The latest protests reveal that as soon as there is even a partial cessation of bombing by the regime and its allies, what remains of the Syrian revolution tries to reemerge.
December 31, 2016
Joseph Daher and Frieda Afary
Two weeks after the fall of Eastern Aleppo and the forcible displacement of its population by the pro Assad regime forces, a nationwide ceasefire sponsored by these forces: Russia, Turkey and Iran, has been implemented despite their violation of it. Regime forces responded to demonstrations in Douma, near Damascus, with heavy shelling. Twenty-one civilians reportedly died in the Damascus countryside town over the last twenty-four hours, while Hezbollah’s soldiers, attempting to break into besieged Wadi Barada, backed the regime’s bombing. Regime bombs are also reported to have hit civilian locations in the villages of Arbaain, Latamna, Helfaya, Zuwar and Zakat in Hama province on Friday.
In the meantime, popular protests have broken out in Western Aleppo, Idlib city/ province, Homs Province, and some opposition held Damascus suburbs. They continue to demand the ouster of the Assad regime. Some of the messages expressed in chants and on banners are the following: “The people are the revolution and it is our right to know who is negotiating and what is happening.” “World! Our Jasmine revolution never dies as it feeds only on love, liberty and dignity.” “Syria, the cradle of civilization will never let down the freedom torch. Revolution brings us together.”
In western Aleppo Province, the Fatah al-Sham (formerly Al Nusra), Ahrar al-Sham, and Islamic Liberation Party, which are Islamic fundamentalist groups attempted to break up at least two protests because demonstrators raised the flag of the revolution.
The above mentioned popular rallies were the first major demonstrations since March when a previous partial cessation of hostilities by the regime and its allies led to mass demonstrations that opposed both the regime and the Islamic fundamentalist forces. The latest protests reveal that as soon as there is even a partial cessation of bombing by the regime and its allies, what remains of the Syrian revolution tries to reemerge.
At the same time, the current agreement of Russia, Iran and Turkey aims to dice Syria into zones of influence. It is not only Turkey that seeks to destroy any Kurdish autonomous zone. It is also Russia, Iran and the Assad Regime, which never did support Kurdish self-determination and only let Rojava exist in order to concentrate their forces on destroying the revolution in the rest of Syria.
There is a general global trend aimed at “liquidating” the Syrian revolution and its democratic aspirations in the name of the “war on terror”. The victory of Donald Trump in the United States strengthened this trend. In this context, the conquest of Aleppo is part of the plan of the Assad regime and its allies, Russia and Iran, to achieve a fait accompli when the new president takes office in Washington on January 20, 2017.
Once again, we affirm our solidarity with the democratic and progressive forces that are struggling against Assad’s criminal regime and the religious fundamentalist forces, while demanding protection for civilians.
Joseph Daher and Frieda Afary
December 31, 2016
