Topic: Legitimacy of Government during Popular Uprising
Country: Syria
Delegate Name: Mace Ranazzi
School: Forest Hills Central High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Syria position papers GLIMUN 2011 committees
As having spent nearly twenty years as a French Mandate, Syria was more than happy to declare their independence from France in 1944, shortly before the end of World War Two. Finally, Syria was an independent republic amongst its neighbors; though many obstacles were to place themselves in front of Syria as the country tried to gain a democratic footing. The country faced swift entrances and exits of leaders as well as constant new drafts to their constitution as well as a floundering economy. It wasn’t until President Hafez al-Assad gained power in 1970 that true stability fell upon Syria as a democratic government was finally formed and maintained under his supervision and now is still maintained by his son, Bashar al-Assad.
Recently in the past year “Arab Spring” fever has swept across several Middle Eastern nations, such as Egypt, Tunisia, and Libya. In these cases, dissident protesters were able to topple their already existing governments, but only with the aid of outside help, such as the UN and NATO. If the rebels had been left to their own devices it is most likely their petty rebellions would have been simply squashed within days or weeks. Syria does not believe it is the place of any foreign nation to step in and handle a country’s affairs for them. Never once in those three rebellions did the governments themselves ask for such aid, yet the UN and NATO saw fit to work against the governments wishes to aid the rebels.
And to what cause? Rebellion only foments chaos to regions such as the Middle East. These rebels hardly know what it is they are fighting for and so are not adequately equipped to create their own democratic government. Take for example Egypt, after overthrowing their president Hosni Mubarak and their government, the rebels claimed they would have a truly democratic government; months later the citizens still have no say in their government as a military dictatorship has formed in Mubarak’s place.
Syria believes in their government as the one true ruling power and believes that no other outside nation has the right to say otherwise. Nations judge other nations in the form of biased newscasts and reports. Until a member of a foreign nation has spent an extended amount of time in another nation’s country and culture, then they have no right to condemn other nations for their actions. As the government is the one true ruling power then it should have complete loyalty from its citizens. And if small numbers of idle protesters do arise up, then it is the government’s duty to deal with the situation. This responsibility falls to no other nation or international organization.
Therefore, unless a nation specifically comes to the UN seeking aid in dealing with rebellion uprisings, then it is not the place of the UN to set forward any plans to aid that country unless requested by that country’s government.
