June 1, 2011 – Syria in the News: A Roundup of International Reportage

The Syrian protest movement appears both resilient and increasingly skilled. Though its numbers are still dwarfed by those found in Egypt in Tunisia only months ago, it is nevertheless spreading to a growing number of locales across Syria. On the Friday May 27 alone, protestors gathered in 91 cities, towns and villages across the country. Syrian opposition outside of the country has also become more organized, holding a controversial organizational conference in Turkey this week amid mixed international and local reception. At the same time, two well-respected rights groups, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, issued troubling reports on the management of the unrest in Syria, while reports emerged on May 31, that protestors in Homs had taken up weapons to fight against Syrian security forces. Turkey, arguably the international community’s greatest hope for inspiring a reduction of tensions and violence in Syria, has failed in its efforts to bring Damascus in from the fray.

 

Few if any days pass now, without demonstrations occurring in Syria. Though protestor numbers have yet to reach the critical mass necessary to pose the sort of threat to the government seen in Tunisia and Egypt, the locales in which demonstrations are held, are numerous and expanding. 

 

On May 27, termed ‘Homeland Protector Friday’ by activists seeking to earn sway and increased solidarity with the Syrian military, protests were held in a total of 91 locations across the country, including Deir ez-Zor in the east, Albu Kamal on the border with Iraq, Qatana, a town about 20 kilometers outside of Damascus, Zabadani near the border with Lebanon, Dael a town just outside of Dara, the coastal city of Baniyas, Aleppo, Qamishli and Idleb in the northwest, the central cities of Homs and Hama and the Damascus suburbs of Midan and Barzeh.

 

Initial reports by international media indicated that a total of eight people died when security forces used live ammunition against protestors in Homs, Dael, Deir ez-Zor, and Baniyas. That figure was raised to 12 the following day. In many areas, however, protestors were met with comparative restraint. Some unconfirmed international media reports suggest that about 2,000 people protested in Homs. In Dael, fatal shootings were reported before after-prayers protests began. 

 

In Albu Kamal near Iraq, protestors allegedly burned pictures of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. Only a few days earlier, Nasrallah had made an address in Beirut calling for Syrians to stand by the Syrian government. Many Syrian activists were reportedly enraged by Nasrallah’s remarks. 

 

State news reported on the unrest, noting that dozens and in some places, hundreds held gatherings. Two Syrian security personnel were killed in Zabadani, while others were injured in Deir ez-Zor and Hasakeh. Local media report that 142 Syrian security and military personnel have died in the unrest since March 15. 

 

On Saturday May 28, funerals were held in a number of cities across the country for protestors killed in Friday’s rallies.There were also protests in some Damascus suburbs. International media also reported that protestors in the central towns of Talbiseh and Rastan, were fired upon by military forces. Thirteen people were injured when the military fired upon a school bus and another eight were reportedly killed. There were also reports of seven more deaths in Homs, including of a woman and child. No such reports, as put forth by the international media, could be confirmed. 

 

On Sunday, violence worsened in Talbiseh and Rastan. Armored vehicles and tanks were brought into both towns, with reports of power and telephone cuts in advance of their arrival. There were also reports of violent unrest in Deir ez-Zor early Sunday morning. 

 

The situation in Talbiseh and Rastan, as of June 1, continues. On Monday, more security forces entered Talbiseh in an effort to manage the unrest. Three civilians were reportedly killed that day, bringing the total killed in the outskirts of the city of Homs since May 29, to 14. Talbiseh and Rastan are 10 and 25 km north of Homs, respectively.

 

On Monday, there were also reports of mass arrests in the town of Kirak, situated in the southern plain of Hauran and about 20 km from Syria’s border with Jordan. Further violence in both Rastan and Kirak reportedly resulted in another five deaths on Tuesday.

 

Importantly, on Monday international media reported for the first time that protestors in Homs had taken up arms, including automatic rifles and rocket-propelled grenades, to wage an assault on Syrian military forces. Beginning in early May, international and local media reported a spike in black-market weapons sales in Lebanon to Syrian buyers. Some media reported accusations of protestors taking up arms in Tal Kalakh, a previously besieged town near to the country’s border with Lebanon. But all international media maintained that they were unable to confirm any such accounts, thus leading many to dismiss them. At the same time, foreign and local media outlets have consistently reported high fatality rates among Syria’s security and police forces since the start of the unrest in March. Even after the Associated Press published accounts of protestors wielding arms in Homs on Monday May 30, most international media continued to focus on the violence against those engaged in unarmed rallying. Such vast inconsistencies in reportage, reflect not only the complexity of the crisis in Syria, but also likely biases among all media outlets that simultaneously have no ability to access the country’s flashpoints. 

