LEBANON: Syrian refugees comment on upcoming Syrian presidential elections

Record ID: 274578

  • Title: LEBANON: Syrian refugees comment on upcoming Syrian presidential elections
  • Date: 26th May 2014
  • Summary: BEKAA, LEBANON (RECENT) (REUTERS) INFORMAL TENTED SETTLEMENT FOR SYRIAN REFUGEES VARIOUS OF SYRIAN REFUGEE CHILDREN BETWEEN TENTS WHERE SOME SYRIANS ARE STAYING VARIOUS OF SYRIAN REFUGEE MEN BUILDING A WOODEN TENT VARIOUS OF SYRIAN REFUGEE GIRL STANDING NEAR TENT SHOP NEAR CAMP WHERE SOME SYRIAN REFUGEES ARE STAYING IN TENTS VARIOUS OF MAN WORKING WITH GAS BOTTLE IN FRONT
  • Embargoed: 10th June 2014 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Lebanon
  • Country: Lebanon
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVAAG17G3664X3Y7TWB60ARNG5HC
  • Story Text: Syria is preparing to hold presidential elections on Tuesday June 3 but some refugees in Lebanon, displaced by the civil war still raging inside Syria, say they doubt the elections will end the conflict.
    The election looks all but certain to give President Bashar al-Assad a third seven-year term.
    Refugee Mohamed Omar currently residing in the Bar Elias camp in eastern Lebanon's Bekaa region, called the upcoming elections illegitimate.
    "The elections are illegitimate, I don't consider it legitimate because most of the people are displaced and can't enter Syria to vote, they all left illegally or they are wanted, those who are not wanted from the regime are wanted from Daesh (Al Qaeda),'' Mohamed Omar said.
    When asked what the solution can be. Omar replied: "Not the election, I don't recognise this election anyway."
    Other refugees said they hoped the elections will bring calm to Syria.
    "We wish that calm prevails and whoever comes will be good and that they will be for the benefit of the country, this is what we wish for. We don't wish for someone like before to kill us, our children, our youth and our families; we want someone who comes and bring calm to our country and be beneficial for the country. [Reporter asking: Will you vote or not?] My vote can't make any difference and I don't want to vote for anyone because what will happen will happen, we would love that what happens be beneficial for the state and our country,'' said Zahra Al-salha Al-ali, Syrian refugee from Deir Al-zor province.
    Syrian expatriates will begin voting in Syrian missions abroad on May 28. The Syrian embassy in Lebanon said only those with a valid residency in Lebanon will be able to cast their vote.
    Some refugees inside the camp said they rejected the elections being held at all.
    "First of all, we refuse the elections. We don't want elections at all because it is based on a void and what is build on a void is invalid. What is happening in the elections is that they are sending lists to the camps as if....some through bribes, others through pressure....that you should vote. But at the same time, they have contradicted themselves since only those who entered legal were supposed to vote but I see everyone will vote," said a Syrian refugee Yehya Al-fares from Qusair.
    There are more than one million registered Syrian refugees in Lebanon and it is not clear if or how they will be able to vote.
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