Syria pledges reforms to calm protesters
Eleven-point plan for greater freedoms announced as unrest toll soars in Syria
Dubai: The Syrian government on Thursday announced a 11-point plan to put an end to deadly week-long protests in the southern city of Daraa.
At a press conference, Bouthaina Shaaban, media adviser to President Bashar Al Assad, said Syria will study ending the emergency law and look into setting up a mechanism to fight corruption.
The emergency law was imposed in Syria 48 years ago in 1963 when the Baath Party came to power in a military coup.
“I am happy to announce to you the decisions made today by the Arab Baath party under the auspices of President Bashar Al Assad ... which include ... studying the possibility of lifting the emergency law and licensing political parties,” Shaaban said.
Her announcement came after news agencies quoting rights activists said that 100 people had been shot dead in Daraa on Wednesday alone. Shaaban, however, put the death toll from the clashes at 10, dismissing foreign news agency reports as ‘exaggeration’.
She said the government had evidence of foreign involvement in the violence.
Shaaban said the decisions on reforms were taken at the Baath Party’s Central Command meeting held yesterday and chaired by Al Assad.
She said two sets of decisions were taken — one pertaining to daily life and the other on political reforms. “On the daily life aspect, a committee was formed to communicate with the people in Daraa and listen to their views and investigate the incidents,” Shaaban said.
The decision dealt with improving the quality of life of Syrians. The Central Command of the party decided to increase the salaries of all government employees by 20-30 per cent. The committee also decided to allocate financial resources to create a health insurance system for the people.
Political parties
Shaaban said resources to support unemployed nationals will be increased and the government will introduce training programmes.
On the political front, the committee decided to discuss the introduction of a law to establish political parties and may issue a new media law that will take the aspirations of the people into consideration.
Shaaban said the government will cut red tape in government institutions. The panel also pledged to reform legal procedures and stop random arrests.
— With inputs from agencies
