Even as aid convoys wait the all uneasy truce stumbles into the fifth day held together by strands of hope and good intent. Certainly, the overriding concern for offering succor to the hundreds of thousands of displaced civilians, among them a generation of children, has to be a factor. But the recent statement by the rebel factions that the Assad regime is deliberately trying to sabotage the cease-fire is a matter of concern.
Officials of the opposition High Negotiations Committee (HNC) are believed to have gone on record as saying that deliberate provocations by the government forces including breaches of the truce by gunfire could ‘totally nullify’ the negotiations planned for next week.
The HNC, a representation of the moderate groups who are anti-Assad but also share a common antipathy for Daesh have been brought on a common platform thanks to the major efforts by Saudi Arabia to create a consolidated front and bring an end to five years of civil strife and, hopefully, usher peace and security into the region. This initiative, has, itself, been a remarkable achievement and speaks eloquently for Saudi Arabia’s desire to patch up the bleeding Syrian nation. But if these incursions on the cease-fire continue unchecked then not only will the peace be in jeopardy but the misery being visited upon the people will be given a further lease and that is not something the world would want.
The common adversary for both the moderates and the Assad forces is the Daesh and both should realize that failure to capitalize on this development would be shortsighted.
With the UN watching developments closely and hoping to use its good offices to monitor and even intercede in stopping the violations clearly underscores the importance being given to the present initiative. The trouble with following up the violations is twofold. One, the risk of their intensifying increases if there is a chase ensuing. Again, there is also the problem that if one does locate any source taking action can further ignite tension.
In these circumstances the best thing to do is soldier on and believe that seeking peace is a worthy objective…at least this window allows for the chance to give band-aids for gaping wounds.
