SUWAYDA, Syria (North Press) – Security chaos has worsened recently in Syria’s Suwayda despite the deployment of Syrian government forces their security apparatus, whom residents accuse of creating the security chaos and destabilization. Meanwhile, government institutions continue to operate there among discontent regarding their performance.
Anwar Salem, who participated in the reconciliations between Suwayda and Daraa, told North Press “Suwayda has been experiencing a state of security chaos and rashes of kidnapping, looting, and murder that has exhausted the population for seven years.”
The governorate of Suwayda, located in Syria’s south, is home to the country’s Druze minority, an ethnoreligious group which practices a monotheistic Abrahamic religion and speaks the Arabic language. Historically, the region has been mostly pro-government, even from the start of the country’s nine-year-crisis and civil war.
Salem added, “Although the government security apparatus has made compromises with members of some armed groups whose situation has been settled by the government forces, they have continued abusing people.”
“The gangs reduced their criminal activity in May, however, they resumed their violations in summer, during which 29 attacks were recorded, including 19 thefts, eight kidnappings, and two murders,” he confirmed.
On August 21, an ambulance was subjected to an attack during which its owner was severely beaten and the vehicle was stolen, according to witnesses from the city.
Suwayda resident Youssef Nafaa told North Press, “It was astonishing that the government security apparatus made settlements for Ariqa and Majdal gang members who kill, loot, and kidnap amid the people’s discontent.”
He added that the government forces put tents at the Ariqa village entrances, and made settlements for 30 members of the gang after they handled their weapons to the security forces without any trial. Moreover, they signed pledges to cease committing violations.
North Press Agency could reach Syrian government officials for comment regarding accusations addressed to them by citizens and activists from Suwayda.
Suwayda resident Rasmi Abu Jahjah told North Press, “Some security apparatus members are indirectly involved in kidnapping and the big ransoms, due to the fact that those gangs are allowed to pass through the government checkpoints throughout Suwayda.”
He pointed out that the security chaos in the city is “The Syrian government’s strategy performed through its security apparatus and pro-Syrian groups in order to prove to Suwayda’s people that they will experience a security crisis without the government’s presence and that there is no other alternative.”
“This is impossible, because the public opinion refuses all repressive security practices,” he said.
Madhat Tayr (a pseudonym), an employee in the government institutions, told North Press that “government institutions are still operating despite their corruption, and it they are still trying hard to improve their image for residents.”
He said that the Syrian government ”sometimes advertises job contests and fulfilling some service works such as paving roads or constructing a useless facility. It also dismisses employees who oppose it, and it practices strict oversight over the press and writing.”
He added that it is necessary to “review the government performance, which has lost people’s confidence in the reformation of a new national project and a new political path that would set up the state constitution, or staying within the ruling authority mentality as it was nine years ago, and this will divide the country in light of unpleasant changes.”