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Syrian Dissidents Launch National Council To Push for Democracy

By Mercedes L. Suarez
Washington File Staff Writer

Washington -- Five Syrian dissidents residing in the United States have announced the formation of the Syrian National Council, an umbrella opposition group dedicated to regime change and the establishment of a democratic government in Damascus.

“We are not looking for reform in Syria.  We want a complete change in the regime in Syria,” Mohammed Aljbaili said at a press conference June 6.  He described the Syrian regime under President Bashar Assad as “one of the most totalitarian rules in the world.”

The Washington-based council will coordinate with opposition groups inside and outside Syria to promote democratic change in the country, according to a statement issued by the council's executive committee.  In addition to Aljbaili, the other members of the executive committee are Najib Alghadban, Hussam Aldairi, Mohammed Alkhawam and Abd Almuhaymen Alsibai.

"A democratic government in Syria is likely to preserve the national interest of Syria better than any other regime," said Alghadban.

The dissidents created the council after a convention of Syrians living in the United States took place in Washington June 18-19.  The full list of founding members was not made public because many members feared for their safety.

The council's ultimate goal is to build a new state characterized by a multi-party democratic system with free and fair elections, the rule of law, a guarantee of human rights and the separation of powers, according to the statement.  In the near term, the council is going to press for “lifting emergency laws, freeing political prisoners, and conducting elections,” the statement said.

Emphasizing that it is an umbrella group, not a political party, the council will seek to bring together opposition groups, “use the media to speed up democratic change” and “initiate a public relations campaign targeting international organizations and democratic forces worldwide,” according to the statement.

The council plans to organize a convention in the fall in Washington to broaden its reach and bring together opposition groups based inside and outside Syria.

“Our goal is to work with every organization and administration that seeks democracy,” said committee member Hussam Aldairi in response to a question about whether the council would work with the U.S. government.

The executive committee members said they had already met twice with officials at the U.S. State Department, initially in March and then around the time of their convention in June.  Alghadban described the meetings as informative and “very positive.”

State Department officials said they had met with several nongovernmental Syrian groups in March, though they could not confirm meeting with any specific individuals from the newly formed council.  The council members said they hope to continue to build contacts with the State Department and they plan to get in touch with members of the U.S. Congress.

“The American administration is interested in promoting democracy in the Middle East,” said Alghadban. The council’s aim is to “bring the goal of democracy to Syria, to make it at the heart of U.S. policy towards Syria,” he continued. He also said that the council is encouraged by the recent action of the U.S. Treasury freezing the assets of two Syrian intelligence officers.

The council’s agenda resembles that of the Iraqi National Congress, led by Ahmad Chalabi, which, before the fall of Saddam Hussein, worked for regime change in Baghdad.  However, the members of the Syrian National Council were quick to say that there is “a lot of difference between Syria and Iraq.”

“We believe that there are all kinds of means to bring about democratic change in Syria short of military action,” Alghadban said.

The council’s executive committee members were asked whether they are working with Farid Ghadry, whose Syrian Reform Party calls for the overthrow of Bashar Assad and advocates democratic government.  Aljbaili said the council had been in contact with Ghadry and had invited him to their June conference but that he had decided not to be involved with the council. The State Department confirmed that Ghadry met with officials there in March.

The council also said it does not have any official contacts with the Muslim Brotherhood, though Alghadban said, “we extend our willingness to work with all groups” that promote democracy.

The Syrian National Council leaders said they expect the council to be incorporated in Washington by mid-July.