At Last, The Draft Political Program of the SNC

Request from OFF THE WALL

Dear 7ee6anis:

This just came out. It is the draft (project) for the Political program of the Syrian National Council (SNC). I will not comment on it now, and will leave that to the comments’ section and may be for a future post. But it is more than critical and urgent that all of us take a look and participate in discussing the various points. I try my best to convey your comments will to the SNC, and I am sure that  Haytham will do so well

مشروع البرنامج السياسي للمجلس الوطني السوري

بعد جهود متواصلة من قبل المعارضة السورية تأسس المجلس الوطني السوري استجابة للشعور بالحاجة لإطار سياسي يمثل العمل الثوري الجاري على الأرض منذ 15 آذار/مارس 2011 لإسقاط النظام ورموزه وأشخاصه، وذلك بعد أكثر من سبعة أشهر من اندلاعأحداث الثورة، حيث تم التوصل إلى صيغة توافقية لإنشاء المجلس وأعلن عنه في اسطنبول في 2 تشرين الأول/أكتوبر 2011

يشكل المجلس مؤسسة سياسية اعتبارية تمثل معظم القوى السياسية السورية المعارضة للنظام وقوى الحراك الثوري، ويعمل كمظلة وطنية عامة مؤقتة تعبر عن إرادة الشعب في الثورة والتغيير. يهدف المجلس إلى بناء دولة ديمقراطية مدنية تعددية وذلك عن طريق

• إسقاط النظام القائم بكل رموزه
• الحفاظ على الثورة السلمية الشعبية وحمايتها وتطويرها
• توحيد جهود الحراك الثوري والمعارضة السياسية
• كسب الرأي العام العربي والدولي على المستويين الشعبي والرسمي
• تركيز الجهد على دعم الثورة السلمية واستمرارها وتصعيدها باتجاه العصيان المدني
• العمل على تعبئة المجتمعين العربي والدولي لتعزيز الضغط على النظام بشتى أنواعه
• تنويع وسائل الحراك الثوري من التظاهرات إلى الإضرابات وصولاً إلى العصيان المدني
• العمل على تأمين الحماية الدولية للمدنيين ودعم آليات عربية ودولية مشتركة لتحقيقها وتأمين تنفيذها من خلال المؤسسات الأممية في أسرع وقت
• التواصل مع التشكيلات المشاركة في الثورة كافة وتعبئة الحراك الشعبي، وضمها إلى إطار المجلس بكل الأشكال الممكنة
• تعزيز التواصل وتشجيع المبادرات ونشاط الفئات المهنية ورجال الأعمال والمثقفين وغيرهم
• الحفاظ على الإيجابية والمرونة مع كافة القوى السياسية المعارضة الموجودة خارج المجلس، والعمل على ضمها إليه في حال موافقتها على بيان تأسيسه ووثائقه، أو تنسيق الجهود معها في الحدّ الأدنى، ووضع الآليات اللازمة لذلك
• إيلاء مسألة المكونات المجتمعية الاهتمام الذي تستحقه، من خلال طمأنتها بالبرامج والفكر والسياسة، وتكثيف التواصل مع شخصياتها وهيئاتها، مع التأكيد في الوقت نفسه على فكرة أن مشاركتها في عملية التغيير هي أفضل ضمان
• السعي لدى الدول العربية والأجنبية للاعتراف بالمجلس الوطني السوري

المرحلة الانتقالية

• يتولى المجلس الوطني مع المؤسسة العسكرية تسيير المرحلة الانتقالية وضمان أمن البلاد ووحدتها حال سقوط النظام
• يشكل المجلس حكومة انتقالية لإدارة شؤون البلاد
• يدعو المجلس إلى مؤتمر وطني جامع تحت عنوان التغيير الديمقراطي، لوضع برنامج وملامح المرحلة الانتقالية مع ممثلي المجتمع السوري بكل أطيافه وبمن لم تتلطخ أيديهم بدماء الشعب أو بنهب ثروة الوطن من أهل النظام
• تتكفل الحكومة الانتقالية بتوفير المناخ المناسب لعملية تنظيم الحياة السياسية في البلاد، وتوفير الشروط التي من شأنها ازدهار المجتمع المدني عبر هيئاته المختلفة بما في ذلك النقابات الحرة
• تنظم الحكومة المؤقتة خلال سنة كحد أقصى انتخابات حرة بمراقبة عربية ودولية لانتخاب جمعية تأسيسية مهمتها وضع دستور جديد للبلاد يتم إقراره بعد طرحه على الشعب عبر استفتاء عام
• تُجرَى الانتخابات النيابية الحرة في مدة أقصاها 6 أشهر وفقاً للدستور الجديد
• يعمل المجلس من الآن على تجسيد ما طرحه بيانه التأسيسي حول الحفاظ على مؤسسات الدولة وخصوصاً مؤسسة الجيش، وأيضاً خلال المرحلة الانتقالية، فهي كلها ملك للشعب بعد أن عمل النظام الاستبدادي على التعدّي عليها واغتصابها، ولايتعارض هذا مع إنهاء مظاهر الشمولية أينما تجلّت
• الإفراج عن المعتقلين والتحقيق بمصير المفقودين وعودة المنفيين واللاجئين وتعويض أسر الشهداء والمنكوبين وسائر المتضررين
• تشكيل هيئة قضائية مستقلة مهمتها تلقي الشكاوي من المواطنين والتحقيق في الجرائم المرتكبة بحق الشعب ومعاقبة المذنبين
• تشكيل هيئة مصالحة وطنية بالتعاون مع منظمات المجتمع المدني وحقوق الانسان والمتطوعين من أجل إزالة رواسب مرحلة الاستبداد والإفساد
• تجريم كل أشكال الاضطهاد والإقصاء والقهر والتمييز على أساس قومي أو طائفي أو بين الجنسين