 

Syrian protestors seem a resilient bunch, with ever-evolving tactics for taking to the streets. Evening protests have become commonplace, with activists claiming that such an approach wears down tired security forces, better protects the identities of participants and allows people who would otherwise be at work or school, to join. The tactic of gathering in the evening is termed tayyara, or ‘flying’. At the same time, activists are showing greater skill at filming and documenting their activities. According to reports put forth by international media, protestors have plans to reveal more tactics in the coming weeks and indeed have become more organized and cooperative in their efforts.

 

While protestors inside the country seem to be becoming increasingly organized, so too are members of Syrian opposition outside the country. On Wednesday June 1, Syrian opposition held an organizational conference in Antalya, Turkey. Their intent was reportedly to develop a ‘roadmap for a peaceful transition‘ of the government. More than 300 participated – including Syrians from a wide range of economic, political and religious backgrounds. The meeting, titled “Conference for Change in Syria,” began with the singing of the Syrian national anthem. In a particularly controversial development, members of Syria’s Muslim Brotherhood also joined, though none expressed interest in wielding strong political influence. Participants are expected to issue a statement on Friday June 3. 

 

In response to the meeting, local media ran a story indicating that young Syrians are deeply suspicious of those at the conference, and “could recognize the magnitude of conspiracy against Syria and the Syrian people.” Many activists within Syria have expressed concerns about the motivations of Syrian expats pushing for political change in the country. Such tensions undoubtedly result in part from the experience of neighboring post-war Iraq, a country whose political landscape in the post-war power vacuum, was largely hijacked by a combination of foreign and troubled expat interests. 

 

Last week, Prime Minister Adel Safar chaired a cabinet meeting that formed committees for media development and law as well as economic reform. Regarding the latter, the new committee has two months to develop a draft proposal for the country’s new economic policy. Many economic experts are concerned that the country’s volatile security environment, combined with political challenges brought about by the recent unrest, will compel the government to rescind its recent policy of economic and trade liberalization. For more, see here.

 

Regarding the committee responsible for developing new media laws, the committee will consider previous draft laws and consult with the UNDP, which has agreed to provide logistical and technical support. 

 

On Wednesday June 1, President Assad issued a decree to create an ad hoc committee charged with initiating national dialogue. The committee must establish both the dialogue’s structure and timeline. Officials on the committee include Mr. Farouk al-Shara, Dr. Safwan Qudsi, Dr. Haitham Sataihi, Dr. Yaser Houriea, Mr. Hanin Nimr, Mr. Abdullah al-Khani, Mr. Waild Ekhlasi, Dr. Muneer al-Himish and Dr. Ibrahim Daraji. Of the committee, President Assad said, “The national dialogue Committee has to formulate the general bases for the intended dialogue to provide a proper environment for all national trends to express their ideas, present their suggestions and notions regarding the social, economic and political life future in Syria in order to achieve wide changes that contribute to expanding participation, particularly in regards to the laws of parties, elections and the media law.” For more, see here.

 

The government also reportedly released 500 prisoners on June 1. The release came just one day after President Assad granted general amnesty for crimes committed before May 31, 2011. All members of the Muslim Brotherhood as well as detainees who belong to political movements were included in the amnesty. International reports, however, suggest that protestors are not satisfied with the measures, which exclude most political prisoners – one activist is reported saying, “I think Assad is the one who needs amnesty now, not the Syrian people.” Some estimate that over 8,000 people have been detained across the country since the start of the unrest in March. 

 

Finally, as local journalist Phils Sands reports, illegal construction has been booming in Damascus in recent weeks, as government officials are either too bogged down in the unrest to tackle it, or perhaps have turned a blind eye to it for now, not wanting to spark further tensions. According to Sands, the majority of the building is occurring in working class and poorer neighborhoods. 

 

One builder noted that, “The police come around and take photos of the work and they tell us they’ll demolish it in a few months. We just joke with them and say, ‘Only if you’re still running the neighborhood by then’. We don’t even bother paying them a bribe anymore.” 

 

Another person was quoted as saying, “I’m happy to see every new building and every new floor. It’s a sign that normal Syrians are taking their rights.” Problematically, most new buildings are not properly linked to electric, plumbing and water grids. This new and growing form of civil disobedience is also accompanied by increased disregard for traffic lights, increases in illegal street markets, and many choosing not to wear their seat belts – violations officials also suddenly seem less interested in enforcing.

