The 'Head' with Obdurate Mind

The following is about the ongoing crisis in Syria, which every one might have known. But what I am going to share here are the things which was happened early, which is happening at present along with my own views on that in my simple diction. I am not going to reiterate what the wiki already elaborates, though my main source is wiki along with some other middle-east gazette. I am just elucidate the whole thing with my panacea for that as per my wisdom.

 

Original Impetus for the crisis 

 

             The turmoil actually began with protest against Bashar al-Assad’s regime in January 2011. The protestation is solely due to the repercussion of Tunisian revolution, where the President dominated for almost 24 years (1987-2011) had been successfully overthrown by the people. It also ratchet up fracas on all Arab nations which is called Arab Spring. By the same token Syrians also have some distressing memories of brutal crackdown unleashed by his father Hafez Assad, who was the president of Syria for 29 years (1971-2000), when Muslim fundamentalists in the central town of Hama tried an uprising in 1982: Thousands were killed and parts of the city were flattened by artillery and bulldozers. In March 2011, the worst violence appeared centred around Daraa, where more than 37 had been slain for the protest against the arrest of a group of young men who sprayed anti-regime graffiti before. This initiation led to huge massacre.

Involved Belligerents 

            The separation of the groups is deeply based on the two big denominations of Islam: Shia and Sunni. In Syria, 74% are Sunni Islamist. But Assad’s family and many of the nation’s elite, especially the military, belong to the Alawite sect, an offshoot of Shiite branch.

         On Government side:

Syrians Armed Forces - This is the National Army force, where Bashar al-Assad act as a commander in chief. 

Hezbollah – This is Shiite group based in Lebanon which is fully backed by Iran and Syria. The US consider Hezbollah as terrorist organization.  

Iran – Iran is one of the Syria’s closest allies. So Iran helps in all the way to Syria 

Bashar al-Assad with Iran's Forein Affairs Minister Javad Zarif

Russia, North Korea, Iraq – These are the countries which giving direct military support to Syria.

On the Opposition side:

 Free Syrian Army (Rebel Forces) – This force emerged from the initial street protest groups and then backed by US, Libya and other gulf countries. The United States has also provided communication equipment to create a more structured army

  Jabhat al–Nusra - A radical Islamic force that has pledged allegiance to al Qaeda, has attracted thousands of militant Muslims from around the world, received money and weapons from supporters, and become the rebels' most effective fighting force.

 Saudi Arabia, Qatar – Saudi Arabia and Qatar, which are largely Sunni monarchies, have been eager to counter the Shiite influence of Iran. They have poured weapons and money to rebel fighters, including militant Islamists over the objections of the U.S.

Turkey, Jordon, Lebanon – These countries have become refuges for thousands of Syrian refugees and also act as conduit for arms intended for rebels.  

 US, UK, France –Among these, US gives direct military support to the rebels and UK, France gives indirect military support like communication equipment and medical supplies.

Proliferative Casualties

            The death toll is keep on increasing daily with some numbers. As per the latest report which was released on Feb 2014 by an SOHR (Syrian Observatory for Human Rights) states that the death toll has topped 1, 36,000 and 95 lakhs people have lost their home. Among the dead, 48,000 were civilians which included 7300 children. The Observatory also said it counted more than 30,000 rebels killed and over 50,000 from Assad’s favour forces and it couldn’t get the exact toll rate from both activist.

Wielding Chemical weapons

            A series of some chemical attacks were also cropped up in many places. The 21 Aug 2013 attack was at the worst.  The UN chemical weapon inspectors have confirmed that the nerve agent sarin was used in the attack. Many videos disclosed that there were large numbers of distressed and visibly sick adults and children with no external signs of injury. The SOHR confirmed death toll as 500 with 135 women and 108 children and at least 3,600 patients displaying “neurotic symptoms”. Both side of belligerents strongly denied the exploiting of chemical weapons. US blamed pro-Assad’s forces and Russia blamed rebellion forces. At last they plan to make a deal in Geneva conference to give up Syria’s chemical weapons. 

Futile Geneva I, II, III …

            As of now 2 Geneva conference on Syria has been held but none of that attained the culmination of crisis. May it needs one more or many, no one can assure unless and until someone will give up their tenacity.

           Geneva I which was initiated by UN envoy Koffi Annan, held on 20 June 2012. The UN Security Council (US, UK, Russia, France, China) members, delegates from Turkey, Kuwait, Qatar, Iran and European Union high representatives for Foreign and security policy met as the Action Group for Syria at Geneva. It is named as Geneva Communique. In that forum they planned to make the both side activist to meet in a same room to attain a political solution. This meet is termed as Geneva II. 

Lakdhar Brahmini(middle), UN special envoy to syria

Geneva II gained more contemplation because of chemical attacks occurred at   Damascus. The Syrian government announced on 27 Nov 2013 that it would participate in the talks. Syrian National Coalition (SNC), an opposition party resisted to commit to participate without a guarantee that the president would step down, but intense pressure from Arab states eventually saw its relent on 18 Jan 2014. But the parties who have alliance with the SNC, the rebel forces, Jabhat al-Nusra were not ready to walk with SNC. Iran refused to endorse Geneva communique, particularly its call for a transitional government, so its offer has been rescinded by the UN secretary Ban-ki-Moon.

Even though Both sides agreed to use a 2012 document known as the Geneva Communique as a basis for discussions, and agreed to meet in the same room, but neither side could agree on the focus, the opposition insisted that political transition was the focus, and the government wanted to talk about terrorism.

My Panacea

            On the whole, we clearly came to know that Syrian people have been supressed to a limited extent by Assad’s family for the past 40 years. Moreover, minority ruling over majority is also psychologically inadmissible. People who opposing government are all considered as terrorist is also unallowable.  The government should always make progress towards people’s welfare whatever the concern would be. In contrast, it killing them for safeguarding its own supremacy is absolutely insufferable. That obdurate frame of mind should be relinquished at least for Syrian people. Also it is the only way to avoid Geneva III. If the people really endorsed the government they will show by electing Bashar as a president, so giving chance to the people to select the one who want to rule them is the paramount rights among the all. For that a pure democracy should be established in Syria.