Syria Deeply Weekly Update: Smokescreens in Aleppo, Talks of Possible Partitioning

August 7, 2016

The Basics · The Government · ISIS · The Opposition · Global Players

WEEKLY UPDATE
August 6, 2016

Dear Readers,Welcome to the weekly Syria Deeply newsletter. We’ve rounded up the most important stories and developments about Syria and the Syrians in order to bring you valuable news and analysis. But first, here is a brief overview of what happened this week:Monday marked the passing of the deadline to resume peace talks for a political transition in Syria. The Geneva-based talks did not resume this week, nor was a cease-fire agreed to. Instead, two major players in the Syrian conflict did speak about the possibility that Syria could be partitioned before the end of the war.Just before the weekend, the head of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, John Brennan, expressed his doubts that Syria would remain one country in the future. Less than a week later, Hezbollah’s deputy leader, Sheikh Naim Qassem, voiced a similar opinion, saying that sectarian fighting in the region could lead to the partitioning of Syria and Iraq.

The battle for Aleppo, Syria’s largest city, continued this week. Residents of the now-besieged eastern part of Aleppo city have been burning tires in a desperate effort to prevent warplanes from targeting civilians and opposition fighters on the front lines.

But fighting in Aleppo showed no signs of stopping by the week’s end. On Friday, the leader of Jabhat Fatah al-Sham, Abu Mohammed al-Joulani, issued two audio statements announcing that they had entered the third stage of their operation to break the siege in eastern Aleppo and promising “victory” for his “people in Aleppo.”

Nearly 300,000 people have been stuck in the eastern part of the city since Syrian and Russian forces cut off the last rebel supply route out of the city, Castello Road. Airstrikes have been near-constant, and Syrian government forces and their Russian allies used aircraft to target six medical facilities in opposition-held areas of Aleppo within one week, according to the global nonprofit Physicians for Human Rights (PHR).

Weekly Highlights:

Aleppo’s Healthcare in Critical Condition

Amid the blame game of warring parties in Aleppo, the healthcare system in Syria’s largest city is dying a slow and excruciating death. The week ending July 23-24 was the worst for medical facilities in opposition-controlled Aleppo in the history of the conflict. In government-controlled western Aleppo, physicians are fleeing and only three hospitals remain to serve 1.5 million residents.

A Free Syrian Army fighter walks through a street in the Amariya district in Aleppo. On the wall, someone has written “We will fight until the end [God willing]. AP/ Manu Brabo

Governing the Most Dangerous City in Syria

Aleppo has long been one of Syria’s most violent battlefields, but despite the ongoing fighting and clashes for control between various warring factions, local councils in opposition-held areas of the city continue to govern.

A Syrian man rides a motorcycle passing by a damaged building that was destroyed by airstrikes in Aleppo, Syria. Aleppo Media Center via AP

Attack in Jordan Leaves 70,000 Syrians Trapped in Desert Without Aid

Oxfam’s Camilla Jelbart Mosse spoke to Syria Deeply on the difficulties faced by aid organizations trying to reach 70,000 Syrians trapped in the desert after a suicide attack in June led Jordan to close its border and suspend aid deliveries.

Stranded Syrians carry water bottles at the Rukban border camp near northeast Jordan, on June 25, 2016. International aid organizations say little water and no food has reached the nearly 70,000 displaced Syrian stranded in the desert after Jordan sealed its border in response to a suicide attack on June 21. AP

Additional Reading:

For new reporting and analysis every weekday, visit www.newsdeeply.com/syria.
You can reach our team with any comments or suggestions at info@newsdeeply.org.

Top image: Children in eastern Aleppo burn tires as residents of the besieged city attempt to create a smokescreen to confuse government and Russian airstrikes. Khaled Khaled, Syria Civil Defense/Aleppo Media Center photographer

Executions by the Peruvian National Police

August 7, 2016

By Cintia Garcia

Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

LIMA, PERU–The newly appointed president, Pablo Kuczynski, the Attorney General and Office of the Inspector General will open an investigation following accusations that the national police force carried out extrajudicial killings of 27 people from 2011-2015. All 27 victims were Peruvian civilians from Lima, Ica, and Chiclayo. The police considered those they killed a nuisance or a common criminal. Innocent victims are alleged to be among the dead.

