Jumblat Slams Syria Vote as 'Theatricals Held over Human Remains'
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Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat has slammed the referendum held in Syria on a new constitution for the revolt-hit country, noting that a Yemen-style solution was the best to resolve the crisis.
“Wretched are those days when constitutional theatricals are being held over the remains of bodies and amid the roar of cannons and the sound of bullets,” Jumblat said in a weekly column in his party’s al-Anbaa newspaper to be published Tuesday.
Syrians voted Sunday on a new constitution amid opposition calls for a boycott and new violence. Almost 90 percent of voters approved the new constitution, with a turnout of 57.4 percent of eligible voters, the interior minister announced on Monday.
Drawn up by a committee of 29 people appointed by President Bashar al-Assad, the new charter dropped the highly controversial Article 8 in the old charter, which stated that the ruling Baath Party was "the head of state and society," but left huge powers in Assad's hands.
“Wretched are those days when a citizen heads to so-called polling stations, although results are predetermined, while another citizen heads to death for demanding basic rights such as freedom, democracy and pluralism, and the daily toll of martyrs nears 100!” Jumblat added.
He noted that “the regime’s refusal of a Yemen-style political transition will complicate things further,” stressing “the importance of a precise implementation of the terms of the Arab initiative, which resembles the Gulf initiative on Yemen and allows a far-reaching change in Syria.”
Jumblat also criticized the “Friends of Syria” international conference held on Sunday in Tunisia, which discussed several ways to help the opponents of the Assad regime but put off a decision on sending a joint Arab League-U.N. peacekeeping force.
“It did not meet the aspirations of the Syrian people and the Syrian opposition,” Jumblat said, calling on all the factions of the opposition to “unite their efforts.”
Commenting on the remarkable shift in Hamas’ stance on the Syrian regime, Jumblat hailed “Hamas Movement’s historic stance,” noting that “its support for the Syrian people proves that it understands the meaning of sacrificing for the sake of freedom.”
Gaza’s Hamas premier Ismail Haniya on Friday hailed the "heroic" Syrian struggle for democracy during a rally in Cairo, in the first expression of support of the uprising by a Hamas leader.
"I salute all the people of the Arab Spring, or rather the Islamic Winter," Haniya told thousands of cheering people during the demonstration of support for Palestinians and Syrians at Cairo's Al-Azhar mosque.
"I salute the heroic Syrian people, who are striving for freedom, democracy and reform," he added.
27 February 2012, 18:42
12
Bravo Walid for speaking the blunt truth. Unfortunately the ASSad gov't and the Hezz do not like the truth thrown in their face. You know what they do to those who speak the truth. Watch yourself. Your friend Hariri spoke the truth too. Look what the Hezz and ASSad did to him.
28 February 2012, 16:44
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The truth in your face is that since 2005 you and Dr. Kherfen Wmouderyen have been predicting the imminent fall of the Assad regime (among other things imminent on the local and international levels) just about every Tuesday of every week, and you're still at it. Have you no sense of "what the heck have I been doing all these years predicting stupidities me and my Dr. Mouderyen" and continuing at it? wlak ste7o enta wiyeh. artina jadbeh
27 February 2012, 18:56
12
Jumblat has come back to his nature. This man can't live without freedom. He might have temporarily sided with huzballah, but his heart is for freedom of speech where a human being could express his voice unfettered and unshackled. Gone are the days where one man could rule an entire nation of 23 million. These are wise words. What I disagree with him on is the Arab Style exit for Assad! This sort of man has killed men women and children and should be brought to justice not like salah who had immunity and is living free after having killed thousands of his people. Shame on the UN if it allows such monsters get away with these mass killings.
27 February 2012, 19:20
44
One can't and shouldn't take this guy's words. He's an indecisive idiot that will sell you out within minutes depending on circumstances. He flip-flops sides like a child making a decision at a toy store.
27 February 2012, 21:12
52
Exaxtly. It was only 2 weeks ago, the march 14 commentors were attacking jumblatt and now all of a sudden he is good? At least the march8 commentors agreed he was a flip flopping imbecille when he practicly joined them, and they said openly that they only used him for their gain, which is fair enough as they at least were honest. Its embarassing to see the lack of principles among march14ers.
28 February 2012, 01:00
12
jumblatt is a the indicator of where things are heading hence the m14ers love for him lol.
