Tougher sanctions are needed against Syria to stop President Bashar al–Assad oppressing his own people.
Photo: REUTERS
By Telegraph View
7:59PM GMT 14 Nov 2011
9 Comments
The decision of the Arab League to suspend Syria from the 22-member organisation could prove a turning point in the desperate efforts of Bashar al–Assad to cling to power in Damascus. It says much for the nature of the brutal repression of the eight-month-old uprising that a group made up almost entirely of fellow dictatorships should turn on one of their own. The distaste felt by other Arab leaders for Assad also reflects an important lesson learnt from the Arab spring – that the suppression of popular movements is no longer advisable.
The response of the regime to its imminent suspension suggests that Assad and his henchmen know their time is running out. Loyalists attacked the embassies of two Arab nations, several western countries, and Turkey, the biggest power in the region, which has responded with understandable anger despite Syria’s apology. Meanwhile, Syria’s foreign minister, Walid al-Muallem, yesterday mounted an extraordinary verbal assault on other Arab countries, accusing them of pro-Zionist tendencies and “doing Washington’s bidding”.
If there was ever a sign that Assad has completely lost touch with reality, this was surely it. Now, he is seeking an emergency meeting of the Arab League in an attempt to gain readmission. Let us hope the door stays shut even though some Arab countries, such as Bahrain, which had to call on the help of Saudi Arabia to put down a potential insurrection, must be uneasy with the decision. A clearer message has come from King Abdullah of Jordan, who said that if he were in Assad’s position, he would stand down.
The Syrian regime is haunted by recent events in Libya, which no longer provide a convenient distraction for Assad and which have set a precedent for Arab League intervention. “Syria is not Libya,” the country’s foreign minister said. “The Libyan scenario will not be repeated.” Certainly, Assad retains the support of the military – both belong to the Alawite branch of Shia Islam which rules the country, but which is a minority in a predominantly Sunni Muslim population and fears for its future. There are, indeed, signs of sectarian violence in the uprising.
Even though the opposition in Syria wants Nato to operate a Libyan-style no-fly zone to target the regime’s heavy armour, Assad knows this is not on the agenda. But sanctions are; and even Russia and China must now be willing to back fresh moves in the UN security council for tougher measures, beyond the existing freeze on assets and the ban on travel to Europe. Sanctions may be hurting the regime’s pocket, but they are not inhibiting Assad’s capacity to wage war on his own people. It is time they did.
Related Articles
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.Syria warns Arab League of 'dangerous step' - 14 Nov 2011
.Syria: Assad takes on the Arab League - 13 Nov 2011
.Syria dealt blow as Arab League threatens sanctions - 12 Nov 2011
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Showing 9 comments
IgonikonJack
Today 02:35 AM
Telegraph View has articulated the trends in the bloody Syria's
pro-democracy uprising. The crack down that started in March
apparentlly has claimed around 3,000 people; most of them
innocent peoplesome of whom were shot in the back while fleeing deadly force used by pro-Assad, trigger-happy Syrian troops.
Even fellow-Arab Muslims represented by the Arab League
have had enough. This is near-unprecendent in a comunity
and organization that has tolerated Arab-Muslim despotism,
as citizens have beenmuzzled, traumatized and terrorized in Islamic, totalitarian states with minimal, efective mediation
or intervention by the Arab League.
But, now, it seems the UN-backed, NATO-led, Arab-League-
supported, Libyan military intervention has emboldened
more revolutionary push against Syrian Government run and
led by Bashar al-Assad who succeeded his equally ruthless
father Hafez al-Assad. Now, as the editorial indicated, Arab
League has stepped in with some practical, meaningful
measures, but, still short of effective boycott and sanctions
the people of Syria expected.
As I listened to the unfolding events on BBC News broadcast
through National Public Radio in America early Monday
morning, the Arab League not only suspended Syria, the
organization invited all the Syrian pro-democracy movements
and organizations for a unity conference to wedge a more
robust, unified action and response against the oppressive
Damacus regime that has ignored Arab League's call to cease
killing civilians and withdraw troops from cities to begin
real, transitional talks for Syrian democracy--demands
rejected by Syria with further crack downs.
What will work against Syrian government as the editorial
pointed out, is Sunni Muslim majority, which by far outnumber
Shiite Alawite minority with ties to Iran. The Syrian armed
forces have experienced defections. The more this happens,
and the more these defectors can organize a robust, resistant,
military force against pro-Assad troops, the more the
pro-demoracy Syrian revolution wll have a fight chance.
Of course, the real nemesis now are Russia and China whose
pro-Syria, pro-Assad positions veto usage has blocked tougher measures and actions at the UN and Security Council.
Igonikon Jack, USA
libyastar
Yesterday 10:23 PM
freedom for all lovers of freedom
FISH EYE
Yesterday 09:56 PM
Your a real piece of shit bashar!! look what iran got you into!!!!!!
libyastar
Yesterday 09:29 PM
another criminal dictator who's gonna enter the garbage bin of history for oppressing his own people,
yes I agree that (Libya is not Syria,Libya is an oil-rich nation and libyan people are proud and brave people)
those dictators should realise that winds of change is blowing strongly on the homes of tyrant dictatorships.the shame will haunt china and russia
______ tammac
Yesterday 09:32 PM
What about bringing some of this to Bahrain, Yemen etc, or just turn a blind eye to those brave and noble people.
Hypocrites !
____________ libyastar
Yesterday 10:15 PM
who are those hypocrites you meant? go and face them ,
why don't you go and join the uprising of those brave and noble people to raise your voice more stronger than just replying my comments? freedom needs sacrifice not just words
bagpuss2011
Yesterday 09:00 PM
Time for freedom to rain down on Damascus! Assad gone by December
theanglican
Yesterday 08:51 PM
This may seem Counter-intuitive-given the almost universal disapprobation for the Damascus regime, but it strikes me that the one beneficiary in the collapse of Assad would be Iran. Tehran would be uniquely placed to capitalise in the power vacuum by arming and funding the islamists and installing a satellite regime.
westerngael
Yesterday 08:21 PM
Syria -- tribalism run amok, and those who believe that Russia and China can resist the siren song of clandestine support for a fellow thug in trouble know little about the instruments of national power.
_____________
What do you think ?
Các anh chị nghĩ thế nào, có ý kiến phê bình gì qua Bài Nhận Định (Telegraph Wiew) "Turning the screw on Assad’s ailing regime" ? và 9 Ý kiến phê bình từ "9 Comments" của độc giả ?
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