President Abbas Esmaeel Abbas

Iraq: Struggle to restore basic services - 15 May 2003
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Bomb before you buy: What is being planned in Iraq is not reconstruction but robbery - Naomi Klein - 14 Apr 03
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As looting continues, US hires controversial company to police - 13 Apr 03Iraq: Looting, lawlessness and humanitarian consequences - Amnesty International - 11 Apr 03Iraq: Civilians under fire - Amnesty International - 8 Apr 03Conditions 'terrible' in Baghdad hospital - Red Cross - 7 Apr 03 UN aid agencies paint grim picture of massive relief tasks in Iraq - 7 Apr 03Millions of mines will litter Iraq, expert says - 7 Apr 03UNEP Recommends Studies of Depleted Uranium in Iraq - 6 Apr 03Viewpoint: 'The West does not understand Iraqis' - 3 Apr 03 United Nations Population Fund warns of risks of war to pregnant women - 21 Mar 03

Iraq: Struggle to restore basic services
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Electricity remains intermittent, clean drinking water is unavailable to large numbers of people, and authorities are barely coping with sewage disposal.
...
Another 18 cases have been clinically and laboratory confirmed from three hospitals in Basra.
...
WHO warned the national and international health community as soon as cholera was first identified by hospital staff in Basra last week in order to put in place immediate containment measures.

See full article

Iraq survey finds slide in child health UNICEF Finds That Acute Malnutrition Has Doubled in Past Year - 14 May

Excerpt:Two months after the start of the Iraq war, UNICEF has called for urgent action to halt what it believes is the plummeting nutritional status of Iraqi children.

UNICEF today released troubling findings from a rapid nutrition assessment undertaken in Baghdad, which has found that acute malnutrition rates in children under five have nearly doubled since a previous survey in February 2002.
...
"We can assume that the situation is as bad if not much worse in other urban centres throughout Iraq," said the UNICEF Representative in Iraq, Carel De Rooy.
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Today the U.S. presents to the UN its resolution, calling for a lifting of sanctions and further the appropriation and authority of Iraqi oil sales to be dictated solely by the US and UK.To our dismay, and to further devastation for Iraqi people, their struggle to regain control of their resources and right to live in peace is once again dictated by a power that does not represent them.

See full article

Bomb before you buy - What is being planned in Iraq is not reconstruction but robbery
...
On April 6, deputy defence secretary Paul Wolfowitz spelled it out: there will be no role for the UN in setting up an interim government in Iraq.
...
But American plans for Iraq's future economy go well beyond that.
...
Doctors in Iraq's second city, Basra, warned yesterday of an epidemic as a majority of the 1.3 million residents were still without safe drinking water three weeks after the war began.
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Attempts to restore the supply have failed, despite hopes expressed in the first week that it would take a matter of days.
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"I think there will be an epidemic," he said.
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Residents also blame them for failing to control the looters.
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Another, Axad Toblanid, 50, an engineer, said: "We are unhappy with this freedom.We have no water.We have complained to the British army about this but they are not doing anything.
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Curfew has been imposed from dusk to dawn.

The widespread looting of public premises and especially of medical facilities and water supply systems is having an increasing impact on health care.The consequences of acts of vandalism are becoming more and more visible.
...
Corpses were piled in the entrance hall before being buried in the hospital grounds.Courageous doctors and staff managed to salvage half of the equipment while looters were carrying off furniture.Although the staff present are clearly committed to saving their hospital and getting it back to work, this will be possible only when a minimum of security is guaranteed.

See full article

As looting continues, US hires controversial company to police
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US and UK authorities were repeatedly warned before the conflict by Amnesty International and others that there was a grave risk of widespread disorder, humanitarian crisis and human rights abuses, including revenge attacks, once the Iraqi government's authority was removed.Now that US/UK forces are occupying substantial parts of Iraq, they must live up to their specific responsibilities under international human rights and humanitarian law to protect the rights of Iraqi people.

Referring to the scenes of looting, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan is reported to have said: "Obviously law and order must be a major concern ...
...
I think the (Security) Council has also reaffirmed that the Hague Regulation and the Geneva Conventions [on the duties of occupying powers] apply to this conflict and that the coalition has the responsibility for the welfare of the people in this area.And I am sure that will be respected".
...
Amnesty International (AI) is deeply concerned about the mounting toll of civilian casualties in Iraq and the reported use of cluster bombs by US forces in heavily populated areas.Despite repeated assurances from US and UK authorities that they would do everything possible to protect the Iraqi people, since 20 March hundreds of civilians have reportedly been killed.Some have been victims of cluster bombs; some have died in attacks in disputed circumstances.AI urges all the warring parties to make the safety of Iraqi civilians a top priority.

