Obama Administration to Take Stronger Stance on Syria
April 26th, 2011 by Naureen
Writing at The Cable, Josh Rogin discusses the new policy course the Obama Administration will take in regards to Syria. He states that in light of the violent crackdowns and the lack of substantial reform over the past two weeks, the mood inside the administration has shifted. In the coming days we can “expect a new executive order on Syria, a draft presidential statement at the U.N. Security Council, new designations of Syrian officials as targets for sanctions, and a firmer tone on the violence that will include references to Iran’s unhelpful influence on Syria’s crackdown,” Rogin states. He notes, however, that the new sanctions will not target Syrian President Bashar al-Assad directly and there will be no calls for him to step down. Elliott Abrams, among others, has criticized the administration’s response, including President Barack Obama‘s statement on Friday, as too weak and too slow. This may have been due to the perception in the White House that protests in Syria would not have escalated this far, Rogin states. According to an administration official, “The general assessment [inside the administration] was that this wouldn’t happen, that Assad was too good at nipping these movements in the bud and also that he was not afraid to be brutal. All of these things combined made this more of a surprise and made it much harder to deal with.” George Washington University professor Marc Lynch states that the Assad regime’s use of force left the administration with no choice but to increase our involvement.
Posted in Democracy Promotion, Freedom, Human Rights, Iran, Libya, Protests, Reform, Syria, US foreign policy | 1 Comment »
HRW Highlights UAE Government Crackdown on Activists
April 26th, 2011 by Naureen
On Saturday, UAE authorities dissolved the board of directors of a the Jurist Association, a prominent civil society organization in the country and replaced its members with state appointees. Human Rights Watch (HRW) stated that the action is part of a broader crackdown on peaceful dissent by the government. Joe Stork, deputy Middle East director at HRW stated that “UAE authorities have staged a hostile takeover of one of the country’s leading rights groups. The government is reacting to domestic criticisms by banning websites, detaining peaceful activists, and intensifying its chokehold on civil society.”
HRW also called on the UAE government to release Ahmed Mansour and four other activists who have been detained for ”instigation, breaking laws and perpetrating acts that pose threat to state security, undermining the public order, opposing the government system, and insulting the President, the Vice President and the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi,” according to UAE Attorney General Salim Saeed Kubaish. HRW Middle East director Sarah Leah Whitson stated, “This shows how far the UAE has to go to become a rights-respecting country. All those being detained for speaking out against abuses should be immediately released.”
Posted in Civil Society, Corruption, Elections, Freedom, Human Rights, Military, UAE | Comment »
White House Spokesman Jay Carney Addresses Questions on Syria
April 26th, 2011 by Naureen
On Monday, White House spokesman Jay Carney addressing questions from the press on Syria, reiterated U.S. condemnation of the use of force by the Syrian government against demonstrators. Carney called on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to honor promises to lift the emergency law and institute reforms and in response to a question, Carney stated that having an ambassador in Syria “has been useful” as it has allowed the U.S. to “communicate directly what our positions and views are.”
He also noted how the situation in Syria differs greatly from that in Libya as Muammar Gadhafi‘s regime was “moving against its own people in a coordinated military fashion” with the promise that it would show no mercy. He also pointed to the international consensus and support of the Arab League the U.S. and its allies received before intervening in the country. Carney stated that the U.S. is looking at a range of options, including targeted sanctions to “make clear that this behavior is unacceptable.” However, he noted that the U.S. is not considering sending aid to the opposition, as suggested by Senator Joe Lieberman (I-CT), given the fact that “there is not an organized opposition to whom we would give aid at this point.”
