SYRIA
Syria used to be
under the French rule from 1920 and until it reached its independence in 1946.
After reaching independence Syria
experienced an escapade of coups d’etats from the 1940ies till the 70ies when
Hafez al-Assad came to power and maintained a totalitarian regime for over
three decades. Hafez al-Assad died on June 10,
2000, after thirty years
in office.
In 2000, his successor Bashar
Al-Assad promised political and democratic reform. Although this was not as
successful as expected, there was still a notable liberalization compared to
the totalitarianism of Hafez. The lifting of bans
on Internet
access, mobile telephones and the spread of computer
technology has had a great impact on the previously isolated Syrian society,
and the secret police's presence in society has been eased. Today there exists
a small but growing number of dissident intellectuals, as well as several opposition parties,
which were formerly illegal. However, government power rests firmly in the
hands of the Baath, and police surveillance keeps opposition activities
limited.
Human Rights waches namely still
report of numerous violations of HR including arbitrary arrest and detention,
prolonged detention without trial, unfair trials and infringement on privacy
rights. Amnesty International estimates around 600
political prisoners remain. The regime still restricts freedom of
speech, press, assembly, association, and political opposition. Syria continues
to use the death penalty and HRW have documented many instances of arbitrary
detention, torture and disappearances in 2006. Kurds continue to suffer
discrimination and violence. An estimated 300,000 Syria born Kurds are still denied
citizenship.
Foreign Politics:
Syria had
long nurtured good relationships with Egypt
(forming even a United Arab Republic UAR with it from
1958-61) and the former USSR
(which also provided financial aid for Syria for over a decade in the
50ies and 60ies.). During the Iran-Iraq War
Syria sided with Iran and on June 16, 2006 it signed an agreement
with Iran for military
cooperation against what they called the "common threats" presented
by Israel and the United States.
Involvement
in Lebanon
The Syrian occupation of Lebanon is one of several terms used to describe the period 1976-2005 when Syria had a military
presence in and significant control over Lebanon.
Some dispute the term "occupation", especially since Syria
originally entered the country at the request of the Lebanese government.
In early 1976, Syrian troops
entered Lebanon
at the request of the Lebanese government to stop the civil war. During the Lebanese Civil War, Lebanon requested Syrian assistance
as an Arab peacekeeping force. The Arab League
agreed to send a peacekeeping force mostly formed by Syrian troops. Initially Syria's mission was to protect the Christians;
two years later, in 1978,
Syria
changed its position and sided with the PLO (Palestine Liberation
Organization, lead first by Yasser Arafat and succeeded by Mahmoud Abbas).
Syria
brought the warring factions together in the Taif
Agreement to end the civil war. The civil war was declared over on October 13,
1990. And it must be
admitted that Syria
did help the Lebanese government to reestablish control over much of the
country.
But before the civil war was
officially declared to be over, mutiny against the Syrian presence already
began. In the late 1980s, General Aoun
was appointed President of the Council of Ministers, which was a controversial
move since Aoun was a Maronite Christian and the post was (by unwritten
convention) reserved for a Sunni Muslim.
Muslim ministers refused to serve in Aoun's government, (a government which was
not recognised by Syria
either). Two rival administrations were formed: a military one under Aoun in
East Beirut
and a civilian one under Selim el-Hoss based in West
Beirut; the latter gained the support of the Syrians. Aoun opposed
the Syrian presence in Lebanon,
citing the 1982
UN Security Council Resolution 520,
which demands the
withdrawal of all non-Lebanese forces from Lebanon. However, the
Syrian military remained in Lebanon.
Aoun, who had massive popular support in his East Beirut
enclave, declared a "War of Liberation" against the Syrian forces.
Fighting began on 14 March 1989. Casualties among civilians on both sides were numerous.
Aoun initially received a greater degree of international support than el-Hoss,
but this ended abruptly when the American build-up for war with Iraq over Kuwait started. Aoun had received
considerable support from the Iraqi government, who was anxious to weaken the
rival Baathist regime in Damascus.
And of course, if Iraq was
supporting Lebanon it is
obvious who decided to support Syria.
In return for Syrian support in the Kuwait
war, the United States and Israel agreed to allow Syria to evict
Aoun, and in October 1990 Syrian forces took the presidential palace at Baabda
by storm. Aoun took refuge in the French embassy and was later exiled from Lebanon to France. Circumstances surrounding
his exile are controversial and unclear.
Syrian forces remained in Lebanon,
exercising considerable influence over its government from 1990 to 2005.
(Largely thanks to the US
interference, as was seen before)
On February 14, 2005, Rafik Hariri,
the former Prime Minister of Lebanon, was killed by a car bomb in Beirut. Many
members of the Lebanese opposition and international observers alleged that
Hariri was assassinated by Syria.
Popular protests soon arose, demanding the resignation
of the pro-Syria government, as well as the withdrawal of all Syrian troops and
intelligence operatives. On March 5, 2005, after intense international
pressure, president Bashar al-Assad of Syria
made a speech before the Syrian Parliament, where he announced that Syria would complete a full withdrawal from Lebanon by May
of 2005, thus ending a 30-year of military presence in this neighbouring
country.
Syrian troops withdrew from Lebanon
on April 26,
2005 under intense pressure from the Lebanese opposition and the international
community. After two UN investigations implicated Syrian officials in the
Hariri killing, the Assad regime entered a turbulent period. The seriousness of
the crisis was signaled also by the suicide of interior minister Ghazi Kanaan,
as well as by Western threats of economic sanctions.
When I was reading this part of Syria’s history, I wondered why Syria persisted so long with having its troops
in Lebanon
while never officially taking it over. And personally I think the reason may
lie in its history. Lebanon
was namely part of the Greater Syria once. And perhaps Syrians are still
longing for the good old days.