Interview mit Abdalaziz al-Khair zur Lage in Syrien

Interview with Abdalaziz al-Khair, leading figure of the National Coordination Body for Democratic Change, Syria, gefunden auf Support Kurds in Syria, hier ein Auszug:

Abdulaziz al-Khair was a leading member of the Communist Action Party. He was persecuted and had to live underground for more than ten years. He was arrested and tortured in 1992, sentenced to 22 years and released in 2005. In 2007 he participated in founding the “Left Assembly”, which included the Communist Action Party, the Kurdish Left Party, the Body of Syrian Communists, the Marxist Democratic Assembly and the Coordination Committee of the Members of the Syrian Communist Party – Politburo.

…

“The true left in the region and the world has been with the Syrian people and their interests all along. The problem were always Stalinist parties or Soviet satellites. For them, the main criterion is the regime’s position on international conflicts. Whereas leftist principles say that the priority in defining the position towards states and parties should be according to their policies towards their own peoples. We have our critical historic view of this “leftist” deformation. We consider it to be one of the causes for the defeat of the international left which had been established according to the Soviet model while others unfortunately consider it “political realism”. In terms of its emergence, the CWP belongs to the New Left. This left, critical to Stalinism, appeared at a decisive moment in the late sixties of the last century. We remain faithful to this project.

The Syrian regime was actually to the left of the Arab regimes in general, concerning the national issue as well as in some social issues. But often this was only the surface of politics but not in depth. Although being very pragmatic, the regime for its own benefit was eager to remain in this position within the official Arab range. As the whole Arab scene shifted to the right, the Syrian regime without hesitation shifted with it, but was keen to stay on the left wing at the same time. It made continuous efforts to maintain good relations with Latin America, China and other Asian countries to use these relations when it needed them.

This situation changed with the beginning of the current popular revolution, especially when the repressive practices of the regime became obvious. What we see is the core of the regime’s policy which it has been practicing secretly for decades. Its foreign policy, admired by some leftists and patriots, was used as a cover. They were deceived, but as the truth comes to the light of day, the regimes looses its friends and allies one after the other. They are joining the ranks of those who see the necessity to respond to the people’s demands.

…”

mehr hier

Aufruf von WAC-Ma’an und Da’am zum 1. Mai 2012

Quelle: Webseite des Workers Advice Center:

International Workers’ Day 2012. The people demand unionized workers!

In the upcoming demonstrations of the united left, the Independent Union WAC Maan and the Daam workers’ party, call for peace, equality and social justice, and demonstrates in solidarity with the popular Arab uprisings, particularly the heroic revolt of the Syrian people.

The Independent Trade Union WAC Maan and the Daam workers’ party, call on their members and supporters to take an active part in the demonstrations and marches of the united leftwing and workers’ organizations, which will be held to mark May Day (International Workers’ Day) in Tel Aviv on May 1, in Haifa on April 28, and in Jerusalem on April 27.

We are happy that for the first time in years, the forces on the left together with workers’ organizations have united to march together under the banner, “The people demand unionized workers.” Despite some differences of opinion, it is clear that all the groups marching to mark May Day agree on the need to step up the struggle against the extreme rightwing government of Benjamin Netanyahu. We aspire to a united front which presents an alternative social political agenda.

Arab and Jewish activists from the WAC Maan will join members of Da’am, the Workers Party, to call for peace, equality and social justice. As a Jewish-Arab workers’ organization aiming for revolutionary change, we dedicate this year to the Arab uprisings, especially the Syrian revolt. The Syrian people are rising up to demand freedom, justice and peace, and to bring down the dictator who butchers his citizens mercilessly. In the May Day marches, we will also convey a message of solidarity to the young Egyptian revolutionaries and the Egyptian workers who did the impossible and brought down the tyrant Mubarak. We will strengthen them as they work to complete the aims of the revolution.

Our main target is the anti-worker, rightwing and warmongering government of Israel. On May Day this year, we emphasize the call to bring down Netanyahu’s government, because:

Netanyahu’s government leads destructive economic social policies. For many years, even before his latest election as prime minister, Netanyahu has promoted privatization of the public sphere and dismantled the social security net. Israel has become a paradise for tycoons and hell for hundreds of thousands of precarious workers. Today, most Israelis understand that the transfer of natural resources and public services to capitalists has led to poverty, violence and the unraveling of the social fabric.

