Syria Getting Violent

As violence has surged recently, the situation in Syria has become more and more tense. After the recent killings of two government officials in Idlib, Egypt has recalled it's ambassador to Syria, along with more calls for the international community for Assad to step down or stop the violence. Many do not want a repeat of Libya, the bloody and messy civil war that took place last year. Despite this overall agreement that a civil war would be horribly bloody, armed opposition has grown over the past months and more and more do we see men with guns fighting back against Syrian security forces. This resurgence in violence has led China to call for a peaceful solution to the conflict, after a Chinese ambassador met with Assad on Friday during one of the largest anti-government protests to date. These current events are only going to lead to more action from the opposition, violent and non-violent, as well as more focus on Syria from the international community.

Protestors flee as gunfire is heard from Syrian Security forces.

For a while now the Syrian uprising has been slowly making ground. However, there seems to be an overall miscommunication between the government, the opposition, and the international community, both media and politics-wise. First off, many do not understand the amount of leadership that is needed to put together these protests. The opposition does not just walk around chanting whatever they feel like chanting at the moment. They use a few different methods of protest. Sometimes they have spontaneous "flying demonstrations" in which they gather for only a few minutes in a location that may not be totally pro-opposition. Usually these are aimed at increasing awareness in the local populace and usually disperse after a few minutes before security forces can crack down.  Most protests are held on a weekly basis, usually on Fridays, or are held for special events or days. These sometimes last for hours numbering well into the thousands. Especially indicative of the level of planning that goes into these protests is the level of protection these protests have sometimes. Opposition forces that have taken up arms often guard the protests in order to hold off security forces from attacking the civilians. Often they post sentries to warn of incoming security and have special security teams of their own to stall the government while the protestors either move or evacuate to avoid the shedding of blood. The amount of time and coordination of these protests surprised me, but makes me respect the opposition and their struggles that much more.

For example many protests take on an atmosphere almost like a carnival, with speeches, music, and sometimes a poem or two. Usually musicians come and perform songs with clever lyrics about the uprising, and this can often lead to almost a celebrity status among the opposition. Minority groups are also represented, as many give speeches, raising awareness of current happenings or making announcements. This takes preparation and requires lighting, loud speakers, and audio systems. Along with the preparation for speeches, organizers have to take into account the resulting injured if attacked by security forces. Underground field hospitals are set up beforehand, as going to the hospital would result in arrest. Medical teams are assembled and aid kits are scrounged up from meager supplies. Media teams are also assembled, usually equipped with cameras, smart phones, laptops, and other devices in order to documents and record the protests in order to spread it to the international community. This is essential as support from outside could be a deciding factor in the success of the movement. Whenever you see the pictures of the injured, the large protests, the tear gas going off, its not always a coincidence that someone caught it on film. They know what they are doing and constantly record everything because that it the best way to raise support.

Syrian protesters burning tires and waving independence flags during an anti-regime demonstration on February 4, 2012 (AFP Photo / HO / LCC Syria) 

 

All this planning that goes into the opposition protests is done by local leaders and activists, not national opposition groups like the Syrian National Council. The SNC is mainly to do with the international face of the opposition, composed of intellectuals who have been exiled from Syrian, mainly focusing on political points. This leads to some disconnect between the SNC and those on the ground as many don't feel represented and there is no official command from the SNC. Because of this, the local activists take it upon themselves, sometime starting their own councils in order to coordinate opposition. The Homs Revolutionary Council was formed in September. It has committees dealing with security and armed operations, media, demonstrations, medical, humanitarian, and legal needs. As of January, it was feeding 16,000 families throughout the province. Its leadership is elected and lives clandestine double lives. These activists have to take every precaution necessary in order to evade capture by the government. Communication is difficult at times as they have to use different phone lines, Skype, or sometimes use satellite phones or internet in order to communicate. It is hard to imagine the things these people have to deal with daily, but they do it, and for that I have the utmost respect for them.