 

Over the weekend, reports emerged that a 13-year-old boy, Hamza Ali al-Khatib, had been tortured to death by Syrian authorities while detained. The boy reportedly was rounded up in April whilst protesting in Daraa. His body was returned to his family early last week. Photos (and – warning – a very graphic video), allegedly depicting his battered body, were posted widely across the internet. International media report that his body had suffered multiple gunshot wounds and a broken neck and knees, among much else. 

 

The Syrian government fiercely denies that Hamza was tortured whilst in police custody. According to local media reports, Hamza was shot and killed when a group of men and boys, Hamza allegedly among them, were persuaded to attack a military compound on Daraa. Hamza reportedly died in the subsequent gunfire. The state coroner alleges that Hamza died from gunshot wounds and that his body, when brought to authorities, showed no signs of abuse or torture. State authorities accuse the international media of using the images of Hamza to provoke more violence and assert that as depicted in the video posted across the internet, Hamza’s body was in advanced stages of decomposition and did not show signs of torture. The government has nevertheless agreed to set up a committee to investigate Hamza’s death. The boy has become a symbol of the Syrian protest movement.

 

Accusations of broader patterns of torture also spiked last week, amid a surge of accounts by Syrians and foreign journalists of torture and abuse in prisons, following arrest for participating in the unrest or otherwise attempting to report on it. Such accounts have been heavily reported by the international media and rights organizations and no doubt play a huge role in shaping how foreign governments publicly respond to the crisis amid growing pressures from their concerned constituencies. 

 

On Thursday May 26, a video of violence against protestors made its way to Amnesty International, which responded to the footage by issuing a statement indicating that the video revealed a ‘shoot to kill’ policy on the part of Syrian security forces. Specifically, it stated that “These extraordinary images were taken by Syrians who have risked their lives to document the callous attempts of the authorities to terrorize the pro-reform movement from going out onto the streets. Faced with this and other compelling evidence of rampant abuses, President Bashar al-Assad must stop the Syrian security forces shooting unarmed protestors and ensure that perpetrators are held to account for their treatment of fellow Syrians.” For a related video report, see here. 

 

On June 1, Human Rights Watch (HRW) issued a report, “‘We’ve Never Seen Such Horror’: Crimes Against Humanity in Daraa,” that has prompted widespread international concern. The 54-page report details alleged crimes against humanity committed by security forces in Daraa. 

 

The definition of crimes against humanity put forth by HRW, is the one adopted by the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), which states that “crime against humanity means any of the following acts when committed as part of a widespread or systematic attack directed against any civilian population, with knowledge of the attack: extermination…torture…persecution against any identifiable group or collectivity on political, racial, national, ethnic, cultural, religious…or other grounds that are universally recognized as impermissible under international law, in connection with any act referred to in this paragraph.” 

 

Use of the term crimes against humanity carries a particularly heavy weight; its advancement has its origins in the Nuremberg Charter and was intended not only to shape international criminal law, but also to compel international action against related violations of it.

 

 

“Under Pressure, Syria Ends Economic Liberalization, Worsening Outlook” – The Atlantic – Though Syria has, in recent years, been on a encouraging path of economic liberalization, political pressures resulting from the recent unrest have led the government to abandon many such economic reforms.

 

“Unhappy in Homs: Unrest in Syria’s Third City Shows No Sign of Abating” – The Economist – Protests in Homs, initially characterized by nonsectarianism, have taken a divisive turn for the worse. As storefronts in the city remain closed and more protestors take up arms, the window of opportunity to engage protestors in constructive dialogue becomes increasingly narrow.

 

“Change Appears Inevitable in Syria, Analysts Say” – NPR – An audio clip exploring the likelihood of government change in Syria, interesting in part for the perspective it offers of American conceptions of how the US should  endeavor to ‘shape’ the outcome of Syria’s unrest.

 

“Crunch-time for the Syrian Regime” – Foreign Policy – The view from Damascus of media reportage of the crisis in Syria is a murky and frustrating one. Syrians have largely stopped relying solely on media for information about the situation and many, regardless of anger at the government, remain wary of the idea of a post-Assad Syria.

