26 Feb 2012

Syria votes on constitution as killings continue

The bloody fighting in Homs shows no sign of stopping as the rest of Syria votes on whether to keep President Assad in power until 2028.

Human rights groups have reported at least 31 civilians and soldiers have been killed in the fighting in Homs, now under its fourth week of bombardment.

While civilians in other parts of Syria were casting votes in a referendum on a constitution which Assad promises will see a multi-party parliament soon, those under fire in Homs have condemned the voting as meaningless and promised to burn copies of the new constitution.

“What should we be voting for, whether to die by bombardment or by bullets? This is the only choice we have,” said Waleed Fares, an activist in the Khalidiyah district of Homs.

“We have been trapped in our houses for 23 days. We cannot go out, except into some alleys. Markets, schools and government buildings are closed, and there is very little movement on the streets because of snipers,” he said.

On Saturday security forces killed at least 100 people across Syria, including six women and 10 children, the opposition Syrian Network for Human Rights said.

Earlier this week the Sunday Times journalist Marie Colvin was one of several foreign and local journalists killed in the fighting.

The horror in Homs

As the bombardment in the Syrian city of Homs continues, Channel 4 News broadcasts a special report from a photographer who captures with shocking clarity the intense assault on the city.

Read more: The horror in Homs

Despite the bloodshed, other Syrians in calmer areas cast their votes. Dozens of people voted in the capital Damascus.

“I’ve come to vote for President Bashar, God protect him and give him victory over his enemies,” said Samah Turkmani, in his 50s.

Bassam Haddad, the director of one polling centre, said: “From the beginning the voting has been much better than we expected. We can say 200 percent above expectations.”

Another voter, Majed Elias, said: “This is a national duty, whether I agree or not, I have to come and vote… I agree with the draft constitution, even if I object to some parts. Every Syrian must ride the wave of reform to achieve what he wants.”

“What should we be voting for, whether to die by bombardment or by bullets? ” – Waleed Fares, Homs activist

If the constitution is approved, it would drop an article making Assad’s Baath party the leader of state and society, allow political pluralism and enact a presidential limit of two seven-year terms.

But the limit will not be enforced retrospectively, meaning that Assad, already in power for 11 years, could serve another 14 years after his current one expires in 2014.

Anti-Assad activists have called for a boycott of a vote they see as meaningless. They said they would try to hold protests near polling stations in Damascus and suburbs where troops drove out insurgents last month.

This is Syria’s third referendum since Assad inherited power from his late father. The first installed him as president in 2000 with an official 97.29 percent ‘yes’ vote. The second renewed his term seven years later with 97.62 percent in favour.