UPDATE ON POST EFFORTS TO PROMOTE DEMOCRACY

C O N F I D E N T I A L DAMASCUS 000319 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR DRL/SEA E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/07/2018 TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL SY SUBJECT: UPDATE ON POST EFFORTS TO PROMOTE DEMOCRACY OUTREACH IN SYRIA REF: A. STATE 44903 ¶B. 07 DAMASCUS 888 ¶C. 07 DAMASCUS 1106 ¶D. 07 DAMASCUS 1140 ¶E. 07 DAMASCUS 1144 ¶F. 07 DAMASCUS 1156 ¶G. 07 DAMASCUS 1184 ¶H. DAMASCUS 02 ¶I. DAMASCUS 61 ¶J. DAMASCUS 66 ¶K. DAMASCUS 176 ¶L. DAMASCUS 224 ¶M. DAMASCUS 227 ¶N. DAMASCUS 271 ¶O. 07 DAMASCUS 1193 Classified By: CDA Michael Corbin, for reasons 1.4 b/d. ¶1. (SBU) This is an action response to ref A. ¶2. (C) Since Post's last update on our activities to promote democracy (Ref B),the Syrian regime cracked down severely on human rights and democracy advocates (Ref E, F, G, H, I, J, K). We have continued to meet with our democracy, human rights, and civil society contacts on a limited basis to avoid exposing them to more government scrutiny (Refs C-N). We have used visiting CODELs to advocate on behalf of democracy issues with Syrian leaders (including President Asad) and to urge the Syrian government to release democracy advocates still in jail (Refs D and H). We continue to attend trials of reform advocates (Refs I, J, N.) Post is grateful for positive Department and White House responses to our recommendations for statements calling on the SARG to refrain from persecuting Kurds participating in tradition Nouruz celebrations (Ref M) and to release Syrian reform advocates from prison (Ref G and N). Embassy Damascus will continue to look for opportunities to implement our democracy strategy (Ref O). CORBIN