What's Next???

August 10, 2011

So the big question that is circulating between revolution activist is “What's next?” If you haven’t asked that question, you should. Not planning for what happens after the fall of the Syrian regime is like running full speed to the edge of a cliff. If you don’t plan for the moment after you cross the edge of the cliff, chances are you will regret your lack of planning on your way to an undesirable end.

So what happens when the Syrian dictator is toppled? For those who adore him, it is an unfathomable question. For the rest of us who want to taste freedom, it is a question that we must answer and take the steps necessary to be ready for. If the Presidential Palace is vacated and no one is ready to step in, the country will fall into further chaos. This is not an outcome we want. So, WHAT’s NEXT!!!

The decision of who fills the presidency and other governmental posts should be made by activist inside and outside of Syria. Here is one mechanism of putting together a Transitional Authority for Syria. The Organizing Committees in each governance should elect between them a number of individuals that they can present to the Transitional Authority. That number could be five, ten, or any other number that is deemed appropriate. Activist outside of Syria should elect another number of representatives from each continent. Those elected by governance or by continent will then vote amongst themselves to create the Transitional Authority’s governing board. It is my opinion that those elected to the Transitional Authority must not have any political ambitions, run for any office, or be appointed to any position until at least the third free presidential election of the country. Also, the Transitional Authority must have a limited time, not to exceed one year, to run a presidential and parliamentarian election and to hand power over to a freely elected president and parliament.

The road to freedom is not easy. It is also a road that requires a lot of planning. I hope to see Syria free in the very near future.

Mohamed T. Khairullah

The writer is a Syrian born an Aleppo. He currently lives in the US and serves as the Mayor of the Borough of Prospect Park, New Jersey.