After 13 months of unrelenting bloodshed, a death toll of more than 9,000 and tens of thousands displaced, any break in Syria's violence is welcome. But to term yesterday's interlude a "ceasefire" masks what this crisis truly is: an oppressive regime waging war on a lightly armed opposition that for months persisted in non-violent demonstrations even as the regime murdered men, women and children.
Already bloodshed has reportedly marred UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan's ceasefire and reconciliation plan. The Assad regime's good faith is, to put it mildly, deeply suspect. But the blood of so many Syrian civilians demands that we give any hiatus in the violence at least a chance. But what next?
The Syrian regime has already hinted where this "ceasefire" will lead. Even before the shelling stopped yesterday morning, after a brutal campaign to consolidate gains on the ground, Damascus's defence ministry said it retained the right to respond to attacks by "armed terrorist groups", the same terminology it has used since the very beginning of this crisis. Indeed, while fighting yesterday was sparse, government forces had not pulled out of key cities - an important component of the UN ceasefire plan.
It is hard to imagine that the opposition will immediately lay down its arms. The Annan plan is not meant simply to grant control of the streets to the regime. Syria's armed opposition of army defectors and citizen soldiers first picked up weapons because of attacks on unarmed protesters (peaceful protest is supposed to be guaranteed under this ceasefire plan). As security affairs analyst Ahmed Al Attar writes on the facing page, there are signs of extremist elements becoming dangerously involved, but even ordinary Syrian civilians have every reason to distrust the regime.
Standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Iran's foreign minister in Tehran on Wednesday, Mr Annan said he'd received "positive" assurances from Damascus. Very few Syrians will believe those assurances, which means that a meaningful demobilisation of forces is still far from assured. The Assads certainly hope the pounding of recent weeks will suffice.
And if forces did stand down and peace were re-established, what then? Another premise of the ceasefire plan is a Syrian-led political process. But after this bloodshed, Bashar Al Assad can never rule as he once did. It is still difficult to see a solution that does not begin with his departure.
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How to report a beggar
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The bio:
Favourite film:
Declan: It was The Commitments but now it’s Bohemian Rhapsody.
Heidi: The Long Kiss Goodnight.
Favourite holiday destination:
Declan: Las Vegas but I also love getting home to Ireland and seeing everyone back home.
Heidi: Australia but my dream destination would be to go to Cuba.
Favourite pastime:
Declan: I love brunching and socializing. Just basically having the craic.
Heidi: Paddleboarding and swimming.
Personal motto:
Declan: Take chances.
Heidi: Live, love, laugh and have no regrets.
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The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
MATCH INFO
Who: UAE v USA
What: first T20 international
When: Friday, 2pm
Where: ICC Academy in Dubai
Boulder shooting victims
• Denny Strong, 20
• Neven Stanisic, 23
• Rikki Olds, 25
• Tralona Bartkowiak, 49
• Suzanne Fountain, 59
• Teri Leiker, 51
• Eric Talley, 51
• Kevin Mahoney, 61
• Lynn Murray, 62
• Jody Waters, 65
BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE
Starring: Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Jenny Ortega
Director: Tim Burton
Rating: 3/5
Bundesliga fixtures
Saturday, May 16 (kick-offs UAE time)
Borussia Dortmund v Schalke (4.30pm)
RB Leipzig v Freiburg (4.30pm)
Hoffenheim v Hertha Berlin (4.30pm)
Fortuna Dusseldorf v Paderborn (4.30pm)
Augsburg v Wolfsburg (4.30pm)
Eintracht Frankfurt v Borussia Monchengladbach (7.30pm)
Sunday, May 17
Cologne v Mainz (4.30pm),
Union Berlin v Bayern Munich (7pm)
Monday, May 18
Werder Bremen v Bayer Leverkusen (9.30pm)
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-finals, second leg:
Liverpool (0) v Barcelona (3), Tuesday, 11pm UAE
Game is on BeIN Sports
Intercontinental Cup
Namibia v UAE Saturday Sep 16-Tuesday Sep 19
Table 1 Ireland, 89 points; 2 Afghanistan, 81; 3 Netherlands, 52; 4 Papua New Guinea, 40; 5 Hong Kong, 39; 6 Scotland, 37; 7 UAE, 27; 8 Namibia, 27
Stormy seas
Weather warnings show that Storm Eunice is soon to make landfall. The videographer and I are scrambling to return to the other side of the Channel before it does. As we race to the port of Calais, I see miles of wire fencing topped with barbed wire all around it, a silent ‘Keep Out’ sign for those who, unlike us, aren’t lucky enough to have the right to move freely and safely across borders.
We set sail on a giant ferry whose length dwarfs the dinghies migrants use by nearly a 100 times. Despite the windy rain lashing at the portholes, we arrive safely in Dover; grateful but acutely aware of the miserable conditions the people we’ve left behind are in and of the privilege of choice.
Match info
Liverpool 3
Hoedt (10' og), Matip (21'), Salah (45 3')
Southampton 0
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