シリア内戦１１年、イドリブで大規模集会　ウクライナに連帯も

【ＡＦＰ＝時事】シリアで１５日、内戦のきっかけとなった反政府デモが始まってから１１年を迎え、反体制派が拠点とする北西部イドリブで大規模集会が開かれた。ロシアによるウクライナ侵攻に対し国際的な非難の声が高まる中、シリア政府を支援するロシアに抗議し、ウクライナへの連帯を示す参加者もいた。（写真はイドリブで開かれたシリア内戦１１年を記念する大規模集会の様子）
　イドリブ市の中央広場で開かれた集会には５０００人以上が参加。同市で行われた集会としてはここ数か月で最大規模となった。
　シリア政府の主要支援国であるロシアがウクライナを侵攻したことをきっかけに、シリアの現状に再び関心が集まることを期待する参加者も多い。
　ラドワン・アトラシュさんはＡＦＰに、「ウクライナで起きていることは、ここで起きたことと似ている。敵も、目的も同じだ」と語った。
　ウクライナ国旗のほか、ウクライナ人への連帯を示し、ロシアのウラジーミル・プーチン大統領への制裁を求めるポスターや横断幕を掲げる人もいた。
　シリアでは２０１１年３月１５日に始まった反政府デモが全国に広がり、内戦に発展した。
　プーチン氏が軍事介入を決めたことで、バッシャール・アサド大統領はなんとか政権を維持できたとみられている。
　内戦でこれまでに５０万人が死亡した。その多くはシリアやロシア、イランなどの軍のほか、武装勢力の攻撃により亡くなった。
　英国、フランス、ドイツ、イタリア、米国は共同声明を発表し、「（シリア内戦が）１１年を迎えた今年、ロシアはウクライナに侵略した。両紛争でロシアの非道かつ破壊的な行動が浮き彫りになった」と非難した。
　集会に参加したサルワ・アブドッラフマーンさん（４９）は、「ウクライナの人々に『諦めないで』と伝えたい。１１年が経過したが、私たちはくじけていない。神の意のままに。勝利は私たちのものだ」と語った。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2022/03/17-11:33）

Thousands of protesters in war-torn Syria's rebel enclave of Idlib on Tuesday marked 11 years since the start of an anti-government uprising, buoyed by the global outcry over Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Gathered on the main square in the northwestern city of Idlib, more than 5,000 people took part in one of the largest rallies the beleaguered region has seen in months.
Many of the demonstrators hoped the war launched by the Syrian government's main backer Russia in Ukraine would rekindle interest in their cause.
What is happening in Ukraine today is similar to the situation here; the enemy is the same and the goal is the same, protester Radwan Atrash told AFP.
Thousands of demonstrators marked the date in other cities across rebel-held northern Syria.
President Bashar al-Assad's grip on power held by a thread after a nationwide uprising that erupted on March 15, 2011 escalated into a fully-fledged civil war.
Bu a decision by Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to throw his military might behind the Syrian government changed the course of the conflict and saved Assad's hold on power.
The war left half a million people dead, mostly in attacks by the government and its allies, including both Russian and Iranian forces, as well as a myriad of militia groups.
- 'Shock and horror' -
Around four million people, at least half of them displaced, now live in a region of northwestern Syria that is the last enclave fighting Assad's rule despite years of deadly Russian-backed offensives.
A few Ukrainian flags were visible at the Idlib protest, as were banners expressing solidarity with the Ukrainian people and demanding action against Putin.
A medic among the protesters at the city's main roundabout had some advice for his counterparts in Ukraine.
Fortify your hospitals with cement blocks; the enemy Putin does not distinguish between civilians, wounded people and fighters, said Ali Hamoush, who works at an Idlib hospital.
Russia has repeatedly targeted medical facilities in Syria, according to witnesses, medics and human rights groups.
A paediatric hospital was hit by an apparent Russian strike in the besieged Ukrainian city of Mariupol last week, fuelling accusations of war crimes against Putin.
As the conflict drags on, rights groups have pleaded for the international community not to forget Syria.
While we look with shock and horror at what is unfolding in Ukraine, we are reminded of the intense and worsening suffering that the Syrian population has endured, Jan Egeland, secretary general of the Norwegian Refugee Council, said this week.
One of the greatest human tragedies of our time has gotten worse over the last year in the shadow of crises elsewhere.
- 'Brutal and destructive' -
Syria's economy has been battered by a decade of conflict and gruelling sanctions.
The coincidence of this year's anniversary with the appalling Russian aggression against Ukraine... highlights Russia's brutal and destructive behaviour in both conflicts, Britain, France, Germany, Italy and the United States said in a joint statement.
Last week, the UN commission for inquiry on Syria called for a review of the implementation and impacts of sanctions currently imposed on Syria in light of deteriorating living conditions.
But the five nations said they do not support efforts to normalise relations with the Assad regime.
Assad is among the few heads of state to openly support Putin's invasion of Ukraine.
Moscow is currently recruiting thousands of fighters in Syria, from the regular army and from militia groups, to be put on standby for possible deployment in Ukraine.
The stiff resistance faced by invading Russian troops and Putin's growing pariah status appeared to galvanise the Idlib crowd.
My message to the Ukrainian people is 'Don't give up'. Eleven years have passed, but we are undaunted and, God willing, victory is ours, said protester Salwa Abdelrahman, 49.