Syrian Revolution Digest – Monday 19 November 2012

Release the Kraken!

Syrian Revolution Digest – November 19, 2012 

They’re baaaack! All those missing pundits who had little to say about the tragic developments in Syria over the last few months are now back and at it again, tackling their favorite topic in the whole wide world and making their usual sweeping assertions about its centrality to the regional woes: who cares about authoritarianism and corruption, it’s the Arab-Israeli Conflict baby. What they have missed in the midst of their ideological orgy is the simple fact the Conflict has long morphed into an Israeli-Iranian affair with Turkey trying to work herself in, and Arabs, rich and poor alike, being nothing more than glorified proxies. Meanwhile, Russia and China play the spoilers when it suits them, as America stands disinterested, and perhaps a little puzzled, if not clueless. Meanwhile, in Syria, the Islamists pursue their hijacking of the revolution.

News

Islamists Reject New Syria Rebel Group; EU Embraces It

Islamist Groups Reject New Syrian Opposition Coalition

U.S. stops short of recognizing Syrian opposition body

Turkey to ask NATO for air defense missiles aimed at Syria

Israel fires on Syria for a third time

Syria Says Foreign Support For Rebels Aids Terrorism

Iran hosts Syrian peace conference

Syrian Revolution Seeks Commanding Position The rebels may not yet have a national political structure… but “The new organization has a chance to shape how the war is going be fought now.”

Syrian rebels eye Assad’s economic lifeline in east Speaking from the rebel-held town of Ras al-Ain on the border with Turkey, Sheikh Nawaf al-Bashir said rebels are planning to advance into two lightly defended frontier towns further east in the resource-rich province of Hasaka, 600 km (375 miles) from Damascus.

Syria rebels seize part of key army base: watchdog Syrian rebel fighters today took control of part of a strategic army base they have been laying siege to for weeks in the northern province of Aleppo, a watchdog and residents said.

Syrian rebels say they seize base on Damascus outskirts Syrian rebels said they had seized the headquarters of an army battalion near the southern gate of Damascus on Monday, the nearest military base to the capital reported to have fallen to opposition fighters in a 20-month revolt.

Syria rebels clash with armed Kurds Fighting near Turkey between Free Syrian Army and Kurds affiliated with Democratic Union Party leaves several injured.

 

Special Reports

Syrians want to know: ‘Are you okay after Superstorm Sandy?’
With the sound of mortars in the background, Syrians in Aleppo express concern for our American correspondent and his storm-battered homeland.

Bernard-Henri Lévy: Hollande, the Syrian — Bravo!
The head of the French State took a decisive step with regard to Syria during his press conference of November 13th. Thus, in his words, France has recognized the Syrian Coalition… In virtue of the logic that follows this recognition, François Hollande has adequate grounds to demand that the United Nations see to it that liberated zones, controlled by the new power, be declared sanctuary without delay.

Aleppo, Syria under siege
Government forces resumed their attack on rebel-held areas in Aleppo, Syria’s largest city. U.S. officials say they fear a possible civilian massacre there. Clarissa Ward met with some rebel fighters.

Refugee children ‘face winter risks’
International charity Save the Children has warned 200,000 Syrian refugee children are at serious risk from freezing temperatures, as winter sets in the Middle East.

Syria Faces Long Bloody Civil War
The Syrian government has all the heavy weapons, but it does not have enough troops to establish permanent military control over every rural area in a country of 24 million people. However, it does have the strength to smash any attempts to create a rival authority with the powers of a real government in those rural areas, and it still holds most of the cities: the front line in Aleppo has scarcely moved since last summer.

SYRIA WITNESS: Radio Launches Hope From Far Away
A small number of exiled Syrians in Paris, Cairo and other cities launched a radio station called SouriaLi (My Syria / Surrealist) in October for the people of war-torn Syria. The programming is uncensored and available from a Cairo studio as a web-based series of podcasts on www.souriali.com.

Unwanted: a failed crossing from Damascus to Gaza
No sooner had the UN team called it a night at the border post and left the refugees, but the Jordanian border force performed a volte-face, ordering the families to go back to wherever they came from.