The National Police Force is under fire after accusations emerge of death squad. (Photo Courtesy of RPP Noticias)

Ninety-Six members of the police force, including sixteen highly ranked officials, are among those being investigated. The units within the force being investigated are: Robbery, Intelligence, anti-terrorism, and a unit similar to SWAT. They were all under the command of Enrique Prado Ravines, a highly ranked police commander. The inspector general’s office will head the commission and investigation. The minister of interior affairs, Carlos Basombrio made it clear to the nation that “the authorities are treating the case with utmost seriousness and will have zero tolerance for the police abuses.” He continued to state that it is important to protect the institution from the bad elements. The goal of the investigation is to release a report to the nation within 10 days detailing the situation.

The allegations were brought forth by members of the police force. After receiving the complaints, the inspector general’s office immediately conducted a month long investigation that confirmed the irregularities within the force. The allegations stated that commander Enrique Prado Ravines would pay lower ranked officials to carry out the killings—which his attorney denies. The claims accuse him of creating a plan to lure the victims by using local gang and criminal organizations. These organizations would kidnap the victims and the lower ranked police officers would kill the captive’s execution style. Forensic reports have revealed that all the victims were shot in a downward trajectory most common among death squads. It was stated that Enrique Prado Ravines killed the individuals because he sought personal career advancements and monetary gains.

Such death squads have not existed in Peru since the dictatorship of Fujimori—a president that carried various human rights violations and is currently serving time in prison.

For more information please see:

RPP Noticias—Un Grupo de Policías es Acusado de Ejecuciones—31 Julio 2016

El Comercio—Presunta Ejecución de Delincuentes: en 10 días Emitirán Informe—01 August 2016

El Economista—Peru investiga a un Centenary de Agentes de la Policia por Presuntas Ejecuciones Extrajudiciales—01 August 2016

Telesurtv—Peru Investigates suspected Death Squad in the Police Force—2 August 2016

German Music Festival Targeted by Suicide Bomber

August 3, 2016

By Sarah Lafen

Impunity Watch Desk Reporter, Europe

BERLIN, Germany — A 27-year old Syrian detonated an explosive backpack near the entrance to a music festival in the German town Ansbach on July 25, killing himself and injuring 15 people with injuries ranging from serious to non-life threatening. Bavarian Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann stated that the backpack explosive device contained nails and screws, a measure indicative of an attempt to inflict widespread damage onto others. The bomber was rejected entry to the festival because he did not have a ticket to the event, and was seen lingering around the outside seating area of a wine restaurant around 10pm right before the bomb was detonated.

Police inspect the area near the wine bar in Ansbach where the bomb was detonated (Photo Courtesy of BBC)

The suicide bomber left behind a video on his cell phone pledging his allegiance to ISIS, and stated that the attack was revenge against Germans because they “obstruct Islam”. Upon searching the bomber’s room after the attack, police also found bomb-making materials, as well as computer images and film clips linked to ISIS. The bomber arrived in Germany in 2014 and applied for asylum, however found out two weeks ago that his application as denied, and he would have been deported to Bulgaria within 30 days of the denial. Within the past two years, he had been in trouble with local authorities for drug-related offenses, and was under psychiatric observation following two previous suicide attempts.

This attack occurs in the midst of widespread criticism of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s lenient immigration policy. This past week alone, Germany has been the target of several violent attacks linked to ISIS, including a shooting rampage at a shopping mall in Munich and an ax attack on a train in Wurzburg.

Despite its loose immigration policy, Germany has been taking steps over the past couple of months to tighten security regarding asylum seekers in hopes of limiting the number of refugees who enter the country. A newly proposed law would help speed up the application process for refugees, quickening the deportation process for those who are denied asylum. Berlin has been in the process of negotiating a deal with Turkey to take back their citizens who are denied asylum in Germany. These efforts seem to be successful, as the number of refugees arriving in Germany has fallen dramatically over the past year.

