Syrian scene is getting increasingly complicated as Asad is defiant
Friday, 29 April 2011
Zaglul Ahmed Chowdhury
Syrian President Bashar Al Asad is coming down too heavily to crush opposition to his rule as the country is experiencing increasing protests for democratic and other reforms, largely in line with the current turmoil sweeping the Middle East and north African countries. The relatively young British educated dentist is seeking to defy the calls for reforms and even his resignation, by using force although he has withdrawn the emergency that was in force for many years curtailing many rights of the citizens. Bashar, whose family has ruled Syria for more than four decades, earlier felt that the wave of unrest in the region would not affect his nation. But the agitations for reforms, initiated from Tunisia, later spread like a wildfire to several countries in the middle east and north Africa, toppling the long-serving aging rulers like president Ben Ali of Tunisia and the Hosni Mubarak of Egypt. Another such leader Abdullah Saleh of Yemen is also on the course of his ouster from power following his capitulation to the demands of resignation, although the details of a "deal" facilitating his resignation have run into difficulties. The six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is negotiating the details that would ensure immunity for Saleh, his family and close aides in return for his quitting office. Several opposition activists are against the immunity and this is proving a problem as the mediators hope that things would fully crystalise soon capping the end of the Yemen crisis. However, uncertainty will continue to persist until the final denouement is achieved in Yemen. But it is the Syrian scenario has come to the fore in the context of the developments in the Middle East as deaths are becoming galore because of the repressive methods adopted by the regime. Daara, where the uprising started last month, was the scene of a large number of deaths of the protestors and human rights groups are complaining of massive arrests and other forms of repression by the government in its bid to quell the movements for changes. The demonstrators are demanding massive democratic and other reforms while the rabidly anti-government sections want Asad to quit and introduce representative rule in the country. Evidently, Asad is not relishing such a situation and sparing no efforts including deployment of army to silence the protestors. President Asad is in power for last eleven years and took up the reins, in the aftermath of the death of his father Hafez Al-Asad, who ruled the country for three decades. Syria has a one-party rule and the "Baath Party" enjoys the monolithic distinction of being in the helm with no sign whatsoever that the nation would embrace even the semblance of democracy, unlike the case with some other Arab countries over the years. The country has a parliament, compared of the members of the "Baath Party" and any dissension is simply out of question. Against such a background, President Asad had appeared confident that his country would remain unaffected by the current regional unrest calling for changes in the pattern of rule and greater economic benefits. His confidence seemed to have stemmed from the fact that he has shown his ability well in foreign affairs by making Damascus a key player in the ME scenario. But Asad was mistaken as his dynamic leadership in the foreign affairs acted as no deterrent to the uprising demanding democratic and economic rights. Syria is probably the only Arab country not branded as pro-American and in collusion with anti-United States. Iran plays an important role in the complex Middle East crisis. Two countries, where the rulers are "Shias", also act in cohesion in Lebanon as both support and assist the "Hizbollah". However, there had been contacts, of late, between Washington and Damascus for improving the often-strained ties but with little progress in that direction. Some reports suggest that the United States may be behind fomenting the trouble in Syria, which is not unusual or unexpected given the nature of the bilateral relations. But this can not obscure the fact that Syrian people, too, would ask for their role in the governance of their nation and this is the propitious time for such demand as a logical development of the pro-democratic uprising in the region. As such, it is important that the regime in Damascus take note of the harsh realities rather than going all out to crush the opposition at any cost so as to remain firmly in the saddle. Human rights group says more than350 persons have been killed in Syria in the crackdown since mid-March and thousands of soldiers, backed by tanks and snipers, moved to the city where the anti-government protests began, causing panic in the streets when they fired indiscriminately. The offensive was meticulously planned as electricity, water and mobile services were cut off, and security agents, armed with guns and knives, made house-to-house raids. All these are "barbaric", allege the human rights group. The massive assault on Daara appeared to be a part of the strategy of crippling, pre-emtive strikes against any opposition. But things are not calming down and are rather spreading to other areas including capital, where massive gatherings take place particularly after the Friday prayers. It seems that President Asad will not cave in and go to any length to remain in the helm, regardless of the domestic and international condemnation of his tough stance against the demonstrators. He will commit a blunder if he continues with the same vehemence and will be well advised to listen to his own people and accommodate their views as far as possible. At the end, military and other actions against the countrymen would eventually pay no dividends, except earning for President Asad the stigma of a repressive ruler. But the writings of the wall are seldom heeded to, because of stubbornness and pride that have thrown many rulers into the dustbin of history. The writer can be reached at e-mail: zaglulbss@yahoo.com
