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3/15/2006 - Democracy to the Rescue by Andrew J. Tabler

ICWA LETTERS Since Institute Current World Affairs Crane Rogers Foundation provided fellowships enable outstanding young professionals outside United States write about international areas issues An exempt operating foundation endowed Charles R Crane Institute supported contributions minded individuals foundations TRUSTEES Bryn Barnard Joseph Battat Mary Lynne Bird Steven Butler Sharon F Doorasamy Peter Geithner Gary Hartshorn Katherine Roth Kono Cheng Li Peter Bird Martin Dasa Obereigner David Z Robinson Carol Rose John Spencer Edmund Sutton HONORARY TRUSTEES David Elliot David Hapgood Pat M Holt Edwin S Munger Richard H Nolte Albert Ravenholt Phillips Talbot Institute Current World Affairs The Crane Rogers Foundation Four West Wheelock Street Hanover New Hampshire 03755 U S A AJT MIDDLE EAST Andrew Tabler Institute Fellow based Damascus Beirut studying Lebanese affairs Syrian reform Democracy Rescue By Andrew Tabler MARCH DAMASCUS Syria As I approached demonstration I realized things change Syria state reaction stays It March anniversary declaration emergency Syria For second members Syrian Students National Union SSNU beating chasing opposition figures staging front Ministry Justice stone throw radio station where martial declared morning after Ba Party seized power military Multi party politics Syria suspended A Syrian Students National Union SSNU abuse assault member Syria opposition protesting years Emergency Rule Syria March bringing raging political instability plagued since independence A broke crowd demonstrators waving overhead Scores student union protestors swarm shouting traitor while beating wooden sticks adorned Syrian flags As I photo melee colleagues Hugh Macleod eager British journalist Obaida Hamad Syrian reporter sized situation notebooks Come Hugh Obaida I looked other Without saying understood worst thing could happen brave moment would foreigners about being abused beaten We probably answer anyway That story Hugh shouted opened In ideal sense right course But country where nationalist sentiments U S UN pressure often If wanted foreigners choice But approached could treasonous activity which being cused leading possible circumstances could prevent enjoying freedom seeks permanently We however since students quickly converged another target We support Syria President Bashar against traitors protestor shouted crowd closed around The West wants I could someone whispering Ameri behind Suddenly sweaty young short cropped Syrian danna appeared So An American boomed strutting rooster The crowd roared Someone started tugging raincoat which admit tedly would appropriate Dupont Circle Damascus Old City I silent Hugh Obaida shouted We journalists Syrian magazine whipped copies Syria Today monthly publication I helped found Syrian colleague The protestors fused expressions stared magazines covers Not cowed raised above America Fuck America screamed throwing limbs earth The crowd roared again Suddenly young appeared wearing white baseball which printed I Syria En glish It OK smiling Please He single motion Moses might Red Sea crowd quickly obeyed We escorted turned tention toward victim I bothered Syria illegal tolerated opposition parties often seriously Not because taken their licks state years rather opposition stale political ideologies chronic siveness questions penetration society Marxist parties example which throw around terms North Korea these ironically split along sectarian lines Sectarian parties especially Kurds divided ideologically The Muslim Brother which waged terrorist against state culminated darkest Syrian political state bombardment Hama February strictly outlawed leadership Lon And least point single thing opposition effectively change litical Syria decades So Because ramshackle bunch Marxists Communists Socialists Arab Nation alists Liberals Islamists Assyrians Kurds nally agreed something Damascus Declaration Democratic National Change Announced Octo Damascus Declaration calls peaceful gradual change toward democratic regime Sy With thousand signatures Declaration united Syria domestic exiled opposition groups first country recent history What behind accord Strong external pressures growing nationalist Islamic sentiments pervasive sense regime simply unable carry political reforms promised President Bashar Assad nearly years opposition prescrib democracy Syria While Declaration leadership gether competition adver former Vice president Abdel Halim Khaddam formed rival opposition front including Muslim Brotherhood March Just group remains Perhaps biggest question however Syria opposition avoid becoming casualty escalating between Damascus Washington neither capital afford Power People With opposition protestor chased cided visit nearby office Hassan Abdel Azim spokesperson opposition National Democratic Rally grouping leftist Arab parties Damascus Declaration It bustling activity packed Declaration members I interviewed months sipping strong Hassan Abdel Azim spokesperson National Democratic Rally Damascus Declaration assaulted during spectacles smashed before sighted AJT their nerves I hardly recognized Abdel Azim spite I interviewed weeks before I They smashed glasses Abdel Azim shaking They weren dents parrots They Declaration stands Neither Syrians While Declaration three pages single spaced carefully worded document It tremely interesting manifesto democratic change testament troubled times because continues circulate freely Assad Syria Its preamble begins Syria today being subjected unprecedented pressure result policies pursued regime whose policies brought country situation calls concern national security