Regime mobilises masses in support of pseudo-referendum on Assad
Damascus (AsiaNews) – These days Bashar al-Assad’s picture can be seen everywhere in Syria. Whilst the country is getting ready to vote on Sunday in a referendum that is certain to confirm him in office for a second term, its towns and cities are awash with posters and banners and its streets are scene of mass rallies. Even a dirigible hovered over large crowds demonstrating in Damascus in favour of Assad in an atmosphere filled with patriotic marches, loudspeakers spewing slogans like “We shall sacrifice our soul and blood for you,” “Yes forever,” and especially “We love you”.
In many Syrian cities traditional Arab tents were set up in public squares for the comfort of participants. Newspapers published glowing accounts of referendum-related events. TV stations broadcast equally radiant news reports. Publicly at least, everyone is for a Yes vote in Sunday’s referendum. Only one candidate is running and the ballot’s role is to confirm him in office and guarantee his hold on power.
As much as the result is a foregone conclusion, the authorities have gone all the way to mobilise people and get high turnout. They don’t want a repeat of the disappointing 56 per cent official turnout in last month’s parliamentary elections (diplomatic sources put the real turnout at 10-15 per cent).
But beyond the issue of the turnout, President Assad at this point in time needs to show the world, especially the West, that he is really in charge. He can do so thanks to an emergency decree that has been in place for the past 44 years, an electoral law that guarantees his Ba‘ath Party a majority of the parliamentary seats, special courts that allow the regime to arrest people for simply expressing their opinion online or meeting human rights groups, and the use of torture.
For the regime and its young president this is a high-stake game with survival as the jackpot.
One looming threat is the future international tribunal that is expected to try the suspects in the assassination of the former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.
Indeed, the United Nations probe into the incident has officially reached the top brass in Syria’s intelligence services and might touch the Assad family itself.
Many in the region are convinced that such a high-profile murder could not have happened without the Syrian president’s green light.
And this issue is also a huge obstacle stopping attempts by the West to end Syria’s isolation.
Assad’s officials have tried to limit the scope of the future international tribunal and his Lebanese allies are doing all they can—including using terrorists—to cause the fall of the pro-Western government of Fouad Siniora, which backs the tribunal. Under the circumstances, even a pseudo-referendum can be useful.
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