Syrian Revolution Digest – Wednesday 30 May 2012

Syrian Revolution Digest – Wednesday 30 May 2012

THE COMMENTARY IN THIS PIECE DOES NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE VIEWS OF IMPUNITY WATCH.  

*WARNING VIDEOS MAY CONTAIN GRAPHIC IMAGES*

Abandoned!

Symbolic gestures cannot save us from real slaughter. Words of sympathy do not shield us from mortar rounds. Sanctions do not stop marauding gangs of thugs and killers. In Syria, our sense of abandonment is as areal as the war being waged against us.  

Wednesday May 30, 2012

Death toll: 39.

News

Op-Eds & Special Reports

What the Hell Should We Do About Syria? FP asked five smart observers to offer their solutions for the quagmire in Damascus.

Obama & the Russians

… the Syrian revolution is as much about ending an apartheid-patronage system as it is about creating democratic state, yet Russia relies for its own commercial and military interests on preserving the former. Syrian dissident Ammar Abdulhamid, freshly returned from Moscow, smartly observes:

What the “regime” means to the Russians is Alawite control of security and military apparatuses. If regime survival under this formula is not possible, than the powers-that-be in Russia would not be too opposed to the fragmentation of Syria so long as coastal areas remain under Alawite control, which is the likely outcome in this case. To ensure getting their desired outcome, the Russians will continue propping up the regime by supplying it with arms, which they claim are not meant to be used against protesters but against future western intervention, and by continuing to be a stumbling block in the way of any meaningful UN-led action or condemnation.

So Russia will, in the end, accept nothing less than the balkanization of Syria. So much for the insistence of countless Security Council statements that the country’s “sovereignty” and “territorial integrity” be preserved.

The administration hopes that it is possible to appeal to the better angels of Moscow’s nature and that Houla compels them to change their position on Assad. Instead, the Russians are sending more arms to the regime. It’s hardly surprising, then, the Russians won’t even admit that Assad is behind the massacre. Russian deputy U.N. ambassador Alexander Pankin “rejected the idea that the evidence clearly showed Damascus was guilty.” … Moscow is simply playing the spoiler and thereby enjoying the sort of international prestige that it has not been afforded since the end of the Cold War. The Russians are not going to engineer a coup against Assad, or in any way work to resolve the issue, because it is precisely the conflict that has given them influence in Syria—the conflict, that is, and Obama, who for no good reason has handed Moscow the reins.

Video Highlights

In Houla, pounding by pro-Assad troops resumes after departure of UN monitors leaving many dead and wounded: treating the injured http://youtu.be/jBPjhJnjuMs ,http://youtu.be/7evsmN41-YQ Martyrs http://youtu.be/eb5D7Z3XzQo Crops catch firehttp://youtu.be/C3pWlKx9d9I The pounding http://youtu.be/2AUE2io4tbw ,http://youtu.be/2AUE2io4tbw The gunfire http://youtu.be/PnsxuLJ1vp8 ,http://youtu.be/vsjp5WIJ9ko Locals running away from town across the fieldshttp://youtu.be/Z3Z7mCYuphM Earlier in the day, UN monitors visited some of the local houses where entire families were slaughtered http://youtu.be/c1txS0LPPq8

Assad officials keep insisting that no condemnation should be made until their investigation of the events is concluded, but their methods of investigations, which involve random pounding of the town, are a bit… unorthodox.