In particular, AI calls for:
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Videotape of the victims was judged by Reuters and Associated Press editors as being too awful to show on television.
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Conditions are terrible.
...
The picture was similar at Kadhimiya hospital in the north of the city, where doctors told Reuters correspondent Hassan Hafidh that 18 dead and 141 wounded had been brought in since Sunday.
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CLEAN WATER A PRIORITY
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On Sunday, grids feeding Baghdad were mostly not working and less than 20 percent of households were receiving limited power during the night, the ICRC said in its latest report on Iraq.

See full article

UN aid agencies paint grim picture of massive relief tasks in Iraq United Nations 7 April 2003

Excerpts:Painting a grim picture of hardship and horror, United Nations relief agencies today underscored the massive humanitarian tasks awaiting them in war-shattered Iraq. ... WHO was also extremely concerned about the psychological impact of conflict, fear, and the loss of family members or neighbours on Iraqi children, Ms. Chaib said.
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Women who are as little as 7 months pregnant have been having cesarean sections.However, there has been little special care available in hospitals and women have taken their babies home as they have been afraid to leave them in the hospitals.

There are about one million pregnant women in Iraq.The lack of electricity and water in hospitals and the chaos in hospitals now makes the risky process of childbirth infinately more difficult.Increasing miscarriages and early labour are being reported.

See full article - United Nations Population Fund warns of risks of war to pregnant women (21 March 2003) and listen to an interview with UNFPR spokeswoman on Woman's Hour (8 April 2003)

Millions of mines will litter Iraq, expert says 07 Apr 2003 14:22:40 GMTBy Rachel Sanderson ROME, April 7 (Reuters)

Excerpts:The plight of Iraq would be more comparable to Cambodia, where nearly half of villages are still either known or suspected to be littered with mines or unexploded bombs more than 20 years after the fall of the Khmer Rouge regime.

"It will take five to 10 years to clear the high priority areas in Iraq ... for people to be able to move about freely and to engage in the main economic activities,"

....

Landmining by U.S.-led forces could not be ruled out.He said some 90,000 mines have been shipped to the Gulf area but added that there was no evidence so far that they had been planted.

"The United States has not produced an uproar (about the use of landmines) because it reserves the right to use anti-personnel mines in this conflict," he said.

Unexploded ordnance used by U.S. and British forces, in particular from cluster bombs, would also leave behind dangers for Iraqi civilians and aid workers.

And civilians maimed by a landmines were unlikely to receive much relief with poor healthcare services and a shortage those qualified to make prosthetic limbs, Goose said.

See full article

UNEP Recommends Studies of Depleted Uranium in Iraq6 A

Iraq: Struggle to restore basic services - 15 May 2003
...
Bomb before you buy: What is being planned in Iraq is not reconstruction but robbery - Naomi Klein - 14 Apr 03
...
As looting continues, US hires controversial company to police - 13 Apr 03Iraq: Looting, lawlessness and humanitarian consequences - Amnesty International - 11 Apr 03Iraq: Civilians under fire - Amnesty International - 8 Apr 03Conditions 'terrible' in Baghdad hospital - Red Cross - 7 Apr 03 UN aid agencies paint grim picture of massive relief tasks in Iraq - 7 Apr 03Millions of mines will litter Iraq, expert says - 7 Apr 03UNEP Recommends Studies of Depleted Uranium in Iraq - 6 Apr 03Viewpoint: 'The West does not understand Iraqis' - 3 Apr 03 United Nations Population Fund warns of risks of war to pregnant women - 21 Mar 03

Iraq: Struggle to restore basic services
...
Electricity remains intermittent, clean drinking water is unavailable to large numbers of people, and authorities are barely coping with sewage disposal.
...
Another 18 cases have been clinically and laboratory confirmed from three hospitals in Basra.
...
WHO warned the national and international health community as soon as cholera was first identified by hospital staff in Basra last week in order to put in place immediate containment measures.

See full article

Iraq survey finds slide in child health UNICEF Finds That Acute Malnutrition Has Doubled in Past Year - 14 May

Excerpt:Two months after the start of the Iraq war, UNICEF has called for urgent action to halt what it believes is the plummeting nutritional status of Iraqi children.

UNICEF today released troubling findings from a rapid nutrition assessment undertaken in Baghdad, which has found that acute malnutrition rates in children under five have nearly doubled since a previous survey in February 2002.
...
"We can assume that the situation is as bad if not much worse in other urban centres throughout Iraq," said the UNICEF Representative in Iraq, Carel De Rooy.
...
"We can assume that the situation is as bad if not much worse in other urban centres throughout Iraq," said the UNICEF Representative in Iraq, Carel De Rooy.
...
Today the U.S. presents to the UN its resolution, calling for a lifting of sanctions and further the appropriation and authority of Iraqi oil sales to be dictated solely by the US and UK.To our dismay, and to further devastation for Iraqi people, their struggle to regain control of their resources and right to live in peace is once again dictated by a power that does not represent them.