During the last three years, Netanyahu’s government and its extreme rightwing coalition have passed a slew of racist laws against the state’s Arab citizens. It is currently promoting a program to destroy dozens of Arab villages in the Negev Desert, preventing the development of Arab towns, and increasing hatred and racism.
Netanyahu’s government is responsible for the deadlock in the peace process, which is liable to deteriorate into war. Its policies are based on the strengthening of the settlements in the occupied territories, the rejection of any compromise with the Palestinians, and the creation of an artificial crisis with Iran. The rightwing government, whose foreign minister is the fascist thug Avigdor Lieberman, challenges the international consensus on the need to withdraw to the pre-1967 borders and the need to establish an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.

A demonstration in Kufr Qara

In addition to our active participation in these events in the three main cities, WAC Maan together with Da’am – Workers’ Party will organize a demonstration in Kufr Qara on Saturday May 5, in solidarity with the Syrian people who are rising up against the regime. We call for unconditional support to the Syrian people’s popular uprising and with all the Arab people’s uprisings against oppression and exploitation, and for freedom and social justice.

Long live May Day! The people demand unionized workers!
Long live the social protest movement!
Long live the Arab Spring!
Long live the Syrian uprising!
Workers of the world, unite!

Join us as we march in red, the workers’ organization WAC and the workers’ party Da’am!

The Commune, April 2012

Die neue The Commune, als pdf-Datei hier:

Die Artikel im Einzelnen:

Biji Newroz! Newroz Piroz Be!

Newroz lässt sich nicht verbieten!

Vermischtes: Naher Osten (ergänzt)

- Linkenkritik aus dem Libanon (Kalima):

“Wenn die Linke einerseits als Ergebnis ihrer Fehler und andererseits wegen des umsichgreifenden Drucks ihr materielles Rückgrat verliert, verbleibt sie mit nichts als einem politisch-moralischen Diskurs als allgemeinen Standpunkt auf dem sie kämpfen. Schließlich, um ein Linker zu sein muss man sich an der Seite der Gerechtigkeit gegen Unterdrückung stellen, mit dem Opfer gegen den Täter, mit den Ausgebeuteten gegen die Ausbeuter. Das ist der ethische Standpunkt, der uns nach dem beinahe ereilten Ableben der libanesischen Linke noch als politische Bewegung leben lässt.”

- Vijay Prashad: Arab Spring, Syria and the left: ‘No support for authoritarian regimes, no support for imperialism’ (Links)

- Kurdish Opposition of Syria speaks up (Support Kurds in Syria)

- Solidarität mit der syrischen Revolution: Erklärung des Internationalen Komitees der Vierten Internationale (ISL)

- Yacov Ben Efrat: The Syrian nation is victim of the Cold War (Challenge)

- Assaf Adiv: The crisis of violence in the Arab street (Challenge)

- Hundreds protest living costs across West Bank (Ma’an News Agency)

- Parti Communiste-Ouvrier d’Iran: Journée Internationale des Femmes 2012 (Révolution en Iran)

- Unemployment Doubled in the Course of the Year (iran labor report)

- 600 Metal Industries Workers Close Down the Street (iran labor report)

- eine Reihe von Artikeln zu den Parlamentswahlen im Iran (Ali Schirasi)

- Yanar Mohammed: Campaign of Iraqi gay killings by smashing skulls with concrete blocks (Organisation of Women’s Freedom in Iraq)

- Ägypten: Urteil gegen Kamal Abbas aufheben! (LabourStart)

- Hamid Karzai backs clerics’ move to limit Afghan women’s rights (Guardian)

- Erklärung zur Solidarität mit den Frauen im revolutionären Prozess in der arabischen Region des Internationalen Komitees der Vierten Internationale (ISL)

Als Syrien noch Verbündeter des “Freien Westens” gegen den Terrorismus war

Syria:Kurds killed in the street in March 2004 + 2008 + 2010 (Support Kurds in Syria)

Ein gemeinsames Statement von AnarchistInnen aus Russland und Syrien

gefunden auf Anarkismo, wo es die Erklärung auch noch in anderen Sprachen gibt: [Ελληνικά] [Italiano] [العربية ] [Français]

To the masses, oppressed and revolutionaries of the Russian Federation and Syria

We, Russian and Syrian anarchists, as we see the infamous collaboration of both the Russian and Syrian repressive regimes, and the support of the Russian ruling regime to the bloody crackdown of the Assad regime against the Syrian revolting masses; either in supplying arms and ammunition to Assad’s forces or providing diplomatic protection to Assad’s massacres against the revolting Syrians, we see this as a logical result of the similarity of the repressive and exploitative nature and structure of both regimes and as a part of their war against the oppressed of their own people.

