Al-Assad pursuing “scorched earth” policy against Syrian protesters – SNC leader

Beirut, Asharq Al-Awsat – Head of the Syrian National Council [SNC], Burhan Ghalioun, confirmed to Asharq Al-Awsat that “the Syrian regime is pursuing a scorched-earth policy in its battle with the Syrian people, and continues to commit massacres that will lead it to the abyss.”

The Syrian opposition figure also stressed that the “military maneuvers being undertaken by the Syrian regime are aimed at the [Syrian] people, for the Syrian regime only has one enemy…and that is the Syrian people.”  He also called on “all politicians and military and security leaders within Syria, and all ambassadors and diplomatic envoys abroad, to hasten to overthrow this dying regime because the moment of truth is near” adding “you will all have a role to play in the post-Assad period.”

The SNC leader stressed that “the [military] maneuvers that the Syrian army is carrying out is part of the Damascus regime flexing its muscles in front of the Syrian people who are certain that this regime is on the brink of the abyss.”

Ghalioun confirmed to Asharq Al-Awsat that “this regime has completely lost its legitimacy, and is only good at being excessively violent and massacring its own people.”  He added that “the methods that the Syrian regime is utilizing with regards to its response to the Arab League initiative is nothing more than an attempt to buy time…because its behavior at home has not changed and will not change one iota, it continues the war it is raging against its own people, believing that it is kill or be killed.”

Commenting on the military maneuvers being conducted by the Syrian army, he stressed once again that “these maneuvers are solely aimed at the Syrian people, as is the continued state of emergency in place in the country for more than 41 years…this regime has never had any enemy other than its own people, and the situation today is clearer than at any time before.”  He added “the people are committed to their struggle and are determined to regain their rights from this criminal gang that acts as if it were a [legitimate] state.”

As for when the al-Assad regime will be overthrown, Ghalioun told Asharq Al-Awsat that “nobody can predict the date of the complete collapse of this regime which is still capable of committing grave crimes…the regime is facing a race against time, it is pursuing a scorched-earth policy at home to incite more bloodshed, and it does not hesitate to destroy and burn down people’s homes and furniture, and even their blankets…so that the children who are not killed [by the Syrian security apparatus], will die from exposure. “  He added “this is the reality being experienced by the Syrian people every day, and the people are now aware that with a regime such as this, the battle will be bloody and brutal, but despite this they are committed to the battle until their objectives are realized because they believe that they will be victorious in the end.”

Ghalioun also stressed to Asharq Al-Awsat that “I do not believe that this battle will last longer than a few more months, particularly as the regime’s financial, military, and security resources are running out, and so we believe that the ruling criminal gang is intensifying the violence against the people.”  He added “the regime is moving closer to the abyss, edging closer and closer to its ultimate end.”

He also indicated that “desertions in Syria [from the al-Assad regime] are on the rise, whether we are talking about the military or security forces.”  He stressed that the Syrian security and military forces are exhausted, and their members “are aware that they are fighting a losing battle against their own people…and that is why we have begun to see more and more desertions.”

The SNC stressed to Asharq Al-Awsat that “the Syrians will not repeat the post-Saddam Iraqi experience, those who will be in charge following the ouster of Bshar al-Assad and his gang will protect the Syrian state and all its institutions; they will differentiate between the state and the regime.  The Syrian state belongs to the Syrian people of all backgrounds and religions…and they will work together hand in hand to protect and modernize Syria.”