As the old regime destabilizes, the rebels put things in place for the change to come.

Syrian rebels begin long road to imposing law

The Syrian civil war has been long and brutal, with the rest of the world sitting by and watching, either unable or unwilling to take direct part in the affairs of this country.  With no help, it’s no wonder that the conflict has gone on for so long.  But things are indeed changing, if only in small ways.  The rebels are gaining more ground and setting the stage to legitimize themselves once things are over by setting up their own courts and organizing all the proper functions that every government needs.

One of these foundational preparations has been to set up a court in the city of Aleppo.  Everything from marriages to property entitlements is being dealt with there.  An army of lawyers and judges have cast their lot with the rebels and lent their own particular skills to the ongoing struggle.

The courts are just one piece in the overall grand scheme of things.  The rebels have also been reestablishing schools and dealing with public services and utilities.  Another serious problem that is now being addressed is the question of armed rebel fighters who see the conflict as an opportunity to use their position and ignore the rule of law.  A military police force has been organized to help combat against the troubles that this chaos brings.  If all goes well, the country will be that much closer to returning to some degree of normalcy should the rebels win.

Meanwhile, President Assad may still hold power but his structure is breaking down.  He’s now forced to rely almost solely on his military to keep order and maintain any form of legitimacy to his rule. As the old regime crumbles, the rebel vision is refining and beginning to take shape.

In a seemingly lawless state, these sorts of acts give strength to the rebels’ claim to government.  The transition into power will be much smoother with the support of those who have already seen the efficiency of a new government as it operated during times of strife.  Hopefully, should the rebels win, these acts will prevent the country from deteriorating into another military regime.

Aleppo, Syria (2010) photo courtesy of yeowatzup via Wikicommons