As the international community is inching toward working out a plan for handling the Syrian crisis, the opposition groups decided to get their act together and form a common blueprint for a possible transition in Syria.
The conduct of the opposition groups has been marred by deep differences. Their internal disputes are no longer secret. During their last meeting in Cairo, the talks among the opposition groups descended into chaos and, in some cases, fistfights and walkouts erupted.
And yet, after a lot of internal bickering, they managed to reach a final document for a transition plan for Syria. The plan excludes Assad and his family from any future arrangements and expressed their full support for the rebel Free Syrian Army (FSA). Interestingly, they agreed on a civic and democratic state. Principles of justice, democracy, and pluralism are to be the basis of the constitution.
The Cairo talks came a few days after the world powers met in Geneva. The agreement of the Geneva meeting lacked a mechanism to affect the political transition. The opposition groups and the Syrian pro regime media branded the plan a failure.
The Geneva document came as a compromise between the Western powers and Russia. While the west pushed for an explicit clause demanding Assad to cede power, Russia was adamant that Syrians rather than external world should decided how the transition takes place.
Syrian National Council spokeswoman Basma Qadmani expressed her confidence that the Cairo talks were a success despite the political disputes among the opposition groups. In fact, the differences among the groups should surprise no one. It is not unnatural that exiled groups tend to be fragmented. These groups contain individuals from all over the world and therefore forming a definite common vision is a challenge. Additionally, we cannot expect these groups to transform in no time into a united force.
Hence, their meeting in Cairo should be seen as a milestone in the march to liberation of the Syrian people. The Syrians cannot wait for the outside world to act on their behalf. We saw how ineffective great powers were in the Geneva meeting. In fact, the talks in Geneva ended in an abject failure. The attempt of some observers to spin the Geneva talks as a step forward should not conceal the fact that the great powers were ineffective.
I believe that their document reached by the Syrian groups is more constructive than the ambiguous Geneva one. Despite their internal differences, they agreed on bringing down Assad regime. When it comes to this end, they do not beat around the bush. Their clarity on this point is a source of strength and could catapult them into relevancy in months to come. Unlike the Geneva talks, the Cairo talks put forward an end game and a mechanism to implement the plan.
It seems that the opposition groups have learned a lesson of the Iraqi experience. In Iraq, the political process has not yet chalked up great success. In fact, Iraq had to go through a civil war before the situation got partially fixed. Here, the Syrian opposition groups talk about the need to take every step necessary to avert a civil strife in Syria.
Their document is a comprehensive one. In talking about transitional justice, they demonstrate a great understanding of what will be required to build a civil and peaceful state. Lest not forget, before the American troops brought down Saddam’s regime, the exiled Iraq opposition had not articulated a vision of a post Saddam state. Much of Iraq’s today problems have to do with this basic fact. Fortunately, the Syrian opposition realized the need to have a transitional justice and a common vision over what the nature of the state will be.
The Syrian opposition groups have come along way since the onset of the unfinished uprising. It remains to be seen how their vision for the transition will play out.
Nonetheless, the opposition groups should not rested assured as no one is helping them to defeat the Syrian regime. Assad is unlikely to work in line with the Geneva meeting as he reached the point of no return. To Assad, it is either his way or the highway. Given this, it is time for the opposition groups to find way to arm the opposition.
-
Email: hbarari@gmail.com