Syria Deeply Weekly Update: Russia Makes Moves in Syria

The most important updates on the war in Syria.
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WEEKLY UPDATE
October 21, 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:Brokered earlier in the week by Russia, a “humanitarian pause” began in Aleppo on Thursday that saw a halt to Syrian and Russian airstrikes in order to allow rebels and civilians to evacuate the besieged eastern side of Syria’s largest city. Russia originally announced that the pause in airstrikes would last for eight hours, despite a U.N. assessment finding that at least 12 hours were needed to carry out evacuations. Moscow later increased the halt in fighting to 11 hours. Two exit corridors were established to facilitate evacuation, but many rebels and residents said they would not leave the opposition-held side of Aleppo. Some rebel groups criticized the pause, claiming it was merely a ploy aimed at getting fighters to abandon their position and empty the city. Residents also claimed that they feared they would be arrested by pro-Syrian regime forces if they evacuated the area.As the pause began, Russia joined the U.S., Saudi Arabia and Qatar in talks in Geneva aimed at separating armed opposition groups from extremists in Aleppo. Despite this diplomatic involvement, Russia also ramped up its military presence in Syria. A Russian aircraft carrier, a battle cruiser and other support vessels were reportedly on route to the country on Friday.Weekly Highlights:

Pause in Aleppo Is Not ‘Humanitarian’ but a Means of Military Escalation

Russia’s 11-hour “humanitarian pause” to facilitate evacuations from eastern Aleppo will not allow for much-needed aid, but rather is part of an overall strategy for a military solution to the conflict, says Middle East analyst Sharif Nashashibi.
A boy sits amongst rubble in rebel-held eastern Aleppo, Syria. Syrian Civil Defense- White Helmets via AP

Green Gold: How ISIS Is Making as Much Money From Wheat as From Oil

As ISIS comes under increased attack in some of the region’s most fertile lands, Middle East agriculture researcher Eckart Woertz discusses how the militant group shrewdly chose to export a renewable resource.
Men make bread at a bakery in the old city of Aleppo, Syria. Wheat is one of Syria’s most important commodities. AP/Andoni Lubaki, File

Pixels of War: Photographing the Siege in Eastern Ghouta

In the first installment of “Pixels of War,” our diary series on Syrian journalists, Artino describes his time as a war photographer, wanted by the regime, in besieged Eastern Ghouta.
Artino

Additional Reading:

Top image: Artino taking a photo. Artino

Anti-Gay Protesters March in Paris

By Sarah Lafen

Impunity Watch Desk Reporter, Europe

PARIS, France — Thousands of protestors marched in Paris on Sunday to demonstrate their opposition to same-sex marriage laws.  Police estimated the crowd to be at approximately 24,000, however organizers of the event estimated the turnout to be about 200,000.  The protest was led by the anti-gay marriage movement “Manif Pour Tous,” which translates to “Protest for Everyone.”  Participants waved French flags and wore the movement’s colors – blue and pink.  Some brought signs which read “All together for the family” and “In 2017, I’ll vote for the family.”

Tens of thousands of protestors gathered on the streets in Paris on Sunday to protest same-sex marriage laws (Photo Courtesy of DW)
Tens of thousands of protestors gathered on the streets in Paris on Sunday to protest same-sex marriage laws (Photo Courtesy of DW)

In 2013, France’s socialist government legalized same-sex marriage in a movement they called “Marriage for All.”  The protestors on Sunday hoped to put pressure on right-winged politicians, who are about to take part in a presidential primary in November, to repeal the law if elected.  One 29-year old protestor stated that he wanted a “return to the principles of Christian civilization in terms of family, institutions and work.”  Manif Pour Tous also opposes surrogate pregnancies, assisted reproduction technology, and adoption by same-sex couples.

One hundred gay rights activists staged their own demonstration in opposition to the anti-gay marriage protest to “respond to the hate propagated by Manif Pour Tous.”  At the demonstration, same-sex couples kissed at the city’s central Place de la Republique.  The protest was also briefly interrupted when 13 people were arrested following a protest by six topless women from the activist group Femen.  Some of the women had the phrase “Hate is not a family value” written across their chests.

Former French President and 2017 presidential hopeful Nicolas Sarkozy stated that he would not repeal the law if he were to return to the presidency.  Sarkozy believes that “France has many other important issues to deal with such as security, terrorism and unemployment, rather than recreate conditions for another hysterical debate.”

Manif Pour Tous last orchestrated a large demonstration in 2013 against the Marriage for All law, claiming to have gathered 1.4 million people in the streets of Paris.

So far, none of the leading presidential candidates from the right-wing party have said they intend to repeal the same-sex marriage law if elected.

 

For more information, please see:

DW — Tens of Thousands Protest Against Gay Marriage in Paris — 16 October 2016

France 24 — Anti-Gay Marriage Protesters Return to Streets of Paris — 16 October 2016

Reuters — French Anti-Gay Marriage Protesters March to Revive Issue Before Polls — 16 October 2016

Yahoo — Anti-Gay Marriage Protesters Return to French Streets — 16 October 2016

Syrian Network for Human Rights: Detailed Account of One Month of Syrian-Russian Attacks on the Neighborhoods of Eastern Aleppo
I. Introduction
This is the third report that documents the most notable violations of human rights by the Syrian and Russian regimes in the neighborhoods of Eastern Aleppo after the second Cessation of Hostilities statement ended on Monday 19 September 2016 where government and Russian forces have escalated their indiscriminate attacks and military operations throughout Syria and especially in the neighborhoods of eastern Aleppo which will be the focus of this report. This report documents the most notable violations in eastern Aleppo’s neighborhoods which amount to crimes against humanity and war crimes over the course of one month since the second Cessation of Hostilities statement came to an end.
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Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect: Atrocity Alert: Iraq, Central African Republic, Philippines and Yemen

Atrocity Alert, No. 27

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Atrocity Alert is a weekly publication by the Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect highlighting and updating situations where populations are at risk of, or are enduring, mass atrocity crimes.

