Syria: vivid discussions of Syrian national dialogue on democracy and oppression
Syria, Politics, 1/12/2001

A lecture was delivered at the house of the Syrian opposition parliament member Riyadh Seif on Wednesday in which ordinary citizens, intellectuals and politicians criticized the government's policy and the Baath party control of the authority and asked for more democracy.

The lecture which was under the title " the right to say" was presented by Shebli al-Shami who noted that Syria has entered a new phase in which no body is punished for what he criticizes. He called for forgiveness for the past and to open a new page for the future in which a civil society is prevailing.

All speakers who commented on this lecture called for more political freedom.

The lecturer stressed the reform process needs time and patience and not to ask for instant demands and to give the new leadership the chance to be able to fulfil its plans and objectives.

Al-Shami spoke about the political situation in Syria from his own view point. He said " the Syrian regime during the past 40 years, particularly from February 21 of 1958 until today is a comprehensive regime and this regime does not take into consideration individual views."

February 21, 1958 marks the establishment of unity between Egypt and Syria. A unity which collapsed on 28 September 1961.

Al-Shami added: " It is obvious that the economic reforms' program will not succeed unless it will be coupled by a political reform.

Political reforms is that the one which creates confidence in capital owners, noting that political reform is inseparable from democracy and the two are integrated.

He added " Can a man mask 40 years in four days. Of course he can not."

The main problem is oppression. The oppression is from the inside. The Syrian is oppressed from the inside. He does not speak. Our government says to us say whatever you like and we do what we want. And therefore most dare not to talk and they say they record this against us."

Al-Shami added " the West is not bad. The bad is you, those who used to oppress each other. The bad of us who used to write reports ( to the intelligence ) against others. The British took me as a raw material.

They taught me and gave me a doctorate in engineering. They had not benefited from me. I have been staying with you for 30 years. No body asked me about my specialization and because of that I have started to work in politics."

In an intervention after the lecture Asem Merzo who described himself as a farmer said: " I feel I am a stranger in my country. There is only one view. We are not used to have two views, every body to have one line and all have to support."

One of the attending intellectuals apologized because he can not talks properly because " the part of my mouth specialized in speech has not been used for 30 years. His part has been fasting from speech.

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