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Violence rages in Syria despite high-level diplomacy
By Molly VoraPeriod 6
Conflict in Syria Protests began on
March 15, 2011 Began in Daraa with
the arrest of 15 children
By April 2011 protests all over Syria
April 25, 2011 government launched a siege on major cities (Daraa and Homs)
Government tortures protestors
What sort of country is Syria? Government:
Republic under an authoritarian regime
Current President: Bashar al-Assad
Has been in power since 2000
Inherited the control of Syria after his father died
Population: 22 million people
What do the protestors want? Initially: Basic
reforms, more freedoms, a multi-party political system
Now: The al-Assad regime out and true democratic elections
Opposition groups are not united
Protestors are unarmed
How is the government responding? New constitution
offering multi-party election
Regime is slaughtering civilians to wipe out everyone who is not loyal to Assad
Brutal crackdown There is international
pressure Many Western
countries have imposed sanctions
Assad refuses to step down
The revolution Three main groups:
Syrian National Council (SNC)
National Co-ordination Committee (NCC)
Free Syrian Army 9,000 dead 30,000 neighboring
countries Thousands have
been arrested U.N. Security Council
has failed to agree on a resolution
Currently Violence in the areas of
Homs, Idlib, the Damascus, and Deir Ezzor
Syrian Army has blockaded many cities
By April 10th, President Assad promises the U.N. it will pull forces out of cities and not use weapons (Cease fire)
Government is lying Tanks are entering
cities still
Future of Syria Peaceful solution seems
unlikely Military intervention Big
Civil War Diplomatic approaches
not effective Eventual collapse of
Syria's currency regime will die
If Assad steps down transitional government before elections
Why we care? Assad supports terrorist groups and allows them to cross into into Iraq.
Thank you for listening!