See full article

Bomb before you buy - What is being planned in Iraq is not reconstruction but robbery
...
On April 6, deputy defence secretary Paul Wolfowitz spelled it out: there will be no role for the UN in setting up an interim government in Iraq.
...
But American plans for Iraq's future economy go well beyond that.
...
Doctors in Iraq's second city, Basra, warned yesterday of an epidemic as a majority of the 1.3 million residents were still without safe drinking water three weeks after the war began.
...
Attempts to restore the supply have failed, despite hopes expressed in the first week that it would take a matter of days.
...
"I think there will be an epidemic," he said.
...
Residents also blame them for failing to control the looters.
...
Curfew has been imposed from dusk to dawn.

The widespread looting of public premises and especially of medical facilities and water supply systems is having an increasing impact on health care.The consequences of acts of vandalism are becoming more and more visible.
...
Corpses were piled in the entrance hall before being buried in the hospital grounds.Courageous doctors and staff managed to salvage half of the equipment while looters were carrying off furniture.Although the staff present are clearly committed to saving their hospital and getting it back to work, this will be possible only when a minimum of security is guaranteed.

See full article

As looting continues, US hires controversial company to police
...
US and UK authorities were repeatedly warned before the conflict by Amnesty International and others that there was a grave risk of widespread disorder, humanitarian crisis and human rights abuses, including revenge attacks, once the Iraqi government's authority was removed.Now that US/UK forces are occupying substantial parts of Iraq, they must live up to their specific responsibilities under international human rights and humanitarian law to protect the rights of Iraqi people.

Referring to the scenes of looting, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan is reported to have said: "Obviously law and order must be a major concern ...
...
I think the (Security) Council has also reaffirmed that the Hague Regulation and the Geneva Conventions [on the duties of occupying powers] apply to this conflict and that the coalition has the responsibility for the welfare of the people in this area.And I am sure that will be respected".
...
Amnesty International (AI) is deeply concerned about the mounting toll of civilian casualties in Iraq and the reported use of cluster bombs by US forces in heavily populated areas.Despite repeated assurances from US and UK authorities that they would do everything possible to protect the Iraqi people, since 20 March hundreds of civilians have reportedly been killed.Some have been victims of cluster bombs; some have died in attacks in disputed circumstances.AI urges all the warring parties to make the safety of Iraqi civilians a top priority.

In particular, AI calls for:
...
Videotape of the victims was judged by Reuters and Associated Press editors as being too awful to show on television.
...
Conditions are terrible.
...
The picture was similar at Kadhimiya hospital in the north of the city, where doctors told Reuters correspondent Hassan Hafidh that 18 dead and 141 wounded had been brought in since Sunday.
...
CLEAN WATER A PRIORITY
...
On Sunday, grids feeding Baghdad were mostly not working and less than 20 percent of households were receiving limited power during the night, the ICRC said in its latest report on Iraq.

See full article

UN aid agencies paint grim picture of massive relief tasks in Iraq United Nations 7 April 2003

Excerpts:Painting a grim picture of hardship and horror, United Nations relief agencies today underscored the massive humanitarian tasks awaiting them in war-shattered Iraq. ... WHO was also extremely concerned about the psychological impact of conflict, fear, and the loss of family members or neighbours on Iraqi children, Ms. Chaib said.
...
Women who are as little as 7 months pregnant have been having cesarean sections.However, there has been little special care available in hospitals and women have taken their babies home as they have been afraid to leave them in the hospitals.

There are about one million pregnant women in Iraq.The lack of electricity and water in hospitals and the chaos in hospitals now makes the risky process of childbirth infinately more difficult.Increasing miscarriages and early labour are being reported.

See full article - United Nations Population Fund warns of risks of war to pregnant women (21 March 2003) and listen to an interview with UNFPR spokeswoman on Woman's Hour (8 April 2003)

Millions of mines will litter Iraq, expert says 07 Apr 2003 14:22:40 GMTBy Rachel Sanderson ROME, April 7 (Reuters)

Excerpts:The plight of Iraq would be more comparable to Cambodia, where nearly half of villages are still either known or suspected to be littered with mines or unexploded bombs more than 20 years after the fall of the Khmer Rouge regime.

"It will take five to 10 years to clear the high priority areas in Iraq ... for people to be able to move about freely and to engage in the main economic activities,"

....

Landmining by U.S.-led forces could not be ruled out.He said some 90,000 mines have been shipped to the Gulf area but added that there was no evidence so far that they had been planted.