Some of those Russians anti-aircraft missiles, not intended for use in the current crackdown, if we go by the assertions of Russian officials, get used in the pounding of the Old Homs neighborhoods, setting entire buildings on fire: Hamidiyeh http://youtu.be/OmeexzSs1aELocal activist is almost killed while filming http://youtu.be/JZI-C-1zY9g Bab Al-Sibaa: pulling the bodies of the dead from the streets while under fire from snipershttp://youtu.be/AK1i4jnG1sg Khaldiyeh http://youtu.be/3275Rb8nrbg The poundinghttp://youtu.be/P5YE7A8Lygk , http://youtu.be/QurkSJrrnj0 ,http://youtu.be/wMmOHpVkubA , http://youtu.be/wBc0IAGqrvY ,http://youtu.be/qJB6FoVLrZo

In Rastan, the pounding resumes at night http://youtu.be/RKW7NuJb8TQ

In Idlib Province, chopper fires rockets on the village of Mar Shammareenhttp://youtu.be/5Y8ZBI32QMs

In Anadan, Aleppo Province, chopper fires rockets on the townhttp://youtu.be/pVhC15D8Fm0

In Damascus, the pounding of the town of Douma continues http://youtu.be/pnZqu73h5ps

Press Release: Italian Parliament Debates Response to the Magnitsky Case

Press Release
Hermitage Capital

Italian Parliament Debates Response to the Magnitsky Case

30 May 2012 – The Italian Parliament held a debate on the Magnitsky motion on Monday, giving one of the strongest condemnations yet of any European national parliament of Russia’s handling of the torture and murder in police custody of 37-year old Russian whistle-blowing lawyer Sergei Magnitsky. The Magnitsky motion was introduced by Matteo Mecacci, MP from Italy’s Democratic/Radical Party, and Chair of the Committee on Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Questions at the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly.“The Magnitsky case is a test for European politics.  We are calling on European countries, and in this case on Italy, to act to stop officials responsible for the torture and murder of an innocent and corageous man, from freely traveling and investing in our nation. This is not a question of politics, is a question of human justice that needs to have an answer,” said Matteo Mecacci, MP.

Supported by representatives from five different parties in the Italian parliament, the motion calls for visa bans and asset freezes on the 60 Russian officials identified by the US Helsinki Commission for their role in the false arrest, torture and death of Sergei Magnitsky and the $230 million corruption he uncovered.

The Magnitsky motion calls the two-and-a-half year investigation into Magnitsky’s death “unsatisfactory” and condemns the posthumous prosecution launched against Mr Magnitsky.

“The proceedings initiated by Russian authorities in order to ascertain the cause of Magnitsky’s death have to date been completely unsatisfactory, culminating… in the reopening of a proceeding against Magnitsky, thus giving rise to the first proceeding against a deceased person in the history of the Russian Federation,” says the Italian motion.

“The detailed complaints which were recorded and expressed by Magnitsky himself over the course of his imprisonment have allowed accurate identification of those responsible 60 people within the Russan government…who have not to date been subject to due criminal process,” says the motion.

The motion urges the Italian government to act by imposing sanctions on the 60 Russian officials:

“To not issue entrance visas to the sixty people on the Cardin’s list in Italian territory or under Italian jurisdiction, and to identify, if any, the assets belonging to the sixty people on the Cardin’s list…and to take the appropriate measures in order to attain a substantial block on the availability of said assets.”

In addition to Mecacci, the motion is supported by Italian parliamentarians Luca Volontè, Fabio Evangelisti, Gianni Vernetti, Lapo Pistelli, Ricardo Migliori, Ettore Rosato, Marina Sereni, Antonio Misiani, Rita Bernardini, Elisebetta Zamparutti, Maurizio Turco, Maria Antonietta Farina Coscioni, and Marco Beltrandi.

During the debate, “The People of Freedom” party introduced a different motion on the Magnitsky case. It recognised that the Russian government failed to provide clear answers to the EU on the Magnitsky matter, but stopped short of calling for Italy to impose visa sanctions and asset freezes on the complicit Russian officials.

“The People of Freedom” party was launched five years ago by Silvio Berlusconi, former Prime Minister and a friend of Russian president Vladimir Putin. Mr Berlusconi was one of the few Western leaders who attended President Putin’s inauguration on 7 May 2012 in Moscow.

“We are calling on the Italian government not to allow Russian torturers and murders to come into Italy,” said a representative of Hermitage Capital. “We hope that personal friendships don’t get in the way of justice.”

