From Diana in Vienna: "
Samar Yazbek was in Vienna yesterday to promote her book. Here's an account
of the talk she gave.
She read two passages
from her book describing demonstrations she witnessed in 2011 in Syria. In my
view these passages of limited style are emotional accounts of events (it is
true though that her book is a novel).
What followed in the
Q&A session is what I would describe as a capharnaum of ideas (=a place marked by
a disorderly accumulation of objects). Here are some of her
ideas:
- She describes
Syria's armed uprising as كتلة مقاومة مسلحة
لتحرير البلد (=a block of armed resistance for the liberation of the
country)
- For her, the
radicalization of armed groups is not a problem for now. But they will be if
Bashar stays. No explanation for this link is given: one would guess that it is
ok for Samar Yazbek to use radicalized groups to oust Bashar. She later
explains, that in fact after Bashar, these groups will disappear. We are not
enlightened as to how this will happen.
- Throughout her
talk, she was embellishing the FSA "who don't have anything to eat but make arms
in small workshops"; "it's a miracle" to have people like them.
- No confessionals is
present among rebels: she was recently there with them, and they were so happy
to have her, as an Alewi by their side
- No revolution was
clean. French revolution wasn't clean either. It's normal to have violence and
counter violence. And it's normal to do mistakes.
- On a question
from audience about the existence of Syrian nationalism and how it weighs
against Islamic movements and
Arab nationalism. She briefly states that we are at a crossroads.
:)
- She
is for arming rebels
especially with anti-aircraft missiles. Because "if we go back to conquests FSA
have made they are always momentary because Bashar's planes shoot them down soon
after".
- Answering a
question about Western countries' worries, she said that you can't comfort
someone who doesn't want to listen; the West is ignorant about Syria. It should
be afraid if Bashar stays, not of him leaving. She seems really fond of
generalizations and avoided going in any detail to explain her
ideas. The listener is left
perplexed at the statements she makes.
- Apparently museums
and churches were bombarded by the government who wants to erase
Syria's civilization, and she conveniently draws on the slogan: "either us or we
burn the country"
- According to her,
there is no involvement of
Turkey in Syria. Turkey's only worry is the Kurds. Also, it is not Saudi Arabian
and Qatari governments who are financing revolution but individuals in
these countries. But later she goes ahead and says that these governments are
arming the rebels but with the help of the West.
- The only thing she
wants is that the West criminalizes Bashar, forgetting that she told us before
that she wants the West to arm rebels
- Syrian revolution
is fighting the whole world, so if they do some mistakes it should be ok. We
can't expect it to be so clean.
- Army is not united.
Bashar is only moving a few pieces. Little combats are taking place.
- All in all, she is
content and hopeful that Syria will be liberated by rebels
The whole talk was superficial, with no substance. I think she gets her
ideas from hearing things left and right and then scatters them in various
Western capitals.
The saddest part was when I was leaving, there was an old man at the door
of the hall distributing flyers for the next event: "10 years of Iraqi
occupation: the tragedy continues"...
I don't know if this is worth posting, but feel free to do so."