27 February 2012, 19:30
26
A communist score. Oops, I meant a Baathist score! Nice joke bashar the 'president' that wants to remain in power until 2028. Dream on!
27 February 2012, 19:38
25
Jumblatt has said it. A constitution for a Mafia gang parading around like a government is merely a change in window dressing, not a change in the regime. Assad never references the constitution unless his personal position is advanced by the reference. Otherwise, the document is largely ignored.
Under Syrian tutilage, the Lebanese Constitution garners the same respect from the Syrian stooges currently occupying Lebanese public offices.
And a referendum conducted while the regime's tanks are shelling a Syrian city, Homs, is an outrage.
27 February 2012, 19:38
33
may god give you many more years fellow comrade for never being scared to speak the truth!! the shiaa have always hated the druze and do not consider them muslim. the ssnp, baath and the FPM have never liked you so their comments are useless... remain strong my friend and speak the truth. there is no turning back. the days of when the cowards threatened individuals are long gone...
27 February 2012, 21:08
13
Wlak are you serious? Nobody considers druze to be muslim, especially not muslims. Not even the druze consider themselves to be muslim. They seperated from ismailism, which seperated from shiaism, and are now a seperate religion with completly diffirent belief. They dont even follow the 5 pillars so whatever your doing or whoever your trying to impress, just stop because it only makes you seem stupid. Yes the election is syria was a farce but jumblatt is the last one to comment on that as it wasent long ago he made "hajj" to the feet of bashar el asad, now was it? Will you praise him next time he flip flops again?
28 February 2012, 01:01
02
at least they are smarter than aounis and know how to survive in the region.
27 February 2012, 20:53
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Apparently, Jumblat, as the fable goes, seems to be an excellent reader of events!!! By the same token, Geagea, as the fable goes, seems to be an excellent predictor of events!!! Or is it the reverse? In any case, GREAT minds think alike, APPARENTLY!!!
27 February 2012, 22:17
14
I want to visit syria to urinate on Bashar Assad's body after they hang him. That is why I am now drinking lots of water.
27 February 2012, 22:48
11
what a crook Jumblat you turned out to be. jabal amel et familia will come after you soon...
27 February 2012, 23:18
10
I wonder if Jumby thinks Assad voted for or against the referendum! Or shall we ask Dr. Samir Mounajjim?
28 February 2012, 00:56
11
say you are right about the 7 million, 24-7 = 17 million who disagree with you which means the vast majority
28 February 2012, 00:57
02
Jabalamel and his friends tried to come after him. May7. They lost and got a good beat down. Don't fool yourself fool!
28 February 2012, 01:02
13
Syria new constitution: we will have a shab3ee7 on the shoulder of every citizen and a tank on each corner to shell any contingent conspiracy.
28 February 2012, 01:28
13
Do you think when aoun left his soldiers to die makes him your hero?
28 February 2012, 01:35
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The amount of ignorance with some lebanese is just unbelievable, repeating after tacky lebanese sitcoms about how Jumblatt flip flops sides. He dodged off a second civil war with his flexibility, imagine if he decided to confront Hizballah in may 2008 instead of pseudo-flipping sides what would you think the result would have been? Yes, another civil war.
He's not the most powerful, his base of supporters are a minority and he doesn't have iran or saudi arabia to back him up, and he didn't sell himself to the west and israelis, he decided to shake hands with the syrians two weeks after they killed his father instead of cooperating with the israelis.
28 February 2012, 01:35
00
So without any particular strengths compared to others,maneuvering is the only way for him to survive politically, and there's a single clear line from which he didn't flip flop, the one of not going back to a civil war and the one of cutting down foreign control on Lebanon as much as the circumstances allow and whenever they allow.
Ignorant people, spare the short sighted comments and learn to see beyond your nose.
28 February 2012, 09:14
11
I am talking about the greater picture in the region, lebanon is smaller than idlib.
28 February 2012, 17:24
01
I invariably liked Walid and his stances. He's one heck of a guy who knows how to enter and how to exit a difficult situation. He's a proud man and is blunt in his stances which indicate braveness and solidness. He's the only one thus far who went thus far in blaming and criticising the Syrian regime despite all the dangers that lurk for him and his immediate family. Walid has my admiration and commendation. Even when he switched to M8, I knew he would be a free man who says what's in his heart. This what walid is and for this we the Christians love him because our politicians lack his courage.
