 Feb 2012 – Former TV anchor Hani al-Malathi admitted to taking part in an organized campaign to tarnish the image of pro-democracy protests and accused state media of being accomplice in the killing of innocent civilians.

“The Syrian media made a grave mistake when it decided to side with the regime instead of becoming the mouthpiece of the people,” he told Al Arabiya in the first interview after his resignation and departure from Syria.

Malathi, who was a news presenter, said he decided to leave his job because he could no longer continue misleading people and preferred to respect the audience as well as the memory of martyrs.
“It doesn’t make any sense that state TV would host more than 1,000 writers, political analysts, and artists who do nothing except praise the regime and lash out at protestors.”

Malathi added that he and other people working in state media took part in promoting the regime’s lies which revolved around foreign agendas and Islamist plots to undermine the state as well as slam satellite channels for saying the truth.

“In the news we presented, we portrayed all members of the opposition as traitors and turned martyrs into terrorists who were affiliated to gangs that work for foreign powers.”

Malathi added that Syrian TV broadcast footage of pro-regime celebrations as they sang in support of the president while families of martyrs were burying their dead and receiving condolences.

“Any sane person with even a tiny bit of humanity would never accept that.”

Despite ongoing efforts to mislead the public, Malathi pointed out, the majority of people including those who work in state media do not believe what the regime is trying to propagate.

“Only 10 percent of Syrians working in state media believe that. Another 10 percent sympathize with the people. The rest keep silent because they fear for their lives and do not want to lose their jobs.”

Malathi, who accompanied the Syrian president and prime minister on several trips outside the country, said he was particularly shocked at the way the regime handled the tragedy of the city of Deraa, where the protests started.

“Instead of holding officials accountable and apologizing to residents of the city, the regime decided to start a collective punishment plan and the same was repeated later in Banias and other cities.”

For Malathi, the Syrian regime is on the verge of falling and this is clear in the developments on the military front.

“State army keeps bombing Syrian cities in the hope of getting them back while the Free Syrian Army is controlling more and more places.”

The second sign that foreshadows the imminent fall of the Syrian regime, Malathi explained, is the economic situation.

“The richest pro-regime businessmen have either run away with their money or are about to declare their bankruptcy. Others are suffering from international sanctions. In addition, economic development has stopped since the beginning of the protests.”

The deterioration of tourism, Malathi said, is also contributing to the economic downfall the country if heading towards.

“Add to this the collapse of the Damascus Stock Market, the halt of exports, and the demise of many sectors like agriculture, oil, and industry.”