As-Suwayda – Rayan al-Zaqout
Opinions in the province of As-Suwayda varied regarding the As-Suwayda General Conference, held on June 17 this year, with the participation of around 100 components from political currents, unions, and religious and social actors in the province.
Many interested in public affairs in As-Suwayda received the conference’s activities and outcomes with optimism and support, considering the conference a positive step that could lead As-Suwayda out of a “state of impasse.”
In contrast, some activists and influential figures viewed the conference as monopolistic, criticizing the mechanisms of work and the invitation processes.
On June 21, the general conference announced its outcomes and recommendations to present them to the Syrian government in Damascus. The conference participants agreed on outcomes and recommendations divided into three main axes: “Political, Service, Civil Peace.”
Time constraints and limited number of invitees
Activists, including Yasser Shaqir, consider the conference successful on all levels and noted that the outcomes are “consensual,” pointing out the presence of representatives from all political currents, religious authorities, civil society, and youth.
Lawyer Alia al-Qintar agrees with Shaqir’s viewpoint, emphasizing the importance of dialogue and the community’s long-standing need for a democratic atmosphere.
However, she sees the negative aspects of the conference manifested in time constraints and the limited number of invitees, despite the fact that “everyone in As-Suwayda has the same demands,” as she put it.
Al-Qintar indicated the necessity for As-Suwayda to engage with the Syrian state and support the general secretariat emerging from the conference to perform its duties, considering this conference a turning point in As-Suwayda and the beginning of a similar step involving all Syrian provinces.
For his part, political activist Suleiman al-Dabbas told Enab Baladi that merely holding the conference is a positive step, asserting that its success would be beneficial, while its failure would serve as an incentive to correct its course.
Member of the General Secretariat Omar al-Zaqout mentioned in a previous discussion with Enab Baladi that the conference was organized and included a good number of youth who had the opportunity to intervene and represent themselves within the General Secretariat.
Boycotts and criticism of representation mechanisms
Lawyer and activist Muhannad Barakah criticized the representation mechanisms and “personal” invitations to the conference, as he described it, stating in a post on his Facebook page that “dialogue and the exchange of ideas is a required and healthy process, provided that it is built on sound foundations and correct working mechanisms.”
For its part, the Men of Dignity Movement, the largest military formation in As-Suwayda, issued a statement on June 17, announcing its boycott of the conference due to what it considered “exclusion of the national voice and monopolization of decision-making,” according to the statement.
The statement read, “Our intent in participating was to emphasize national constants: the unity of Syrian territories, the rejection of any division project, the rejection of all forms of foreign intervention and projects, and the correction of the course that restores As-Suwayda’s national role as a genuine partner in defending Syria’s unity and the dignity of its people.”
Following the statement from the Men of Dignity Movement, the movement’s representative refrained from participating due to the lack of a designated speech for the formation during the conference proceedings.
Additionally, the conference witnessed the withdrawal of Prince Hassan Yahya al-Atrash’s representative for “protocol reasons,” which involved a delay in his speech at the conference.
The General Secretariat clarifies
Engineer Dahhi al-Dibs, a member of the General Secretariat, told Enab Baladi that the conference included representatives from 52 political currents in the province, as well as representatives from unions, civic and youth assemblies, and religious leaders, responding to criticisms of the representation and invitation mechanisms.
Al-Dibs added that the formulation of the conference outcomes “was conducted by specialists, after studying all interventions and papers in the conference.”
Member of the Conference Preparatory Committee Khaled al-Dhali stated on the Civil Forum page in As-Suwayda that invitations to attend the conference were directed to all components, with each component to nominate a representative entitled to present a brief intervention.
He indicated that the opportunity is open to everyone to present any suggestions that could enhance and improve the work.
Initial steps for the General Secretariat
The General Secretariat emerged from the As-Suwayda General Conference on June 17, announcing the conference outcomes on June 21, and is to be accountable to the conference’s general assembly.
Subsequently, the General Secretariat announced the holding of the first meeting of its members, with the presence of the conference’s coordinator, Firas al-Eisami, and a member of the preparatory committee.
The General Secretariat indicated that the structure and operational mechanisms of the General Secretariat were agreed upon, with a focus on enhancing communication with the parties that opposed the conference previously, aiming to understand their positions and involve them in the future path.
Engineer Dahhi al-Dibs clarified to Enab Baladi that the General Secretariat formed three committees: “The Civil Peace Committee, the Service Committee, and the Political Committee,” adding that each committee will work on establishing rules and a work plan, in addition to a timeline.
As-Suwayda Conference: Positive echoes met with boycotts and criticism of representation Enab Baladi.
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