Letters - 06 July 2012
From Syria to stories
A Concern for Syria
Kurds in Syria have been fighting systematic torture, arbitrary arrests and oppression by the regime for many years, but the arrest and torture of a group of children from Dara’a on 6 March 2011 led to mass peaceful protests in the streets inspired by the ‘Arab Spring’. In the early days, protestors waved olive branches, bread and flowers and chanted in peaceful unity, gave water and roses to soldiers and faced the regime’s brutality and bullets with bare chests.
This was, initially, an uprising committed to democratic change, no violence, no sectarianism and no foreign military intervention. The government was not sure how to respond, and so used excessive and disproportionate violence. The interference of other countries with their diverse agendas, revision of cold war relations and influx of weapons spread mistrust, and fear of what may follow a change of leadership. This contributed to a significant upsurge in violence. Kofi Annan offered everyone the chance to disarm honourably but this was undermined and the killing has escalated again.
What can we do?
Meeting for Sufferings on 7 July will be considering a minute on Syria based on our testimonies to peace and equality, to encourage the UK government to demonstrate its real commitment to a nonviolent solution for the diverse peoples of Syria by engaging fully with Kofi Annan and those dedicated to stopping the killing through dialogue.
Join our new eGroup: bit.ly/QC4Syria for sharing ideas, thoughts and mutual support with other Quakers in these dark times (email: smosl@yahoo.co.uk to join).
Sheila Mosley www.quakerconcernforsyria.org.uk
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