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