By Nidaa Hassan in Damascus and Martin Chulov
Plans for the first open opposition meeting in Damascus for more than a decade are in jeopardy, with Syrian authorities yet to give permission for the gathering to go ahead.
More than 150 intellectuals and activists were planning to meet in a hotel in downtown Damascus on Monday in what had initially been seen as a sign that the troubled regime was prepared to cede part of its absolute control in the country’s affairs and allow some organised political dissent.
Some opposition figures refused to attend, fearing that any sanctioned meeting in the midst of a brutal crackdown on the four-month uprising would be used by the government to establish new credentials for openness without actually committing to widespread reform.
International pressure on the regime to give ground to demonstrators who continue to take to the streets of Syria‘s towns and cities remains intense, despite Damascus insisting at the weekend that frequent outbursts of deadly violence across the country were being caused by a large foreign-backed gang that is outmanoeuvring its formidable military.
Some foreign reporters have been allowed to enter Syria, although most are working with government minders and do not have freedom to move around the country.
President Bashar al-Assad said last week he had met some opposition members and citizens who had presented grievances he described as “legitimate”.
Maan Abdul Salam, an activist in Damascus, said: “The street has opened a space for us and we plan to claim back political life, which has been underground for years. We need to have an open discussion about what is happening in the country and not focus on what the government is saying.”
Monday’s scheduled meeting is due to involve veteran figures including Michel Kilo and Aref Dalila, both of whom met government emissaries last month but have refused further meetings while the killing continues.
Those who are refusing to attend cite the possible presence of pro-regime intellectuals, the lack of young activists and the ongoing denial of the crisis by Syrian officials. They fear the government will present the conference as a dialogue or tosuggest that it is allowing freedom of association. “This is not the environment to hold a conference,” said veteran intellectual Fawaz Tello. “The government still won’t admit there is a conflict going on.”
Tensions with Turkey continue to run high after reports said Syrian troops moved into Najia on the northern border late on Saturday night. Almost 12,000 Syrians have crossed into Turkey but state media agency Sana reported 730 people had returned to the town of Jisr al-Shughour.
Activists reported:
• Arrests were continuing in Barzeh, close to Damascus, Idleb and Homs,
• Students have protested in the northern town of Deir Ezzor.
• Refugees were heading to Lebanon as troops moved into the town of Kseer, close to the Lebanese border.
• Kisweh, close to Damascus, had a heavy security and army presence around it.
• Five people were killed at funerals in Homs on Saturday.
Small demonstrations now take place every day, in defiance of the regime’s call for people to stay at home, but most are peaceful.
However, there are rising fears of sectarianism, protesters fighting back and of groups taking advantage of the protests, all of which would play into the government’s narrative that the uprising is being manipulated by outsiders.
Other activists said they backed the conference, even if they would not be attending. “Any future opposition must include the local co-ordination committees,” said one young activist, referring to a grassroots network that is becoming increasingly organised. “But they are trying to break a taboo that the opposition can meet in Syria and that is positive.”
In an interview this weekend with CNN, which has been allowed into Damascus, deputy foreign minister Faisal Mikdad again denied there was a crackdown and blamed violence on gangs.
The “national dialogue” talked about by Assad in last Monday’s speech has not yet been convened. Most opposition figures have rejected the dialogue, in which 100 people will be picked by the government to participate, insisting the crackdown must end first.