The Magnitsky motion is now going into the consultation phase between various factions in the Italian parliament and the Italian government. It should be voted on at a plenary session next week.

 

For further information please contact:

Hermitage Capital
Phone:             +44 207 440 17 77
E-mail:             info@lawandorderinrussia.org
Website:          http://lawandorderinrussia.org
Facebook:        http://on.fb.me/hvIuVI
Twitter:           @KatieFisher__
Livejournal:     http://hermitagecap.livejournal.com/

Syrian Network for Human Rights: Massive Shelling and Violent Attacks at Al-Houla Leaves 107 Dead

Al-Houla Plains Flooded with Blood

On 25 May 2012, Al-Houla plains witnessed the most brutal massacre since the arrival of the international observers in Syria. Random shelling targeted the villages and lands of al-Houla particularly the town of Taldo which lies at the western entrance of al-Houla and is surrounded by pro-regime villages.

The shelling, which lasted for 14 hours, left 11 people dead and dozens injured. Subsequently, army and security forces along with shabiha from the villages of Fulla and al-Qabou stormed into many houses at the outskirts of Taldou.

Shabiha forces carried out raids and extra-judicial executions against all residents at the outskirts of the town. Children were handcuffed and gathered with many men and women who were all subsequently slaughtered with bayonets. Shabiha militias then opened fire on the slaughtered victims, acts reminiscent of the dark ages and the law of the jungle.

The preliminary death toll of al-Houla massacre currently stands at 107 victims whose full names and photos have been documented. There remain many bodies that could not be reached and documented as yet. Among the casualties are 49 children under the age of 10 and 32 women.

 

WARNING: SOME OF THE VIDEOS BELOW CONTAIN GRAPHIC IMAGES

 

A video showing some of the victims of the brutal shelling and massacre, including very young children.

 

A video showing some of those wounded from the attack.

 

International visitors arrive in Al-Houla following the massacre and are swarmed by residents relating what has occurred.

 

The mass burial for the victims of the massacre.

 

For further information, please see;

Syrian Network for Human Rights — Special Report on Al-Houla Massacre — 26 May 2012

 

Charles Taylor Convicted to 50 Year Sentence

By Emilee Gaebler
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

FREETOWN, Sierra Leone — Today Charles Taylor, the ex-President of Liberia, was sentenced to 50 years in prison for his crimes committed in Sierra Leone during the country’s civil war in the 1990s.  The judgment handed down this morning in The Hague, Netherlands, is the first conviction of a head of state by an international tribunal, since the Nuremberg trials following World War II.

Taylor stands as his sentence is read. (Photo Courtesy of EuroNews)

Taylor’s conviction was based on the crimes he committed during his presidency which lasted from 1997 until 2003; specifically the crime of trafficking weapons to rebels in Sierra Leone in exchange for “blood diamonds.”  The presiding judge said that Taylor was guilty of “aiding and abetting, as well as planning, some of the most heinous and brutal crimes recorded in human history.”  As the 50 year conviction was handed down, Taylor stood in front of the court with his eyes cast down to the floor.

The original indictment laid out specific crimes including conscription of children under the age of 15, multiple instances of mass rape, and sexual assault.  Taylor’s provision of weapons allowed for the rebel soldiers of Sierra Leone to rampage the country, committing numerous war crimes including: rape, sexual assault, sexual slavery, murder, terrorism, and looting.  Although Taylor was not convicted for these crimes, and likely never will answer for them, human rights activists were optimistic about the sentence.  Ibrahim Sorie, a lawmaker in Sierra Leone, stated, “It restores our faith in the rule of law, and we see that impunity is ending for top people.”

