Damascus announces law to end one party system
The move appears to be an attempt to remove one of the motivations behind pro-democracy demonstrations. The replacement of Deir Ezzor governor is part of the same strategy. Government statements about the bill, which should allow many parties to operate, raise some doubts however.
Beirut (AsiaNews) – The Syrian government has approved a bill that would open the country to a multiparty system, one of the fundamental demands of the pro-democracy movement. For the proposal to become law, a change to Article 8 of the constitution, which recognises only the Baa‘th party, would have to be made.
The decision taken by the Syrian cabinet appears to be an attempt to remove one of the motivations behind the protest movement that has brought hundreds of thousands of people into the streets. The latest example occurred on Friday when more than a million people came out in Homs and Deir Ezzor alone to protest against arrests around the country and the government’s bloody crackdown, especially in army-surrounded Homs.
Human rights activists in Homs have also accused the authorities of stirring sectarian tensions between Christians, Sunnis and Alawis, Syria’s ruling minority that includes the Assad clan.
In an attempt to appease demonstrators, it was announced that President Assad had replaced Deir Ezzor Governor Hussein Arnoos with Samir Othman al-Sheikh, who is apparently from the security services.
The bill on political parties entails a number of rules and limitations, including respect for the constitution, protection of national unity, and separation from military or paramilitary groups. Political parties based on religious, ethnical or racial bases are banned, as are parties linked to non-Syrian parties and organisations.
People are waiting to see the actual text of the bill, which, according to Justice Minister Tayseer Qala Awwad, will include 40 articles. However, doubts are being raised about the proposal because, based on the minister’s statements, people sentenced for serious crimes and members of other Syrian or foreign parties, will not be allowed to join new parties. De facto, this would exclude many human rights activists, Syrian exiles and current Baa‘th party members.
The decision taken by the Syrian cabinet appears to be an attempt to remove one of the motivations behind the protest movement that has brought hundreds of thousands of people into the streets. The latest example occurred on Friday when more than a million people came out in Homs and Deir Ezzor alone to protest against arrests around the country and the government’s bloody crackdown, especially in army-surrounded Homs.
Human rights activists in Homs have also accused the authorities of stirring sectarian tensions between Christians, Sunnis and Alawis, Syria’s ruling minority that includes the Assad clan.
In an attempt to appease demonstrators, it was announced that President Assad had replaced Deir Ezzor Governor Hussein Arnoos with Samir Othman al-Sheikh, who is apparently from the security services.
The bill on political parties entails a number of rules and limitations, including respect for the constitution, protection of national unity, and separation from military or paramilitary groups. Political parties based on religious, ethnical or racial bases are banned, as are parties linked to non-Syrian parties and organisations.
People are waiting to see the actual text of the bill, which, according to Justice Minister Tayseer Qala Awwad, will include 40 articles. However, doubts are being raised about the proposal because, based on the minister’s statements, people sentenced for serious crimes and members of other Syrian or foreign parties, will not be allowed to join new parties. De facto, this would exclude many human rights activists, Syrian exiles and current Baa‘th party members.
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