"The United States has not produced an uproar (about the use of landmines) because it reserves the right to use anti-personnel mines in this conflict," he said.

Unexploded ordnance used by U.S. and British forces, in particular from cluster bombs, would also leave behind dangers for Iraqi civilians and aid workers.

And civilians maimed by a landmines were unlikely to receive much relief with poor healthcare services and a shortage those qualified to make prosthetic limbs, Goose said.

See full article

UNEP Recommends Studies of Depleted Uranium in Iraq6 April 2003

25- Mr. Abbas Abbas, freelance journalist

However, it quickly became apparent that Kilo was not going to be released.
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Rumors began circulating that the Syrian authorities would not allow Kilo's release. (Arabic. Elaph, 10/21/06).
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In response, Kilo, Bunni, and Kamal Labwani launched a protest hunger strike which ended on 11/4. (AFP, 10/30/06).
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Meanwhile, Syrian and international human rights organizations strongly attacked the Syrian judiciary over the Kilo fiasco calling it "a judicial scandal."(Arabic. AKI, 10/25/06).The Kilo affair was covered by Reporters Sans Frontieres. (French. 11/2/06).

A German-based opposition group, The Party of Modernity and Democracy for Syria, declared it was holding a sit-in and a hunger strike of its own in solidarity with the Syrian detainees. (Arabic. AKI, 10/31/06).
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9/14 - The secretariat general of the National Salvation Front (NSF) held its second meeting in Brussels (9/13-15), where it decided to accept five new members representing various Kurdish movements. (Arabic. AKI, 9/14/06).
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9/15 - Abdel Halim Khaddam spoke to UPI at the NSF conference in Brussels. (Arabic. Via "Free Syria," 9/15/06).
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Khaddam said that "the Front's activity had so far been focused outside Syria, while maintaining contacts with the [Syrian] interior.
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However, in the upcoming stage it will move inside [Syria] in order to accelerate the process of change."
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9/19 - Nasr Hassan, member of the NSF's secretariat general, wrote that the Front adopted at the Brussels meeting a basic document (Arabic) detailing its views on civic rights for Syrian citizens. (Arabic. "Free Syria," 9/19/06).
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9/19 - Veteran Kurdish activist and member of the NSF's secretariat general, Salah Badreddine, told UPI at the Brussels conference that after deciding to expand its secretariat general, the NSF has agreed to coordinate with the Damascus Declaration groups and to open channels of dialogue with tribal leaders inside Syria at a later stage. (Arabic. Via "Free Syria," 9/19/06).
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While denying that any Arab state supported the conference, Badreddine said that NSF delegates would soon be visiting Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Jordan, and maybe Iraq in the future, and would also hold meetings with Lebanese democratic forces, such as the Future Movement or the March 14 groups.
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While denying that any Arab state supported the conference, Badreddine said that NSF delegates would soon be visiting Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Jordan, and maybe Iraq in the future, and would also hold meetings with Lebanese democratic forces, such as the Future Movement or the March 14 groups.
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On the international scene, Badreddine said that the US would head the list along with Britain and France.
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9/19 - Elaph reported that the security services had arrested journalist Muhannad Abdel Rahman. (Arabic. 9/19/06).
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9/19 - Elaph reported that detained dissident writer and professor Mahmoud Sarem (71) has been released. (Arabic. 9/19/06).
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8/9 - Exiled dissident and former reformist MP Ma'moun Homsi addressed the Lebanese people in a statement expressing solidarity with them. (Arabic. "Free Syria," 8/9/06).He said "the only thing more brutal than the war being waged against Lebanon is the dictatorial, authoritarian family regime in Syria," which is "seeking to take advantage of the carnage in Lebanon to prolong its rule after its behavior and abuse of its people and neighbors have been exposed to the world."He accused the regime of trying to sow divisions and civil strife in Lebanon and said that "the world's turning a blind eye to this regime is a danger to all because [the regime] spreads hatred and systematically supports terrorism according to its interests and in order to stay in power."

