QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Since early 2022, many areas in Idlib, northwest Syria, have witnessed protests against the policies of the Salvation Government, the civil wing of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS, formerly al-Nusra Front), fueled by successive crises that started with bread and fuel, then electricity, and yesterday the problem of fee-paying education, as the demonstrators demanded its overthrow.
The HTS effectively controls all life aspects in the Syrian opposition-held areas in Idlib governorate and parts of other governorates, which are known as the four de-escalation zone, and are run by the Salvation Government, that was established in Idlib in late 2017.
The Salvation Government followed the hunger policy through monopolizing all economic sectors such as bakeries, electricity and fuel, according to activists.
What fueled the protests
In mid-October 2012, dozens of Idlib residents started broad-scale popular protests against raising the prices of fuel and food in Idlib.
The protesters raised banners demanding the Salvation Government to stop the policy of dominating the population and sharing their living, according to local sources.
The sources said the protesters chanted anti-Salvation Government and HTS leader Abu Mohammad al-Julani according to the same sources.
Recently, al-Julani has tried to show himself as a moderate character who serves residents aiming at lifting terrorist character of him.
On January 7, al-Julani was present, dressed in civilian clothing, in the northern countryside of Idlib near the border with Sanjak of Alexandretta next to the president of the Salvation Government in the inauguration ceremonies of the Aleppo-Bab al-Hawa new route after it has been expanded, asphalted, and enlightened.
This was not the first civil appearance for Julani, as he appeared at the meeting of the Shura Council with the Ministry of Economy, on November 23, 2021, to discuss the economic situation, especially the bread crisis in Syria’s north.
He talked about the food security problem in HTS-held areas, promised to improve the living conditions of the people and subsidize bread.
Before that, in October 2021 Watad Petroleum Company affiliated with HTS had raised the oil prices six times in northwest Syria.
The company justified that to the low exchange rate of the Turkish lira against the US dollar, where oil materials are marketed in Turkish currency in northwestern regions.
The HTS is working to take a percentage of traders’ profits in Idlib, which justify the prices hike of most food and living commodities, informed sources told North Press.
Electricity crisis
In December 2021, bread crisis intensified in HTS-held areas, as its government is accused of following the policy of hunger and monopolization.
Dozens of residents of al-Bab city in the eastern countryside of Aleppo protested against a decision of the local council of the Turkish-backed opposition to raise the price of a bundle of bread.
Cities and towns north and east of Aleppo which is controlled by the Turkish-backed armed opposition factions witnessed popular protests against the Electricity Company and local councils due to the hike in power price in those areas.
Two days ago, residents of the city of Azaz in the northern countryside of Aleppo, protested against the decision of raising the price of electricity, and electricity company, which monopolizes energy in the opposition held areas.
Last week, under the pretext of reducing the value of electricity bills, the Electricity Company reduced the price of electricity from 1,47 to 1,15 after the local councils gave up a percentage of their profits.
But the text of the decision is to reduce if the digital electricity meter card is charged once a month, but if it is charged more than once, the second time is calculated at 2,30 Tturkish lira per kilowatt, according to a source in the region.
The residents considered the decision just calm, because most of them recharge the card more than once.
In 2018, the local council of Azaz authorized the private Turkish company, AK Energy, to provide the city of Azaz and its countryside with electricity by laying high-voltage cables through Bab al-Salama border crossing in the Sejo area, north of the city.
Fee-paying education
Two days ago, a decision by the Ministry of Education of the Interim government in northwestern Syria, to set high fees for registration in secondary and preparatory branches, sparked a wave of anger among students and teachers in Idlib.
The Education Ministry announced the start of registration on public examinations 2022, yesterday.
On November 2, 2017, the Salvation Government was formed from 11 ministerial portfolios headed by Muhammad al-Sheikh at the time, and included the ministries of Interior, Justice, Endowments, Higher Education, Education, Health, Agriculture, Economy, Social Affairs and Displaced Persons, Housing and Construction, and local administration.
This comes amid attempts by the opposition Syrian National Coalition (SNC) to introduce amendments to its statute, with the aim of improving its position.
Former Syrian Prime Minister Riyad Farid Hijab, who defected from the Syrian government in 2012, is leading a movement of Syrian opposition powers to hold a seminar in the Qatari capital, Doha, next February, to discuss paths to a political solution to the Syrian crisis.
Hijab’s move comes to stir the political situation in the Syrian opposition scene. Opponents believe that he may seek to produce new political bodies and platforms.