Ex-Arab League Monitor Calls Mission a ‘Farce’

An Arab League Monitor, Anwar Malek has resigned from the observer mission, declaring it to be a farce and describing Syria as a “humanitarian disaster.” Malek believed the mission was not acting independently of the government, and was actually serving the regime’s interests. In a statement to Al Jazeera, Malek said, “the regime is not just committing one war crime, but a series of crimes against its people. The snipers are everywhere, shooting at civilians. People are being kidnapped. Prisoners are being tortured and none were released.” Malek also criticized the head of the mission, Sudanese General Mohammed al-Dabi, whose involvement had previously been questioned by several human rights groups. Malek’s resignation directly follows a UN Security Council briefing, in which Ambassador Susan Rice stated that the Syrian regime had increased killings since the start of the Arab League Mission. The most recent figures showed that an average of 40 citizens were dying each day, a number much higher than those previous to the monitors’ deployment.

Additionally, following his speech at Damascus University, Bashar al-Assad made a rare appearance at a pro-regime rally at which thousands of Syrians gathered to voice their support for the President. Assad reaffirmed his previous statements about the international conspiracy against Syria, and expressed hope that his country would be united once again in the future.

Update:  Ghalioun held a press conference addressing the Syrian people  in response to Assad’s speech, which he described as “a combination of babbling, denial of reality, continuing of violence, reform hallucinations, and misinformation.” Ghalioun stated that the Assad had once again failed to communicate the one thing the Syrians have been waiting to hear: that he would resign from power and hand over his authority to a more democratic people. His actionable responses to Assad’s speech were to first, continue the peaceful revolution; second, urge unity among other Arab people and governments to stand against Assad’s regime; and third, to reiterate to the international community that Syrian civilians need protection and security as soon as possible.

Additionally, the Arab League has announced that it will be delaying sending any more monitors to Syria until the violence calms down. In response to Malek’s statements regarding the mission, the Arab League dismissed them claiming he was bedridden during his trip and not actually in the field.