people The authori monopoly power built authoritarian totalitarian cliquish societal interest politics public affairs This damaged national social fabric economic collapse threatens country In addition stifling isolation regime brought country result destructive adventurous short sighted policies Arab gional level especially Lebanon All other matters calls Syria energies homeland people rescue attempt change trans forms Syria security political state order enhance independence unity people reins power participate freely running affairs In order calls dangers horizon Declaration advocates number basic points It calls establishment cratic regime basic approach change political reform Such change should peaceful gradual founded accord based dialogue recognition other Totalitarian thought shunned including violence exercising political action The force Muslim Brotherhood bounds Islam which religion ideology majority prominent cultural component nation people This point qualified paragraph which declares party trend right claim exceptional obvious olive branch Syria minority religions sects ethnicities estimated around percent population remains highly suspicious Sunni political Islam The Declaration social tract freedom expression democratic Kurdish issue Syria suspending gency repealing Law which makes membership Muslim Brotherhood punishable death introduction modern party spect human rights Not something exactly rattle To achieve order which would challenge veloping country Declaration outlines seven points action Channels opened equitable tional dialogue address radical change which brought abroad Initiatives should formed encourage society activate civil society Committees salons forums should formed throughout Syria citizens frustrations unite behind goals change A comprehensive national accord common independent program opposition forces should forged A national conference convened which forces aspire change participate including those regime tablish democratic national regime A Constituent Assembly should elected consti tution country foils adventurers extrem guarantees separation powers guards independence judiciary And certainly least honest parliamentary elections should produce fully legitimate national regime governs country accordance constitution Shrewd Negotiators More interesting Declaration story drafting signature Ac cording spokes Hassan Abdel Azim Damascus Declaration origin traced summer members National Democratic Rally discussed broad coalition unite opposition Syria static reform process When President Assad power talked about recognizing other reform inaugu address Abdel Azim So opposition But structure authoritarian regime Syria prevented president reaching We frustrated So decided something Exactly happened exactly clear According Abdel Azim sometime Febru month former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri assassinated Beirut unnamed members Committees Revival Civil Soci Morocco Muslim Brotherhood chief INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS Ali Sadreddin Bayanou discuss basic principles which united opposition front could formed The returned Syria agreement broad points democracy violence unified opposition structure commitment democratic change Somewhat surprisingly empowered gotiate Syrian parties behalf Muslim Broth erhood forge accord Drafting Declaration began In speech Parliament March President Assad announced Syria would withdraw forces Lebanon aftermath Hariri assassination In speech closing Assad upcoming Ba Party Con ference development country Rumors circulated members Muslim Brotherhood would allowed return Syria arrest The political Declaration started shape Civil society activists offices Samir Nashar leader nascent Free National Party wealthy Aleppo trader whose discussion forum October state final crack downs known Damascus Spring period about years after Assad inaugural speech Syrians freely often discuss country problems We April decided dialogue Muslim Brotherhood Nashar We needed bring exiled domestic position together On April Abdel Azim National Democratic Rally announced ready Muslim Brotherhood Things complicated however Some opposition afraid include Muslim Brotherhood because thought would cause problems authorities Nashar They regime would react It before found On May eight members Atassi discussion forum group remained after Damascus Spring crackdown arrested civil society activist Ali Abdu allah aloud statement Muslim Brotherhood Bayanouni This followed possibly unrelated disappearance murder Kurdish Sheikh Ma ashouk Khaznawi whose found signs torture May Nashar claims Khaznawi dialogue Muslim Brotherhood The Syr state denies culpability murder which since attributed Sunni Islamic fundamentalist earlier branded Khanzawi apostate Human rights activists announced Arab satellite TV Brother members would arrested returned Because state persecution Ar ticle Syrian Constitution which Ba Party state society would repealed party conference following month parties would introduced would allow Syria opposition officially participate politi Abdel Azim decided things Our establish narrow coalition expanded Abdel Azim We parties The Muslim Brotherhood outside Syria So decided postpone June Ba Party Conference delivered changes short expectations The Ba would continue state since Article remained intact There signs however The conference final statement parties would apply parliamentary elections It order guarantee national participation political foundation boosting national unity parties based ethnicity religion would forbidden The issue Syria Kurds citizenship would addressed future And finally Syria emergency would reviewed eased Work Damascus Declaration continued In summer