Editorial: Fanning the flames Wednesday, 11 January 2012 01:56

Syrian President Bashar Al Assad’s third major speech he delivered yesterday since the Syrian uprising began would only serve to kill hopes of a solution to the crisis – whatever hope that remains. As in the previous two speeches, Assad has followed a carrot-and-stick policy in this speech too: promise of reforms and a threat to suppress the dissent with an ‘iron fist. Such provocative statements from the head of a state which has been convulsed by an uprising that has paralysed the country will do nothing to achieve the goals he has set for himself. On the contrary, it will add fuel to the flames, and harden the resolve of the opposition to continue their fighting. The timing of the speech is significant as it came just hours before the UN Security Council began discussions on Syria.

Assad blamed foreign conspiracies supported by Arab states for the crisis in his country. “Regional and international parties who are trying to destabilise Syria can no longer falsify the facts and events,” the embattled leader said in a televised speech that lasted almost two hours. He said the crisis would come to an end “when the flow of funds and weapons coming from abroad stops”.

The president’s fury against Arabs states is understandable. The Arab League has taken an unusually tough stance against his repression and a team of monitors sent by the pan-Arab body is currently in Syria interacting with Syrians to gather evidence against him.

The president showed no signs of flexibility in his speech and his praise for the security forces for their work is a clear signal to them to continue their repression.

Assad must, at first, meet his regime’s commitments to the Arab League to end the violence, withdraw forces from the cities, admit journalists into the country, free political prisoners who are languishing in the country’s jails and allow for a real political dialogue. There is only one solution to the crisis, which is a political solution.

The promise of reforms which he made yesterday will not be taken seriously because he hasn’t been serious about it. The Syrian leader said a referendum on a new constitution in March would be followed by parliamentary elections in June. Any elections will be meaningless without the involvement of opposition in the process and the president made no mention of inviting the opposition to get democratically involved. Also, he was determined to continue in power instead of stepping down in line with the demands of his own people and the international community.

Syrians have suffered enough as the ten-month old uprising continues, claiming the lives of thousands of people. It’s the duty of Arabs and the international community to make sure that they don’t suffer any longer.