For more information, please see:

CNN — Ansbach Bomber in Germany Pledged Allegiance to ISIS Leader — 26 July 2016

DW — As Attacks Rattle Germany, Chancellor Merkel Finds Herself in the Spotlight — 25 July 2016

NBC — 12 Injured, Bomber Killed Outside German Music Festival — 25 July 2016

New York Times — Suicide Bomber in Ansbach, Germany, Pledged Loyalty to ISIS, Officials Say — 25 July 2016

Reuters — Bavarian Bomber Pledged Allegiance to Islamic State: Minister — 25 July 2016

El Salvador’s Supreme Court Declares Amnesty Law Unconstitutional

August 2, 2016

By Portia K. Skenandore-Wheelock
Impunity Watch Reporter, North America

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador — The Constitutional Chamber of El Salvador’s Supreme Court has found articles 1 and 4 of the 1993 Amnesty Law unconstitutional. These articles extended amnesty to certain people and crimes committed during El Salvador’s civil war beyond international law, violating the fundamental rights for the victim’s of genocide and crimes against humanity. In a 4 to 1 vote the judges ruled that provisions in the law contradict the right to moral reparations, “Crimes against humanity don’t have statute of limitations according to international law.” Without the Amnesty Law the government can now investigate, prosecute, sanction, and remedy severe human rights violations.

According to the UN Truth Commission the Salvadorian army committed massacres in villages that were suspected of supporting guerrillas. Over 75,000 El Salvadorians were raped, tortured, killed or disappeared between 1980 and 1992, during the country’s civil war. The report listed names of those responsible for these human rights violations and found that the Salvadoran army and paramilitary groups committed 85 percent of these crimes and the Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (FMLN) committed about five percent.

A part of the peace agreement between the Salvadoran government and the FMLN included a clause called the Law of National Reconciliation which granted amnesty to both parties. However, in accordance with international law those that were listed in the UN report were excluded from being granted amnesty. Both sides signed the law in 1992 but it was quickly superseded by the 1993 Amnesty Law passed by the Salvadoran Legislative Assembly, which granted amnesty to all of those who committed human rights violations. The Amnesty Law has since been protested by grassroots efforts, NGOs, and international bodies such as the Center for Justice and Accountability and the Spanish Association for Human Rights, Amnesty International, and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights of Organization of American States.

The Constitutional Chamber of El Salvador’s Supreme Court declares parts of the 1993 Amnesty Law unconstitutional. (Photo courtesy of PanAm Post)

Many are celebrating the court’s ruling, such as Erika Guevara-Rosas, Americas Director at Amnesty International, “Today is an historic day for human rights in El Salvador. By turning its back on a law that has done nothing but let criminals get away with serious human rights violations for decades, the country is finally dealing with its tragic past. El Salvador must waste no time and bring all those suspected of criminal responsibility for the tens of thousands of unlawful killings and enforced disappearances that were committed during the internal armed conflict to justice. Victims should not be made to wait for justice, truth and reparation for a second longer.” But others are concerned that the decision is empty without strong and impartial institutions to investigate war crimes and start prosecutions.

Politicians are especially reluctant to revisit human rights violations during the civil war since many of them were involved in the conflict and had previously enjoyed protection from prosecution with the Amnesty Law. As a guerrilla leader during the war, even President Salvador Sanchez Ceren is among many of the country’s leaders that could be investigated, prompting political divide and opportunity with upcoming elections.

El Salvador’s attorney general, Douglas Melendez, says the government will abide by the Supreme Court’s ruling. But until a prosecution unit is established to investigate these war crimes, justice for the victims’ families will continue to be on hold.

For more information, please see:

Amnesty International – El Salvador Rejects Amnesty Law in Historic Ruling – 14 July 2016

Council on Hemispheric Affairs – El Salvador’s 1993 Amnesty Law Overturned: Implications for Colombia – 25 July 2016

New York Times – Seeking Justice in El Salvador – 22 July 2016

PANAM Post – El Salvador’s War Criminals Lose Legal Immunity – 18 July 2016

PILPG – War Crimes Prosecution Watch Volume 11, Issue 10