Syrians more worried after Kanaan suicide

Khaleej Times Online
Oct. 13, 2005

DUBAI — The statements by the US government and the pressure perceived to be exerted on Syria have triggered worries among the Syrians in their country and overseas in the wake of the suicide yesterday of Ghazi Kanaan, Minister of Interior. These apprehensions have been further heightened considering that he was also the Head of the Syrian Intelligence in Lebanon.

Syrian residents inside and outside Syria interviewed by Khaleej Times expressed their fears about probable American attacks and the complications that might ensue from Kanaan's suicide. They alleged that the recent dramatic developments had been plotted by the US and its alliance to justify the need for attacks on Syria and the subsequent destruction of the country and its people.

They think the suicide committed by Kanaan whether due to his severe depression or compulsion under pressure, would be employed by the US to support its report to point at Syria's involvement in the assassination of the former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Al Hariri.

Haitham Ahmad, a 27-year-old marketing professional in Saudi Arabia, believed that the apparent crisis between the US and Syria is in fact a crisis between the new world order and the Middle East.

"The Syrian people, whether residents in Syria or abroad, are worried about the future of their country because of the recent repeated threats of attacks. Will the country turn into another Iraq where destruction and killing of innocent people has become a daily occurrence? The suicide, I believe, signifies the pressures and worries that the Syrian people are now living with," he said.

Ghussoun Abdullah, a teacher in the UAE said that Kanaan was suffering from severe depression over the past few months which could have been an indication that he had no relation with Al Hariri assassination despite the US attempts to prove his involvement.

"I am sure that the US, within not more than two days, will come up with a report in which it will attribute the suicide of Kanaan to the fact that its report and the investigations on Al Hariri assassination unveils the involvement of the Syrian government and Kanaan's involvement in it as the reason why he committed suicide," she said.

But, the Syrian people are aware that Kanaan was suffering severe depression which led to his suicide. Suffering from depression is an indication of the worries and the pressure that the Syrian people are experiencing. Considering that Kanaan was a former head of the Syrian Intelligence in Lebanon, his depression and worries are no doubt far more than that of any other national," she noted.

George Jadoun, advocate graduate from Syria, said over the telephone that the suicide has given the opportunity to the anti-Syrian groups to cook up plot stories and subsequently influence reports the way they liked.

He said that the US has a plan to change the Middle East to serve its own benefits and to ensure its control over resources and people. The US plans to target one Arab country after another, so that in the end all will have to deal with Israel, he opined.

The US is working for the collapse of the Syrian regime. In fact, the US is unaware that the Syrian people support the President, Bashar Al Assad who made lots of positive changes inside Syria, he said, adding that Syria is now listed the second prey after Iraq. The threats that were made by the George Bush's Government against Syria were based on a claimed lack of cooperation of Syria in the peace process.

"Whatever Syrians did or will do to meet the US demands, it will continue to be perceived as an anti peace and terrorism supporter country that should be disciplined in one way or another," he said, adding: "While in fact Syria has supported the international community by setting up sand barriers along its border with Iraq and retreated its forces from Lebanon after confessing to have committed some mistakes in the neighbouring country. Syria, in show of good intentions, had reduced the duration of the obligatory military service for its citizens to satisfy the US and Israel. This cooperative attitude did not please the US and did not change its policy towards Syria. The ordinary person on the street would understand that these were mere claims that also consolidated and enhanced the solidarity of the Syrian people behind its President Assad."

Abdul Kareem, a retired military officer from Syria, said everyone in Syria knows that the causes behind the US threats are mere claims that are all aimed at hitting the heart of the Middle East.

Although the war drums are beating, the Syrian people in spite of being worried, are showing a sort of calm as they take heart from the stance of their government, he said.

The Syrian people still have hope that despite the news of Kanaan's suicide, there will be a way to defend the country's rights before the international community. Syria is entering a new phase of debates after Iraq, Lebanon and the American insistence on the involvement of the Lebanese Intelligence in the assassination of Al Hariri, and now after the death of Kanaan.