When Arab League (AL) took over the task to send its observers to Syria, many people were skeptical about the effectiveness of this move to stop the ongoing bloodshed over there. Regret this skepticism has been proven to be right; nothing has changed on ground – Syrian forces are continuing with their killing machine. More than 400 hundred people were killed only during the observers’ few-week stay while the total casualty figures are now in thousands. We all know Arab League neither has any experience of such missions in the past nor has expertise to coordinate/monitor such a critical task in a conflict ridden country.
The AL is now considering to extend the observers’ mission for another month – is this not the time buying? The other proposal to send regional forces in Syria is also not practical – even now there is no coherence among AL states on any workable strategy, then how come someone can expect their soldiers on Syrian soil?
We see no option other than AL to ask the UN to intervene. Killing of thousands of people is no more an internal or regional matter; it needs an international solution. We are aware that China and Russia are opposed to any foreign parties-supported military action in Syria. But they can’t go blindfolded of what’ happening over there. Poor Syrians, whose near and dear ones are being killed, injured or simply disappearing, are not interested in big powers’ political games influenced by their interests; they need immediate action to prevent the Arab Spring to become a dark cold winter.
MASOOD KHAN
Saudi Arabia
