(Zaman Al Wasl)- The local council of al-Tall local city north of Damascus has been accused of imposing royalties on displaced people and residents, activists said.
Local activists, in statement post online, warned the council members of the dangerous consequences of them imposing what they called a donation sum, and taking singular action in a decision that negatively affects both residents and displaced persons living in the city.
The statement came after fees were instituted for cars coming into the city based on the size car and if it was carrying consumer goods. Small cars pay 3000 Syrian Pounds (S.P.), medium cars pay 5000 S.P., and large cars pay 10,000 S.P. The fees are collected by a neighborhood authority who is present at the checkpoint and listed as donations.
The statement signatories asked if the city had become a state independent from the remaining Syrian Arab Republic for the checkpoint to become a customs point. The signatories also asked how the council members could condone such activities being listed under a donation clause, as a voluntary act, when those refusing to pay are denied entry to the city.
The statement condemned what it referred to as the “centralities” in the al-Tall city council that cancels the law and work according to a law independent from Syrian law.
The activists held the council responsible for the deterioration of social peace, the decreased food security in the city as a result of their obstinacy and insistence on such behavior and legitimizing such behavior before the regime as donations.
The signatories described the move as an attempt to evade being held accountable by the regime. They accused some authorities including officers and council officials of forcing the population to pay the donations.
The statement indicated that, “The matter may cause increased tension, exacerbate the social situation, and threaten social peace.”
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