In Baath ... who trusts?
March 8, 2006
Headquarters of the Baath Party, Damascus.
I don't know how people manage to travel, work and blog at the same time, when there's so much of the same going on - especially when following Syrian affairs, which mostly make you fall asleep lately.
Apparently, the Syrian people do not need human rights (even though this was an approved EU initiative). They do not need freedom of expression either (but such treatment and intimidation of journalists is old news). Apparently, what Syrians really, desperately need (and the entire Arab world with them) is Arabism. More Arabism. True Arabism. New and improved Arabism. That will solve all their problems. Jealous of the Islamists who have a ready answer to everything ("it's all in the Holy Quran"), the Baathists (not even pretending anymore that "reform" is on the way) are now saying the answers are all in Arabism. Get it?
Those pearls of wisdom were offered on the occasion of the conference of Arab Political Parties held in Damascus, which shows you that the Syrian regime has really got some nerve. The one-party-rule government hosting meetings on political parties? Imagine all the possible metaphors!
The glorious March 8 revolution, celebrated especially by numerous pedantic men sporting March 8 mustaches (and other men trying but failing to grow them), celebrates its 43rd anniversary today. In other words, commiserations are in order for the Syrian people, and for the sad state of the Syrian state. Instead of making way for the new political parties everyone's so excited about, the Baath is digging its heels and waving Article 8 of the constitution in our faces.
Even before the last Baath party congress took place, I had written as a reminder of the Syrian regime's intransigence that "Article 8 of the Syrian constitution, which maintains that the Baath must be the state’s leading party, was in no way affected by Decree 408 of July 2003, supposed to end the Baath’s entrenchment on all levers of control, and limit it to ”supervising” governmental affairs."
Indeed, in a real "read 'em and weep" piece, Sami Moubayed confirms that the regime's promises were not quite what they seemed. No surprises there for me whatsoever, except for my amazement at just how ridiculous the parameters are for these new parties.
For instance, if you are aged 34, you can now become president of Syria (since June 10, 2000) - but you cannot apply for a party license (let alone if you have a "criminal" record - which applies to all activists).
Should a political party be miraculously created in spite of all the hurdles it faces (a minimum of 500 members before the founding conference can take place), be aware that belonging to one will disqualify you from working for the government - Baath excepted, again. In fact, you are much more likely to get a job in the public sector if you are a Baathist.
Parties will be prohibited from even marketing their views to Syrians living abroad. How hypocritical. Syrians expats, after all, are eagerly courted when "election" time comes every 7 years, and when Syrian embassies across the world (which will be celebrating the revolution on March 8, so don't bother going for any business) turn into chaotic voting points where your passport is not even needed as long as you've come to pay allegiance. (Or so I'm told by countless people I trust in several countries, as I've obviously never done it myself, and never will under these circumstances.)
Sami concludes by stressing the fact that founding members of political parties (all ten of them) must not have "written, preached or acted in the opposition since 1963," as they won't have preserved the objectives of the revolution of March 8. This also takes care of any parties existing before 1963. And of any activist, person, or entity which has ever uttered a word of criticism towards the Syrian regime and its glorious Baath.
There's more depressing stuff, and more to come out soon I'm sure. There you have it, political reform à la Syrian regime. I hope its supporters enjoy it as much as they enjoy its fake Arabism. The rest of us can always dream.
