Free Michel Kilo Now - Enough Already

Syria celebrated its conclusion of its national democratic elections which it called “the democratic wedding”, 2% voting turnout in some areas, by throwing the prominet lawyer and human right activist Anwar Bunni (imprisoned with Michel Kilo last year) a five year jail sentence!!!!!! and 2000 $ fine. That was because the judge claimed he tried to spread false news !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hello Modern Justice and welcome to Hell in Syria.

Did Assad get the green light from all the major powers that he is staying on so now he can oppress his people even more? what is his message to the Syrian people except to rub it in their eyes. FREE ANWAR NOW, enough baathist reforms!!!! 

Update: Here is a new English News Link and another detailed one

Update2: More detailed news and analysis are emerging as the news spread and reactions to it. This is another article.

Also some courageous Syrian bloggers started to write on this much controversial verdict. Kudos to Syrian for expressing the views of most of the Syrians. Also Yazan has something, waiting for others to react since we can’t stay silenced.

Update 3: Human Rights First Press Release on the sentence

Got to give it to him, he nailed it:

EHSANI2 said:

Alex,

You have often invoked the scenario of having to wait for the next seven years before Syria starts to experience a healthy dose of “progressive” reforms.

This reminds me of a student who keeps getting D’ s but also keeps promising his parents and teachers that things will change for the better with the next report card. The beauty of his story of course is that all that this student has to do is score a couple of C’s before he can claim success in keeping his side of the promise.

When you write that Bashar will reform in the next seven years, I think that one ought to provide a metric by which we can measure such reforms. Vague promises do not amount to much. I actually prefer to stop hearing any promises. Our intelligence has already been insulted enough.

It is easier for students with poor academic scores to claim improvement. Similarly, leaders of countries, which are operating way below potential, can easily boast that today is better than yesterday. But, is this the metric that they should be judged by?

Promising that the next seven years will usher a new wave of progressive reforms is unnecessary. For one thing, it is most likely that by 2014, you will be arguing that another seven years are needed as XYZ came in the way of delivering the promised reforms. Lastly, it is also very likely that no matter what reforms are instituted in Syria, it is going to be a case of too little too late. The demographics and the economic challenges are going to be a moving target that this government will never be able to catch up with.

Trustquest,

Your interest in the elections is great. I must admit that I do not share your enthusiasm about the subject matter. I consider it a waste of time. Even my 5-year daughter knows that the process is a joke and an insult to our intelligence.

What can be done about it? Not much. This ugly play will continue so long as the Baath party and this leadership has a monopoly over power and 4500 tanks that protect them from any competition.

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Bravo Ehsani, well said! now if the Syrian prisoners can get out of jail since there is no need to keep them inside for elections where results are already decided before voting even starts.