Syria referendum starts amid boycott, clashes
Source: Agencies |
February 27, 2012, Monday
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SYRIANS yesterday began voting on a new draft constitution aimed at quelling the country's uprising by ending the ruling Baath Party's five-decade domination of power, but the opposition announced a boycott and clashes were reported across the country.
Polling stations opened at 0500GMT and the vote is due to last 12 hours. The country has 14.6 million eligible voters who were asked to cast ballots on whether they approve or reject the recently drafted constitution in more than 14,000 polling stations nationwide.
The ballot reads: "Do you agree on the new draft constitution?" Marking a green circle indicates yes, black is no.
In regions like the restive central city of Homs, where shelling by government forces has left hundreds dead, or the northwestern province of Idlib and the southern region of Daraa where rebels clash frequently with the security forces, turnout is likely to be minimal.
Foreign journalists were taken by the Information Ministry to the Damascus neighborhood of Rukneddine and the Damascus suburb of Barzeh that witnessed anti-government protests in the past months. Few voters were at the polling stations in either area.
Earlier this month, Syrian President Bashar Assad called for a referendum on the new constitution as an effort to placate critics and end the 11-month uprising against his rule.
The two main umbrella opposition groups, the Syrian National Council and the National Coordination Body for Democratic Change in Syria, have called for a boycott.
Some groups have also called for a general strike to coincide with the referendum.
"I am boycotting the vote," Syria-based activist Mustafa Osso said. He said that in Syria such laws had no value - Assad's government revoked the country's official state of emergency in April but the crackdown only intensified.
In Damascus, the capital, where Assad retains support among religious minorities and the business class, many said they were eager to vote.
"This is a good constitution. It calls for party pluralism and the president can only hold the post for two terms. These did not exist in the past," said Mohammed Diab, 40.
Jaafar Naami, 28, said: "I am here to say yes for the new constitution. This is not the time to say no."
In Barzeh, scene of intense anti-government protests recently, about a fifth of the shops were closed, apparently in compliance with the calls for a strike. Turnout was very low at a polling station in the area.
A man said he came to vote away from the center of the district. In central Barzeh, he said, there was "pressure not to vote ... intimidation and calls for public disobedience."
A Syrian-American voter who only gave her first name, Diana, said: "My friends attacked me for voting. They said: 'Don't you see people are dying?' but for me voting is my right. The president is on the right track."
Meanwhile, the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least nine people were killed in Homs yesterday.
Polling stations opened at 0500GMT and the vote is due to last 12 hours. The country has 14.6 million eligible voters who were asked to cast ballots on whether they approve or reject the recently drafted constitution in more than 14,000 polling stations nationwide.
The ballot reads: "Do you agree on the new draft constitution?" Marking a green circle indicates yes, black is no.
In regions like the restive central city of Homs, where shelling by government forces has left hundreds dead, or the northwestern province of Idlib and the southern region of Daraa where rebels clash frequently with the security forces, turnout is likely to be minimal.
Foreign journalists were taken by the Information Ministry to the Damascus neighborhood of Rukneddine and the Damascus suburb of Barzeh that witnessed anti-government protests in the past months. Few voters were at the polling stations in either area.
Earlier this month, Syrian President Bashar Assad called for a referendum on the new constitution as an effort to placate critics and end the 11-month uprising against his rule.
The two main umbrella opposition groups, the Syrian National Council and the National Coordination Body for Democratic Change in Syria, have called for a boycott.
Some groups have also called for a general strike to coincide with the referendum.
"I am boycotting the vote," Syria-based activist Mustafa Osso said. He said that in Syria such laws had no value - Assad's government revoked the country's official state of emergency in April but the crackdown only intensified.
In Damascus, the capital, where Assad retains support among religious minorities and the business class, many said they were eager to vote.
"This is a good constitution. It calls for party pluralism and the president can only hold the post for two terms. These did not exist in the past," said Mohammed Diab, 40.
Jaafar Naami, 28, said: "I am here to say yes for the new constitution. This is not the time to say no."
In Barzeh, scene of intense anti-government protests recently, about a fifth of the shops were closed, apparently in compliance with the calls for a strike. Turnout was very low at a polling station in the area.
A man said he came to vote away from the center of the district. In central Barzeh, he said, there was "pressure not to vote ... intimidation and calls for public disobedience."
A Syrian-American voter who only gave her first name, Diana, said: "My friends attacked me for voting. They said: 'Don't you see people are dying?' but for me voting is my right. The president is on the right track."
Meanwhile, the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least nine people were killed in Homs yesterday.
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