Be it Syria, Egypt, Tunisia or Libya and for that matter any
nation, it is always the civilian population who bear the brunt of all riots or
civil wars raging across the countries. With Egypt grabbing headlines for quite
sometime now what most of us displayed was a criminal apathy in the case of
Syria, Tunisia or Libya.
The demonstrations broke out in Syria in March, 2011 has as
on date claimed 100000 people most of them civilians. It is reported that almost
300000 civilians are reported to have crossed the borders as refugees and entered Iraq seeking asylum
fearing loss of life. And the flow of civilians shows no signs of stopping.
With the Bashar Govt still firmly in the saddle inspite of
the determined opposition, the nation is sitting on a powder keg.
Yesterday’s news of the Bashar govt’s forces launching
chemical weapon agent, deadly Sarin gas has reportedly claimed 1300, most of
them women and children it was the dastardly attack ever by the forces loyal to
the Bashar govt. It is learnt that the govt possess 1000kg of the nerve agent Sarin
which was first launched in the world wars I and II.
What is most disturbing is the positions taken by both
America and Russia which are at loggerheads on the matter of the civil war
raging across Syria. If these nations could bury their false prestige and sit
around a negotiating table on a cordial atmosphere in the larger interests of
the helpless civilians, it would certain;y pave the way for a durable solution.
As of now, Russia provides all out support for Bashar govt and US takes sides
with the opposition.
The regional nations who could find a way out to end the
crisis themselves are in the throes of deep trouble in the form of civil war
like situation, if not civil wars. Take for example, Iraq, Egypt, Turkey, Libya
and Tunisia. All these nations are in one form or other deeply in trouble. Thus
the question of a regional solution is out of question.
UN envoy Lakhdar Brahimi is still very much in the picture
but he too has failed in his earnest efforts to bring about Bashar govt and the
adamant opposition to sit across a table, discuss threadbare the contending
issue and thus find out everlasting peaceful solution. With Bashar-Al-Assad
firm in his position of no stepping down and the determined opposition never
willing to scale down their position ie. nothing but the abdication of Bashar
Assad, Brahimi is in a bewildered state. Whether he too will go the way of Kofi
Annan who tried his level best as Arab-UN envoy is the question staring at us
as of now. It is near unlikely that Bashar-Al-Assad with his large pile of arms
and ammunition and loyal forces by his side is still in a safe position
otherwise firmly entrenched, stepping down from the saddle even in the face of organized
opposition (they are not organized as of now). The end result will be the
continuing bloodshed across the country resulting in the carnage of civilian
men, women and children who want nothing but a peaceful atmosphere and better
living conditions. The sight of innocent ones especially children falling prey to
the nerve agent Sarin is blood-chilling and appalling.
Now the people wait for a Messiah to rescue them from this
pitiable situation. Now that nearly three years have passed by with almost
100000 dead and still counting, it is nothing but a hopeless situation. The hope
of some observers that, India as a prominent member of NAM (Non Aligned
Movement) and BRIC countries could play a greater picture seems to be
ill-founded in a volatile situation like this. It is true that India is
acceptable to both Assad and the Syrian opposition when it comes to the core of
the issue. It’s effort may prove futile.
It is hightime UN entered into the picture and deploy its
forces across Syria to stop further damage, otherwise the whole process would
go haywire.
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