Posted in Democracy Promotion, Foreign Aid, Freedom, Human Rights, Military, Protests, Reform, Syria | Comment »
Freedom House Releases Internet Freedom Report
April 26th, 2011 by Naureen
Last week, Freedom House released its report on internet freedom in 37 countries around the world. The report found that while the number of internet users have increased, “governments have stepped up efforts to regulate, and in some instance tightly control, the new medium.” The study highlights the increase in the number of blocked and filtered sites as well as the arrest of bloggers and internet users posting information contrary to the government’s views. It also notes the fact that a large number of governments, such as Saudi Arabia, have deliberately blocked access to information related to politics, social issues, and human rights. It also notes the sophistication of these regimes to filter and control content or even shut down the internet, as was the case in Egypt. The report notes that intensified censorship and arrest of users came “in the context of popular protests or contentious elections” in countries like Bahrain, Iran and Tunisia and highlights the importance of sites such as Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter in social and political activism during the recent and ongoing events Egypt, Tunisia, and Bahrain. In the study, Jordan was listed as a “country at risk” due to the monitoring of some activity by authorities and the adoption of a new law on cybercrimes that may be used to limit free expression on the internet.
Jordan, Turkey and Egypt received a “Partly Free” designation while Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia and Iran were labeled as “Not Free.” Iran received the lowest internet freedom score due to the internet restrictions put in place following the 2009 Green Revolution, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard’s stake in the Telecommunications Company of Iran and the banning of encrypted e-mail sites like Gmail.
Posted in Bahrain, Civil Society, Corruption, Democracy Promotion, Egypt, Elections, Freedom, Iran, Jordan, Protests, Reform, Saudi Arabia, Technology, Tunisia, Turkey | Comment »
NDI Releases Report on Tunisian Youth Opinion About Transition
April 25th, 2011 by Naureen
Last week, the National Democratic Institute released a report outlining the results of a qualitative study to explore what Tunisia’s youth think and feel about the past, present and future of their country. The information will be used to ensure the Tunisian political elites understand and address the expectations of the youth during the transition process and develop outreach strategies to increase youth involvement. The study, which looks at data compiled from ten focus groups in nine cities across the country, shows that the Tunisian youth are excited about voting and participating in the first free election to be held in their lifetime and hope to play a meaningful role in the unfolding transition. The report also highlights youth fear that the transition will be co-opted by individuals and elite groups ”attempting to profit from the revolution for personal gain,” noting the non-transparent process thus far. Additionally, the findings demonstrate that the political parties and civil society organizations are unknown by the youth today, due to their severe repression under former President Zine Ben Ali.
Posted in Civil Society, Democracy Promotion, Elections, Freedom, Islam and Democracy, Protests, Tunisia | Comment »
Senator McCain Discusses Protest Movements Across the Middle East
April 25th, 2011 by Naureen
In an interview with The Cairo Review of Global Affairs, Senator John McCain (R-AZ) expressed his belief that the U.S. should resume its leadership of NATO operations in Libya, recognize the Transitional National Council as the “legitimate voice of the Libyan people,” and arm the rebels lest the situation turns into a stalemate which empowers al-Qaeda or Muammar Gadhafi‘s regime. He also called on President Barack Obama to formally declare that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has lost his legitimacy as a ruler by slaughtering his own people. However, he cautioned against calls for regime change as failure to secure regime change could hurt the United States’ credibility. He also stated his opposition to direct U.S. involvement in Syria noting that he does not see a way for the U.S. to help the opposition in any way other than through expressions of solidarity with the protesters.
Discussing Egypt, Senator McCain stressed the importance of ensuring a successful transition in Egypt given the regional importance of the country. He expressed his belief that the Supreme Military Council under the leadership of General Mohamed Tantawi has handled the transition “very well so far.” The Senator also expressed his concern over the situation in Yemen where it is unclear what will come next. McCain also noted the different situations and complexities in the various protest movements across the Middle East and also noted the impact it has had in places like China and Russia.
Posted in al-Qaeda, Bahrain, Civil Society, Corruption, Democracy Promotion, Egypt, EU, Foreign Aid, Freedom, Human Rights, Jordan, Libya, Military, Morocco, NATO, Protests, Reform, Syria, Tunisia, United Nations, US foreign policy, Yemen, Youth | Comment »
Jordan: National Dialogue Committee to Conclude Work in Four Weeks
April 25th, 2011 by Ali
Jordanian Senate President Taher Masri said the work of the National Dialogue Committee is running smoothly and should conclude in under a month. The four subcommittees which comprise the National Dialogue Committee are charged respectively with general framework, political parties, elections and constitutional amendments. The committee has been criticized for lacking youth representation and for serving as more of a royal think tank.
