Time to put an end to the Syrian crisis

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Md Shariful Islam
Fifteen months have already passed but the Syrian crisis, instead of being resolved, is deepening. As many as 15,000 people have been killed since the revolt against the rule of President Bashar al-Assad began in March last year. The situation is now alarming. UN chief Ban Ki-moon recently warned that, Syria is going to face a catastrophic civil war from which the country would never recover.
Where is the international community? And what did the international community do in the last 15 months to resolve the crisis? Where are the international organisations? Why is not there a united stand to resolve the crisis? Why did not the international community hear the voice of the suppressed, victims, and innocent civilians? Is another Rwandan crisis going to happen?
It is the moral responsibility of the international community to come forward to help Syrian civilians. There are precious few signs yet that the Assad regime is in a mood for compromise and moving towards a democratic opening. The regime possibly feels emboldened by the support of Russia and China who wield veto power at the UN Security Council. Russia and China have blocked two Security Council resolutions calling for tougher action against Damascus. From their point of view, any outside interference in the Syrian conflict would only exacerbate the situation for both Syria and the region as a whole. China's foreign ministry reiterated Beijing's opposition to military intervention in Syria or any kind of forced change. Both Russia and China have significant economic and military interests in Syria.
On the other hand, the US and its allies think that, intervention through UN Security Council resolutions would help resolve the conflict. The US has imposed a variety of sanctions on Syria that prohibit aid and restrict bilateral trade. The European Union has passed more than a dozen sanctions on the Assad regime since March 2011. The US and its allies also have their own goals and interests in Syria.
It is said that, there is no permanent friend or foe in international politics, but only national interest. So, every player in the game just thinks about its own gain. There is no space for morality in the pursuit of national interests.
For the sake of everybody's interest and peace in the region, it is time to end the crisis since if a catastrophic civil war breaks out in Syria, it may spill over to border nations. And everybody will be affected.
It should, however, be kept in mind that the means employed to end the crisis, if not a peaceful one, may itself escalate the conflict further. Diplomatic solution is the best as many disputes have in the past been resolved peacefully through the art of diplomacy. The five permanent members of the UN Security Council along with Syria, Iran, EU, and the Arab League should sit in a dialogue for finding a peaceful solution to the Syrian crisis.
And, for President Assad, the important point must be that he cannot buck the winds of change blowing across the region. The continuity of the conflict will only push the Syrians into dark uncertainties. It will also be a rude challenge to civilised norms of behaviour. A quick way out of the impasse must be found - one that will satisfy the people of Syria.
The writer is a post-graduate student in International Relations, University of Dhaka.
shariful.1rj@gmail.com