سورية الجديدة – مبادئ عامة

• سورية الجديدة دولة ديمقراطية مدنية تعددية، نظامها جمهوري برلماني، السيادة فيها للشعب، ويقوم على مبدأ المواطنة المتساوية وفصل السلطات وتداول السلطة وسيادة القانون وحماية الأقليات وضمان حقوقهم.
• وهي تضمن لمواطنيها ما ورد في الشرائع الدولية من حقوق الإنسان، والحريات الأساسية في الاعتقاد والرأي والتعبير والاجتماع والإعلام وغيرها، كما يكون جميع مواطنيها متساوين في الحقوق والواجبات دون أي تمييز على أساس القومية أو الدينأو الجنس
• تلتزم الحكومة بخطط طموحة للتنمية الاقتصادية والبشرية
• تلتزم سورية الجديدة بمكافحة الفقر وإيلاء الاهتمام بالمناطق المحرومة وتعتبر تحقيق العدالة وتكافؤ الفرص بين جميع المواطنين واجباً وطنياً
• تحقيق العدالة في توزيع الثروة الوطنية، بحيث تكون الموارد الوطنية ملكاً للسوريين جميعاً في إطار حكم رشيد، وتوجيه ثمار التنمية نحو رفع مقدَّرات ومستوى حياة جميع شرائحهم ومناطقهم وفي مقدمتها الأكثر حرماناً
• تلتزم سورية الجديدة بالقضاء على الأميّة وتوفير المعرفة والمعلومات الصحيحة لعموم السكان
• تشكل سورية الجديدة بنظامها المدني الديمقراطي ودستورها أفضل ضمانة لكافة فئات الشعب السوري القومية والدينية والطائفية
• يكفل الدستور الحقوق القومية للشعب الكردي وحل المسألة الكردية حلاً ديمقراطياً عادلاً في إطار وحدة سورية أرضاً وشعباً مع ممارسة حقوق وواجبات المواطنة المتساوية بين جميع المواطنين
• يكفل الدستور الحقوق القومية للشعب الآشوري السرياني وحل القضية الآشورية السريانية حلاً ديمقراطياً عادلاً في إطار وحدة سورية أرضاً وشعباً مع ممارسة حقوق وواجبات المواطنة المتساوية بين جميع المواطنين
• تضمن سورية الجديدة للمرأة حقوقها الكاملة بما في ذلك ضمان مشاركتها الفعالة في الحياة السياسية وكافة القطاعات الاخرى
• إن سورية الجديدة ستكون دولة إيجابية وعامل استقرار حقيقي في محيطها العربي والإقليمي وعلى المستوى الدولي
• ستعمل سورية الجديدة على استعادة سيادتها في الجولان المحتل بالاستناد إلى قرارات الشرعية الدولية ذات الصلة
• سورية الجديدة ستدعم الحقوق الكاملة والمشروعة للشعب الفلسطيني
• ستعمل سورية الجديدة على تعزيز التضامن العربي والتعاون الإقليمي وستُبنَي علاقاتها مع الدول على أساس الاحترام المتبادل والمصالح الوطنية

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للتعليق أو لمزيد من المعلومات يمكنكم الاتّصال بـ أحمد رمضان، عضو المجلس الوطني السوري، على البريد الإلكتروني: director@lcms.uk.com

Political Programme for the Syrian National Council

After sustained efforts by the Syrian opposition, the Syrian National Council (SNC) was founded in response to the urgent need for a political framework that represents revolutionary work being done on the ground since March 15, 2011 to overthrow the regime and its operatives. Seven months after the beginning of the revolution, a consensus was reached on establishing the Council, which was officially announced in Istanbul on October 2, 2011.