8/10 - The Damascus Declaration (DD) groups have formed a national council for the Syrian opposition. (Arabic. Elaph, 8/10/06).Sources inside the DD told Elaph that the DD groups have agreed on an organizational structure and have formed the national council from which emerged follow-up and coordination committees.
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8/12 - Elaph reported that the Syrian authorities have put a new list of activists under travel bans. (Arabic. 8/12/06).
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Sorry for the inconvenience and the long absence.
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The charge is based on his statements on al-Hurra and al-Mustaqilla channels.
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Jamous is also being charged based on his TV appearance while in Britain this past March.
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7/28 - The Syrian authorities have banned lawyer Muhannad Hussni, president of the Syrian Human Rights Committee (SHRC), from traveling to participate in an NGO workshop in Amman on July 27. (Arabic. SHRC, 7/28/06).
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Sorry for the inconvenience and the long absence.
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Rights sources told Elaph that the Syrian regime has expanded the list of activists banned from travel. (Arabic. 7/8/06).
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Sources believe the arrest may have come as a result of her membership and activity in the Democratic Union Party.
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Detained writer Ali Abdallah and his son Muhammad were referred to a military court on Tuesday where they face charges of slandering officials of the state. (UPI, 6/20/06)
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Middle East Transparent points out that the Abdallahs are still facing charges before a regular court as well, despite their recent referral to a military court. (Arabic. 6/20/06).
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Elaph reported the arrest of Kurdish activist Abdo Khalaf Wello in his hometown. (Arabic. 6/21/06).
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Writer Muhammad Ghanem, who was arrested in March, was sentenced by a military court to a year in prison, commuted to six months.
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Ghanem was taken from his house in March by security agents.
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Anwar al-Bunni's wife and mother were forbidden by the prison's administrators from visiting him on Saturday.
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However, ME Transparent notes that 6 of the Suwayda activists said they only signed in order to condemn the arrests, not to support the BDD.
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My reply was negative, and that I was convinced by the Declaration, which is why I signed it, and I don't find anything in it that harms Syria or Lebanon."
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In related news, ME Transparent published a petition, signed by 91 intellectuals from the Suwayda district in Syria, supporting the Beirut-Damascus Declaration and condeming the arrests of some of its signatories. (Arabic. 5/25/06).
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Ferry Biedermann of the Financial Times had spoken to Maleh and wrote in a piece published yesterday, "Mr Maleh, like many other observers of the situation in Syria, speculates that the government is cracking down on dissidents, first of all because it feels that it now has an opportunity to do so while the international priorities lie elsewhere - notably Iran and Iraq.
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Interim reports have implicated senior Syrian intelligence officials.Another report is due on June 15 and the government may wish to silence domestic critics before publication."(FT, 5/29/06).
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My reply was negative, and that I was convinced by the Declaration, which is why I signed it, and I don't find anything in it that harms Syria or Lebanon."
...
In related news, ME Transparent published a petition, signed by 91 intellectuals from the Suwayda district in Syria, supporting the Beirut-Damascus Declaration and condeming the arrests of some of its signatories. (Arabic. 5/25/06).
...
Ferry Biedermann of the Financial Times had spoken to Maleh and wrote in a piece published yesterday, "Mr Maleh, like many other observers of the situation in Syria, speculates that the government is cracking down on dissidents, first of all because it feels that it now has an opportunity to do so while the international priorities lie elsewhere - notably Iran and Iraq.
...
Interim reports have implicated senior Syrian intelligence officials.Another report is due on June 15 and the government may wish to silence domestic critics before publication."(FT, 5/29/06).
...
A number of Lebanese politicians, intellectuals and journalists had issued calls for the release of the detainees, and Lebanese papers were filled with columns and opinion pieces condemning the arrests and expressing solidarity with the detainees. (Statements by Lebanese and Syrian figures and organizations condemning the arrest of Michel Kilo and others and calling for the release of prisoners of conscience can be seen here, here, and here. [Arabic.
...
A number of Lebanese politicians, intellectuals and journalists had issued calls for the release of the detainees, and Lebanese papers were filled with columns and opinion pieces condemning the arrests and expressing solidarity with the detainees. (Statements by Lebanese and Syrian figures and organizations condemning the arrest of Michel Kilo and others and calling for the release of prisoners of conscience can be seen here, here, and here. [Arabic.
...
Also, ten Syrian and Arab human rights organizations issued an international petition condemning "the dictatorial and totalitarian policy of the ruling regime," and asking for the release o