Posted in Civil Society, Elections, Freedom, Jordan, Legislation, Political Parties, Youth | Comment »
Obama Condemns Violence In Syria, Calls for Immediate Reform
April 25th, 2011 by Naureen
On Saturday, President Barack Obama issued a statement strongly condemning the use of force by the Syrian government against peaceful protesters: “This outrageous use of violence to quell protests must come to an end now.” The President also expressed his belief that that Syria’s repeal of the Emergency Law was “not serious given the continued violent repression against protesters.” He called on the Syrian government put aside their personal interests and address the legitimate demands and aspirations of his people. Obama reiterated U.S. support for democracy and universal human rights. He also criticized President Bashar al-Assad‘s statements blaming outsiders for the unrest and the Syrian governments “continued destabilizing behavior more generally, including support for terrorism and terrorist groups.”
Posted in Democracy Promotion, Freedom, Human Rights, Protests, Reform, Syria, US foreign policy | 2 Comments »
Human Rights Groups Call for International Action Following Crackdown in Syria
April 25th, 2011 by Naureen
On Monday, the crackdown in Syria escalated as the Syrian army sent tanks to Dera’a and arrested scores of protesters, killing five in the process. Nearly 350 people have died since protests began five weeks ago. According to Jordanian officials, phone lines have been cut in the area and the Syria-Jordan border crossing near Dera’a has been sealed on the Syrian side. Syrian security forces also arrested dozens of Syrians in the towns outside of Damascus such as Douma and Maadamiah, in an attempt to prevent protesters from marching on the capital. 12 people were also killed in clashes with security forces in the coastal city Jabla, inhabited largely by the Alawite minority. Human rights groups inside Syria are also reporting the disappearance of hundreds of activists since Friday.
On Sunday, Human Rights Watch urged the United Nations to set up an international inquiry into the Syrian security forces’ use of live ammunition against peaceful protesters, after the killing of protesters in 14 towns last Friday. HRW also called on the international community to impose sanctions on Syrian officials responsible for the use of lethal force and arbitrary arrest of protesters. The International Committee of Justice called for the referral of the Syrian situation to the U.N. Security Council and the International Criminal Court while U.N. human rights chief Navi Pillay called on the Syrian government to stop the killing of its people and implement reform. The Wall Street Journal reported that the Obama Administration “is drafting an executive order empowering the president to freeze the assets of these senior Syrian officials and ban them from any business dealings in the U.S.” Officials state that they hope that U.S. sanctions will pressure European countries to follow suit.
Update: National Security Council spokesman Tommy Vietor said Monday that President Obama “is pursuing a range of possible policy options, including targeted sanctions, to respond to the crackdown and make clear that this behavior is unacceptable.” He added, “The brutal violence used by the government of Syria against its people is completely deplorable and we condemn it in the strongest possible terms.”
Posted in Democracy Promotion, EU, Freedom, Human Rights, Multilateralism, Syria, United Nations, US foreign policy | 3 Comments »
Senators Discuss U.S. Involvement in Syria and Libya
April 25th, 2011 by Naureen
Speaking on Face The Nation, Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL) called for U.S. support of Syrian protesters: “”We should use the diplomatic weight and press authority of the United States to undermine the Syrian dictatorship…I think we are witnessing the slow end of the Assad dictatorship, and we should stand with the people of Syria.” Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Chris Coons (D-DE) echoed Kirk’s sentiments stating, “America is safest and America is strongest when we lead with our values. And the values we have that are really compelling to folks around the world are when we stand up and support democracy and people who are seeking a greater role in their own countries.”
The senators also discussed the ongoing situation in Libya and Senator John McCain (R-AZ)’s recent statements that the U.S. should expand its mission to remove Muammar Gadhafi from power and recognize the rebels. Senator Kirk called for following the example of our European allies and recognizing the rebel government and also expressed his believe that “we have a responsibility to win.” Senator Coons stated that we should give the multi-national coalition more time before we formally expand our mission and Senator Blumenthal cautioned against recognizing the rebel government and let the Libyan people decide who their government is.
