To the Syrian Opposition: Your Time Is Up!

Syrian National Council leader Burhan Ghalioun speaks during a news conference in Tunis 19/12/2011. (photo by REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi )

By: Sateh Noureddine posted on Wednesday, May 16, 2012

The Arab League Chamber in Cairo remained empty during a scheduled Syrian opposition meeting on May 16. However, this is neither a setback nor a deviation from the process of change in Syria. In fact, for Syria, it will most likely be a new impetus toward the unknown.

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Summary: The Syrian opposition canceled a major meeting with the Arab League that was to be held in Cairo May 16 because of infighting. But the cancelation does not signal a setback for change in Syria, writes Sateh Noureddine. It simply proves that the media-driven opposition is no longer relevant to the Syrian revolution. Publisher: As-Safir (Lebanon) Original Title: End of Validity Period Author: Sateh NoureddinePublished on: Wednesday, May 16, 2012 Translated On: Wednesday, May 16, 2012 Translator: Sami-Joe Abboud Categories :Analysis & Opinion Politics Syria

No one was surprised by the cancelation of the Syrian opposition meeting at the Arab League headquarters. In fact, no one even noticed. The cancelation actually painted a very realistic portrait of the state of the Syrian opposition. For its part, the media has been putting the spotlight on the popular movements, thereby endowing them with a level of significance that does not represent their true situation. These attributes are rooted in the past, back when Syrian society used to, and it still does, oppose both loyalist and opposition figures alike.

It would not be an exaggeration to say that the Syrian opposition was created to speak for the popular majority and for the revolution. The regime, which is the opposition’s source of strength and mission, has led this revolution. Clearly, this will continue to be the case despite all of the attempts to seize the initiative and the leadership from the regime. The meeting in Cairo May 16 was part of these attempts.

The cancelation of the meeting did not disappoint anyone. The Syrian opposition seems to disagree with itself more than it does with the regime it is opposing. History has shown how even the Syrian Ba’ath Party has been unable to silence political activity, whether by force or by chance, over the past five decades.
Syrian politics are characterized by individualism, a sense of superiority in dealing with the public, creating deceptive labels for Syrian society, and suggesting impossible solutions for its problems.

Furthermore, a long period of time disconnected from events on the ground and exile have prevented the opposition from reaching Syrian society. As a result, members of society view each and every opposition figure with a great deal of suspicion. What caused this rift was the opposition’s failure to speak the public’s language. Syrian society is following the example of Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and Yemen, whose experiences are not compatible with the agendas of oppositional political parties, movements or figures.

The emptiness of the Chamber further proves that the invented opposition’s message for the past 14 months is overused and no longer relevant for live TV broadcasts. Air time for "traditional" opponents has been reduced to make room for the extensive network of field reporters who cover today's events, analyze the facts, and put them in their own words.

The invented opposition’s time is up, and good riddance. They were undeniably one of the culprits behind the fragmentation of the military and Islamist terrorism, and they are a major hindrance to both Syrian society and its hope for change without a civil war.

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