My quick
translation of the statement
in Arabic by Moaz al-Khatib announcing his resignation from the Syrian
National Coalition of Revolutionary and Opposition Forces he has been
heading since its formation last November:
O Syria’s
beleaguered and resilient people, Peace be upon you!
We are
being slaughtered by a savage regime while the world is all eyes and ears.
Many are
those who lent us a purely humanitarian helping hand. We thank them all.
But there
is the bitter irony of those trying to tame the Syrian people, lay siege to
their revolution and attempt to control it.
All that
befell the Syrian people -- including devastation of their infrastructure, the
arrest of tens of thousands of their lot, the uprooting of hundreds of
thousands more and other outrages – seems not to have justified an
international resolve allowing the people to defend themselves.
They will
support whoever is willing to be compliant. But anyone who is unwilling faces
starvation and blockade. We won’t beseech anyone’s endorsement. If the Syrian
people have been sentenced to death, we wish to choose the way we die. The door
to freedom has been forced open. And it won’t be forced shut -- neither in the
face of Syrians nor in other peoples’ faces.
The regime,
by its arrogance, squandered the most valuable opportunity of a comprehensive
national reconciliation. Many international and regional players tried pulling
the Syrian ship to their side.
Our
message to all concerned is that Syrians, and Syrians only, shall take the
Syrian decision.
I had promised
the sons and daughters of the great Syrian people, and pledged before the
Almighty, to resign if matters reached certain red lines.
I am
fulfilling my promise today and announcing my resignation from the National
Coalition in order to work independently of the constraints of official institutions.
We take
official positions to mean a quest for noble objectives rather than goals to be
sought and kept.
We will
forge ahead together with those brethren seeking freedom for our people. There
will be messages and understandings with all the parties sharing our pains and
aspirations.
People, a
bit of patience as dawn is near! Peace and God’s mercy be upon you.