The Syrian Network for Human Rights (a network of nine Syrian and Kurdish rights organizations launched last month) said in a statement released yesterday that Anwar al-Bunni and a number of the prisoners of conscience arrested recently were suffering health problems. (Arabic. Al-Mustaqbal, 5/30/06).
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In addition to Bunni, the statement mentioned the case of Dr. Aref Dalilah, in prison since 2001, who suffers from heart problems and activists Mahmoud Sarem and Mohammed Ghanem who were arrested a few months ago for their involvement in human rights and civil society work.
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Reports have said that Bunni's state is now critical, and his physical appearance has deteriorated markedly, as he is turning pale and has dark circles around his eyes.His heart condition is also said to have suffered (Arabic. Hurriyat, via "Free Syria," 5/28/06).The Follow-Up Committee for the Cases of Detainees and Exiles warned the Syrian authorities in a statement that Bunni's life is now in danger.It held the Syrian government fully responsible for any harm that may befall him and for the beating and abuse he suffered on the first day of his detention.
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The week before, Anwar had been stripped of his licence to practise law and in March the authorities closed down his recently opened human rights centre that was largely funded by the EU. (FT, 5/29/06).
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On Sunday, visits were denied to Michel Kilo, as well as to Bunni and Mer'i. (Arabic. 5/28/06).
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On Sunday, visits were denied to Michel Kilo, as well as to Bunni and Mer'i. (Arabic. 5/28/06).
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A delegation of the Lebanese signatories to the BDD visited the UN headquarters in Beirut and submitted a letter to the UN Secretary General urging him to interfere by "taking all the necessary and urgent steps to protect the lives of the Syrian signatories" in order for them to be set free "immediately, without any restrictions or financial punishments or burdens."
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The National Salvation Front had also written to Kofi Annan urging him to interfere in order to end the Syrian regime's repressive policies. (Arabic. LBCI News, 5/19/06).
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My reply was negative, and that I was convinced by the Declaration, which is why I signed it, and I don't find anything in it that harms Syria or Lebanon."
...
In related news, ME Transparent published a petition, signed by 91 intellectuals from the Suwayda district in Syria, supporting the Beirut-Damascus Declaration and condeming the arrests of some of its signatories. (Arabic. 5/25/06).
...
Ferry Biedermann of the Financial Times had spoken to Maleh and wrote in a piece published yesterday, "Mr Maleh, like many other observers of the situation in Syria, speculates that the government is cracking down on dissidents, first of all because it feels that it now has an opportunity to do so while the international priorities lie elsewhere - notably Iran and Iraq.
...
Interim reports have implicated senior Syrian intelligence officials.Another report is due on June 15 and the government may wish to silence domestic critics before publication."(FT, 5/29/06).
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The National Salvation Front (NSF) declared that it will be holding a conference in London on June 4-5 in order to put forward its plan of action for peaceful regime change in Syria (Arabic. AFP via Elaph, 5/29/06).
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A source close to Abdel Halim Khaddam told AFP that the conference "will include, alongside former VP Abdel Halim Khaddam and the head of the Syrian Muslim Brotherhood Ali Sadreddine al-Bayanouni, fifty Syrian opposition figures living outside Syria and belonging maily to Kurdish parties, Communists, and independents."
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A source close to Abdel Halim Khaddam told AFP that the conference "will include, alongside former VP Abdel Halim Khaddam and the head of the Syrian Muslim Brotherhood Ali Sadreddine al-Bayanouni, fifty Syrian opposition figures living outside Syria and belonging maily to Kurdish parties, Communists, and independents."
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The source added that "the month of June will be an important stop," pointing out that the London conference "will take place a few days before the head of the [UN] International Investigative Commission into the assassination of Lebanese former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri submits his report to the Security Council in mid-June."
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The source added that "the month of June will be an important stop," pointing out that the London conference "will take place a few days before the head of the [UN] International Investigative Commission into the assassination of Lebanese former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri submits his report to the Security Council in mid-June."
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Elaph reported on the rally held in Paris, which was called for by the Committee for Syrian National Democratic Action (a Europe-based group of Syrian intellectuals and activists) on May 23 in solidarity with Syrian political detainees (Arabic. 5/24/06).
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According to the report, many Arab, Iranian, French, and Italian political representatives, intellectual figures, and human rights activists participated in the rally as well and raised banners calling for the release of the various political detainees and calling for freedom for the Syrian people and democracy in Syria.
...
5/24/06]).

May 29, 2006 in Demonstrations/Sit-ins, Human Rights, Opposition in Exile | Permalink | TrackBack (0)

