The Syrian opposition insists that national dialogue is the only way out of the country's current crisis, while the authorities are insisting on a security solution, writes Bassel Oudat in Damascus Since the early days of the demonstrations in Syria that have led to hundreds of deaths among the protesters, the Syrian regime has described events in Syria as being the result of a conspiracy led by infiltrators, Salafis and terrorists. As a result, the regime has dealt harshly with the demonstrations, handling the crisis from a security perspective and using the country's security and intelligence forces and the army to put down the protests. However, also since the beginning of the demonstrations protesters and members of the Syrian opposition have made political, social and economic demands and have vehemently denied that any conspiracy against the country has been involved. Instead, they insist that what is happening in Syria is a crisis that can only be resolved through political measures, including a comprehensive national dialogue that includes all political, social and economic forces, as well as opposition political parties. They have also added another participant to this dialogue in the shape of the young people who in many cases have led the demonstrations. Although the number of protesters killed in the demonstrations is now in excess of 1,000, according to Syrian human rights groups, opposition and demonstrators alike insist that the only solution is dialogue and that any security solution will not work. They cite the expanding number and location of the protests, which are now occurring in all Syrian towns and cities from the farthest south -- the cradle of the demonstrations -- to the farthest north, where the majority of the country's minority Kurds live, the latter also having participated in the protests. During the two months of the protests, the Syrian authorities have not responded to opposition calls for dialogue and have instead continued to use security policies, sending armoured vehicles and tanks into Syrian towns and cities or placing them under siege, as has been seen in Daraa, Banyas, Talklakh, Al-Maadamiya and other places. All these towns have witnessed daily anti-regime demonstrations, yet Friday after Friday the Syrian regime has demonstrated its belief that the language of bullets is more effective than dialogue and that the only reform that will take place will be according to what it wants and when it pleases. According to Borhan Ghalyoun, director of Contemporary Oriental Studies at the Sorbonne in Paris, the Syrian regime intends to quash the popular protest movement at any price, irrespective of the costs involved. It will use "brutal means in order to impose its own version of reform at its own pace. This will mean superficial reform that does not affect the regime's absolute power or the tight grip the security agencies have over the people and the country. It will be reform that protects and secures current interests," Ghalyoun said in comments to Al-Ahram Weekly. However, "Syria today is not the same country as it was in the 1980s," Ghalyoun said. "The revolution of Syrian young people is not a revolution of one sector or minority, but of the entire people. By using peaceful means, the Syrian people are gaining the sympathy and support of the entire world. They are no longer isolated, and their desire for liberation is only matched by their willingness to sacrifice themselves." Certainly, the demonstrations have been increasing despite the force used in dealing with them. While the demonstrations were at first limited to the southern city of Daraa, two months on they are taking place in 50 Syrian towns and cities, putting increasing pressure on the authorities. The security forces are no longer able to suppress all the demonstrations that break out across the country every Friday and sometimes every day. Meanwhile, international pressure on the Syrian regime has been mounting, with both the US and EU imposing sanctions on Syrian officials, including Syrian president Bashar Al-Assad. The decision by the UN Human Rights Council not to accept Syria's candidacy for membership and threats to refer the situation in the country to the UN Security Council and International Criminal Court have also been seen as part of international efforts to protect civilians from the force used against the demonstrators. The Syrian regime is now more isolated than it was even five years ago after the assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Al-Hariri in Beirut. On 10 May, Bothayna Shaaban, political adviser to Al-Assad, told the New York Times that Syria was "able to overcome the worst in confronting the armed terrorist groups that are trying to undermine and sabotage security and stability." "National dialogue has started in Syria," she said, adding that she had met with several opposition figures. However, Syrian opposition sources called these statements "inaccurate," describing the so-called dialogue as nothing more than an "exchange of views" between Shaaban and intellectuals who did not represent any party or political bloc. Genuine dialogue would have to be "comprehensive and general," the sources said, requiring "an end to violence, the release of political detainees and an agreement on political and economic reforms." "An inclusive public conference should be set up attended by all groups that would outline a clear agenda for constitutional, political and economic reform and the structure of the political order," the sources said. Michel Kilo, an opposition activist, told the Weekly that the earlier meeting with Shaaban had been "nothing like dialogue and had consisted of an exchange of views in a one-on-one meeting at her request." "During the meeting, I gave my perspective and emphasised that a security solution would be fruitless and that violence would lead to more protests. The root problem should be addressed, which is that the Syrian people demand genuine political, economic and social reform," he said. Kilo, a former political detainee, said that "I told the president's adviser that the real solution would be to call for a national dialogue that would include all the elements of Syrian society that are politically, economically and socially active. Opposition parties and representatives of the protesters should attend and all issues should be on the table for discussion." "Reforms capable of changing the structure of the regime should be agreed on, along with its practices and relationship with the people. What took place was not a 'dialogue,' but rather the expression of my personal viewpoint, which she wanted to listen to." Other Syrian opposition sources revealed that they had also submitted suggestions to the Syrian leadership regarding dialogue and that they had emphasised the need to prepare this carefully before launching talks. Such preparations would include withdrawing security and military forces from all Syrian cities, ending the violence against protesters, announcing the failure of a security solution in dealing with the demands of the population, and releasing all political prisoners. These conditions would prepare an "appropriate atmosphere for dialogue," opposition sources said, and they were essential before talks could begin. Talks should then be held under the auspices of the president in order to ensure that recommendations were implemented, and they should deal with amending the constitution, including Article 8 which states that the ruling Syrian Baath Party is the leading party in the country and society. Restrictions on the formation of political parties should be eased, and a multi-party system introduced that guaranteed the exercise of political rights. Other opposition demands include guarantees of the freedom of the media and press and the introduction of effective tools to fight corruption. There should be a reaffirmation of the separation of the branches of government and reforms to the legislative and executive branches. These would be part of a multi-layered agenda of reforms that would put an end to the current protests. However, the Syrian opposition admitted that there was little chance of the regime voluntarily abandoning its current privileges, especially in the prevalent corrupt environment. Instead, opposition sources say, the regime intends to organise meetings between the Baath Party and its partners in the country's governorates, using these as a way of discussing economic issues while avoiding any talk of constitutional or political reform. Such fake dialogue is no longer viable, opposition sources say, stressing that the only way towards stability is through genuine and comprehensive dialogue and root-and-branch reform.
