Gaddafi’s Fall Puts Syria Under Spotlight

As the curtains are closing on the 41-year rule of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, the victory of the opposition forces in Libya is expected to give a boost to a popular uprising against Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad.
“What happened in Libya means a lot for us,” Michel Kilo, a prominent Syrian opposition figure, told Reuters.
“It means that the Arab spring is coming without doubt.
“… there is no solution to any problem without the will of the people.”
After a six-month uprising against Gaddafi, opposition forces swept into Tripoli earlier this week, tightening the noose on the embattled Libyan leader.
The opposition success, which was prompted by sanctions on Gaddafi, a no-fly zone and NATO air strikes, may have implications for Syria’s six-month-old revolt and Assad’s efforts to crush it.
“The international community will now think that its strong intervention in the struggle (in Syria) will resolve the situation,” said opposition figure Louay Hussein.
“Libya has raised the morale of the West and it will have a bigger excuse to intervene. But we reject any military action in Syria.”
Assad has been facing the worst crisis in his 11-year rule, with protestors demanding his ouster.
Assad has responded to the unrest with a mixture of reforms and force.
He granted citizenship to hundreds of thousands of ethnic Kurds, ended a state of emergency and promised to let groups other than his Baath party run in elections.
His troops have also launched a deadly crackdown on protestors, killing more than 2,200 people.
Though the brutal crackdown has sparked international outcry, no country has proposed the kind of action in Syria which NATO forces have carried out in Libya.
But the West has called on Assad to step down and Washington has imposed new sanctions over his crackdown.
Syria has an alliance with Iran and a key role in Lebanon, despite ending a 29-year military presence there in 2005.
It also has influence in Iraq and supports resistance groups Hamas, Islamic Jihad and Hizbullah against Israel.

Fears

Analysts, however, predict the situation could deteriorate further in Syria after Gaddafi’s downfall.
“After what happened in Libya I think he (Assad) will be tougher with the security option he is taking,” Boumonsef said.
“He sees what (he calls) the international conspiracy on him will be stronger and now that Gaddafi is out of the way it will move towards him in full strength … This is imminent.”
Keeping a defiant tone on Sunday, Assad said Syria would not bow to external pressure, which he said could only affect “a president made in the United States and a subservient people who get their orders from outside”.
“As for the threat of a military action … any action against Syria will have greater consequences (on those who carry it out), greater than they can tolerate,” he said.
There are also concerns that Gaddafi’s downfall could prompt calls for arming the Syrian opposition against Assad’s regime.
“I fear that some in the opposition who are in a hurry to end the regime, who we have always warned against repeating the Libyan example, will say now it has been successful and resort to arms,” said Hussein, who was detained during the uprising.
“But we will resist such proposals, regardless of where they are coming from.”

Divided Opposition

But what stumbles the uprising against Assad is the divisions among the opposition.
“Despite everything that is happening, the opposition remains stuck over little issues like personal issues between its leaders,” Kilo said.
Boumonsef said it would try harder, with international help, to unify.
“The opposition will be motivated more. There is no return and (Assad’s) reforms will not stop anything. It is too late.”
Encouraged after Western leaders called on Assad to step down, Syrian opposition figures are holding talks in Istanbul to nominate a broad-based council that could aid in a transition of power if Assad is toppled.
Unlike previous opposition conferences, which were marked by divisions between Islamists and liberals, participants said there was broad agreement on 120 nominees for the council from inside and outside Syria.
The council would speak for dissidents in exile and activists on the ground, opposition figures told Reuters.
But some poured cold water on the idea.
“There is no interest inside Syria in a conference happening outside because the public opinion and those inside Syria believe that what is happening outside is marginal,” Kilo said.
“We do not need a transitional council … the real challenge is not what should be done after the regime collapses but for us it is what should be done every day so that we remain standing.”

Source: OnIslam & News Agencies