May 26, 2006

Planned Rallies in Beirut and London (5/26)
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"Saturday's sit-in in Paris is part of a series of activities in Europe aimed at calling on European and international Human Rights organizations to put an end to arbitrary detentions in Syria and the Arab world," Manna' said.
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The Committee for Syrian National Democratic Action in Europe called for a gathering tonight in front of the Institut du Monde Arabe in solidarity with democracy and human rights activists and to protest the Syrian regime's crackdown on freedom of expression, and to pressure the regime to free all political prisoners, abolish emergency laws in effect since 1963, and respect international human rights treaties (Arabic. Elaph, 5/23/06).
...
A number of Lebanese politicians, intellectuals and journalists had issued calls for the release of the detainees, and Lebanese papers were filled with columns and opinion pieces condemning the arrests and expressing solidarity with the detainees. (Statements by Lebanese and Syrian figures and organizations condemning the arrest of Michel Kilo and others and calling for the release of prisoners of conscience can be seen here, here, and here. [Arabic.
...
A number of Lebanese politicians, intellectuals and journalists had issued calls for the release of the detainees, and Lebanese papers were filled with columns and opinion pieces condemning the arrests and expressing solidarity with the detainees. (Statements by Lebanese and Syrian figures and organizations condemning the arrest of Michel Kilo and others and calling for the release of prisoners of conscience can be seen here, here, and here. [Arabic.
...
Also, ten Syrian and Arab human rights organizations issued an international petition condemning "the dictatorial and totalitarian policy of the ruling regime," and asking for the release of the detained intellectuals and activists and for "the lifting of the state of emergency, abolishing extraordinary courts, the return of Syrian exiles to their homeland, and the establishment of a consitutional democratic state with rule of law."(Arabic. AKI, 5/22/06).
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Syria's information minister even said during a meeting with the Danish ambassador that Syria was "an example to be followed" when it comes to citizens' rights (Arabic. "Free Syria," 5/23/06).
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In related news, a spokesman from the Europe-based opposition group "Rally for Syria" told Elaph that this negative attitude towards the EU will only increase the regime's isolation (Arabic. 5/22/06).
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The Rally has been engaged in efforts to reach out to members of the EU parliament and to lobby for support for the rights of the Syrian people and the ending of human rights abuses and emergency laws in Syria. (Arabic. Elaph via "Free Syria," 5/19/06).Various anonymous EU MPs and diplomats were quoted as saying that they want the UN and the EU to follow the UN resolutions against the Syrian regime with firm action ensuring their application so as not to render them tootheless, thereby exposing dissidents in Syria and the fragile Lebanese government to retaliation from the regime (Arabic. With Agencies, via "Free Syria," 5/20/06).
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Rihawi quoted an official source as telling him that the accused will be convicted of the charges filed against them, but will be released later by a special pardon from President Assad.
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AKI reported that human rights sources in Syria have confirmed that activist Anwar al-Bunni has been on a hunger strike since his arrest last Wednesday despite efforts by fellow activists to dissuade him (Arabic. 5/22/06).
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Darwish was arrested last Tuesday along with Mahmoud Mer'i, in the ongoing campaign against the signatories of the declaration (Arabic. ME Transparent, 5/

(Arabic. Elaph, 5/13/07).
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Dissidents in Syria were fearful that after the rough sentences against Bunni and Kamal Labwani, Kilo would also get a harsh sentence. (Arabic. Elaph, 5/11/07).
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Dissidents in Syria were fearful that after the rough sentences against Bunni and Kamal Labwani, Kilo would also get a harsh sentence. (Arabic. Elaph, 5/11/07).
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Labwani was sentenced to twelve years on Thursday.
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Six detained leading opposition figures warned earlier this month that the "repressive climate" in the country was worsening and called for the release of all political prisoners. (AFP, 5/1/07).
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The six opposition figures called for "solidarity" with rights activists jailed in Syria, which has been under a state of emergency ever since the Baath party seized power in 1963.
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(Arabic. AKI, 5/10/07).
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Labwani, a physician, did not speak when the judge handed down the sentence, and only raised his fist in the air upon imposing sentencing. (AP. 5/10/07).
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His sentencing follows another in recent days against Anwar al-Bunni, a human rights lawyer, who received a five-year prison sentence, signaling a continuing of a crackdown by authorities against dissent. (AI, 4/27/07).Michel Kilo and Mahmoud Issa, signatories of the Beirut-Damascus Declaration, will receive their sentence on Sunday.
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Nadim Houri, a Syria researcher with Human Rights Watch, commented on the verdict saying, "The crackdown is continuing and there is really no sign of it abating. ... Clearly, Syrian authorities have no intention of opening up any space for political reform, and I think what we're seeing today is another symbol of the peaceful opposition to the Assad regime being punished for their views."
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Nancy Pelosi asking her not to come to Damascus. (Arabic. Aafaq, 4/30/07).
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(Arabic. AKI, 4/27/07).
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(AP, 4/22/07).

The DD's statement added that the Syrian people responded appropriately to these statements by boycotting the elections. (Arabic. ME Transparent, 4/27/07).
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Former independent MP Riad Seif, who was one of the leaders of the brief Damascus Spring movement, and who served five years in jail as a result, wrote about his experience as an MP in a lengthy article in the Lebanese daily al-Safir. (Arabic. 4/18/07).

The news service MideastWire translated the following excerpt:

My Experience in the People's Assembly: Delusions of Democracy under Tyranny

"On the margins of the elections which will take place in Syria soon, I found it necessary and useful to publish my personal experience in the People's Assembly [Syrian parliament] and what I went through and suffered because of my attempts to defend the rights of the people and the concept of a developed, flourishing country free of oppression and corruption in the hope that this might help all those wishing to take on public office… Success in my experience in industry was the primary and most important motive for entering the field of politics and running in the elections for the parliament in 1994."