early autumn Negotiations began AJT Syria eight Kurdish parties tribal based Future Party Sheikh Nawaf Beshir Syria prominent independent position figures including outspoken prisoned Riad Seif Hassan Abdel Azim visit September Seif interview following release Janu He lawyer We unite opposition picture Damascus Declaration I accepted diately On October negotiations would holdout Declaration ethnically based Assyrian Democratic Organization ADO dered Declaration references Islam ligion ideology majority mention Kurds ethnic issue Syria We convinced mentioned Islam document simply attract Islamists Bashir Ishaq Saadi Secretary General ADO Second mentioned Kurdish rights What about Assyrians Time running owever In neighboring Lebanon Detlev Mehlis chief UN investigator Hariri assassination first report October Sources quoted Lebanese press investigation pointing fingers blame toward Damascus We wanted announce Declaration before Mehlis report Nashar We people taking advantage To avoid leaks undermin Mehlis investigation Abdel Azim signed Declaration pocket In parties eight opposition figures board On October Abdel Azim small press confer office announce Declaration Mukhabarat intelligence services showed Abdel Azim I tried Ministry Information minister The interior minister Ghazi Kanaan committed suicide before Who could I We invited satellite TV channels cover event So I upstairs announced world Two hours after Declaration announcement Muslim Brotherhood which party gotiations beginning became first accord following announcement While Abdel Azim unclear motive number opposition figures arranged timing Muslim Brotherhood signature Syrian thorities could Declaration spawned Brotherhood therefore subject state strict organization Gathering Strength Since Declaration announcement members Syrian opposition slowly board Assad regime weathered heavy political storm Hariri investigation External international pressure combined regime political reform putting differences aside overcom rooted suspicions If names signed Damascus Declaration Sunni Muslim Fateh Jammous leader Communist Labor Party Alawite Muslim which Syrian The initial signatories Damascus Declaration NDR Kurdish Democratic Alliance Kurdish Democratic Front Committees Revival Civil Society Future Party Prominent opposition figures included Riad Seif Jawdat Sa Dr Abd Razzaq Id Samir Nashar Dr Fida Akram Hourani Dr Adil Zakkar Abd Karim Dahhak Haitham Maleh Nayif Qaysiyah INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS leadership hails signed following Declaration announcement We accuse being sectarian objected first Declaration references Islam The Syrian bureau cracy corrupted cannot reformed We reform rescue operation It Declaration appeal moderate Islam increasingly Islamized environment seems giving staying power We liberal Islamists political Islamists damentalist Islamists Syria Nashar The differ between difficult distinguish We gather first together fundamentalists others They terms black white believers apostates And bloodshed neighboring Iraq filling TV reports every liberal based opposition lacks considerable appeal We tried organize parallel liberal rally along Damascus Declaration November Decem ADO Saadi finally signed Dec laration February Liberal parties Syria Some Kurdish parties manding determination We couldn After lying months Hariri inves tigation Assad regime vented former Vice President Abdel Halim Khaddam matic defection opposition Saudi Arabian owned Arab A Arabiyya Satellite TV December Declaration leadership began organize On January member transitional committee formed including domestic seven exiled opposi groups On January Samir Nashar other members transitional committee attended Syr opposition conference Washington D C sponsored Syrian National Council United States Syrian Democratic Assembly Canada Farid Ghadry Bush Administration supported Reform Party Syria RPS invited Receiving foreign funding emerged fault opposi The following conference Damascus Dec laration issued first follow statement rejecting pressure Syria declaring Syria Arab Nation clarifying Declaration refer ences Islam limited Sunni interpretation More people signed after Abdel Azim The demands Declaration signatories They silent Iraq Palestine dangerous We certainly Iraqi Lebanese scenarios Syria We democratic change strengthen nationalist forces external pressure On February transitional committee began formation member National Coun representatives Syria governor Its members announced April Toeing Nationalist Both Syrian government Washington responded Damascus Declaration selectively The regime seems giving Abdel Azim considerable carrying accord activities despite regime nemesis Muslim Brotherhood Declaration primary supporters Drafts parties currently making their around Damascus indicate regime making space opposition parties Sami Moubayad Syrian commentator drafts reported while parties AJT issued within month accept parties whose behavior opposed Revolution March Ba power Parties chaotic terrorist fascist theocratic religious ethnic sectarian tribal denied license leaving little Syria opposition parties including Mus Brotherhood Kurds formally political Not surprisingly foreign funding strictly forbid In meantime regime seems going after outspoken Declaration members force opposition nationalist Riad Seif released prison January Transi tional Committee which formed borne brunt regime harassment On February first anniversary Hariri sassination there decision contain Syr opposition Seif I primary names Damascus Declaration arrested again He released On March during rally supporting Kurdish rights thing pened If arrest I They cannot other because would costly So scare I unable think Seif whose