by Vincent Herr
After weeks of civil protests against the strict government of Syria, it looks like President Bashar al-Assad is ready to grant reforms to the people. After the protests already led to the resignation of parts of the existing government in the end of March, it now looks like President Bashar is going even further in answering claims of the protestors.
The protests in Syria, largely inspired by the uprisings in several Middle Eastern countries starting this January, reached an alarming level in March when thousands of people started to demonstrate for more rights and reforms. President al-Assad sent out security forces to repel the protest, leading to many dead and hundreds arrested, actions denoting an unlikeliness to cooperate with the protestors. These last weeks, however, have shown a shift in the way the government reacts to the claims of the protestors. The New York Times, on April 15th described al-Assad’s recent concessions, such as amnesty for some prisoners, (a major claim of the protestors), the withdrawal of the despised state security forces, with the replacement of regular army units, which are more respected by the people. Most recently, the Syrian government has promised repeal of the emergency law, in place since 1963. [The Syrian government has indeed done so, after the posting of this article.]
While some protestors focus their anger at the strictly controlling government and a lack of personal freedom, minorities like the Kurds in Syria’s northern region raise awareness of their lack of even most fundamental rights. Many Kurds are classified as illegal immigrants, despite their work for the country and in the civil service. It appears that the protests were not in vain, as Al-Assad’s government granted citizenship to those Kurds without full legal status.
It is important to keep the complexity of the protests in mind. Fadi Salem, director of the Governance and Innovative Program at the Dubai School of Government, told the New York Times “I think it would be deadly wrong to simplify or romanticize this as the people against the authorities. It’s much more nuanced than that.” Al-Assad himself still holds respect and support from big portions of the Syrian population and appeals to be a firm and reform-friendly President in a collapsing system.
Even though the government has announced reforms and a better treatment of the protestors, concerned voices are still being raised. Human rights activists doubt that the reforms, if realized at all, will be able to meet the expectations. Many are also skeptical about the impact of the new members of government. Speaking of the new ministers, Radwan Ziadeh, a Syrian human rights advocate, told Times reporters: “None of them have a record of reform, of bringing reform to the table.”
As an observer from afar, it appears that this is a crucial time for al-Assad to realize the claims and desires of his people, and to not respond to their calls with violence. He should see this is an opportune moment to establish his legacy, and enter the history books as a reforming President, and not as an authoritarian one!