Syrian President Bashar Al Asad is coming down too heavily to crush opposition to his rule as the country is experiencing increasing protests for democratic and other reforms, largely in line with the current turmoil sweeping the Middle East and north African countries. The relatively young British educated dentist is seeking to defy the calls for reforms and even his resignation, by using force although he has withdrawn the emergency that was in force for many years curtailing many rights of the citizens. Bashar, whose family has ruled Syria for more than four decades, earlier felt that the wave of unrest in the region would not affect his nation. But the agitations for reforms, initiated from Tunisia, later spread like a wildfire to several countries in the middle east and north Africa, toppling the long-serving aging rulers like president Ben Ali of Tunisia and the Hosni Mubarak of Egypt. Another such leader Abdullah Saleh of Yemen is also on the course of his ouster from power following his capitulation to the demands of resignation, although the details of a "deal" facilitating his resignation have run into difficulties. The six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is negotiating the details that would ensure immunity for Saleh, his family and close aides in return for his quitting office. Several opposition activists are against the immunity and this is proving a problem as the mediators hope that things would fully crystalise soon capping the end of the Yemen crisis. However, uncertainty will continue to persist until the final denouement is achieved in Yemen. But it is the Syrian scenario has come to the fore in the context of the developments in the Middle East as deaths are becoming galore because of the repressive methods adopted by the regime. Daara, where the uprising started last month, was the scene of a large number of deaths of the protestors and human rights groups are complaining of massive arrests and other forms of repression by the government in its bid to quell the movements for changes. The demonstrators are demanding massive democratic and other reforms while the rabidly anti-government sections want Asad to quit and introduce representative rule in the country. Evidently, Asad is not relishing such a situation and sparing no efforts including deployment of army to silence the protestors. President Asad is in power for last eleven years and took up the reins, in the aftermath of the death of his father Hafez Al-Asad, who ruled the country for three decades. Syria has a one-party rule and the "Baath Party" enjoys the monolithic distinction of being in the helm with no sign whatsoever that the nation would embrace even the semblance of democracy, unlike the case with some other Arab countries over the years. The country has a parliament, compared of the members of the "Baath Party" and any dissension is simply out of question. Against such a background, President Asad had appeared confident that his country would remain unaffected by the current regional unrest calling for changes in the pattern of rule and greater economic benefits. His confidence seemed to have stemmed from the fact that he has shown his ability well in foreign affairs by making Damascus a key player in the ME scenario. But Asad was mistaken as his dynamic leadership in the foreign affairs acted as no deterrent to the uprising demanding democratic and economic rights. Syria is probably the only Arab country not branded as pro-American and in collusion with anti-United States. Iran plays an important role in the complex Middle East crisis. Two countries, where the rulers are "Shias", also act in cohesion in Lebanon as both support and assist the "Hizbollah". However, there had been contacts, of late, between Washington and Damascus for improving the often-strained ties but with little progress in that direction. Some reports suggest that the United States may be behind fomenting the trouble in Syria, which is not unusual or unexpected given the nature of the bilateral relations. But this can not obscure the fact that Syrian people, too, would ask for their role in the governance of their nation and this is the propitious time for such demand as a logical development of the pro-democratic uprising in the region. As such, it is important that the regime in Damascus take note of the harsh realities rather than going all out to crush the opposition at any cost so as to remain firmly in the saddle. Human rights group says more than350 persons have been killed in Syria in the crackdown since mid-March and thousands of soldiers, backed by tanks and snipers, moved to the city where the anti-government protests began, causing panic in the streets when they fired indiscriminately. The offensive was meticulously planned as electricity, water and mobile services were cut off, and security agents, armed with guns and knives, made house-to-house raids. All these are "barbaric", allege the human rights group. The massive assault on Daara appeared to be a part of the strategy of crippling, pre-emtive strikes against any opposition. But things are not calming down and are rather spreading to other areas including capital, where massive gatherings take place particularly after the Friday prayers. It seems that President Asad will not cave in and go to any length to remain in the helm, regardless of the domestic and international condemnation of his tough stance against the demonstrators. He will commit a blunder if he continues with the same vehemence and will be well advised to listen to his own people and accommodate their views as far as possible. At the end, military and other actions against the countrymen would eventually pay no dividends, except earning for President Asad the stigma of a repressive ruler. But the writings of the wall are seldom heeded to, because of stubbornness and pride that have thrown many rulers into the dustbin of history. The writer can be reached at e-mail: zaglulbss@yahoo.com