The SNC is a political institution that represents most political opposition forces, blocs, and groups, as well as revolutionary movement committees. The SNC works as a national, general, and temporary umbrella organization that reflects the will of the people for revolution and change. The goal of the SNC is to build a democratic, pluralistic, and civil state by the following means:

• Breaking down the existing regime, including all of its operatives and symbols.
• Preserving, protecting, and enhancing the peaceful nature of the popular revolution.
• Uniting the efforts by the revolutionary movement and the political opposition.
• Garnering Arab and international support at the individual, public opinion, and official levels.
• Focusing efforts to support the peaceful revolution; continuing and increasing acts of civil disobedience.
• Mobilizing both the Arab and international societies to increase pressure on the regime by all possible means.
• Diversifying the means and methods of the revolutionary movement to include demonstrations, general strikes, and civil disobedience.
• Working to secure international protection for civilians and supporting joint Arab and international means to secure its implementation within international agencies in the shortest amount of time possible.
• Communicating with committees and action groups participating in the revolution to further mobilize the population and extend the reach of the SNC.
• Enhancing communication and encouraging initiatives and activities among professional groups, business community, intellectuals, and others.
• Maintaining a positive and flexible outlook towards all political opposition forces that are not part of the SNC, and working with them towards joining the SNC – if they approve the founding declaration documents – or, at minimum, coordinating efforts and establishing protocols for collaboration.
• Giving the diversity of Syrian society the appropriate focus by providing clear programs, thoughtful analysis, and political activism, while intensifying efforts to communicate among committees, groups, and members and emphasizing the concept that their participation is the best guarantee for their concerns to be addressed.
• Pursuing the official recognition of the SNC by Arab and foreign states.

Transitional Period

• The SNC will take responsibility, with the military apparatus, to manage the transitional period and guarantee the security and unity of the country once the regime falls.
• The SNC will form a transitional government to manage the affairs of the state.
• The SNC will call for a national and all-inclusive convention with the theme of “democratic change” to implement a program and outline for the transitional period with representatives from all segments of Syrian society whose hands have not been stained with blood or theft of national wealth from among the regime’s officials.
• The transitional government is responsible for creating the appropriate conditions for organizing political life in the country as well as providing conditions to promote the flourishing of civil society through various institutions, including trade unions.
• Within one year at most, the interim government will organize free elections with Arab and international observers to elect a Constitutional Assembly tasked with drafting a new constitution for the country that is then voted on by the people in a referendum.
• Free parliamentary elections shall be held within six months, in accordance with the new constitution.
• The SNC will continue to implement its founding declaration concerning the preservation of state institutions, especially the military institution, throughout the transitional period. These institutions belonged to the people long before the authoritarian regime encroached upon them and stole them from the people. This does not contradict the need to end all expressions and symbols of totalitarianism.
• Releasing detainees and prisoners; investigating the fate of those who are missing; ensuring the safe return of refugees and those in exile; and compensating the families of fallen heroes, the injured, and all those who were victimized.
• The formation of an independent judicial commission whose task is to receive citizens’ grievances and investigate crimes committed against the people, and punishing those found guilty.
• The formation of a national reconciliation commission in collaboration with civil society organizations, human rights groups, and volunteers to cleanse all residue from the era of corruption and tyranny.
• Criminalizing all forms of oppression, exclusionary policies, and discrimination on the basis of ethnic or religious background, or gender.

The New Syria – General Principles

• The new Syria is a democratic, pluralistic, and civil state; a parliamentary republic with sovereignty of the people based on the principles of equal citizenship with separation of powers, smooth transfer of power, the rule of law, and the protection and guarantee of the rights of minorities.
• The new Syria guarantees for all its citizens what is declared by international laws in terms of human rights and basic freedom of belief, opinion, expression, assembly, the press, and other rights. In addition, all of its inhabitants will enjoy equal rights and duties without any discrimination on the basis of ethnicity, religion, or gender.
• The government is committed to ambitious plans for economic and human development.
• The new Syria is committed to combating poverty and focusing on developing disadvantaged areas. It regards achieving justice and equal opportunity among all citizens to be a national duty.
• To achieve equity in the distribution of national wealth, since national resources belong to all Syrians in the context of good governance, and directing benefits from development to raising the capabilities and standard of living of all sectors of society and all regions, particularly the most disadvantaged.
• The new Syria is committed to eradicating illiteracy and providing factual information to the general population.
• The new Syria, with its civil and democratic system and constitution, provides the best assurance to all Syrians from all ethnic, religious, and sectarian backgrounds.
• The constitution guarantees national rights for the Kurdish people and a resolution to the Kurdish question in a democratic and fair manner within the framework of the unity of Syrian territory and people, as well as the exercise of rights and responsibilities of equal citizenship among all citizens.
• The constitution guarantees national rights for the Assyrian people and a resolution to the Assyrian Syriac question in a democratic and fair manner within the framework of the unity of Syrian territory and people, as well as the exercise of rights and responsibilities of equal citizenship among all citizens.
• The new Syria guarantees full rights of women, including ensuring their effective participation in political life and all other sectors.
• The new Syrian state will have a positive role and impact on the stability of the Arab and regional system as well as on the international level.
• The new Syria will work to restore its sovereignty in the occupied Golan Heights on the basis of relevant and legitimate international laws and resolutions.
• The new Syria will support the full and legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.
• The new Syria will promote Arab and regional solidarity and cooperation, and will build relations with other states on the basis of mutual respect and national interests.

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For more information or commentary, please contact Ausama Monajed, member of the Syrian National Council. Email: amonajed@gmail.com