Update: On NBC’s “Today” show, Senator McCain apologetically announced that he does not support military intervention in Syria: “I don’t see a scenario right now or anytime in the near future where the injection of U.S. or NATO military action would in any way beneficially help the situation, I’m sorry to say.”
Posted in al-Qaeda, Congress, Democracy Promotion, Freedom, Human Rights, Libya, Military, NATO, Protests, Syria, US foreign policy | Comment »
POMED Notes: “A Conversation with Iranian Nobel Peace Laureate Shirin Ebadi”
April 22nd, 2011 by Naureen
On Thursday, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace hosted a discussion with Iranian Nobel Peace Laureate Shirin Ebadi about her new book, The Golden Cage: Three Brothers, Three Choices, One Destiny about the Iranian revolution and the struggle of activists and the human rights movement. Jessica Matthews, President of the Carnegie Endowment made opening remarks and Karim Sadjadpour moderated the event.
To read full notes, continue below or click here for pdf.
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Posted in DC Event Notes, Democracy Promotion, Egypt, Elections, Freedom, Human Rights, Iran, Islam and Democracy, Islamist movements, Protests, Reform, sanctions, Tunisia, US foreign policy | Comment »
POMED Notes: “From Revolution to Democracy: The Next Generation of Democracy Builders”
April 22nd, 2011 by Kyle
On Tuesday, Freedom House hosted an event on the political transition within Tunisia following the overthrow of President Ben Ali and prior to the Constituent Assembly elections on July 24th. The talk also addressed the promulgation of a new electoral law by the interim government that institutes gender parity in upcoming elections. The speaker was Sofiene Chourabi a journalist, blogger and civil society activist, who discussed the developments on the ground and the challenges facing Tunisians with regard to the upcoming election and the role of youth in shaping and driving forward the transition.
For full notes continue below, or click here for here.
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Posted in Corruption, Democracy Promotion, Elections, Freedom, Human Rights, Protests, Reform, Tunisia | Comment »
Analyst Notes The New Age of Pan-Arabism
April 22nd, 2011 by Naureen
Writing at Foreign Policy, Parag Khanna notes the new age of Pan-Arabism that is characterized by societies demanding good governance and an inclusive political process. He states that the anti-authoritarian revolutions are “truly borderless” following Al Jazeera’s shaming of Arab autocrats — with the exception of Bahrain — and young activists training together across the region. Khanna also highlights the Arab League’s backing of a no-fly zone in Libya and considerations of peacekeeping forces for Palestine and Lebanon as “examples of a meaningful transnational Arab political sphere coming into being.” Khanna states that “the next great step toward a new Arab renaissance will come through physically overcoming the region’s arbitrary political borders” following the model of the European Union which has moved towards investing in cross-border infrastructure. He states that the Gulf countries could easily finance projects such as the Palestinian Arc project and trans-Arab transport corridors.
Posted in Arab League, Bahrain, Civil Society, Democracy Promotion, Egypt, EU, Foreign Aid, Freedom, Gulf, Gulf Cooperation Council, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Palestine, Protests, Qatar, Reform, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, Youth | Comment »
Turkish Political Parties Release Election Manifestos
April 22nd, 2011 by Naureen
On Friday, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan presented the Justice and Development Party (AKP)’s election manifesto in which he outlined the government’s economic vision for Turkey’s future. He also criticized the opposition party, Republican People’s Party (CHP)’s economic policy and the pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party (BDP)’s incitement of violence against police officers in the southeast during protests over the ban of Kurdish candidates. The CHP also released its election manifesto, which party chairman Kemal Kilicdaroglu stated “will bring democracy and freedom to our country.” He stated that if the CHP comes to power, it’s first move would be to change the constitution to take “into consideration the views of all segments of the society.” He also announced planned economic reforms.
