Assad sacks ministers, intimidates opponents and population
Damascus (AsiaNews) Assad's regime is turning the screw. Most (13) faces in the new Syrian government are also new. And it is now engaged in a campaign to arrest potential opponents and scare people into silence. The purpose according to an attorney representing a former lawmaker who was arrested is to show that despite international pressures the regime is still strong. To this end, Syrian Bashar al-Assad is seeking closer ties with Iran.
Following strong criticism against the Baathist regime and President Assad by former regime officials like ex-Vice President Abdul Halim Khaddam, Syrian security agents have again re-arrested political leaders like Maamoun el-Homsi, Riad Saif, and Mouhamad Najani Tayara whom they had previously released.
After lengthy interrogations centred on the country's current situation the men were told in no uncertain term to refrain from any activity that was political in nature.
Attorney Anwar el-Banny, who represents Maamoun el-Homsi, confirmed to AsiaNews that the former lawmaker was arrested by security agents "around midnight. After his release, security agents came back at dawn to take el-Homsi's son in his place."
The lawyer said that his client was told not to engage in any political activity or criticise President Assad. He was also warned against organising meetings, which he "refused to agree to".
According to el-Banny, "this campaign is meant first of all to show the world that the regime can still exert strong control and that no one can take advantage of the situation to overthrow it. Secondly, the campaign is intended to muzzle citizens and stop them from taking part in any protest initiative."
For its part, the Syrian press continues its vilification campaign of the regime's adversaries and critics. In an editorial article, the As-Sawra daily criticised demonstrators who attended Tuesday's mass rally in Beirut. Citing Reuters, it downplayed the turnout saying the number of participants did not exceed 400,000. It dismissed higher figures reported by Agence France-Presse as influenced by France's position and Saad Hariri's views.
Instead, the editorial praised General Michel Aoun who, despite past events, remains in its words "a man of integrity who is seeking what is good for the country".
As-Sawra did not however spare Samir Geagea. Belittling his presidential ambitions, the paper said that the Lebanese Forces chief was "responsible for many acts of violence during the [civil] war". In reference to Geagea,s recent release from prison, it said that receiving amnesty does not mean that "one is innocent".
.png)
