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3/15/06 Kurds And Arab Syrian Democrats Praise President Bush
By: Joseph Puder, Special To The Evening Bulletin
03/15/2006
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WASHINGTON - President George W. Bush was repeatedly praised by scores of Kurdish and Arab Syrian opposition figures demanding democracy and freedom in Syria and an end to the oppression of the large Kurdish minority in Syria.
The administration, it seems, could take some comfort in this week's demonstration of support for the President's campaign for freedom and democracy in the Middle East. The January 2006 Palestinian elections that brought the Islamic terrorist group Hamas to power, and the ongoing religious strife in Iraq, have put into question the president's efforts to spread democracy. The Lebanese demonstrations for democracy and freedom, however, coupled with the developing opposition in Syria, should restore some of the lost confidence by the administration.
In addition to President Bush, who received the lion share of the praise for his "courageous efforts to bring freedom and democracy to the Middle East," U.S. Senators Robert Voinovich (R-Ohio) and Carl Levin (D-Mich.) also received honorable mention.
The Kurdish Front for Promoting Democracy and Freedom in Syria organized the one-day conference in Washington. Mr. Sherkoh Abbas, a Kurdish-American, organized and chaired the conference, whose purpose it was to unite all opposition groups in Syria and discuss human and political rights of all Syrians including of course the Kurds, who by some estimate count for 17 percent of Syria's population of 18 million.
Mr. Abbas said, "The oppression of the Kurdish people under the brutal Syrian Baathist regime of the Assad dynasty, has exercised an ethnic cleansing policy since 1962. Kurdish towns and villages have been emptied and resettled by Arabs, especially in the oil rich regions. More than 300,000 Syrian Kurds were stripped of their citizenship and the right to own property, study, work, marry, drive, travel, or even check into hotels." A report by Refugees International titled "Buried Alive" confirms Mr. Abbass' allegations and provides first-hand evidence.
The conference was represented by an array of Syrian parties, mostly Kurdish but not all. The participating groups included: The Kurdish Democratic Party of Syria and Kurdish Front, Kurdish Freedom Party (Azadi), Kurdish Unity Party (Yekiti), Democratic Union Party (PYD), Rally for Syria Party, Reform Party of Syria, Kurdish Democratic Party of Iran (KDPI), and the Independent Democratic Party of Syria. A letter by the former Vice President of Syria- Abdul Halim Khaddam, expressing solidarity with the assembled parties and the principles adopted, was welcomed warmly by the assembled representatives.
At a pre-conference meeting held on Sunday, and attended by representatives of Kurdish political parties, movements and individuals from Syria, the following positions were resolved and adopted regarding the future of Syria:
1. The Kurdish people in Syria live in their historical lands and are an indigenous people of the country.
2. Demand that the new constitution of the future democratic Syria be a secular one that contains specific articles concerning the status of the Kurds as a national group and "people's rights to self determination."
3. The Kurds support democratic change and the abolition of the current dictatorial regime in Syria. Demand for free and fair democratic elections, and compensation for oppressed and dispossessed Kurds.
4. Cooperation between all the democratic opposition forces in Syria, and change based on the principles of mutual respect and mutual rights.
5. Cooperation in combating terrorism, regionally and internationally.
6. Respect for religious freedom and rights of women.
7. Supports for the Lebanese people democratic movement and independence from Syria.
8. Support democracy in Iraq in a federated state.
9. Demand that Syria commit to respect international treaties, especially the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
10. Calling for a representative structure for Syrian Kurds inclusive of those inside and outside of Syria.
11. The conference salutes the Second Anniversary of the Kurdish uprising in Syria and expresses its respect for the memory of all martyrs, especially Sheikh Mashooq Al-Khaznawy. The conference welcomes President Bush's initiative for Democratic Change in the Greater Middle East.
Some of the speakers representing the various groups spoke in Arabic; others in Kurdish and the French Socialist Party sent a representative as well. Farid Alghadry of the Reform Party of Syria called for the end of the pan-Arabist Baathist oppression. "Only Kurds can decide their own faith," he declared. Rayad Hame of the Kurdish Unity Party stated, "Not just regime change is needed, but rights for all minorities in Syria." He said, "The Syrian regime is calling Kurds second Israelis" in order to disenfranchise the Kurds in Syria. Mahmood Bero of the Kurdish Freedom Party called on the U.S. "not just to support our cause as a humanitarian gesture," but to provide "political support."
Dr. Asad Khailany, of the Kurdish National Congress of North America made an emotional plea to the world, "Life without freedom and democracy is no life and freedom is worth fighting for and dying for." In fact, hundreds of Kurds died two years ago during the Kurdish uprising in Syria, an event that had little coverage in the western media.
The western press being preoccupied with the Palestinians, found no time or heart for the Kurdish uprising and its victims. Dr. Khailany ended his remarks telling President Bush, "The Kurdish people have been ready." Mr. Abbas then called on the U.S. Congress to draft a Syrian Liberation Act.
About 100 people attended the conference, and notably absent were members of the U.S. Congress. Special guest Dr. Walid Phares of the Foundation for the Defense of Democracy called on the people of the Middle East to "regain their natural rights of freedom and democracy." Mrs. Soraya Serajeddini, the conference moderator, observed: "There is Kurdish proverb that says: we have no friends but the mountains," but today she pointed out, "We have many people on our side."

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