The oppressive mentality of Syrian Power Corpses have introduced a new method of political punishment against the new businessmen opponents managing to establish their political status . It is the over-exaggerated taxes that only appear when a member of Parliament raised his voice louder than the clapping sounds gathering in the Parliament Hall. This new type of opposition which basically came into existence from constitutional, legislative and legal channels, could not appeal to those whose interests are threatened and who want the Parliament (the People’s Council) to persist in clapping and supporting role. Therefore, they invented a new method of political blackmail; namely imposing over-exaggerated taxes adequate to destroy any national institution or industrial enterprise.
Years ago, MP Riadh Saif went bankrupted and relinquished the business world as a result of series of taxes that were imposed on him. Another point in the case is what happened to MP Moh’d Ma’moun Homsi, let alone what will happen to those with a another opinion in the People’s Council. All this indicates that the Syrian authorities are stuck to their approach announced on several occasions; namely, to delay political reforms till after completing the economic reform. This means a delay in considering the humane issue for hundreds of Syrians victimised by the suppressive policies throughout the past thirty years.
Before becoming a means of political pressure, the Syrian Taxation Law used to be source of horror for people due to its rubberlike nature that delgates responsible parties at the Ministry of Finance to adjust it on an ad hoc basis. Therefore, it has become usual for avarege people to pay income tax exceeds what is paid by a car rental company. It has become familiar to have the tax department impose a profit tax on a citizen selling an estate that exceeds in multiple amounts the price of that estate on the pretext of applying Ministry of Finance’s by-laws. A tax reform was one of the requests initiated by some members the Parliament whose requests victimized them.
It should be an illusion to think that the reform process can be effected in one part of the Society leaving the other domains till later. The economy can never go forward unless liberties are released, suppressive laws are abolished, and the emergency state is lifted. Politics will never be effective unless the humane issue of thousands of Syrians who are arrested, missed and exiled is settled. It is an integral process that must be implemented simultaneously.
In the seventies and eighties of the past century blackmail had been manifested by taking hostages from the opponent’s family members and detaining them; perhaps for years, and torturing them. Now, in the business age, the suppression tools have been developed to incorporate another economic dimension called persecuting non-compliant tax payers.
In the past ten years, taxes have become a nightmare chasing people and decent entrepreneurs. One visit to the Tax Department at the Ministry of Finance in Al-Mazra’a Area in Damascus must suffice to witness human tragedies, and to listen to fictions of virtual taxes with a backward date accumulation. We should not be exaggerating when saying that these taxes have resulted in the destruction and bankruptcy of many Syrians or even ending them up to a state of mere desperation. Unsurprisingly, these practices have targeted businessmen and industrialists members at the Parliament when they raised their voice in favour of a just and fair tax system.
Should it be a surprise after all to listen to the authorities complaining of poor investments and amazingly asking where the migrating and Arab capitals go in spite of the Law of Investment No. 10 for 1991?