The Spillover Effect

France eyes Middle East influence, image with Syria gamble
President Francois Hollande’s decision to recognize Syria’s new opposition bloc aims to secure long-term French interests in the region and boost his foreign policy image but, with few allies following suit, Paris may risk isolation… As the former colonial master in Syria, it makes sense for France to be a leader in solving the crisis and its economic ties with Assad’s government have been modest in recent years. By positioning itself now for the long term, Paris hopes to reap the business rewards from Syria’s reconstruction.

Syria unrest cuts Lebanon exports 12 percent: minister
Civil war in Syria is taking its toll on several sectors of the economy of neighboring Lebanon, where exports have tumbled 12 percent, Lebanon’s economy minister said on Monday. In addition to tumbling exports, Lebanon’s tourist industry has declined by as much as 15 percent.

Iran building gas pipeline to Syria
The 750-mile project was first announced in July 2011 as Syrian rebels began stepping up the fight to topple Assad. Many analysts predicted the pipeline would remain in the planning stages because of the countless risks involved, but Iran’s decision to start work — even just the beginning sections — is seen a public show of confidence in Assad’s ability to ride out the uprising.

Hezbollah leader vows support for Hamas despite Syria rift
“Some are saying that Israel is punishing Hamas for they think it abandoned Iran, Syria and Hezbollah,” Nasrallah said in a speech beamed to supporters on a big screen in the Shiite southern suburbs of Beirut. “Iran, Syria and Hezbollah will not give up on the people of Gaza and its resistance, and this is our religious and moral and humanitarian obligation,” he said.

Syria: Would Putin Pull a ‘Pristina’?
Might Putin, if Bashar’s regime became more threatened, be tempted to pull another Pristina? — the moment in 1999 when Russian troops, in support of their Serbian allies, sent a column in to occupy Pristina airport, in Kosovo… one must not underestimate the contrarian force represented by the Russia of Vladimir Putin. He may or may not be concerned by being on the wrong side of the Sunni-dominated Arab Spring, but he certainly hasn’t shown it thus far.

 

Follow this link to register for FDD’s Washington Forum 2012 “Dictators & Dissidents”

A group of Islamist Rebels convened in Aleppo City earlier on Sunday and issued a statement rejecting the recently formed National Coalition as a conspiratorial body established by external powers, and said that consensus has been reached on establishing an Islamic State. Unsurprisingly the main groups represented in this meeting were Jabhat Al-Nusra, Ahrar Al-Sham and Ahrar Syria, long believed to be al-Qaeda affiliates. But the other main group taking part was Liwa Al-Tawhid, which is somewhat surprising considering the more moderate tone and stature that its leaders tried to project earlier. Other major Islamic groups like Al-Farouq and Suqur Al-Sham (Al-Sham Falcons) were noted for their absence, but it will be interesting to see what their reactions will be now that the genie is out of the bottlehttp://youtu.be/XOazhu3LB1Y

The timing of the statement itself is quite telling. European countries are already discussing the possibility of lifting the arms embargo on Syria, which, if it happens, can help empower moderate rebel groups by giving them more advanced weapons allowing them to stand up both to pro-Assad militias as well as the Islamist groups. Jabhat Al-Nusra and affiliates are right then: the Coalition is a conspiracy against them. The Coalition was established specifically to save this revolution from an ongoing extremist takeover.

By Monday, the improvised announcement drew fierce denouncements from moderate and secular rebel groups, forcing a retraction by Al-Tawhid, and more vocal support to the Coalition by major rebel groups and activists throughout the country. As such, rather than weakening the Coalition, the rejection by Islamists served to shore up its popular appeal, at least for the time being.

