By Tyler Yates
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

TRIPOLI, Libya — In the last few days, the world has watched closely as Libya finally began to shake off the last remnants of its Qaddafi problem, and began a new chapter in its history.  After six months of intense fighting, the Libyan opposition took control of large parts of Tripoli, Libya’s capital and Qaddafi’s base of operations.

The National Transitional Council (TNC), the recognized face of the opposition, now has the job of picking up the pieces of Libya, and completing its goal for a “free and dignified” Libya.

The TNC derives its legitimacy from the decisions of local councils set up by the people of the cities and villages that have already been “liberated” by the rebel opposition.  So far 46 countries have recognized the council as a legitimate governing body, with the notable exceptions being the People’s Republic of China and Russia, both of which had business dealings with Qaddafi’s regime.

Numerous international actors, including foreign governments and human rights organizations, are urging the TNC to take the steps necessary to prevent lawlessness and reprisals from Qaddafi supporters.

“The National Transitional Council has set a good tone for the transition with forceful statements about justice and human rights,” said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East and North Africa director of Human Rights Watch.  “But concrete steps are urgently needed to avoid revenge, protect vulnerable people and help promote the rule of law.”

So far the TNC is working to prevent revenge killings, but some have already occurred.  Human Rights Watch (HRW) has asked the council to step up the security for pro-Qaddafi Libyans, including those who were displaced from rebel territories and those who are accused of serving as mercenaries for Qaddafi.

Despite help from NATO, the job of trying the criminals of the revolution is being laid at the feet of the TNC. State Department Spokesperson Victoria Nuland notes that while Qaddafi and his followers must face justice for all the “blood on their hands” such accountability needs to be “Libyan-led.”

HRW has also asked the TNC to protect all institutions that have become symbols of Qaddafi’s oppression such as the prisons, police stations, courthouses, and other government buildings.  Both the TNC and interested international onlookers hope to avoid what happened in Iraq after the fall of Saddam Hussein, when many government buildings were looted and damaged and documents were destroyed.

In response to its new duty, the TNC has issued a call for a unified Libya.  They do not want any more civilian deaths in what has already been a deadly conflict.

Further, the TNC has promised to hold elections next April to choose a new permanent government for Libya.  This announcement, made by Mustafa Abdel Jalil, the TNC chairman, comes as world leaders prepare to meet to discuss Libya’s future.  “We want a democratic government and a just constitution,” Jalil said.

Jalil and other members of the TNC have said that they will not seek office in the elections, but that they will still play a central role in the country’s immediate future.

As Amnesty International has said these are “momentous, but extremely dangerous” days for the people of Libya, but it is hoped by many that cool head will prevail and allow for a peaceful, human transition.

For more information, please see:

Amnesty — Both Sides in Libya conflict must protect detainees from torture — 25 Aug 2011

CNN — Group urges Libyans to respect human rights in transition — 24 Aug 2011

Huffington Post — Libya: a Revolution’s Endgame —  24 Aug 2011

New York Times — Sarkozy Assures Libyan Rebel Leader — 24 Aug 2011

The Telegraph — Libya:  leaders promise elections next year — 24 Aug 2011

Voice of America — US Human Rights Groups Urge No Retribution in Libya — 23 Aug 2011

By Zach Waksman
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

DAMASCUS, Syria – Syrian President Bashar al-Assad took to the airwaves Sunday, using an interview on national television to say that he would not bow to urges to resign from Western countries.  And as crackdowns continued against protesters in Syria, the Geneva-based United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) today passed a resolution calling for an inquiry into Assad’s actions, which may include crimes against humanity.

“The solution in Syria is political, but when there are security cases, they must be confronted through the competent institutions…” Assad explained.  “We have chosen the political solution since the very first days of events; otherwise, we wouldn’t have headed toward reform as we announced a package of reforms in less than a week after the events began…the political solution can’t succeed without preserving security.”

But Monday, crackdowns continued in Homs, the country’s third largest city, where a UN fact-finding team was visiting in order “to assess such needs as food and medicine.”  But while they were there, Syrian security forces fired at a crowd of people who had gathered to welcome the team.  The attack violated promises to the UN, including a personal assurance by Assad to Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon.  Today, Al Jazeera reported that 55 tanks had raided the town of al-Khowria in Deir ez-Zor.  They were launching shells at the neighborhood while two helicopters deployed troops.

The UN resolution comes mere days after the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights released a report detailing actions taken by security forces against activists.  Among other tactics, the security forces shot to kill unarmed protesters, including women and children.  The UN estimates that more than 2,200 Syrians, most of them unarmed dissidents, have died since the protests began in mid-March.  The 46-member HRC approved the resolution with 33 votes in favor, 4 votes against, and 9 abstentions.  China and Russia were two of the four countries who opposed, both saying that it was an unnecessary intervention.

Assad seemed unconcerned about the new pressure.  During Sunday’s interview, he promised elections and a review of the country’s constitution.  He also considered Western insistence that he step down “meaningless.”  “This cannot be said to a president who was elected by the people,” he said, referring to his victory in a 2007 referendum with 97.6% of the vote. Assad was the only candidate.

He also appeared confident that his country would emerge from its present situation stronger than before the violence began in March.  “Syria will not fall unless there will be a crisis that will finish Syria and this can’t happen,” Assad said. “I am reassured that the Syrians will come out of this crisis. I am not worried, and I want to reassure everybody.”

But the reality seems quite different, as protests continue and local and international opinion continues to move against Assad.  Though some activists liken their situation to that of the recently fallen Libya, they do not hold any cities, and the military forces seem to be holding strong.  It is, however clear, that Assad’s continued efforts are repression are failing.

