ICTJ In Focus September 2012 Issue 24
Bakeries Attacked as Clashes Continue in Aleppo
By Ali Al-Bassam
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East
DAMASCUS, Syria — Human Rights Watch (HRW) reports that over the past three weeks, at or near at least 10 bakeries in the Aleppo province were attacked by Syrian bombs and artillery, killing dozens of civilians as they lined up to buy bread. HRW believes that the attacks were specifically targeting civilians.
“The attacks are at least recklessly indiscriminate and the pattern and number of attacks suggest that government forces have been targeting civilians. Both reckless indiscriminate attacks and deliberately targeting civilians are war crimes,” HRW said.
One of the deadliest attacks took place in the Qadi Askar neighborhood of Aleppo, where up to 60 peopler were killed and up to 70 people were wounded. On August 21 a second attack occurred in the Bab Al-Hadid area of Aleppo, where at least 23 people were killed and 30 people were wounded.
“I was standing near the door of the bakery when the bomb hit – I just covered my head with my hands and ran for my life. I ran into a store next door and only there I realized that I was injured – in my side and left arm,” said “Fais,” a civilian who was injured during the attack. “There was black smoke everywhere, and broken glass. The bomb hit the corner of the street, and the shrapnel flew straight into the line – everyone still there was either killed or heavily injured. I saw one guy on the ground without a leg, another without an arm, then a 16-year-old boy whom I knew, Rafat Makik Halak, without a head… One of my cousins, Ahmed, lost his arm and leg, and died afterwards. My sister, who was also injured, is still in the hospital.”
“Day after day, Aleppo residents line up to get bread for their families, and instead get shrapnel piercing their bodies from government bombs and shells,” said Emergencies Researcher Ole Solvang, who recently visited Aleppo. “Ten bakery attacks is not random – they show no care for civilians and strongly indicate an attempt to target them,” he added. Solvang also said that the neighborhoods in which the 10 bakeries came under attack were a place where “no fighting was taking place before or during the attack.”
“Every pilot who deliberately launches a rocket at a bread line of civilians, and every commander who gives such an order, should face justice for their crimes,” Solvang said.
HRW reports that a Free Syrian Army facility located near one of the bakeries remained unharmed.
For further information please see:
The Egyptian Gazette — Syrian Forces Bombed People Queuing for Bread — 30 August 2012
Gulf News — Syrian Army Attacks on Bakeries — 30 August 2012
Human Rights Watch — Syria: Government Attacking Bread Lines — 30 August 2012
Al Jazeera — Deadly Fighting Rages on in Syria’s Aleppo — 11 August 2012
London High Court Blocks Inquiry Into the 1948 Killing of 24 Malaysians
By Karen Diep
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia
Yesterday, London’s high court thwarted an inquiry into the killings of 24 unarmed Malayan rubber plantation workers in 1948.
With the support of over 568 Malaysian groups comprised of schools, temples, and professional groups, relatives of the fallen victims requested the court to launch an inquiry into the 1948 killings. As a result, this past May, London’s High Court heard their case.
According to Reuters, at the time, officials reported the killing as an operation against anti-communist insurgents or supports attempting to escape. However, in 1970, soldiers formerly involved admitted to a British newspaper that the killings were in fact pre-meditated. The soldiers were allegedly ordered to cover the truth.
Sir John Thomas, the president of the Queen’s Bench division, and Justice Treacy rejected the government’s argument that treaties in effect at the time, transferred responsibility to Malaysia. However, the London’s court rejected the claimants’ argument that the government had a legal duty to hold an inquiry; however, laimants’ counsel, John Halford, anticipates appealing this decision.
“There is evidence that supports a deliberate execution of the 24 civilians at Batang Kali,” read Tuesday’s judgment. “The first matter in relation to the purpose of inquiry is to consider whether it can establish the facts. There are obviously enormous difficulties in conducting an inquiry into a matter that happened over 63 years ago. Most of the contemporary documents are missing and most of those who were engaged are dead. Nor, in our view, would it be any easier to determine whether the use of force was reasonable or proportionate.”
“Many of the shameful events at Batang Kali have been firmly established, as has the UK’s ongoing legal responsibility for them,” voiced Mr. Halford. “If ministers can find the moral courage within themselves to address it, they can do so immediately. If they fail to act decisively to end the ongoing injustices at the heart of this case, the survivors and families of the Batang Kali massacre will continue to pursue legal action and complete the work this court has begun.”
The Scots Guard beheaded claimant Lim Kok’s father. “Though the court found the government did not need to hold an inquiry on technical grounds, the fact is that the Scots Guards shot innocent civilians, my father included,” shared Mr. Kok to the Guardian.
Chong Koon Yin’s father Chong Voon suffered the same fate. “The truth has not been fully revealed. Without a proper inquiry or a proper acceptance of fault, the government held legally responsible for the killing remains unaccountable.”
For further information, please see:
The Guardian – Relatives lose court case for inquiry in to 1948 Malaya ‘massacre’ – 04 Sept. 2012
The Independent – Judges block 1948 Malaya ‘massacre’ probe – 04 Sept. 2012
Reuters – Britain held responsible for 1948 mass killing in Malaya – 04 Sept. 2012
BBC – British ‘massacre’ in Malaya in 1948 to be reviewed – 08 Sept. 2011
ICTJ: Justice for the Disappeared is at the Heart of Transitional Justice
Syrian Network for Human Rights: Lost Cousin in Daraya Massacre
My cousin Mohammed Mustafa Al Abbar from Daraya killed by the Syrian security forces during the horriblemassacre that took place in my home town Daraya on 29 of August. He was summoned to a security facilities for interrogation, later they released him but after two hours the security took him again, two days later his family found his body in the basement of a one of the building in Daraya. They executed him like all the families killed in Daraya .
The security forces searched from house to house, looking for adults and young men, among the houses was my apartment in the city. They destroyed all the furniture, but my family was lucky, the security forces left the city in the first day of the military campaign on Daraya.
I knew Mohammed very well, I remember his smile, he was struggling to provide for his family because he was responsible for his family and three children. I still can not imagine when I will return to Daraya, hopefully soon, but when I do, he will not be there waiting for me as he used to do .
Daraya, a city of dignity, has paid a heavy price for demanding freedom. Thus far, 633 of Daraya’s sons were martyred and well over 1,755 were detained by regime forces. Regime forces carried out one of their most barbaric attacks against a city that was made famous for its commitment to nonviolence. The death toll has doubled in the past few days due to field executions and revenge killings, and includes those martyred in yesterday’s massacre in which well over 300 people were killed, including dozens of women and children. The regime’s military campaign, ongoing for the past 4 days, has resulted in hundreds massacred, dozens detained, and utter destruction throughout the city.
Information in this report provided by:
Syrian Network for Human Rights – Lost my Cousin in Daraya Massacre – 1 September 2012