 |
Al-Ahram Weekly 15 - 21 June 2000 Issue No. 486 
|
||
Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
| ||
|
Al-Ahram Weekly 15 - 21 June 2000 Issue No. 486
|
||
| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
| ||
Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Culture Features Travel Living Sports Profile People Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Letters A roar from afar
By Sherif El-ShowbashiHow far could Rifaat Al-Assad, Hafez Al-Assad's half-brother, go in executing a coup against Syrian presidential nominee Bashar Al-Assad? Could Rifaat, who has been exiled in Europe for the past two years, start an anti-Bashar revolt inside Syria? Does Rifaat still have strong contacts with his allies who helped him start a failed coup against Syria's late powerful president? Bashar, his friends and enemies inside and outside Syria are presently consumed with these questions.
On the eve of Assad's funeral, his half-brother and one-time vice president questioned the transfer of power to Bashar, after a half-hour parliamentary session issued a constitutional amendment that reduced the minimum age required for a presidential candidate to fit Bashar's.
Rifaat's spokesman Hareth Al-Khayer said Rifaat believes "what is happening in Syria is a real farce and an unconstitutional piece of theatre." Speaking in Spain, Al-Khayer said Rifaat believes he had a duty to go back to Syria and honour his responsibilities towards his people. Claiming that it was Rifaat who "helped Hafez Al-Assad build the new Syria," Al-Khayer said it is Rifaat and "not the young and green elements" who should lead the Syrian people.
So far, Syrian authorities have refused to allow Rifaat entry into Syria. Syrian officials were quoted earlier this week as saying that Rifaat could be arrested if he went back. Close sources said Rifaat was planning to either fly directly to Damascus, or to Beirut, from which he intended to drive to Damascus to take part in Assad's funeral.
After being denied the right to go back, Rifaat issued a communiqué that was broadcast by the TV satellite channel which he owns, ANN, in which he criticised the Syrian regime and the transfer of power. Rifaat denounced the Syrian Baath Party's leadership for allowing the constitutional amendment and the nomination of Bashar.
Sources close to Rifaat say he wants to return to Syria to change the political traditions established by his brother, including the close alliance with Iran and the continued military presence in Lebanon.
Unlike his father, Modor, Rifaat's son, who is currently in Syria, is supportive of Bashar's nomination. "Bashar is the hope of all Syrians in a new leadership," Modor said. This support has raised eyebrows. Some have argued that Modor is bluffing and that his campaign against his father is a mere scheme to get him into Damascus, hopefully close to Bashar so that he can help set up a coup.
Rifaat is known to have ties with some factions in the Syrian army, some leading members of the Baath Party, some Western countries and even some Israeli circles. At a certain point, Rifaat had enough power to prompt Assad into expelling him out of Syria, some diplomats and analyst said. They argue that he is certainly a tough opposition for Bashar. Today, Rifaat is also said to have a wide circle of supporters amidst the Syrian opposition in exile.
Sources suggest some Arab countries had tried to mediate between the two brothers. These attempts failed apparently due to Rifaat's insistence that he should be the only heir to power in Syria. Bassel El-Assad, Bashar's older brother who died in a car accident a few years ago, was Assad's first choice for successor.
"Stability in Syria is not guaranteed because within that Alawi family there are those who think that Rifaat Al-Assad is better placed to keep power in the hands of the family and that he has more experience and more substantial contacts, including some with Israel," commented one Egyptian expert.