According to Nadim Shehadi, a scholar at the London-based Chatham House, a research organization in London. Assad “needs to understand first that it’s over. He probably does but hasn’t shown it. Then he needs an exit strategy.”

Until Assad acknowledges this, the cycle of protests, crackdowns and calls for him to step down may not end for a long time.

For more information, please see:

Al Jazeera — UN orders probe into Syria rights violations — 23 August 2011

BBC — Syria unrest: UN rights body to investigate crackdown — 23 August 2011

SANA — President al-Assad: The Solution in Syria is Political…We Made Security Achievements…There will be Elections and Review of Constitution — 23 August 2011

United Nations — Top UN human rights body orders inquiry into Syrian violence — 23 August 2011

United Nations Office at Geneva — Human rights council decides to dispatch a commission of inquiry to investigate human rights violations in the Syrian Arab Republic — 23 August 2011

New York Times — Dissent in Syria Emerges as Front Line of Arab Uprisings — 22 August 2011

New York Times — Assad Says He Rejects West’s Calls to Resign — 21 August 2011

By Adom M. Cooper
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

TRIPOLI, Libya–Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi is standing firm to his claim of staying entrenched in Tripoli until “the end,” as opposition fighters clashed their way towards the capital to support rebels who entered the city on Saturday evening. After being met with sporadic and seemingly farce resistance, rebels blasted into the Libyan capital on Sunday evening, complete with street celebrations by residents hailing the end of Gaddafi’s 42-year reign.

The fighting spilled into Sunday morning in several central and eastern neighborhoods. Witnesses reported that rebel flags were raised over some buildings, perhaps a sign to hope that change might really be on the horizon. This recent swing of battles comes just 24 hours after forces loyal to Gaddafi utilized heavy machine guns and mortars to deal with lightly armed opposition forces and protesters who were expressing their disgust with the status quo in the streets.

In an address to the nation, Gaddafi refused to surrender and guaranteed to emerge as the victor. He also called on all of the Libyan people to come from all regions to “liberate” Tripoli.

“We will not, we will not abandon Tripoli to the occupants and their agents. I am with you in this battle. We do not surrender and, by God’s grace, we will emerge victorious. Today we must take over Tajoura. I fear, if you let them, they will destroy Tripoli.”

Just as Gaddafi was delivering his promise to never surrender, rebel fighters made significant advances in several key regions. They advanced ten kilometers from the western region of Zawiyah, capturing the town of al-Mayah. This acquisition placed the rebels within several kilometers of Tripoli’s suburbs. Simultaneously, more rebels made their way to other locations to the south and east, Gharyan and Zlitan.

An Al-Jazeera correspondent conducted an interview with a Tripoli resident in the Abu Sita neighborhood named Youssef. He expressed these sentiments concerning the rebel advances on Sunday afternoon.

“We are waiting for the revolutionaries to come to conquer Tripoli, because we don’t have weapons to defend ourselves. Gaddafi troops are using heavy artillery and heavy weapons, and we don’t know what’s going to happen in the next two to three hours.”

Late Sunday evening, rebel officials reports that two of Gaddafi’s sons, Saif al-Islam and Saaid, have been arrested by opposition forces in Tripoli. The International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo confirmed this report of their capture. Moreno-Ocampo also said that the court has indicted Saif al-Islam for torturing and killing civilians.

Moving into the early hours of Monday, the rebels pushed further and made their way to Green Square, which they renamed Martyrs’ Square. Celebrations began to pile up as thousands of Libyans entered the streets and waved rebel flags, appearing to salute each other over a victory that was not completed.

Gaddafi gave an audio broadcast to his nation late on Sunday, urging them to “save Tripoli” from the rebels.

“How come you allow Tripoli, the capital, to be under occupation once again? The traitors are paving the way for the occupation forces to be deployed in Tripoli. Get out and lead, lead, lead the people to paradise.”

Libyan Information Minister Moussa Ibrahim reported that since fighting in the capital began around noon (10:00 GMT) on Sunday, the battles had claimed 1,300 lives and left some 5,000 wounded.

“The city is being turned into a hellfire.”

The National Transitional Council (NTC), the governing body of the rebels, issued a mass text message early on Monday morning.

“We congratulate the Libyan people for the fall of Muammar Qaddafi and call on the Libyan people to go into the street to protect the public property. Long live free Libya.”

There is surely a resurgent feeling of hope inside Libya that the 42-year reign of their leader is finally coming to an end. Aref Ali Nayed, an ambassador in the United Arab Emirates for the NTC said that the opposition forces were dubbing Sunday “Day 1” to signify that a new era in Libya has already begun. But the search for the Libyan leader still continues.

More battles occurred early on Monday after tanks left Bab Aziziya, Gaddafi’s compound in Tripoli, to try and quell the impending rebel assault. The location of the Gaddafi himself is still unknown and it is believed that he is attempting to rally his forces for a final defense. One can only hope that more of the thousands of civilians inside Libya will not have to pay the ultimate price for a regime transition that desperately needs to occur.

For more information, please see:

Ahram-Gaddafi’s reign crumbles to its demise as rebels seize most of Tripoli and heir-22 August 2011

Al-Jazeera-Libyan rebels in ‘final push’ for capital-21 August 2011

BBC-Scenes of joy as Libya rebels enter centra Tripoli-22 August 2011

CNN-Gadhafi regime appears to be ‘crumbling’ as rebels advance in Tripoli-22 August 2011

The Guardian-Libya:rebel forces reach heart of Tripoli-22 August 2011

NYT-Jubilant Rebels Control Much of Tripoli-22 August 2011