SYRIA: al-Assad junior ascends the throne
HOMS — Syria's government-imposed 40 days of mourning for President Hafez al-Assad came to end on July 20. During that period, I was told, brides were forced to wed in black by the Syrian police. Most Syrians wisely cancelled celebrations.
The only exceptions have been those sponsored by the government, such as the lively rallies in support of al-Assad's heir to the throne, his son Dr Bashar al-Assad. In Homs, a town two hours from the capital, Damascus, the government organised mass demonstrations. Local businesses urged employees to attend with the words, "Go or you may not have a job to come back to". The many Syrians who must hold two permanent jobs to survive obeyed the order.
The rallies became more frequent and more obligatory as Bashar's election drew nearer on July 11. Bashar, able to run due to a constitutional change which lowered the allowable age for a president from 40 to 34, was the only candidate. The ballot read simply: "Do you want Dr Bashar as president: Yes or No."
These ballots were filled in under the scrutinising gaze of polling officials. Political and religious leaders made a great show of their allegiance to the government and Bashar by televising their selection. Dr Bashar al-Assad was elected by an enormous — and predictable — 97.29% of the vote.
While the face of Hafez al-Assad will continue to adorn the streets of Syria, they are now complemented by romantic portraits of Dr Bashar al-Assad and flags bearing the words: "We love you Bashar because you from the same school as your father".
True to this slogan, Bashar has promised to continue his father's policy of no compromise on the Golan Heights, the Syrian territory annexed by Israel. The same military bureaucracy remains in power.
As I departed Syria, cigarettes and bread were still the recommended "gifts" for checkpoint officials as when I had entered the country two weeks earlier. My forecast is that it will be so for a long time to come. (See next page for more coverage.)
BY NICOLE BERRELL