Opposition's Free National Rally reveals its budget, fund

(BY Abdullah Al Ghadawi; Translation by Yusra Ahmed) 

ٍSyrian opposition group, the Free National Rally for State workers, has revealed its budget and spending for the last two years (2013-2014), documented with precise figures and dates.  

Figures presented in the gathering’s copy were credible compared to those Zaman al-Wasl obtained from other trusted sources.  

It is the first time in the Syrian opposition’s history for an institution to openly and transparently show their budget and detailed spending including salaries, bookings, workshops, and other details.  

Zaman al-Wasl demanded all the opposition’s institutions to transparently show their budget and spending after several corruption and unjustified spending were disclosed, the Free National Gathering has been prompt in responding.  

The inspection committee formed by the Supreme Council for accountability consisted of Osama Mohamed and Mohamed Ghazi al-Omar had performed a professional pan screening for the gathering’s financial activities and finished in some notices and recommendations.  

According to the committee’s financial report, the gathering received in 2 years’ period QAR.6 million, equal to almost $. 1.6 million, which is only less than one month’s spending of the interim government.  

The inspection committee reported that seriousness and professionalism with significant documentation were seen within the Free National Gathering’s activities.  
The committee recommended to provide more detailed documents to justify any payment in advance, despite the biggest payment was $.271 thousand.  

The committee’s report recommended to exclude figures from inside Syria or Turkey from nomination for positions of council’s presidency or members of the Executive office for councils, besides encouraging communicating over the internet.  

The report of the accountability committee showed that Riyad Hijab, the former Head of the Gathering, did not receive any money for his work in the gathering, including any payment to cover his travel and hotels’ bookings. The gathering tended to economize in the headquarters’ spending and costs.  

The national Coalition and the Interim Government need to get benefit from the gathering’s experience and the way of spending, besides the need to form a strategy for financial control to supervise the spending on salaries, activities, travel and other booking, as according to sources, a 3-day visit to Jordan for a member of the Interim Government cost $.11 thousand.