But a showdown between moderate and Islamist forces is looming, and the best that can be done at this stage is to defer it until a vision for an endgame in Syria emerges in opposition circles. With the clashes taking place between Islamist rebels and Kurdish militias in Seri Kanye on the Turkish border, there is enough side drama in rebel camps going on at this stage. Cool heads will probably prevail for few more weeks, but a conflict pitting moderates against extremists seems unavoidable, especially as extremists control more territory and more border crossings with neighboring countries. Indeed, Jabhat Al-Nusra either directly, or through smaller affiliates, some of which pretend to be moderates control all border crossings with Turkey. Recently, Jabhat Al-Nusra moved to take control of the town of Alboukamal along the borders with Iraq. The Jabhat and its extremist partners and affiliates were allowed too much leeway in the last few months, thanks to international dithering and opposition incompetence, and they cannot be reined in eventually without some measure of force. The die is cast, Alea Jacta Est, the Kraken is released, and all that sort of things. Putting Syria back together is fast becoming a herculean undertaking.  And now we have to deal with Gaza.

 

Video Highlights

After weeks-long siege, rebels manage to capture a key army-based in Al-Atareb, Aleppo Province. The base is the headquarters of the 46th Battalion of the regular army still loyal to Assad. http://youtu.be/9kny-Ur-KxM Showcasing the supplies that they have gained http://youtu.be/Rlu_KqLO_2s

Egypt Claims a Negotiated Cease-fire, Israel and Gaza Show No Signs of Stopping

By Emily Schneider
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East Desk

JERUSALEM, Israel – Egyptian President Mohammed Morsy said today that “The travesty of the Israel aggression on Gaza will end in a few hours.” Israel has not confirmed any plans to cease it’s operations.

An Israeli soldier reads his morning prayer at an outpost near the Gaza border. (Photo courtesy of CNN)

It’s been over seven days since the exchange of rocket fire began and the number of rockets fired and casualties has been increasing. At least ninety-four Palestinians and three Israelis have died since last Wednesday, including nine members of a Gaza family apparently killed by mistake. Attacks Tuesday showed that there was no sign of either side slowing down.

According to Hamas political leader Khaled Meshaal, morale in Gaza was high despite Israel’s response and that anyone who attacked Palestinians would be “buried.” He went on to praise those he considers “resistance fighters” and said Hamas politicians fully supported them.

“We do not want escalation nor do we call for a ground war,” Meshaal told reporters at a news conference. “But we are not afraid of it nor will we back down.”

The Arab League met in an emergency session in Cairo this past Sunday and planned to send a delegation of foreign ministers to Gaza Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that he was ready to expand the operation, even after Israel mobilized around 75,000 reservists.

However, Egyptian President Mohammed Mursi will not tolerate any ground invasion from Israel, saying that an Israeli ground operation in Gaza would have “serious repercussions.” He said Egypt would never accept it “and neither will the free world.”

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon arrived in Cairo Monday night to see what he could do to encourage truce talks. His arrival comes hours after Egypt’s intelligence chief gave an Israeli delegation a letter from Hamas, outlining its conditions for a cease-fire. Tuesday, Ban Ki-Moon visited Jerusalem to promote a cease-fire. He was among those who had to take cover after a rocket was fired into Jerusalem. That rocket did not reach Jerusalem, but it did strike an open area in  Palestinian village, according to the IDF’s twitter.

Both President Barack Obama and Israeli President Shimon Peres agreed that the first step toward ending hostilities is for militants to end all rocket attacks on Israel. U.S. Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, is on her way to the region.

Clinton will “meet with regional leaders, beginning with our Israeli partners, to consult on the situation in Gaza,” said Ben Rhodes, deputy national security director.

He said the visits are supposed to support the “de-escalation of the violence and a durable outcome that ends the rocket attacks on Israeli cities and restores broader calm in the region.”

“They can stop any suffering in one second,” Peres said. “Stop shooting and that’s it.”

For more information, please see:

Egypt Independent – Morsy: Israel to End Aggression Tuesday – 20 Nov. 2012

JPost – Clinton to Arrive in Israel, Push for Cease-fire – 20 Nov. 2012

CNN-  No Slowdown in Gaza-Israel Hostilities; U.N. Chief Arrives to Push for Cease-fire – 19 Nov. 2012

BBC – Gaza Crisis: Deaths Soar Amid Fresh Israeli Strikes – 19 Nov. 2012

 

 

Russian Slavery Prosecution Transforms into Potential Deportation of Prisoners

By Alexandra Sandacz
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

MOSCOW, Russia – In early November, Leila Ashirova and Bakiya Kasymova, who were among 12 Kazakhs and Uzbeks, were freed from a nightmare described as a decade of slavery in a basement of a Moscow supermarket.

