OPPOSITION FOCUSING ON EXTERNAL PROJECTS WHILE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DAMASCUS 002064

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

PARIS FOR ZEYA, LONDON FOR TSOU

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/01/2016
TAGS: PHUM PGOV SY
SUBJECT: OPPOSITION FOCUSING ON EXTERNAL PROJECTS WHILE
AWAITING BRAMMERTZ


Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Stephen A. Seche for reasons 1.4(b)/(d
)


1. (C) SUMMARY: While domestic civil-society activity
has slowed in the wake of security service crackdowns and in
anticipation of the June 15 Brammertz report, post contacts
indicate that the opposition is now focused on a number of
external projects. On a regional level, the Damascus-Beirut
Declaration, a nine-point statement drafted by Syrian
opposition figures and unidentified Lebanese civil society
figures, is expected to be published in coming days.
Opposition contacts also mention a number of upcoming
conferences in Spain, as well as a May 12 Syrian opposition
summit in Budapest. Meanwhile, the SARG has reinforced a
number of its "red lines" for the internal opposition by
arresting activist Fateh Jammous, head of the Action
Communist Party, upon his return from Europe. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) POST-CRACKDOWN, PRE-BRAMMERTZ BLUES?: Recent
meetings with Syrian civil society figures indicate that the
opposition remains intimidated by the intense security
crackdown of the last three months, leaving its members
looking towards the June 15 UNIIIC report to the UNSC.
Researcher and human rights activist Radwan Zyadeh told
Poloff on May 1 that the Damascus Declaration group plans to
hold off on any major initiatives until after June 15. In
the meantime, the human rights community appears to be
dividing its time between campaigning on behalf of
disappeared activist Ali al-Abdullah and slugging out
personality conflicts via press statements and newspaper
articles (septel).


3. (C) DAMASCUS-BEIRUT DECLARATION TO COMMENT ON
SYRIAN-LEBANESE RELATIONS, US POLICY IN REGION: Zyadeh also
noted that the public release of a "Damascus-Beirut
Declaration" is expected in coming days. According to
Zyadeh, this new declaration is a product of cooperation
between the Damascus Declaration Group and unidentified
Lebanese civil society figures. The nine-point declaration
will include commentary on Syrian-Lebanese relations, the
Hariri assassination, the treatment of Syrian workers in
Lebanon, U.S. policy in Iraq, and Syria-U.S. relations.
According to Zyadeh, the declaration already has many
signatories and the campaign for more signatures will
continue over a three-month period.


4. (C) UPCOMING CONFERENCES, OPPOSITION SUMMIT IN EUROPE
TO OFFER DISCUSSION SPACE: Syrian civil society figures
will also be traveling to Europe throughout May to
participate in a variety of conferences on human rights. A
closed-door May 10 conference in Spain at the Centro
Internacional de Toledo Para La Paz will serve as a platform
for discussion between civil society activists like Zyadeh,
Daad Mousa, Suheir al-Atassi, and Aktham Naisse, and
European- and U.S.-based Syrian opposition figures on civil
society and NGO issues. Zyadeh, Naisse, and human rights
lawyer Danial Saud will later participate in the General
Assembly of the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network on
May 12 in Madrid. Zyadeh noted the importance of Syrian
participation in the event, particularly as rumors circulate
that the EU may be considering returning to the bargaining
table on its stalled Association Agreement with Syria. Human
rights activist Ammar Qurrabi told Poloff on May 1 that a
Syrian opposition summit will be held in Budapest on May 12,
convening opposition figures from Syria, Europe, and the U.S.
Meanwhile, Riad Seif conveyed to Poloff via messenger that
he wishes to attend the Syrian-American Congress (SAC) set
for May 20 in Chicago, but does not expect to be granted a
passport by the SARG before that date. Zyadeh, despite sharp
questioning by the Political Security Directorate about
whether the SAC is a conference or political congress, plans
to attend.


5. (C) SARG AUTHORITIES ARREST ACTIVIST UPON RETURN FROM
EUROPE: Meanwhile, the SARG continues to selectively enforce
its "red line" against opposition figures holding meetings
abroad, participating in international conferences, and
speaking with the foreign media by arresting Alawite
opposition activist Fateh Jammous on April 30 at the Damascus
Airport upon his return to the country. According to a press
release by the National Organization for Human Rights (NOHR)
Jammous had been holding meetings in Europe over the last six
weeks. According to human rights activist Anwar al-Bunni,
Jammous met with representatives of the Muslim Brotherhood as
part of his trip. Jammous also appeared on a number of
broadcasts on al-Jazeera Live Channel, and gave interviews to
Radio Monte Carlo and to the London-based newspaper al-Quds
al-Arabi. Bunni added that Jammous was in State Security

DAMASCUS 00002064 002 OF 002


custody and expected him to be released within the next
several days, a sentiment echoed by NOHR president Qurrabi.
(NOTE: The line is more pink than red in many cases, with the
SARG detaining people for a few days-- or summoning them--
upon their return to question them in detail about what was
said (and who said it) at the meetings/conferences abroad.
Jammous may end up detained longer than Bunni and others
think because of the MB meeting. END NOTE.)


SECHE