disap peared under mysterious circumstances They warned foreigners diplomats They follow everywhere They neighbors I isolated The problem according Abdel Azim stark tradiction between leadership words regime actions In speeches President tional opposition doesn foreign funding should respected Abdel Azim But street later traitors Washington seems struggling handle Damascus Declaration especially light rising Syrian nationalist sentiments resulting US occupation Iraq Washington strong alliance Israel Hariri investigation I Americans ibility focus corruption regime crimes 1980s Nashar following return Washington conference On these issues regime cannot defend itself The human rights ciations files corruption human rights abuses If America concentrates Syrians emerge Look happened Leba Do think million Lebanese could protested March demanding Syria drawal Lebanon without international cover All rather Washington since until recently demands Syria concerned country foreign policy Last State Department democracy chief visited Damascus first Who subject conversations remains known Just embassy July celebrations I invited party Perhaps Nashar nuanced advice February Declaration Na tional Council began Washington announced million State Department Middle East Part nership Initiative MEPI would earmarked accel erate reformers including build Syrian civil society support organizations promot democratic practices govern accountability access independent sources formation freedom association speech competitive elections A later Damascus Declaration leadership predictably kindly turned Washington The Damascus Declaration refuses foreign funding including million U S State Department Syrian opposition group statement later In follow report Reuters Abdel Azim while support international powers democratic Syria welcome financing question It means subordination funding country Abdel Azim Our project nation alist independent democratic change Syria through occupation economic pressure United States doing How With lofty goals intentions Damascus Declaration seems forward democracy INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS Syria With regime change Iraq serving daily lesson Washington dilemma promote democracy country whose people deeply distrustful American intentions Almost opposition figures I inter viewed European Union which Syrians believe sincere balanced regional policy palatable support United States I differentiate between European American discourse Nashar Be about months US never mentioned Syria internal affairs It always about demands regional foreign policy Syrians remember How could happen Syrian nationalist Islamic sentiments running regime cracking media civil society following Khaddam announcement anyone guess Making things complicated Khaddam Muslim Brotherhood Bayanouni announced Brussels March formation National Salvation Front group exiled opposition parties democracy replace regime Bashar Assad Another opposition meeting sponsored Aspen In stitute officially dubbed small informal meeting oppositionists Syria sidelines conference Civil Society Greater Middle East Doha Qatar March A later Khaddam reportedly virulently Assad Lebanese politician Walid Jumblatt Bayanouni announced organization contacts Khaddam since years before former president office How front formation affect Damascus Declaration especially light Muslim Brotherhood inclu groups remains The Damascus Declaration value without Muslim Brotherhood I liberal I responsible words Nashar arrested released three weeks after interview I Washington They democratic awareness perhaps Syrian intelligencia While Abdel Azim front nothing Damascus Declaration Riad Turk member Syrian Democratic People Party parties included Abdel Azim National Democratic Rally blamed dividing opposition The formation National Salvation Front because backwardness slowness hesitation Damascus Declaration leadership Turk interview Arab daily Al Hayat March The conflict between external opposition representing America domestic opposition resenting regime The there liberation front support general political calling democratic change preserving national indepen dence while falling severe crisis Iraq So moment Syria opposition sorts things perhaps US democracy Syria leave enough alone helping right moment We world there opposition Syria position Abdel Azim after But favor handing Declaration latest statement Remind thing translated English Institute Fellows chosen basis character previous experience promise They young professionals funded spend minimum years carrying designed programs writing outside United States The Fellows required report their findings experiences field month They write subject formally informally The result unique reporting analysis periodic assessment interna tional events issues Author Tabler Andrew J Title ICWA Letters Middle East North Africa ISSN Imprint Institute Current World Affairs Hanover NH Material Type Serial Language English Frequency Monthly Other Regions East Asia South Asia The Americas Europe Russia Sub Saharan Africa ICWA Letters ISSN published Institute Current World Affairs Inc exempt operating foundation incorporated New York State offices located West Wheelock Street Hanover NH 03755 The letters provided charge members ICWA available libraries professional researchers subscription Phone Fax E Mail valley Web address Executive Director Peter Bird Martin Program Administrator Brent Jacobson Administrative Publications Manager Ellen Kozak Institute Current World Af fairs The Crane Rogers Foundation The Information contained lication reprinted repub lished without express written consent Institute Current Comments questions about story World Affairs should andrewjtabler yahoo