We, as anarchists and anti–authoritarians, condemn this infamous collaboration and the repressive practices of both regimes, and we call for a strong and brotherly solidarity between the repressed masses, revolutionaries and anarchists of both countries, in their struggle against the repressive elites in both countries .

Autonomous Action – Russia
Syrian Anarchist feminist movement
Syrian Anarchists

London: Schläger des syrischen Staates greifen TeilnehmerInnen einer “Stop the War Coalition”-Kundgebung an

mehr hier: Syrian Khamenei supporters attack anti-war Iranians (Hands Off the People of Iran)

Lesehinweis zu den Aufständen in Syrien

eine von iranischen Oppositionellen, welche mit AktivistInnen in Syrien in Kontakt stehen, erstellte Zusammenfassung: Syrien an der Schwelle zum Bürgerkrieg? auf dem Weblog von Ali Schirasi … aktuelle Meldungen auf Support Kurds in Syria

Ein Statement der Syrian Revolutionary Left Tendency

gefunden auf International Viewpoint:

Unite for the success of the mass national general strike: The strike of dignity!

Declaration from Damascus of the Syrian Revolutionary Left Tendency

A collective call for the mass general strike which will begin on December 11, 2011 has been launched. This call is the first common initiative of all the structures and groups engaged in the popular revolution, which constitutes in itself a significant positive development for the unification of popular and political energies in the revolution against the regime of arbitrariness, oppression and exploitation. We consider that this amounts to a qualitative step towards its fall.

We call on all the comrades, group and persons of the left engaged in the permanent popular revolution, as well as all those who support liberty, equality and social justice, to participate effectively and seriously in the success of the mass general strike— the strike of dignity — and to consider it as an important and essential step on the path of the reappropriation by the masses of the initiative to decide the destiny and future of their country. It is necessary to appeal broadly and participate, to organise seriously and effectively everywhere we are. Participation presupposes setting up action committees common to all the forces and individuals involved to realise the best organisation and management of everyday life.

The future of our people and of its country can only be decided on by the masses of our country. The fall of the regime and the building of a Syria of liberty and justice are up to the insurgent popular masses now and to those who will not fail to rally to the revolution shortly. It is our stake, it is the path to the victory, liberty and sovereignty of our people. The mass general strike will lead there.

The regime of the ruling clique has failed to break the determination of the insurgent masses just as it has failed to lead them into the hell of confessional or civil war, or to make weapons the sole expression of confrontation. Nor has it succeeded in diverting the masse who count on their determination to bring it down or in making them believe that armed foreign intervention would be their sole salvation… It has failed in all its attempts to crush or to divert the magnificent popular revolution… and it finds itself today as in the first days of the revolution face to face with an insurgent people which will not delay in bringing it down and wiping out this dark stain in the history of our country.

Let’s participate together in the mass general strike, the strike of dignity, until the fall of the regime and victory!

We call for a united front of all the forces of the revolution to bring down this bloodthirsty regime!

We call for the unification of the revolutionary left!

Long live the struggle of the Syrian popular masses for the fall of the regime and for liberty, democracy, social justice and equality!

Long live the Arab permanent popular revolutions!

Damascus, December 7, 2011

* The Syrian Revolutionary Left Tendency is a group uniting revolutionary Marxists in Syria and in exile.

Vermischtes

1.) Zur sexualisierten Gewalt und zum Täterschutz, welche im Rahmen von Occupy Glasgow stattfand: Open letter to ‘Occupy Glasgow’ des Glasgow Women’s Activist Forum auf der Webseite der SSY und De-occupy Glasgow auf Random Musings, offenbar gab es im Rahmen der Occupy-Bewegung nicht nur in Glasgow sexistische Angriffe bis hin zu Vergewaltigungen

2.) Zwei Texte zu den Riots August 2011 in Britannien: Intakes: Communities, commodities and class in the August 2011 riots von Aufheben auf LibCom sowie ‘London burns – causes & consequences of the riots – an anarchist perspective’ vom Workers Solidarity Movement (WSM) aus Irland

3.) Eins teilt sich in Zwei: Zur faktischen Spaltung der UCPN(M) in Nepal: Nepal revolutionaries speak: People’s Liberation Army will be reborn auf Revolution in South Asia

4.) Zu Syrien: Revolts in Syria: Tracking the Convergence Between Authoritarianism and Neoliberalism auf Sanhati

5.) Ein Bericht vom Generalstreik in Oakland: The Beautiful Oakland General Strike of 2011 auf der Webseite der Freedom Socialist Party

6.) eine Reihe neuer Texte auf Neue antikapitalistische Organisation? Na endlich!

