The Heretical Oppositionist!

Dear Poetic Soul,

Thank you for posting this letter below, which does indeed clarify a few things.

Personally though, and since I prefer to remain as an independent political activist, the current format of the Syrian National Council works best for me, developing the SNC into a party will come as a turn off not only for me, but for many other people as well, as this whole development with Mr. Aljbaili indicates.

Still, what we have done in our recent conference and what we hope to accomplish in the future is to go even beyond the SNC format and establish an even larger coalition, including parties, organizations and activists based in Syria itself. For, like it or not, and for the majority of the Syrian people, internal movements will always have a greater legitimacy in their minds, no matter what we do or say – this is an emotional matter after all.

But, if we can create coalitions that unite us with certain known internal groups, then this whole issue will become secondary really. This is at least my vision and hope.

Note here that I say coalitions, that is, in the plural. For regardless of all our talk concerning national unity and establishing joint fronts and programs, ideological disputes and personality conflicts are bound to take place paving the way to schisms, splits and fractures. Such a development comes as a natural occurrence of the political process and is not in itself harmful, so long as we don’t engage in any mudslinging, especially via the media.

So, and by conclusion, let me take the opportunity to say good luck to Mohammed Aljbaili in his Rally For Syria, and to Mr. Farid Ghadri in his Syrian Democratic Coalition, and, above all, to my new friend Mr. Hussam al-Deiri in his Ahrar Movement.

The citizens of Syria have a legitimate right to voice their opposition to the Syrian regime wherever they happen to be and however they see fit. I will not dispute their methods or programs so long as they affirm their commitment to:

1. Maintaining the existing and internationally recognized borders of Syria, including seeking the return of the Golan Heights.
2. Bringing about democratic change in Syria by peaceful means.
3. Rejecting any military intervention in the country outside the mandate and purview of the UN Security Council.
4. Rejecting economic sanctions that can hurt the Syrian people.

In this, point 3 does require some explanation, for let’s not forget here that UNSC Resolution 1636 does invoke chapter VII of the UN Charter which sanctions the use of force against the Syrian regime to ensure compliance. So, should the UNSC determine that military action against the Syrian regime is necessary, no matter how unlikely this development seems today, Syria’s opposition groups will have to reconsider their positions on this matter depending on whatever variables will be available at the time.

For now, let’s all continue to build our groups, currents, platforms and coalitions, not to mention vision, and let’s all continue to lobby for our primary cause, namely: brining about the downfall of the decrepit Assad regime in Syria and offering the Syrian people a real and long-awaited chance to build a more enlightened and democratic alternative.

Heretically yours,

Ammar