Zaman Alwasl: Shishakli daughter replies readers enquiries over her father assassination

Translation by Yusra Ahmed

Mrs. Wafa Shishakli, Daughter of Col. Adib Shishakli, the former Syria president, replied to some comments about her interview with Zaman Alwasl and thanked all participants whoever they were and whatever they said.

However, she was surprised from the aggressive attitude she felt toward her father by some, but in the same time she expressed her understanding that they might have their own reasons.

She mentioned that Adib Shishakli never discriminated Syrian people according to their sectarian differences, as he always said that people’s work give them the position and the value they deserve, according to services they provide to their countries.

In regard to Druze mountain troubles, she revealed that the former president did not mean to attack the area or hurt anyone. “My father tasked the Druze Colonel Shawkat Shokair, to tackle the trouble politically and as delicate as possible, according to his knowledge to the area. The troubles started when a group of Druze people rebelled and started attacking police centers in Sweida , then quarrel and fighting started, which forced police centers to request help from the government, but when supporting forces arrived, the rebels attacked them and shot at them, which made things worse and the government sent more military forces to suppress the troubles which resulted in deaths and wounded,” she said.

She added that Shishakli was not happy for that fighting to happen despite the unclear reasons behind it, then he had to hold the responsibility for all consequences from those troubles which led to his resignation.

She mentioned that her father said in his resignation speech that he did not leave the presidency and Syria because he was not able to suppress his opponents, but he wanted to save the country a disaster and civil war was planned to by outside conspiracy.

In regard to Nawwaf Abo Ghazaleh, she expressed her deep belief that incentive was not personal revenge for Druze mountain troubles, and she believed that he was sent by al-Ba’ath party to assassinate her father, as the party controlled the country in 1963 and her father was killed on 1964, especially there was always rumors about his return to Syria to rule. “the assassination for honest figures the party plan for, has been carried out for 50 years till now” she ended.

Zaman Alwasl special