Another excellent piece of writing from @AmalHanao

The Syrian revolution undeniably belongs to the street. It’s rooted in the public realm where masses of physical bodies occupy the squares and real voices fill the air with defiance against the brutality of a relentless regime. The virtual realm of the revolution is a strong, second line of defense. Communities of online activists in Syria tirelessly spread the voices and events from the street as far and wide as possible, while the activists outside Syria continue the ripple effect, transferring what is happening inside Syria across the world.

Supporters of the regime like to demeaningly describe the Syrian revolution as iftiraadiyyeh, hypothetical, “a virtual revolution,” fueled by outside forces far from Syrian streets (thus, Syrian interests). They mark the protesters as traitors falling prey to a “universal conspiracy” against Syria’s sovereignty.  

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WALLS ARE BUILT BY THE PEOPLE - NOT THE GOVERNMENT. Homs: Jan 5, 2011 - Locals construct a crude wall of concrete in order to protect themselves from Assad’s snipers. In most countries, the government is employed to build projects for public good, in Syria, public projects are built by the people to protect themselves against the governments murderous forces.

• 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