Bakiya Kasymova and Leila Ashirova face deportation after they were freed from a 10 year captivity. (Photo Courtesy of RFE/RL)

Although Ashirova and Kasymoya thought their captors would face criminal charges for slavery, Russian prosecutors dropped the criminal investigation and claimed there was no evidence of a crime. Furthermore, on November 9, police accused Ashirova and Kasymova of illegally residing on Russian territory without proper documentation.

Irina Biryukova, the lawyer who represents Ashirova, stated, “The girls are in a really difficult situation because they are no longer connected to a criminal investigation.” She continued, “That means in the eyes of the authorities, they are on Russian territory illegally. [The authorities] would, of course, like to deport them somehow. But we are trying everything to stop this from happening.”

Rights activist, Danila Medvedev, reported “Six years ago, a survey on human trafficking was conducted at the U.N.’s request and said that there are half a million to one million people in Russia who are practically living as slaves here.”

When Russian human rights activists freed the two women in early November, Ashirova and Kasymoya said they were attracted to Russia with the promise of employment. The women also told investigators that they were kept in the supermarket basement for at least 10 years with the fear of violence if they tried to escape. Furthermore, the prisoners were not paid for their work in the supermarket.

Ashirova described the conditions, “I saw one young woman who was carried out dead. Another woman was taken from there forcibly by her parents because she had not come home in so long. Another girl left because one of her legs had become gangrenous. She’d worked there 10 or 15 years; she was there even before us.”

However, despite Ashirova’s testimony, the Moscow prosecutor’s office maintains there is no evidence of slavery. Yelena Rossokhina, a spokeswoman for the Moscow prosecutor’s office, stated, “They say it’s slavery and that they were held for several years. These Uzbek women weren’t held by anyone; they visited shops, they visited clinics, and they didn’t appeal to anyone about being held captive. How can this be sufficient grounds for a criminal case? It’s a very big question. Simple as that.”

Oleg Melnikov, a member of the rights organization Alternative, scorns the prosecutors’ claims as “deceit.”

Anastasia Denisova, a member of the Civil Assistance rights organization, said the two women, “realize that if they don’t go all the way to the end now that it won’t be safe for them either here or at home if these people (their former captors) remain at large.”

Attorneys for Ashirova and Kasymova believe the two women face deportation because of the criminal case the women initiated against their alleged captors.

For further information, please see:

RFE/RL — Freed ‘Slaves’ In Moscow Face Deportation, Their Captors Off The Hook – 20 November 2012

Times of News — Grocery Store Slavery Case Opened – 06 November 2012

Reuters — Russian activists say have freed 12 human “slaves” from shop – 02 November 2012

The Moscow Times – Activists Say Migrants Were Held as Slaves in Grocery Store – 01 November 2012

Riots Break Out in Kenya After Bus Bombing

By Heba Girgis
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

NAIROBI, Kenya—Early this morning, Kenyan police fired tear gas to end a number of riots that broke out in its capital city after a grenade blast, on Sunday, killed at least seven people. Many shops were looted in the neighborhood of Eastleigh, a primarily Somali neighborhood, as the angry youths blamed the ethnic Somalis for Sunday’s explosion. Somalia’s al-Qaeda-linked group, al-Shabab, is specifically blamed for this attack, as they have been held accountable for numerous attacks in Kenya in recent years.

The Grenade That Exploded on the Bus Yesterday, Sparked Riots in the Neighborhood of Eastleigh. (Photo Courtesy of CoastWeek)

Al-Shabab, a militant group, has vowed large-scale attacks in Nairobi after Kenya sent its own military forces into Somalia last year. There have been a series of explosive attacks over the last year that have killed and wounded dozens of people and have been responsible for raising ethnic tensions in the region.