7.) Musik:

Zu den staatenlosen KurdInnen in Syrien

ein Artikel auf Support Kurds in Syria: The Stateless Kurds of Syria

 

“… In 1962, the then Syrian government executed an irregular, single-day census in al-Hassake – the province with the highest concentration of Kurdish inhabitants. The purported purpose of the census was to identity those who had entered Syria illegally since 1945. However, implementation was inconsistent. Many in the largely agricultural community were simply unaware that a census was taking place; others were unable – at short notice – to present documentation to substantiate claims dating back more than seventeen years. Additionally, some were suspicious of intentions behind the census and refused to hand over documentation when the outcome of doing so was unclear.

As such, the status of individuals was determined somewhat arbitrarily, with members of the same family often recognized differently. ‘My grandfather and all his siblings’ explains our informant ‘were born in Syria. While some of his brothers and sisters kept their nationality, my grandfather and a further two brothers were working in the fields and did not attend.’

Almost half a century on, the impact of the census in Syria is no less significant. For, statelessness – just like nationality in Syria – is hereditary via the father. The problem is further exacerbated by the discretionary bias implicit within the stratified structure of Syria’s stateless population …”

Neues aus den Archiven der radikalen (und nicht so radikalen) Linken

ältere Archiv-Updates und Hinweise zu weiteren linken Archivalien unter “Sozialistika” und im Download-Archiv … auf LibCom ein Text zur Biographie von Constantinos Speras und auf der Webseite der Fundacion Andreu Nin ein Artikel von Dionisio Pereira zum heterodoxen Kommunismus in Galizien 1931-1936:

Big Flame 1970-1984:

* LOTTA CONTINUA Part 3 (Related Political Organisatons no 2)
** Internal Bulletin: Italy 1973 (1973, pdf-Datei)
** Documents from Lotta Continua (1975, pdf-Datei)

Rassembler, diffuser les archives des révolutionnaires (RaDAR):

* Leo Trotzki: La seule voie (1932)
* IVe internationale: IVe internationale, Dezember 1957 (zum 5. Weltkongress)

La Bataille Socialiste:

* Mansoor Hekmat: Nos différences [3] (1989)
* Maximilien Rubel: Le parti de la mystification (1976)

Marxists Internet Archive (MIA):

* Mary-Alice Waters: Maoism in the U.S.: A Critical History of the Progressive Labor Party (1969)
* Groep van Internationale Communisten (GIC): Was Will Der Proletarier? (1933)
* Groep van Internationale Communisten (GIC): Sowjetrussland, Die Wirtschaftskrise und Die Weltrevolution (1933)
* Groep van Internationale Communisten (GIC): Zielsetzung (1934)
* Cajo Brendel: Rätedemokratie statt Parteidiktatur: Kommunismus als Gegensatz zum Bolschewismus (1992)
* Ernest Mandel: From the ABC to Current Reading: Boom, Revival or Crisis? (1956)
* Ernest Mandel: Value, Surplus Value, Profit, Prices of Production and Surplus Capital – A Reply to Geoff Hodgson (1973)
* Ernest Mandel: Workers’ Control and Workers’ Councils (1973)
* Wladimir Iljitsch Lenin: À la mémoire de la Commune (1911)
* Leo Trotzki: Rapport au 12e Congrès du PC(b)R (1923)
* Henric: Recettes de Paix » ou lutte contre l’Impérialisme (1939)
* Anton Pannekoek: Para luchar contra el capital hay que luchar también contra el sindicato (1938)
* Anton Pannekoek: Los consejos obreros (1947)
* Tony Cliff: The Problem of the Middle East (Egypt, Palestine, Syria, Lebanon and Iraq) (1946)
* Sebastian Seiler: Het Complot van 13 juni 1849 of de laatste overwinning van de bourgeoisie in Frankrijk. Een bijdrage aan de hedendaagse geschiedenis (1850)
* Organization of Communist Workers (Marxist-Leninist): Matchmakers of Opportunism: Against En Lutte’s Unity Plan (1977)
* Indokina, nr 1, 1973

Materialien zur Analyse von Opposition (MAO):