Iraq

On 17 October the Iraqi government announced the launch of a long-anticipated offensive to liberate Mosul from the so-called Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). Iraqi forces, supported by a United States-led anti-ISIL coalition and Kurdish Peshmerga, have been attacking ISIL targets with the aim of seizing back control of Iraq’s second-largest city. The UN has warned that the offensive may affect as many as 1.5 million civilians in Mosul, up to 1 million of whom may be displaced and may require emergency humanitarian assistance. During the first days of the offensive there have been reports of ISIL fighters using civilians as human shields. On 19 October the Popular Mobilization Force, a Shia paramilitary group, announced it would join the offensive. While retaking Fallujah from ISIL earlier this year, Shia militias reportedly targeted Sunni civilians fleeing the city for abduction and killing, possibly amounting to war crimes. It is essential that all parties participating in the battle for Mosul take effective measures to ensure the protection of civilians.

IRIN Photos

Central African Republic

Despite a period of relative stability following the establishment of a new government during April 2016, populations in Central African Republic remain at risk of mass atrocity crimes as various rebel groups continue to fight each other as well as attack civilians, humanitarian workers and UN peacekeepers. The risk is particularly acute in Kaga-Bandoro where attacks perpetrated by ex-Séléka on 12 October, and the ensuing defense by the UN Mission in CAR (MINUSCA), resulted in at least 30 people killed and several thousand civilians displaced. Since September humanitarian agencies have been forced to withdraw from Kaga-Bandoro and surrounding villages as a result of ex-Séléka looting and targeted attacks on humanitarian workers. While MINUSCA was able to eventually repel the Kaga-Bandoro attackers, it must do more to anticipate threats to vulnerable populations and forcibly disarm armed groups.

UNHCR Photos

Philippines

Since taking office on 30 June 2016, Philippines’ President Rodrigo Duterte has implemented a violent campaign against millions of civilians suspected of either dealing or using illegal drugs. President Duterte has been accused of inciting vigilante groups to attack drug dealers and encouraging police to carry out extrajudicial killings. An estimated 3,800 civilians have been killed so far this year. President Duterte has responded to international condemnation of his policies with derision. The widespread extrajudicial execution of suspected drug users or traffickers may amount to potential crimes against humanity.

Linus G. Escandor II/PRI

Yemen

UN Special Envoy to Yemen, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, announced on 17 October that all Yemeni parties have committed to a 72-hour cessation of hostilities as of 19 October at 23:59 Yemeni time. The Special Envoy will negotiate an extension of the cessation if the first 72-hour period is respected. Violence between Houthi rebels and various pro-government forces, as well as sustained Saudi-led coalition airstrikes, have resulted in more than 4,125 civilians killed since March 2015. More than 3 million Yemenis have been displaced by the conflict while an estimated 82 percent of the population require humanitarian assistance. It is essential that all parties to the conflict respect the proposed cessation of hostilities, and allow unhindered humanitarian access. All parties to the conflict must immediately cease indiscriminate attacks on civilians and return to credible peace talks.

UN Photo/JC McIlwaine

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Syria Justice and Accountability Centre: A Look Back on Russia’s First Year in the Syrian Conflict

SJAC Update | October 19, 2016
“President Bashar al-Assad of Syria and President Vladimir Putin of Russia met in Moscow to discuss the military operations in Syria.” Source: Wikimedia Commons

A Look Back on Russia’s First Year in the Syrian Conflict

September 30, 2016 marked the first anniversary of Russia’s direct military involvement in the Syrian conflict. Although many onlookers initially believed that recent attempts to broker peace would succeed due to Russia’s leverage over the Syrian government, this has not turned out to be the case. Instead, Russia has disrupted the peace process by actively contradicting its verbal commitments for peace in Syria and supporting President Bashar al-Assad’s actions militarily as well as politically through the UN Security Council. The following includes a sampling of five actions by Russia that have been obstacles to peace:

1. Russia has encouraged and proliferated attacks on civilians

International humanitarian law (IHL) is the guiding framework for actions taken during warfare, including the treatment of civilians and those no longer participating in hostilities. Prior to direct Russian intervention, the Syrian government was already accused of committing numerous IHL violations, such as the targeting of hospitals and civilian populations, the forced displacement of civilians, and the use of chemical weapons. Instead of holding the Syrian government to a higher standard, Russia has instead increased the severity of Syria’s violations. Almost immediately after Russia entered the conflict in October 2015, for example, its air strikes targeted six medical facilities, and since then human rights groups have claimed the health crisis has worsened due to the continued destruction of health facilities. Moreover, Russia has been supporting Syria’s tactic of systematic forced displacement, such as advocating for humanitarian corridors to pressure civilians in eastern Aleppo to leave the area or be subject to attacks.
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The Syria Justice and Accountability Centre (SJAC) is a Syrian-led and multilaterally supported nonprofit that envisions a Syria where people live in a state defined by justice, respect for human rights, and rule of law. SJAC collects, analyzes, and preserves human rights law violations by all parties in the conflict — creating a central repository to strengthen accountability and support transitional justice and peace-building efforts. SJAC also conducts research to better understand Syrian opinions and perspectives, provides expertise and resources, conducts awareness-raising activities, and contributes to the development of locally appropriate transitional justice and accountability mechanisms. Contact us at info@syriaaccountability.org.