DAMASCUS, Syria, June 1 (UPI) -- Opposition to the Syrian regime has expanded in recent years, taking in parties from the extreme right to the extreme left, but recent arrests targeting political and human rights activists have the opposition scurrying to keep a low profile.
A human rights activist speaking to United Press International on condition of anonymity stressed that "under present conditions," the opposition's activities are viewed as provocative to the Syrian authorities.
"There is no doubt that the opposition has moved from a tight domain limited to individual parties to a larger context that grouped all types of political parties from extreme right to extreme left, and this has alarmed and angered the authorities," the activist said.
The activist was referring to the Damascus Declaration, signed by Syrian political activists representing all aspects of the opposition, including the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood Organization whose members face the death penalty under law 49.
The declaration called for ending the emergency law; ensuring public freedoms and the liberty of expression; introducing reforms allowing the creation of a multi-party system; combating corruption; and conducting a dialogue for initiating change.
"But the opposition decided lately to reduce its activities -- as well as its declaration and public exposure -- because of the recent arrests, which reflected a serious official escalation against the opposition in an attempt to intimidate it," the source said.
Syrian authorities have rounded up 13 activists and opposition figures in the past two weeks, including writer Michel Kilo and lawyer Anwar Bunni, for signing the Beirut-Damascus declaration calling for rectifying Lebanese-Syrian relations. The document was signed by 250 Lebanese and Syrian intellectuals.
Of the detainees, three were later released, and the remaining 10 were referred to trial on charges of weakening national sentiments, inciting sectarian differences, spreading false information and attempting to oust the regime. If convicted, the defendants face sentences up to life imprisonment.
A well-informed source told UPI "the opposition resorted to a provocative speech in the last phase, but no harassment occurred because they tackled internal subjects, including criticism of the government's internal policy and issues of corruption.
"But the signing of a document which included criticism of foreign policy was regarded as an infringement by the opposition of its limits," the source said.
"The signatories teamed up with Lebanese groups hostile to Syria and forgot about the killings and problems in Palestine and Iraq...
"Had the opposition decided to deal with foreign issues and sign a document that included also criticism of U.S. and Israeli practices in Iraq and Palestine in addition to the call for rectifying Lebanese-Syrian relations, no one would have been exposed to arrest," the source added.
Editor-in-chief of the official al-Thawra newspaper, Abdel Fatah Awad, told UPI "as a journalist and from a personal point of view I believe the arrests were the result of the way the signatories expressed their views, and the timing, which coincided with U.N. Security Council resolution 1680 which called on Syria to demarcate the border with Lebanon and exchange diplomatic representation."
Awad pointed out that the authorities did not deal with all the signatories in the same way, after many of those whose names appeared on the document affirmed that they did not sign it.
Opposition figure Amman Kurbi, head of the National Organization for Human Rights in Syria, said the aim of the arrests was to restore the aura and dignity of the security authority, which has recently been restructured, appointing Gen. Mohammed Nassif as assistant to the Deputy President for Political Affairs Faourk Sharaa.
"The reasons for the spate of arrests are many, both internal and external. Restoring the dignity to the security state is a main internal reason, especially in view of pressures under which the country is reeling in relation with developments in Palestine as well as the Lebanese issue, especially the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri," Kurbi said.
He argued that the Syrian regime has regained some force and confidence and feels more relaxed after the United States and Europe shifted their focus to the Iranian nuclear case.
"Also, Hamas's electoral victory gave Syria a winning card since it is the most involved country in the Palestinian cause, and in Lebanon the groups hostile to Syria shifted from attacking Damascus to defending their own viewpoints," Kurbi added.
Kurbi pointed out that Syria is happier with the new chief international investigator into Hariri's assassination, Serge Brammertz, who praised Damascus' cooperation and did not mention arrest warrants.
Kurbi foresees "the continuation of arrests and other means of tightening the grip on the opposition," linking the matter to "internal political conditions and the regional and international situation which is open to more escalation."
In the meantime, the Beirut-Damascus Declaration caused confusion within the ranks of human rights groups, who tried to distance themselves from the document.
Both Kurbi's National Organization for Human Rights and the Syrian Organization for Human Rights, led by Abdel Karim Rihawi, denied in separate statements that they were involved in the declaration.
Rihawi said the signatories from his organization acted individually, and only represented themselves.
Kurbi, for his part, said members who signed the declaration did not reflect the organization's policies or stance, but called on the Syrian president to take into consideration "the good intentions of the signatories and grant them pardon."
After President Hafez Assad's death in June 2000, Syria witnessed an increase in opposition movements and gatherings during a relaxed period commonly designated as Damascus Spring. This grace period was abruptly terminated by the end of the year, as the authorities feared the opposition had become too outspoken.
In October 2005, the Damascus Declaration was issued, bearing the signatures of 300 independent and prominent figures, followed by opposition meetings under the banner of "Atassi Forum." The authorities felt provoked, and began arrest campaigns targeting activists.
The situation deteriorated further last December, with the breakaway of former Deputy President Abdel Halim Khaddam from the Baath regime of which he had been a pillar for 30 years. Khaddam later announced -- from Brussels -- the formation of the National Salvation Front with the Muslim Brotherhood Organization, with the aim of changing the regime by peaceful means.