* Grohnde: AKW (Beitrag erweitert)
* AKW Biblis
* AKW Neckarwestheim (GKN)
* Dortmund: Zeche Minister Stein / Zeche Fürst Hardenberg (Beitrag erweitert)
* Kernkraftwerk Krümmel (Beitrag erweitert)
* Kommunistischer Studentenbund Göttingen – Zellen Chemie / Biologie und Mathematik / Physik: Kernenergie im Kapitalismus
* Kalkar: Schneller Brüter (Beitrag erweitert)
* Island

La Presse Anarchiste:

* Correspondance Internationale Ouvrière n°3, 19. November 1931 (mit einem Artikel von einem KAUD-Mitglied zur Lage in Deutschland)
* Bulletin de la Fédération Jurassienne n°20/21, 10. November 1872
* L’Idée Ouvrière n°3, 24. September 1887
* L’Idée Ouvrière n°3, 1. Oktober 1887

LibCom:

* Libertarian Workers Group (LWG): On the Line, Nr. 1, 1978
* Libertarian Workers Group (LWG): On the Line, Nr. 2, 1978
* Raoul Vaneigem: Basic Banalities (Parts I & II) (196?)
* Raoul Vaneigem: A warning to students of all ages (1995)
* Sidney Fournier: New Zealand radical (1961)
* Arturo Giovanitti: The constructive side of syndicalism (1913)
* CNT-AIT (France): Why do Anarcho-Syndicalists Oppose Professional Elections? (2005)
* CNT-F: Introducing the CNT-f (2007)
* Juan Gómez Casas: Attention: New definitions of anarcho-syndicalism (1983)
* Ingemar Sjöö: Syndicalism and the SAC: a short introduction (199?)
* Carolyn: Palante! A Brief History of the Young Lords (199?)

The Cedar Lounge Revolution:

* World Socialist Party [Ireland]: The Anglo-Irish Accord and it’s Irrelevance for the Working Class (1986)

Centro de Documentación de los Movimientos Armados (CeDeMA):

* Movimiento Revolucionario Oriental-Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias Orientales (MRO-FARO): Expropiación a la National Cash Register Company (1970)
* Vanguardia Organizada del Pueblo (VOP): Declaración de la VOP publicada en el diario “La Prensa” (1971)

The Irish Election Literature Blog:

* Sinn Fein (SF): Anti Section 31 poster (198?)

The Militant:

* 25, 50 and 75 years ago (1936/1961/1981)

Espace contre ciment:

* Gustav Landauer: Gott und der Sozialismus (1911)
* Gustav Landauer: Volk und Land. Dreissig sozialistische Thesen (1907)
* Gustav Landauer: Die Geburt der Gesellschaft (1908)
* Petr Kropotkine: Les fondements culturels de la construction des cathédrales (1906)
* Walter Fähnders: Sprachkritik und Wortkunst, Mystik und Aktion bei Gustav Landauer (2005)

Archive.org:

* Situationistische Internationale (SI): Rapport über die Konstruktion von Situationen und die Organisations- und Aktionsbedingungen der Internationalen Situationistischen Tendenz (1957)
* Marxistische Gruppe: MSZ Marxistische Streit- und Zeitschrift -Gegen die Kosten der Freiheit 4/1991: Der Fall MG
* Paul Umbreit: Fünfundzwanzig Jahre deutscher Gewerkschaftsbewegung, 1890-1915; Frinnerungsschrift zum fünfundzwanzigjährigen Jubiläum der Begründung der Generalkommission der Gewerkschaften Deutschlands (1915)
* Sari Roboff: Boston’s labor movement : an oral history of work and union organizing (1977)
* Ukraïnsʹka partii͡a sot͡sialistiv-revoli͡ut͡sioneriv (UPSR): Boritesi͡a – poborete! (1920)
* John Spargo: Our Aims in the War (1920)

AustriaN Newspapers Online (ANNO):

* Schuhmacher-Fachblatt (1883)
* Buchdrucker-Zeitung (1888-1892)

Fundación Andreu Nin:

* Andy Durgan: Comunismo, revolución y movimiento obrero en Catalunya 1920-1936 (Los orígenes del POUM) (1996, pdf-Datei)

Luxemburger Anarchist:

* Ralph Waldo Emerson: Politics (1844)
* Hem Dey (Marcel Dieu): Restons non violents (1968, Auszug)

CPGB/Weekly Worker:

* Karl Kautsky: Republic and social democracy in France, Part 3 (1905)