Posted in Elections, Freedom, Kurds, Political Parties, Protests, Reform, Turkey | Comment »
Guéhenno Argues Against Western Framing of Arab Spring
April 22nd, 2011 by Kyle
Writing in the International Herald Tribune, Jean Marie Guéhenno asserts that the ‘Arab revolutions are beginning to destroy the cliché of an Arab world incapable of democratic transformation.” In place of this narrative, she states, a new one is building and that the source of the revolutions stems from a thirst for Western style freedoms “mobilized by Facebook and Twitter.” She refutes these claims and states that the revolutions are “about justice and equity as much as it is about democracy, because societies in which millions of young men and women have no jobs… crave justice as much as democracy.” Guéhenno states that we have seen protests that are not only against Arab dictators, but also against Arab “profiteers” who have been supported by the West for generations. Thus, the revolutionaries are highly skeptical of Western interference and will most likely not seek to use the West as a model as was done in 1989. Consequently, the West “must abandon the illusion that the defining issue in the region is a battle between moderates and hardliners,” and begin to engage all parties including Islamist parties. In conclusion: “The West has to accept that it is not the central player anymore. But it need not be an indifferent and passive spectator. Finding the balance between engagement and restraint will be the policy challenge of this new phase.”
Posted in Democracy Promotion, Freedom, Hamas, Hezbollah, Islamist movements, Protests, Reform, US foreign policy | Comment »
Sec. Clinton and Former Sec. Kissinger Discuss U.S. Foreign Policy and the Middle East
April 22nd, 2011 by Naureen
Speaking on Charlie Rose series, “Conversations on Diplomacy,” Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger discussed U.S. diplomatic efforts. Clinton highlighted the the new challenges facing U.S. foreign policy as the focus shifts away from state-to-state relationships to networks and multilateral relations and organizations. She also noted the implications of new technologies and new media. Kissinger noted the “huge changes” in state structure taking place across Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Even amongst all these changes, the United States continues to remain a dominant power in the world that countries across the world turn to for leadership and aid. Clinton stated however, that “one of our biggest foreign policy challenges right now is to get our own house in order…we have to consolidate our own economic and political position in order to be able to continue to influence events in the future.”
Discussing the “Arab Spring,” Secretary Kissinger stated that the revolutions are still unfolding, as such we must be cautious of being overly optimistic. He noted, however, that we must not be too hasty in judging the outcome of the uprisings based on the proclamations of a few and ensure real transitions occur. Clinton noted that it is U.S. interest “to see a peaceful, stable transition to a more representative form of government in which institutions are able to democratize over time.” She also noted the lack of economic growth and development in the region as a reason for the people’s frustrations. Clinton and Kissinger also discussed the threat of Iran and the country’s hope to take advantage of the instability in the region. Kissinger also stated that the situation in Libya is peripheral to the events in the broader Middle East.
Posted in Civil Society, Corruption, Democracy Promotion, Diplomacy, Egypt, Elections, Foreign Aid, Freedom, Gulf, Human Rights, Iran, Islam and Democracy, Jordan, Libya, Military, NATO, Protests, Reform, Syria, Tunisia, US foreign policy, Yemen | Comment »
U.S.-Netherlands Commit to Supporting Women’s Empowerment in MENA
April 21st, 2011 by Naureen
Following a bilateral meeting, Dutch Foreign Minister Uri Rosenthal and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton issued the a statement declaring support for women’s political participation in emerging democracies in the Middle East. “The Netherlands and the United States share the view that the participation of women in political and economic processes is particularly urgent in the MENA region in these times of transition and reconciliation. We intend to work together to promote women’s empowerment in the region.” They hope to draw from local expertise and networks and leverage resources to address women’s participation in the reform processes in the region. Key areas for collaboration include: ensuring women’s human rights, fostering women leaders and political leadership training, technical and capacity building assistance to women-led and women-focused NGOs, and engaging in civic education initiatives to raise awareness about “women’s participation as key to a stable and prosperous society.”