 

“A Third Way on Syria is Still Possible” – The Huffington Post – A provocative and interesting read, exploring the manner in which the crisis in Syria could be turned around, noting that few proposals use ‘carrots’ to influence the Syrian government’s policies. Among the proposed action items, are serious negotiations for the return of Golan Heights and an economic recovery plan akin to the Marshall Plan following WWI. 

 

“Arab Pundits Play a Waiting Game on Saleh and Assad: World View” – Bloomberg – An interesting collection of translated quotes by Arab political commentators on the situation in Syria. 

 

“Syria: If Protestors Don’t Get Assad, the Economy Will” – TIME – In the last week, there have been a number of high profile articles on Syria’s economic crisis. This one paints a particularly grim picture and sheds light on the country’s harsh and worsening economic reality. 

 

“As Syrian Unrest Hammers Economy, New Test for Assad’s Regime as Merchant Class Squeezed” – Washington Post – While Syria’s wealthy elites have largely remained supportive of the government and disinterested in the country’s protest movement, the growing economic crisis could shift their allegiances. 

 

 

Returning to its policy of isolation, the US is now reportedly increasing its pressure on Lebanon for the country to reduce its links to Syria. US State Department special envoy, Jeffrey D. Feltman, visited Beirut last week and openly encouraged Lebanon to turn against the Syrian government, warning that Lebanese officials “risk being as isolated as Syria.’ Feltman went on to state that Syria is “potentially the North Korea of the Middle East”. 

 

US officials also continue to accuse Iran of aiding the Syrian government’s efforts to quell the country’s unrest. According to US officials, Iran continues to send growing numbers of advisers, trainers and members of Iran’s elite Quds Force to Syria. They also maintain that Iran is aiding with computer surveillance and providing materials needed to control and disperse crowds. 

 

US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton also made a statement about Hamza al-Khatib’s death. In a conference in Washington, Clinton stated that “I too was very concerned by the reports about the young boy. In fact, what I think that symbolizes for many Syrians is the total collapse of any effort by the Syrian government to work with and listen to their own people. I can only hope that this child did not die in vain, but that the Syrian government will end the brutality and begin a transition to real democracy.”

 

On Friday May 27, participants in the two-day G8 summit held in France, issued a communique on the issue of Syria that was softer in tone than earlier drafts leaked to the press. The leaders stated that, “We are appalled by the deaths of many peaceful protesters as a result of the sweeping use of violence in Syria as well as by repeated and serious violations of human rights. We call on the Syrian leadership to immediately stop using force and intimidation against the Syrian people and to respond to their legitimate demands for freedom of expression and universal rights and aspirations. We also call for the release of all political prisoners in Syria. Only the path of dialogue and fundamental reforms will lead to democracy, and thus to long-term security and prosperity in Syria. Should the Syrian authorities not heed this call, we will consider further measures. We are convinced that only by implementing meaningful reforms will a democratic Syria be able to play a positive role in the region.”

 

Importantly, the communique did not make reference to a UN Security Council resolution – a move likely thwarted by Syria’s ally and G8 member Russia. Many also feel that the G8 leaders have encountered difficulty in part due to the fact that the recent UN resolution on Libya gave the international community too much leeway – according to some.

 

Last week, UK Prime Minister David Cameron also stated that he believed there was still hope for the UN Security Council to pass a resolution on the issue of Syria, regardless of ongoing failed efforts to do so. Cameron also stated that, “The British Government is very clear: what’s happened is unacceptable, the outrages committed by the regime, the amount of people who have been shot on streets, this all adds up to a very serious indictment of that regime…That is why we have been at the vanguard of pushing for travel bans and asset freezes at the European level and also pushing for a UN Security Council [resolution].” 

 

On the issue of passing a UN resolution on Syria, the Prime Minister said, “The difficulty is that there is not the same unity in the Arab world as there was over Libya for action and I think there also is a sense from some countries, particularly those who have dealt with Syria for a long time, that there is still a fork in the road where Assad could choose reform rather than repression…Although do not underestimate the fact that the EU has taken action and I think there are prospects for Security Council resolutions as well.”

 

On Thursday May 26, the Syrian government announced its intention to replace the country’s current ambassador to Turkey, Nidal Kabalan, with Abdullah Dardari, Syria’s former deputy prime minister for economic affairs. The change appears to be in response to Kabalan’s recent criticism of Syrian opposition meetings in Turkey, which apparently included members of the Muslim Brotherhood. Specifically, Kabalan said in an interview with Daily News, “I think Turkey has been trying to play a role, and maybe in principle it has a good intention, but the Muslim Brotherhood, who took part in armed operations against the Syrian army in the 1980s, has Syrian blood on their hands.” 