Syndikalismus:

* Arthur Müller-Lehning: Die IAA und der Kampf gegen Militarismus und Krieg (1932)
* Pierre Besnard: Die IAA und die RGI (1932)
* Eusebio C. Carbo: Die IAA in Spanien (1932)

Projekt Gutenberg:

* Friedrich Engels: Die Lage der arbeitenden Klasse in England (1845)

Signalfire:

* Paresh Chattopadhyay: Did the Bolshevik seizure of power inaugurate a Socialist Revolution? A Marxian inquiry (1991)
* The Platform of the Communist International (1919)
* Mouvement Communiste: Class war in Barcelona (1973)

Bastard Archive:

* Ejército Zapatista de Liberación Nacional (EZLN): The Flower of the Word Will Not Die – Writings from the Zapatistas (1997)
* Sebastien Faure: Does God Exist? 12 Proofs of the Nonexistence of God (~ 1930)

Lesehinweise zur Revolte rund um das Mittelmeer

* Mazen Kalmamaz: Horizons for the Syrian revolution (Anarkismo)

* Libertär-kommunistische Gruppe (Athen)/Eutopia – Beiträge für einen libertären Kommunalismus: Griechenland: Dringender Aufruf für internationale Solidarität! (FAU-IAA)

* Initiative Communiste-Ouvrière (ICO): Au Nord, au Sud, à l’Est comme à l’Ouest de la Méditerranée, Vive la révolution ! (Solidarité Ouvrière)

* La Révolution sera féministe ou ne sera pas! Manifeste de l’assemblée féministe de la Puerta del Sol (Madrid) (Le Jura Libertaire)

* Raul Camargo/Joseba Fernández/Miguel Urban Crespo: Revolutions arrive too late or too early, but always when they’re not expected (International Viewpoint)

* Reprise des manifestations en Tunisie: vers une deuxième révolution ? (NPA)

* Compte rendu de la manifestation des Tunisiens de Lampedusa le 21 mai à Paris (Le Jura Libertaire)

* Hossam el-Hamalawy: Now overthrow the workplace Mubaraks (Guardian)

* “Barbarity spreads: solidarity or fear.” The poster flyposted by the anarchists detained in Athens on May 17th (From the Greek Streets)

* Lichtstrahlen: Eine paar Bemerkungen zum Wandel der arabischen Welt (La Banda Vaga)

* Especial “Spanish Revolution” (izquierda anticapitalista)

* Barcelona Camp: From Barcelona: Declaration of principles (ESSF)

* Voices from the Tunisian Revolution (Red Pepper)

Hassan Khaled Chatila (Communist Action Party) zur Revolte in Syrien

gefunden auf KASAMA, hier ein Auszug:

“The movement that began 15 March in Syria is spontaneous. It is a reflexive reaction to all the suffering felt by the masses of people, physically, spiritually and in daily life. Those conditions created a spontaneous consciousness that can’t go higher without the intervention of a political party that represents the working class and brings the masses a materialist understanding of the situation as translated into a political programme.

I accuse the entire Syrian left of having consciously or unconsciously become an integral part of the power structure. Their position is to seek an end to the crisis through a dialogue with the regime, which is also the position of the regime itself. They have lived a twilight existence for eight years, paralysed and isolated from the masses of people. Now they put out leaflets expressing solidarity with the movement, but they still advocate political dialogue with the regime to achieve gradual and peaceful reform.

The movement, which I’d call a popular movement for a Syrian revolution, has sought the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad since it first began in the southern city of Daraa when [two teenagers were arrested for painting a slogan on the walls] that has been the main one at every demonstration ever since: “The people want to topple the regime!”].

This movement is like the revolts in Tunisia and Egypt in that it is spontaneous, with the difference that in Tunisia , for example, an organized political elite and the trade unions took part from the beginning, and human rights and other civil society organizations with international connections were involved in both countries. In Syria , the trade unions are part of the state apparatus (the left and other organizations are forbidden to work in them), and the repression has been much more fierce. Any Syrian contacting organizations abroad on the Net risks a trial before a special tribunal for “communicating with the enemy”and years in prison. The kinds of political currents like the “We’ve had enough!” movement that influenced Egyptian intellectuals and even workers have not existed in Syria . Intellectuals with any revolutionary inclinations have spent at least 15 years in prison.”

der vollständige Text hier, weitere Infos zur dezeitigen Lage auf Support Kurds in Syria