Desperation. – Sorry I'm so engaged. I just have so much pain in my heart when I think about what is happening in my home country.

This is what the Norwegian member of the Syrian National Council (Syrian National Council, SNC), Hanan Albalkhe. We talk to her on the internet phone from Istanbul, where she gathered with hundreds of others to help the civilians against the abuses of dictator Bashar Al-Assad.

The Syrian National Council was formed in the autumn of 2011, and Albalkhe is one of about 100 members of the coalition. Over a dozen UN countries have recognized the Council, including Tunisia, Libya, France, Bulgaria and Spain. Norway has, like Russia and in contrast to most Western European countries, only "informal contact" at the lowest level – shows international listings.

15. March is one year since the rebellion started in Daraa with peaceful demonstrations. Now there are pure acts of war. The death toll in the Mediterranean country is now over 8000, UN sources say. Hundreds of children have been killed.

This week also warned the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton about a possible Syrian civil war. This is precisely what the last world community wants. The Iran regime supports Assad, while several fear that al-Qaeda forces may be militarized by an intervention.

Still, several are calling for the militarization of civilians, Syrians on the ground, exile Syrians and regional heads of state. On a visit to Oslo on Monday, February 27, Qatar's Foreign Minister, Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani, to Norwegian media: "We cannot exclude any measures to stop the violence and killing taking place in Syria. I mean we have to help them get armed. "

UPDATED: She is from Oslo and the rebel town of Daraa and is a member of the Syrian National Council. Now Hanan Albalkhe wants Støre to withdraw his ambassador from Damascus. PHOTO: SYRIAN COUNCIL

Hanan Albalkhe lives in Oslo, but was born in the rebel town of Daraa, and she was in her hometown when the uprising in March. Albalkhe is a member of the diverse Syrian National Council (SNC), the opposition's multi-party gathering, as representative of the "National Bloc". This is a newly formed opposition group that includes several different political directions. That is, The National Bloc is an alliance between several opposition groups, including "The Damascus Declaration Group","The Damascus Spring Group"," Muslim Brotherhood Alliance "," Kurdish Block "and" The Grassroots Movement ". Albalkhe is representative of the latter.

Now, for the first time, Albalkhe believes that military solutions can be defended:

- I have decided that it is time to provide military assistance to the Free Syrian Army. So that they can protect the people from the regime's abuses. They can no longer stand it. A country's military should really give its people protection. That task is not performed. Instead, they kill their own people, Albalkhe tells Ny Tid.

- I'm disappointed with the world. My people are being killed and nothing concrete is being done, she says.

Increased conflict

The situation in Syria has tightened this week. While the opposition reports daily killings of over a hundred civilians, the regime on Sunday held a referendum on constitutional amendments. The vote is characterized as "meaningless", "ridiculous" and "a farce". On Monday, the EU introduced a further tightening of economic sanctions against the Syrian regime. On Friday, February 27, over 70 countries met in the support group "Friends of Syria" in Tunisia.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Denmark Villy Søvndal from the Socialist People's Party spoke on behalf of the Nordic and Baltic countries. The Nordic-Baltic position is to condemn the acts of violence, to urge China and Russia to agree, to praise the Arab League's initiative and to underline the duty of the Syrian authorities to release humanitarian aid. The next meeting is scheduled in Turkey in three weeks.

Opens for weapons

On Stavanger's phone, we meet Norwegian-Syrian Ap politician Mohamad Jaman. He is a Kurdish opposition politician in Syria and a Norwegian local politician. About the same time as the next meeting of the group of friends, Saturday, March 3, Jaman attends Rogaland Labor Party's annual meeting in Stavanger.

- I will speak loudly about the situation in Syria at the annual meeting, Jaman says.

He is experiencing a Norwegian government, led by Ap, which he believes is not enough for the Syrian people.

- There may be 3000 more killed before the next group of friends meeting. After the meeting in Tunisia, I experience that Norway and the world community do nothing. Norway must no longer sit still now, Jaman believes.

- But what do you think should be done?

"I have always supported the non-violent line, but after the last week's incidents and empty words from the meeting in Tunisia, it is time to give armed support to the soldiers defending civilians in Syria," Jaman told Ny Tid.

Jaman thinks it's not an easy choice, but that time is up anyway.

- The civilians have nothing to defend themselves with. They must become stronger to withstand the pressure of the Syrian army. Everyone I have talked to is now a supporter of military support, says the opposition politician from Stavanger.

He believes that Norway must take the initiative on security corridors, the establishment of prisons and help the Syrian Free Army with weapons.

- It's urgent. Every day, more than 100 people are killed and many, many are injured. Many cities are totally destroyed. There is enough waiting, he concludes.

Last year, Hanan Albalkhe was back in his hometown to make fieldwork a master's thesis in African and Asian studies at the University of Oslo. In the middle of the field work, the uprising broke out around her. She wrote the article "My Syrian journey" in Ny Tid last year.

- I had expected a much stronger reaction from the meeting in Tunisia. The Syrians not only need words, they also need action. I am disappointed with the outcome of the meeting, says Albalkhe.

options

Syria's transitional council is similar to what was seen in Libya, and it has gradually been recognized by a few countries. Including the new Libya, but also the United States, France and Spain have partially acknowledged the council. Norway has diplomatic relations with the Council. At the same time, it is argued that the opposition in Syria is too divided to receive its full and full support.

- Show me a country where you find a united opposition. The Transitional Council is a collection of opposition groups. Of course, we disagree on a lot, but at the same time we agree. The argument with a divided opposition therefore does not hold, says Albalkhe.

She now seeks recognition from Norway Jonas Gahr Store.

- It is time for increased international recognition and support. Also from Norway, says Albalkhe who says that several churches in Damascus now support the revolution.

- Norway does not have such strong reactions to the regime. They can, for example, withdraw the ambassador from Damascus, Albalkhe suggests.

- Weapons no solution

The Peace Council understands Syrian desperation, but believes weapons will make it worse for civilians.

By Torbjørn Tumyr Nilsen torbjorn@nytid.no

Refusal. - Norwegian-Syrians are now asking for military assistance to protect their people. What does the Norwegian Peace Council say to that, leader Hedda Langemyr?

- We can not support a further armament. Our principle is that weapons breed weapons and that violence breeds violence, Langemyr answers.

- But do you understand that Syrians now want weapons against the violence from the Assad regime?

- It is completely understandable, but history shows that arming civilians does not mean increased security and that fewer lives are lost. Rather, it means the opposite. Civilians are always hardest hit by a militarization of conflicts.

- So what can be done?

- We must not give up the UN track. It should be tried even harder to get a UN resolution in place and it is urgent.

- And Norway?

- Norwegian foreign authorities must prioritize Syria much more strongly. We must use our reputation and identity as a nation of peace to actively advocate for a solution. One hears much more about girls' self-defense courses than about Norwegian diplomatic efforts in Syria today.

(This is an excerpt from Ny Tid's weekly magazine 02.03.2012. Read the whole thing by buying Ny Tid in newspaper retailers all over the country, or by subscribing to Ny Tid - click here. Subscribers receive previous editions free of charge as PDF.)