Posted in Civil Society, Democracy Promotion, Freedom, Human Rights, Protests, Reform, US foreign policy, Women, Women's Rights | Comment »
Syria: Assad Names New Governor of Homs, Clinton Condemns Violence Calls for Reform
April 21st, 2011 by Naureen
On Thursday, Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad swore in Ghassad Abdul Aal as the new governor of Homs following clashes between demonstrators and security forces which resulted in the death of 17 protesters and scores of arrests. Najati Tayara, an activist in Homs, stated that the city was quite on Thursday but that security forces are stationed on the outskirts of impoverished neighborhoods with the expectation that protests will continue tomorrow.
On Wednesday, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton condemned the ongoing violence and arbitrary arrest of protesters in Syria and called for a “political process that can respond to the legitimate needs, interests, and aspirations of the people” who are seeking “substantial and lasting reform.” She also noted the U.S.’s particular concern about the situation in Homs given reports of violence and casualties among both civilians and government personnel.
Posted in Democracy Promotion, Freedom, Human Rights, Protests, Reform, Syria | 1 Comment »
Scholars Discuss the Arab Spring in the Context of Lebanon’s 2005 Emancipation
April 21st, 2011 by Naureen
Last week, the Washington Institute for Near East Policy hosted an event entitled, “Lebanon Today: Internal Politics and the Arab Spring.” Speaking at the event were May Chidiac, president of MCF Media Institute; Michael Young, opinion editor for the Beirut Daily Star; Hisham Melhem, Washington bureau chief of Al-Arabiya; and Michael Doran, visiting professor at New York University’s Wagner School of Public Service.
May Chidiac noted how protests in the Arab world echo “the spirit of the Lebanese model” as they abandoned anti-Israel and anti-West rhetoric for legitimate demands of good governance, economic opportunities and political freedom. Chidiac also called for the U.S. and international community to support the March 14th movement. Michael Young discussed three lessons for the Arab Spring from Lebanon: first, that foreign intervention is often necessary for liberation movements to succeed; second, the liberation may clash with Western interests; and third, the importance of luck. Young discussed how many in the Arab world fail to acknowledge the importance of the 2005 emancipation as they see a weak Syria as advantageous to the West and Israel. Hisham Melham stated that the Arab Spring differs from the events in Lebanon in 2005 as they represent a social and political revolution rather than an emancipation from foreign occupation. He also notes the reversion to sectarianism in Lebanon. Melham also called on the Obama Administration to take a stronger stance on the situation in Syria. Melham along with Michael Doran argued that regime change in Syria could benefit the U.S. as it would improve dynamics with Lebanon, Palestine, Israel and Iraq.
Posted in Civil Society, Democracy Promotion, Egypt, Freedom, Hezbollah, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Lebanon, Libya, Military, Palestine, Protests, Reform, Syria, Tunisia, US foreign policy, Yemen | Comment »
Secretary General of Génération Tunisie Libre Discusses Role of Al-Nahda in Tunisia
April 21st, 2011 by Naureen
Rajaa Basly, writing at the Arab Reform Bulletin, discusses the role Islamist party, al-Nahda, has played in the revolution thus far and what it’s future contributions look like. Basly states that while the party did not play a role in the uprisings that overthrew President Zine Ben Ali, it has since become an influential player, especially now that it has joined the Committee for the Protection of the Revolution and the Political Reform Committee, which may be granted executive powers. He notes, however, that many Tunisians remain cautious of the party given the accusations of terrorism following incidents in the 1990s when al-Nahda activists attacked a RCD office in Tunis. Basly discusses the party’s “flexible political discourse” which continues its Islamic tradition while making reassurances that its committed to democracy, human rights, non-violence and equality. He also discusses how the party has sided with protesters in its critiques of the current government but notes the threat of fragmentation given the legalization of nearly 50 political parties, some of which are Islamist in orientation and potential competitors for al-Nahda. Basly states that the party will have to clarify its stance on state secularism especially following the rise of the Salafi youth movement, Hizb al-Tahrir.
Posted in Civil Society, Democracy Promotion, Elections, Freedom, Human Rights, Islam and Democracy, Islamist movements, Protests, Reform, Tunisia, Turkey, Women's Rights | Comment »