 

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu made a statement on Friday May 27, urging President Assad to implement “shock therapy [reforms] to gain the heart of his people.” According to Davutoglu, the reforms must come on security, economic, political and judicial fronts. Davutoglu’s statement was among the most forceful yet by Turkish officials who, thus far, have failed to influence the Syrian government’s response to the country’s crisis – to the surprise and disappointment of many.

 

To that end, in recent weeks international political analysts have adopted a harsh line of criticism against Turkish foreign policy, with many arguing that Turkey’s approach of ‘behind-the-scenes prodding’ has minimal potential to bring about desired results. Others have argued that Turkey was unwise not to press the Syrian government to adopt reforms years before the unrest began. Many have been disappointed with Turkey’s seemingly limited powers of persuasion over Damascus, believing that “If Bashar is not listening to Turkey, then he is not listening to anyone.“

 

In the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli, city inhabitants fear the destabilization of their own communities in the event that unrest in Syria deepens. Tripoli, like neighboring Syria, is home to a wide variety of religious groups and has indeed seen related conflict in recent years. Thousands of Syria refugees have reportedly taken up residence in the city and many fear a resurgence of sectarian violence and instability in Lebanon. 

 

There were also large protests in Tripoli on Saturday May 28 against Lebanese officials reportedly holding hundreds of Syrian refugees in custody. The protestors called for their immediate release.

 

Meanwhile, the backlash against Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah’s statement calling on Syrians to stand with their government continues. Many are frustrated with Nasrallah’s ‘selective’ approach to backing some manifestations of the Arab Spring, but not others – namely Syria’s. 

 

This week, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov advised against US and European efforts to encourage Syrian protestors, by suggesting the possibility of international military support for their efforts. Lavrov stated that, “It is not in the interests of anyone to send messages to the opposition in Syria or elsewhere that if you reject all reasonable offers we will come and help you as we did in Libya. It’s a very dangerous position. Lavrov went on to state that, “First of all, the situation doesn’t present a threat to international peace and security. Second, Syria is a very important country in the Middle East and destabilizing Syria would have repercussions far beyond its borders.”

 

China also came forward with a warning against international interference in the situation in Syria, indicating that it would likely block a UN Security Council resolution condemning Syria. According to Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu, “The stability of Syria has a bearing on the stability of the whole region. The Chinese government supports Syria’s efforts to protect its sovereignty and stability and we hope that stability and order in Syria will be restored as soon as possible…In the current circumstances, we believe that the adoption of the U.N. Security Council resolution would do no good for the easing of tensions and stability in Syria.”

 

 

On June 1, a spokesperson for the government of Iraq stated that Baghdad is intensifying its efforts to reduce the flow of weapons from Iraq into Syria. The spokesman, Ali al-Dabbagh stated that the country’s security committees are focused on reducing the trafficking of weapons between militants in both countries. 

 

The US is pushing ahead with efforts to report Syria to the UN Security Council for its alleged nuclear activity. The US wants Syria brought to the council for the three years it spent avoiding efforts by the IAEA to investigate its alleged nuclear sites. Just last week, the IAEA backed a long-standing US allegation that the site in Deir ez-Zor bombed by Israel in 2007, “was very likely” home to a nuclear reactor. Many argue against the utility of sending the Syria case to the UN Security Council, as any such issue of non-compliance, was effectively ‘terminated’ with Israel’s destruction of the site. The issue is a thorny one, however, as others counter that failure to address the Syria case head-on at the UN, effectively destroys whatever shred of legitimacy to which the IAEA hopes to cling.

 

 

The unrest in Syria and corresponding recent increase of international sanctions agains the government, have taken a serious toll on the country’s oil shipments. Tight bank credit lines, violent unrest and sanctions (which do not ban oil trade with Syria), have left ship owners concerned about threats to their vessels. Though Syria’s crude exports are relatively small, the revenue they yield is critically important to the Syrian economy. The unrest has prompted a spike in freight rates as shippers resist taking on cargo head for Syria. Though in 1996, Syria produced an estimated 600,000 barrels of oil per day (bpd), that number dropped to 380,000 in 2010.

 

 

On May 25 at the Arab League headquarters in Cairo, Syria signed the Agreement on Multimodal Transport of Goods among the Arab countries. The agreement also includes Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Palestine, Yemen, and Jordan and aims to boost trade between its signatories.