The Syria Report talks to former MP and ‘Damascus Spring’ figurehead Riad Seif, imprisoned in 2001 on charges of tax evasion following his criticism of corruption in the family of the Syrian president, and released from prison last month.

 

 

You went to prison in 2001 for criticising corruption in the Syrian regime. Abdel-Halim Khaddam has recently accused the Assad family of stealing billions from the country. How big a problem is corruption for the future of Syria?

 

Corruption has become the main problem of the regime. Corruption has destroyed the economy and the balance in society. Now a large part of Syrian society suffers from low incomes while a few people are collecting money like they don’t know where to put it. Since the death of Zobi [Mahmoud Zobi, a former prime minister who committed ‘suicide’, with six bullets, in 1999] and Jamil al Assad [Bashar al-Assad’s uncle who in December 2004] and the interview with Khaddam we know that huge sums have been stolen by one person or other. If we calculate the total amount stolen by the top 100 most corrupt officials we see that it would be enough to solve the problems of the Syrian people who are suffering low incomes and unemployment. Corruption has become the cancer of the regime.

 

How can corruption be prevented?

 

We believe that with any non-democratic regime there is no accountability. There is no real parliament. There are no real courts of law. There is no free media. There are no organs of accountability in the government. Corruption is growing year by year and deeper and deeper into society. This regime is now 36 years old and every year it is becoming more corrupted. We are corrupted up to the ears and it can never be stopped by any kind of anti-corruption campaign, even if that campaign was serious and true. The only way to bring back the establishment is to bring democracy.

 

Is the UN inquiry into Hariri’s assassination hindering the opposition movement in Syria?

 

We have to make clear first that the Syrian people are not being accused by anyone. They have nothing to do with the case. These few people who are being accused have to prove they are innocent. They have to cooperate 100% with the commission. Syria is not in danger, even if it is found guilty. We want the perpetrators punished according to the law. We have asked the regime not to drag the Syrian people into trouble over the guilt of a few people. The regime is interested in staying in power for as long as possible, preferably forever. The opposition wants democracy. The regime wants to be protected by the people just to survive. We have to bring the truth to the people. The regime prevents us talking to our people. They don’t like our people to hear the truth.

 

As a key figure in the opposition movement, what is your position on the Damascus Declaration, which united Kurds and the secular opposition with the Muslim Brotherhood?

 

The Damascus Declaration was a great job done by the opposition and proves what the Syrian opposition can achieve, even with all the obstacles put in place by the regime. The Declaration is one step which will develop very quickly to fulfil our aim. It spoke of bringing democracy and changing, not reforming the regime, for the first time. It is not asking for something. It is telling the regime what we want and saying to them that if they find it acceptable they can be a partner. The regime was not made forever. We want to build the republic and if they agree, they can be a part of that. Change is an international norm. We want to build a democratic system. There is no Ba’athist system. There are only these games we have suffered from for 42 years.

 

Having spoken to a number of opposition figures over the past months it appears there are two camps developing: one, like yourself, which calls for regime change; a second which calls for regime reform. What is your position on the latter camp?

 

We refuse such reforms 100%. We have heard this since 1963. Now is a special time. Since the catastrophe of 1967 [the Six-Day Arab-Israeli War] people have been excluded from political life. There has been no voice louder than the voice of war, for four decades. Now some people are saying, ‘Let’s wait a little more.’ I respect anyone’s opinion and they have their rights. But our idea is that we see that this regime has lost the ability to survive and is not able to be reformed as it has nothing to do with democracy. We believe the future of Syria is to have a democratic system very soon and to rebuild the republic. We are part of this movement for democracy and we want to build a new party, based on democracy as it has been understood since the end of the Second World War; as based on human rights and civil society and a culture based on morals, for us the morals emerging from Syrian culture.

 

Before becoming an independent MP you were a successful businessman. What made you change the course of your life so drastically?

 

I entered parliament in 1994 as if by accident. A few friends, a few days before the closure of registration put my name in to be a candidate. Suddenly I was told I had got the highest votes for Damascus [Seif became the independent MP for Damascus]. Since that moment I have not been able to escape my duty. It’s my character. If I do something it must be true and I must make it perfect. Before the election I never used to read the newspapers or follow the elections. For 25 years I was only a businessman, but then suddenly I found myself in the middle of a battle for the people I represented, at that time 16 million [Syria’s population].

 

Now that you are free, will you be re-entering politics?

 

We are planning a new party which will be a real democratic party based on the morals that flow from Syrian culture. We hope the regime will understand our rights and if they refuse we will continue our activity with or without permission. We have the self confidence that if we find the right connection we can bring our programme to the Syrian people and let the Syrian people be our judge. We believe we tell the truth and we believe our people will listen to us and cooperate and come onto the streets to rebuild the republic. If the regime prevents us we will scream with all our voice to the international community and they will hear us and support us. We are against the occupation of any army in the world and we want no money from the west. Our movement will be non-violent and non-secret.

 

You said there could be opposition mass street protests? That is a rare thing indeed in Syria . . .

 

We could demonstrate, yes. Things will change very soon. You will see. You will be surprised. Something will really change.