Syria: The People’s Revolution
Ending 48 years of Oppression, Violence, Fear, Lies, Corruption & Poverty
Since 15th March, there has been a Syrian uprising that has developed into a revolution. The Syrian people’s demands include an end to oppression, violence, corruption, economic reform & political reform. The Ba’ath party’s 48 years of bad history as well as it’s dismissal of these demands & their violent response has given the Syrian people the resolve & voice to demand an end to this evil regime. The fear barrier has been broken, and they will not stop until Syria is cleansed from Bashar Assad and his regime.
More Than 1800 Killed, Thousands Injured
The number of fatalities since the start of the revolution is very high. The regime has responded to the peaceful protests by using the Security Service Apparatuses & Army to quell the protesters. They have used live fire, tear gas, weapons & batons to beat up protesters. So far more than 1800 people have been killed and thousands injured, with the figures increasing daily.
15000+ Arrested, Tortured & Beaten Violently
More than 15000 people (Men, Women & Children) have been arrested since the start of the revolution, and they have been subjected to torture and regular beatings. This regime is no stranger to arresting government opposition, and is also no stranger to the large variety of torture methods that they practice in police stations, interrogation centres, detention centres & prisons. Torture & violence is practiced regularly, especially on political prisoners.
Emergency Law & Fear
In 1963 the Ba'ath seized power in a military coup & immediately imposed an emergency law (martial law). This law stripped its citizens of many constitutional human rights. It gave the govt. and its security apparatuses the power to arrest and detain anyone, under the guise of terrorism and national security. Those arrested are not given access to a lawyer, or are given a corrupted govt. employee lawyer. They are tried in a military court with no jury, in what can be classed as an open & shut case with no chance of a fair trial, or re-trial. Many people have suffered under this law, and it is a big source of fear within Syria, as anyone who dared to speak out against the president or his regime will immediately be arrested under the emergency law.
Poverty & Corruption
Since 1963, Syria, who once had a strong economy and was a prosperous country (Syria has large industries in farming, oil, textiles, tourism etc.) saw a steep decline under the Ba'ath regime. The current unemployment rate is over 30%, around 60% of Syrians live under the poverty line, and govt. salaries are very low. Corruption has become widespread, and large portions of the economy are owned by Bashar Al-Assad and his family and close relatives. Utility prices such as gas & electricity are very high. The cost of living is also very high. Damascus is one of the most expensive places in the world to purchase a property, even though the economy is very poor. Life has become unsustainable for the majority of Syrians.
One Party Rule
The Syrian constitution only allows one party in Syria. Only one party is allowed to enter elections, so there is never an alternative to choose from. The Ba'ath party is also controlled centrally by the President and his advisers, so delegation & separation of powers are limited to minor local decisions that tow with the party lines. Opposition is not tolerated and are clamped down very quickly, usually resulting in the arrest and imprisonment of those forming opposition groups.
Human Rights Record in Syria
Syria is well known with Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and other agencies, as well as foreign media to be one of the worst countries in the Middle East on human rights. Their track record is very poor. The arrests made under Emergency Law are widely used, as well as torture & violence. No-one is exempt, as you will find men, women and children as political prisoners. Many pregnant women have been arrested, and have given birth in prison, without a doctor or medical tools, and had to raise a child in their cell. The cells in prison are either very small in which you need to bend your body to fit in, or a shared cell that is designed for 4 people is crammed with 20-50 people. Their basic human rights and hygiene are not attended to, and can even go for days without being fed. They are let out of the cells when they are being taken for regular interrogations & torture.
Displaced Syrians
There is currently more than 250,000 Syrians outside Syria who are unable to return. Many fled arrest & torture in the 70’s & 80’s for being opposed to the regime. Their return will certainly mean imprisonment & even sentences to death. Second, Third & Fourth generation Syrians who were born outside of Syria face the same consequences, even though they have never stepped foot in their country.