The riots were carried out by demonstrators who were venting their frustration over a bomb attack in the same neighborhood yesterday. Maurice Ouma, a witness to the bombing and the riots, said, “It’s unfortunate that now people we’re hosting are actually turning against us.”

Regional Police Commander Moses Ombati, said, “We are worried the number of casualties could be higher since there were two more vehicles behind after an explosion on a 25-seater mini bus which was blown up by the explosive device.” He further noted, “Several have been rushed to the hospitals and we expect the number of casualties to be higher since there were also some passerby and bystanders who were also hit.”

The injured were rushed to the Kenyatta National Hospital for treatment resulting in an appeal for blood drives to help the victims of the grenade attack.

Tensions are running high in the region as Kenyan residents are beginning to attack Somalis whom they suspect are responsible for the rising insecurity of the country that has effected the “residential estate in the recent past.” Commander Ombati noted that security forces have been deployed in the neighborhood of Eastleigh in order to contain the violence. The police have also launched a major crackdown to apprehend and bring to justice, those behind the deadly attacks.

 

For further information, please see:

BBC News – Kenya Grenade Attack: Somalis Attacked in Nairobi – 19 November 2012

CoastWeek – Nairobi Police Fear More Deaths After Blast in Eastleigh Suburb – 19 November 2012

DW – Riots in Kenya Over Bus Bomb – 19 November 2012

Washington Post – Kenya Police Fire Bullets, Tear Gas As Riot Breaks Out – 19 November 2012

South East Asian Countries Move to Adopt Human Rights Declaration Despite Protest From Activists

By Irving Feng
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia – The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have committed to signing the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration to combat the rampant disregard for basic human rights in the region.

Cambodian rights activists protest the summit in Phnom Penh. (Courtesy of the Philippine Star)

Despite strong protest from rights groups that say the declaration adopted by ASEAN falls short of international standards on human rights, the countries plan to move forward with the adoption of the declaration.

The ASEAN Human Rights Declaration will not be legally binding and currently contain certain loopholes that allow the nations who sign it into “law” to escape penalty.  The document declares all citizens of the nations who sign the declaration into effect are entitled to equal protection under the law.

The declaration also provides special protection to marginalized groups such as women, minorities, disabled persons, and displaced migrants.  These groups are said to have certain “inalienable rights and freedoms” under the proposed human rights declaration.

Surin Pitsuwan, ASEAN Secretary General, has touted the declaration as representation progress in the realm of human rights for many of the ASEAN members.  However, Pitsuwan also acknowledges that inherent weaknesses exist within the declaration.

Deputy Director for Human Rights Watch Asia, Phil Robertson, has condemned the declaration, calling it an “ASEAN human rights feel-good show.”  Robertson believes that the declaration is nothing more than a “public relations game” to improve ASEAN members’ international perception because the human rights abuses in this area of the world have been so prevalent.

Vietnam has been guilty of imprisoning internet bloggers because of their criticisms of the Communist government’s policies.  Cambodia, the host for the declaration summit, has also been host to over 300 politically motivated killings in the past two decades alone.

Because the declarations are not binding, the provisions essentially have no weight in the context of improving human rights for citizens of these countries.  There are event specific omissions that show that this declaration is weightless such as the Muslim majority in Malaysia lobbying for gay rights to be omitted from the final draft of the declaration.

President Barak Obama of the United States is slated to visit the region, specifically Myanmar, to address these failures in adhering to the minimum international standards on human rights.  The president is under immense pressure by rights groups to persuade the region to raise their standards on human rights.

ASEAN members include Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.  All member countries have struggled with promoting basic human rights and have all been guilty of violating international standards in recent history.

For further information, please see:

Al Jazeera – Calls mount to scrap ASEAN human rights plan – 17 November 2012

The Philippine Star – Territorial disputes, human rights top Asia summit – 17 November 2012

Reuters – Southeast Asia to adopt human rights platform; condemned by activists – 17 November 2012

The Washington Post – Southeast Asian leaders plan to adopt human rights declaration despite calls for delay – 15 November 2012