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Al-Ahram Weekly 18 - 24 May 2000 Issue No. 482 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly 18 - 24 May 2000 Issue No. 482
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Culture Focus Features Heritage Travel Living Sports Profile People Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Letters Baath cleanup for Bashar
By Atef SaqrA few days after the sudden announcement that former Syrian Prime Minister Mahmoud Al-Zohbi was expelled from the ruling Baath Party due to charges of corruption, reports in London-based Arabic newspapers said that he tried to commit suicide. However, Syrian official sources immediately denied the report, saying instead that the former premier "had fallen ill on hearing of the steps taken against him."
The ruling Baath Party decided last week to expel Al-Zohbi and to take him to court to answer for "irregularities and abuses" committed under his administration. Sources said measures taken against Al-Zohbi included the confiscation of more than 50 cars registered in his name and in the names of his children.
The trial of Al-Zohbi, which is scheduled to begin in a few weeks according to officials, is likely to reveal many secrets. There is even speculation that charges will not be limited to the former premier. Yet, because of the approach followed by Syrian President Hafez Al-Assad since he came to power more than 30 years ago, which prioritises stability, further anti-corruption measures are expected to be taken only gradually.
In line with such expectations, the London-based Arabic daily, Al-Zaman, reported this week that former Transport Minister Mufid Abdel-Karim and former Information Minister Mohamed Salman had been summoned from abroad for questioning about "administrative, financial and legal irregularities during their tenures in Al-Zohbi's government."
Syrian officials admitted that the two were back in Syria "after their holiday ended," but denied "any official measures" regarding any former ministers whether in terms of expulsion from the Baath Party or legal prosecution.
Some Syrian observers view the unprecedented measures taken against Al-Zohbi as an indication that the upcoming conference of the Baath Party, due to be held on 17 June, would witness some major changes.
The party meeting, the first to be convened in 15 years, is expected to elect new members for the "regional command," the party's second highest political body from which top officials are usually chosen. The decision to expel Al-Zohbi was taken by the Baath Party's "national command" which is the party's highest political body.
The fact that Prime Minister Mustafa Mero, appointed on 13 March to replace Al-Zohbi, was not a member of the regional command was the first signal that President Al-Assad intended to make some genuine changes to cope with the country's needs, especially in the field of economic reform.
Al-Zohbi spent nearly 13 years in his post as prime minister, committing, according to Syrian officials, many administrative and financial irregularities. Thus, the first reaction among average Syrians was to wonder why it took such a long time to remove him from office.
Coming shortly before the Baath Party's general conference, the decision to expel Al-Zohbi was also seen by observers as an attempt to clean up the party's record, especially after the proliferation of reports on the spread corruption within its ranks. The fact that the last conference was held 15 years ago had apparently given some party officials the impression that they would never be questioned or called to account for their actions, observers believe.
Cleaning up the party would also help to enhance the reputation of Bashar Al-Assad, son of the Syrian president and his expected successor. Since Bashar's star began to rise following the death of his elder brother, Basel, in a car accident a few years ago, fighting corruption was one of the first causes he publicly championed.
During the past year, reports on corrupt officials became a regular fixture in the Syrian press. Some of those involved were top ranking intelligence officials who were alleged to have made fortunes from smuggling. A top intelligence officer was recently accused of amassing approximately $16 million through smuggling antiquities. Other officials have also been accused of benefiting from smuggling refined oil.
Bashar is expected to be elected to the regional command of the Baath Party, opening the door for him to take over high-level posts such as that of vice-president or parliament speaker.
Likewise viewed as indicative of Bashar's promotion was last Saturday's legislative decree by President Al-Assad giving private investors more incentives including the ownership of land in the country. The decree, which amends investment law No. 10 of 1991, is in line with Bashar's promises to support economic reform.
Investors from the private sector welcomed the long-awaited amendment which follows three decrees issued last month that legalised the acquisition of hard currencies and precious metals.
One observer who spoke to Al-Ahram Weekly said that in light of growing feelings among the Syrian leadership that Israel is stalling peace talks in a test of wills, the priority now should be to put their own house in order. "If there is no breakthrough in the peace process, there will be a great need to improve the local economy and living standards," the observer said.
