Different Letter to Syrian President Bashar Hafez AL-Assad.

14/10/2013

Published by K.D. Maxwell
From an Afrocentric perspective. 

Assalaam Aleikum Mr President.

My name is K.D. Maxwell, an African citizen based in South Africa and a student at Thabo Mbeki African Leadership Institute. I am the founder of the above mentioned group (World President).

Mr President I am writing to you today to share my thoughts regarding the on-going conflict in Syria.I have watched the conflict unfold from simple protests to heavy use of weaponry. I understand how difficult it has been for you as a Leader, since the conflict began on 15 March 2011. My deepest sympathies goes to the affected families whose loved ones, Fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers, and children have been killed, maimed and injured . I hope in these difficult times that an amicable closure will be reached soon for the sake of the Syrian people.

The Syrian conflict has had huge impact especially on children; many of them have been uprooted from their homes, schools destroyed making learning difficult delaying their mental development which is foundational to their future and the future of Syria. Many have lost parents which is too painful to bear for any child and witnessed atrocities and suffered violations no child should everhave to endure. 

Mr President, as a Father I am sure you understand how this feels. Mr President I note some of the major concessions you have extended to the protesters; it was particularly commendable to lift the country's emergency law, which was in place for 48 years, the abolishing of the state security court, which handled the trials of political prisoners, and approved anew law allowing the right to peaceful protests. This is in line with major international declarations on fundamental rights of all people.

Mr President, I would like to express concern over many weapons that have now ended up in the hands of radicals, which could further jeopardize the country even for the years to come. The UN Office for Disarmament affairs UNODA notes that "Insurgents, armed gang members, pirates,terrorists - can all multiply their force through the use of unlawfully acquired firepower. The illicit circulation of small arms, light weapons and their ammunition destabilizes communities, andimpacts security and development in all regions of the world”.

In the saying of Lao Tzu "Weapons,however beautiful, are instruments of ill omen, hateful to all creatures”.

I hope that regional countries that armed the rebels will have a foresight into the devastating effects the weapons they supply have caused and will cause long after the conflict is gone, just like it is now in Libya. And that according to the arms treaty they should be reminded of their responsibility to ensure public safety and to make sure that small arms from Government stocks are not misused anddo not enter illicit circuits, where their use may contribute to instability and to exacerbating poverty. 

Mr President my council would like to commend you for officially joining the United Nations convention banning the use and development of chemical weapons today Monday Oct, 14 2013.After the 21 August poison attack (which is difficult to ascertain who used the chemical gas) on two villages outside Damascus your honesty displayed by your acceding to the convention is remarkably positive and in the interests of the Syrian people. And as noted by Ahmet Uzumcu, of the organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons your co-operation in facilitating the OPCW efforts is another notable work from you. We urge you to continue cooperating with the team of experts. 

Finally Mr President I have just a few recommendations I would like to outline. I am of the persuasion that the destiny of Syria rests entirely in the hands of the Syrian citizens. There is no instance of a country having benefited from prolonged warfare (Lao Tzu). It is time for the sounds of guns to cease and the sound of people and dialogue to be heard instead. Peace is attainable through dialogue and even more dialogue, having all sides put away feelings of hate, resentment and anger.This must include every construct of the entire Syrian society. 

However, your stand should continue to be inflexible where extremist groups with affiliation to terrorism are concerned. Dialogue must be characterized by a free exchange of ideas and opinions with an aim to reaching an amicable settlement. It might not be easy to reach this kind of settlement but certainly it is possible,with determination and positive attitude. While the international community has an obligation tohelp the Syrian people reach an agreement of the sort, they can only strengthen the initiatives started by the Syrian people. The people must determine what society they want to build hereafter and what will be the structures of governance they want in place to govern them. 

I plead for the unconditional release of innocent persons, among them prominent human rights persons. I urge the Syrian security agents to show restraints in their efforts to maintain order. This is in line with article 5 and 9 of the Universal declaration of human rights which states "no one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment" and "no one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile"- CHILDREN MUST be protected and not violated, those who have violated their rights should be brought to book. In accordance to the Convention on the Rights of the Child.-Those arrested to be afforded fair, speedy, independent and impartial trial in line with Article 10 of the Universal Declaration of human rights.

We wish Syria a speedy return to constitutional order.May God bless Al-Jumhūriyyah Al-Sūriyyahyria (Syrian Republic) and all her people.

K.D. Maxwell
World President