SUWAYDA, Syria (North Press) – On Friday, people from Suwayda gathered in the town of Dar Ira, in the west of the governorate. The move followed an appeal by Luay al-Atrash, a local leader, to gather and rise from “our bitter reality” and which criticized the deteriorating living conditions in the region.
Local sources told North Press that the gathering was held to discuss the formation of a new alliance that unites local factions in Suwayda in order to “stand against the security and economic disorder in Suwayda, after the government abandoned its responsibilities.”
There are preparations for a second meeting in Dar Ira in the upcoming days, termed the ‘Jabal al-Arab gathering’, the sources added.
Two days earlier, al-Atrash, who is known as a supporter of the Syrian government, posted on his Facebook page a statement that read, “We, the people of Dar Ira, absolutely reject all forms of chaos, corruption, violence, incitement, and treason, which reflect the mentality of those who cannot provide anything.”
“Dar Ira is home to all the people of the Jabal. From this moment, Dar Ira stands against gangs and their supporters, against the corrupt anywhere in the governorate, and against any form of injustice and vandalism. We hold out our hand to the honorable people who seek justice and security,” he added.
In the statement, he called the people of Suwayda for a meeting to be set later under the slogan of ‘Jabal al-Arab: rise from our bitter reality’.
The people of Suwayda were divided between supporters and detractors of the meeting. Some are concerned that it might be an attempt by the Syrian government, through local leaders, to control the protests which have occurred in Suwayda for the last two months.