Prosecutor’s, who originally asked for an 80 year sentence, said they might choose to appeal the sentence both to lengthen the time Taylor will spend behind bars and to broaden his responsibility for the crimes committed by the rebel soldiers in Sierra Leone.  Peter Andersen, a spokesperson for the Special Court of Sierra Leone, said that the prosecution had hoped the court would find Taylor guilty of being a “superior leader” and having a direct influence on the atrocities committed.  Andersen also noted that the sentence was a major step forward for the people of Sierra Leone and may help them move closer towards reconciliation.

Taylor’s defense counsel plans to appeal the sentence immediately.  They believe it is clearly disproportionate and excessive, especially considering that Taylor is 64 years of age and a 50 year sentence means he will spend the remainder of his life behind bars in a British prison.  Morris Anya, one of Taylor’s lawyers, noted that Taylor voluntarily stepped down from office; a fact that the court overlooked in reaching their sentence.  Prosecutor’s contest this last fact, stating that Taylor did not voluntarily leave but was pushed out by an African leaders delegation and a rebel offensive; both urging an end to the bloodshed.

 

For further information, please see;

ABC News — Charles Taylor Sentenced to 50 Years in Prison — 30 May 2012

CNN — Charles Taylor Sentenced to 50 Years for War Crimes — 30 May 2012

New York Times — Taylor Receives 50 Years for Heinous Crimes in War — 30 May 2012

Wall Street Journal — Court Sentences Liberian Dictator — 30 May 2012

 

Body of Boy Suspected of Terrorism Displayed by Somali Forces

By Ryan Aliman
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

MOGADISHU, Somalia – The body of an unidentified boy suspected to be a member of the terrorist group, Al-Shabaab, lay lifeless at the Bakaara Market last May 22, publicly displayed for everyone to see.

Somali forces use dead body of suspected Al-Shabaab member to serve as a warning. (Photo Courtesy of Shabelle News)

The killing was part of Operation Free Shabelle, a military offensive by African Union member-states aiming to regain control of the Shabelle region of Southern Somalia from Al-Shabaab, an organization known to be affiliated with the international terrorist group Al-Qaeda.

According to Abdullahi Hassan Barrise, the Somali police spokesman, the boy was spotted carrying explosives which he allegedly planned to detonate in the area. When confronted by security officers, the boy tried to escape, prompting the officers to shoot him.

In an interview with the local newspapers, Barrise said the boy was one of the youths brainwashed by Al-Shabaab. On behalf of the Somali government, Barrise called upon the boys in Al-Shabaab to “repent” of their actions in the country. However, it is unclear if Barrise intends to give lighter punishment to the young combatants who will surrender peacefully.

Barrise further urged parents to caution and restrain their children from doing “risky behavior” which may ultimately harm them.

The scene of the killing, Bakaara Market, is one of Somalia’s biggest markets. It has seen its own share of violence and arms trade through most of Somalia’s civil wars. The recent increase of security forces in the area is in line with the Somali Army’s goal to “liberate the whole Shabelle region from Al-Shabaab” under Operation Free Shabelle.

The battle for control over this region has been ongoing since the early 1990s. It was only in 2007, however, that the Somali government, along with African Union member states, moved to toughen its stance through the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).

“Although much of the Al-Shabaab has been eliminated from the whole of Mogadishu, the Somali government forces will not stop pursuing members of the organization in other regions still under Al-Shabaab’s control,” Barisse said.

This killing of a suspected juvenile members of Al-Shabaab may continue as Barrise intends to give current members a preview of the grim fate they face should they persist with their activities. Somali government forces have been displaying the bodies of people they link to Al-Shabaab. Such incidents are on the increase of late.

For more information please see:

Risaala Media Corporation – Anood: Operations Won’t Stop Till We Liberate The Whole Of Lower Shabelle – May 26, 2012

Somaliland Press – In Pictures: Operation Free Shabelle – May 25, 2012

Shabelle Media Network – Somali Police Displays the Body of Suspected Al Shabab Boy in Mogadishu – May 23, 2012

Risaala Media Corporation – Somalia CID Boss Displays The Body Of Suspected Young Al-Shabab Fighter – May 23, 2012