In the spirit of Ramadhan: ABIM calls for Syrian reconciliation

Muslim Youth Movement of Malaysia (ABIM) urges the Syrian government to stop the use of force; violence and mass arrests immediately including the recent one that happened in the capital Deir el-Zour. ABIM would like to reiterate and support the rebuke of United Nation Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon, on President Bashar al Assad to stop by all means the use of military force against civilians immediately. ABIM is joining a new wave of international condemnation denouncing the bloody crackdown by the Syrian regime on the five-month old protests against the rule of President Assad.

Although President Assad has announced the gradual reformation; such as to put an end to five decades of draconian emergency laws, the abolishment of state security court, the emergence of a new constitution and reviewing the power of the president, it failed to appease the dissenters. By the virtue of Ramadhan Kareem, ABIM would like to appeal to the protesters to give peace one last chance - for President Assad to implement the above-mentioned reformation - and to invoke the process of reconciliation for circumstantial reasons.

Among President Assad’s offers is to hold free and transparent elections which would eventually give birth to the Syrian people’s aspiration, a Parliament. However, President Assad must also be committed to implement the promise.
Secondly, ABIM’s profound concern is on the rising number of civilian deaths to around 1650 due to the upheaval. If this continuously happens, it will exacerbate the human sufferings due to lack of medicines, baby formula, food stuff and fuel. Syria may face a huge calamity as serious as the drought in Somalia.

Thirdly, ABIM wants the process of reconciliation to take place immediately along with the reformation, genuinely empowering the Syrian people without any foreign interference. As noted by analysts, President Assad has incurred the wrath of a number of actors due to certain reasons such as Syria’s principled position on Israel’s occupation of the Golan Heights; providing shelters for Hamas leaders; maintaining close relationship with Hizbollah in Lebanon; and has been firmed in support of the Palestinian cause. As a result, these actors are allegedly funding and arming some of the genuine Syrian protestors.

ABIM recognized the significant role played by the Turkish Government under the leadership of Prime Minister Recep Tayyib Erdogan by sending his foreign minister to Damascus to deliver a strong and bold message against Syria’s brutal crackdown on protests. ABIM hopes Turkey will continuously play a proactive and assertive role in dealing with all pertinent issues in the Muslim world.

In short, ABIM would like to appeal once again in the name of humanity and by the virtue of Ramadhan for both parties; Syrian government and Syrian protestors, to reconcile and be committed to the reform process and implementation measures announced by President Bashar al Assad.

JUFITRI JOHA
Vice President International
ABIM
15 August 2011 / 15 Ramadhan 1432 H