Sayf added: "This success in industry started with a workshop for manufacturing shirts in 1963 to building the New Adidas Company in 1993 after I got the franchise from the international Adidas Corporation which was the first of its kind in Syria.
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I made sure that operations went on smoothly in a developed atmosphere permeated with the spirit of teamwork and cooperation as the company provided its employees with top salaries as well as excellent services including meals, social care, children care, healthcare, swimming pools, and entertainment through plays…"

Sayf continued: "My hope was that if I managed to become an MP, I would generalize this experience throughout the productive and service segments in Syria through the legislative authority which is supposed to unite all the patriots and supervise the workings of the government and state institutions.
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I was encouraged by the wishes of some of my friends and those knowledgeable about my industrial experience especially as the authorities had launched a campaign back then full of promises of implementing reform which would start after the parliamentary elections in the knowledge that I had never before paid any attention to the elections because of my belief that they were only for appearance's sake and their results were known beforehand…On the election day, 2000 young men and women volunteers from the company, family, and friends spread across the electoral centers proving their enthusiasm…"
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Sayf added: "I was woken the day following the elections by the noise of those coming to congratulate me and tell me that I got the highest result among the independent candidates.
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That moment was the most important turning point in my life and I pledged to myself that I would remain loyal to the trust given to me by the sons of Damascus.
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I started preparing for my mission by dedicating my main office in downtown Damascus for the activities related to my new job helped by a cadre that would aid me in gathering information and preparing reports.My efforts throughout the first period as a member of the people's council in 1994-1998 were focused on calling for economic and financial reform, removing the obstacles hindering the revival of national industry, and restoring the balance between salaries and costs, and focusing on fighting corruption which I consider to be the source of all evils and the number one cause for all the failures and catastrophes that befell and are still afflicting the Syrian people."

Sayf added: "Back then, I hadn't discovered the truth that corruption is a natural result of tyranny and its legitimate offspring.
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Thus I entered into a Don-Quixotic and completely unequal battle with the government and the mafias of corruption which ended naturally in my defeat and my exit from my position at the end of the term having lost all that I had earned throughout my life and laden with taxes and debts, some of them artificial and some exuberant, as well as my extreme loss with the death of my son Iyad (21 years old) in mysterious and suspicious circumstances on August 2, 1996.
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All the laws suggested by the government were passed routinely after allowing some space for the MPs to discuss it for appearance's sake without allowing them to introduce any amendment to their content.
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My suffering started with the protests by the finance ministry against my first ever participation on the 15th of November 1994 and continued with repeated interruptions by the speaker and ministers of most of my participations which I presented until the finance minister started imposing exuberant taxes on me.I accepted back then an invitation by the head of the finance department in Damascus who told me on the phone that he has news that will please me a lot.In that meeting, he started talking by reminding me that we were from the same neighbourhood and then announced that he wanted to help me by mediating with the finance minister "so he would get off my back".He ad ded: "some criticism is ok and I will alert you to the points that you can criticize as I did with you colleagues in the council; then after the end of the budgetary session I will arrange a meeting for you with the minister"…"
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In an unprecedented move, the Syrian Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs has declared before the criminal court its intention to criminalize activist lawyer Anwar Bunni and then to present the ruling, once it comes out, to the Ministry of the Interior in order to strip Bunni of his citizenship, according to reports in AKI (Arabic, 2/19/07) and Elaph (Arabic, 2/18/07).
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In an unprecedented move, the Syrian Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs has declared before the criminal court its intention to criminalize activist lawyer Anwar Bunni and then to present the ruling, once it comes out, to the Ministry of the Interior in order to strip Bunni of his citizenship, according to reports in AKI (Arabic, 2/19/07) and Elaph (Arabic, 2/18/07).
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In an unprecedented move, the Syrian Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs has declared before the criminal court its intention to criminalize activist lawyer Anwar Bunni and then to present the ruling, once it comes out, to the Ministry of the Interior in order to strip Bunni of his citizenship, according to reports in AKI (Arabic, 2/19/07) and Elaph (Arabic, 2/18/07).
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This took place in his trial session yesterday (Sunday, 2/18), which was attended by Western diplomats as well as activists and lawyers.He was charged with "spreading false news that weaken the spirit of the nation."His trial was postponed until March 11.
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In various interviews, (Spanish. El Pais, 10/1/06) Assad has repeatedly declared that there were no political prisoners, only criminals who have broken the law and collaborated with Syria's enemies.
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Labwani's family confirmed the assault took place and held the prison authorities responsible. (Arabic. Levant News, 11/3/06).
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Human rights sources confirm that the authorities instruct criminals to attack political prisoners in order to press