Europe Seeks 'Crimes Against Humanity' Warning to Syria
European nations on Thursday pressed a campaign to get the U.N. Security Council to warn the Syrian government that its deadly crackdown on opposition protests could be a crime against humanity.
A draft resolution distributed to the 15 council members condemns violence used by President Bashar al-Assad's regime and calls for the lifting of a weeks-long siege against the city of Daraa.
The Syrian government has refused U.N. access to the city.
While no official talks have yet been held on the resolution, and no vote, if any, is expected before next week, informal negotiations are being held.
Britain, France, Germany and Portugal believe they could get nine votes to pass a resolution but still fear a veto by Russia or China, two of the five permanent members who can block any resolution, diplomats said.
The Security Council has so far been quiet on the Syria protests, with key Assad ally Russia blocking a statement on the violence.
More than two months of protests against Assad's authoritarian government have left more than 1,000 people dead with at least 10,000 detained, according to rights groups.
"Any country siding in the council with Syria's rulers, as hundreds of peaceful demonstrators are being killed, and thousands arrested or tortured, would owe an explanation to the Syrian people," said Philippe Boloppion, U.N. director for Human Rights Watch.
Pressure is mounting on the Security Council to act with world leaders expressing growing disquiet over the violence. A coalition of more than 220 rights groups from the Arab world has also demanded that the council take action.
Europe's draft resolution "condemns the systematic violation of human rights, including the killings, arbitrary detentions, disappearances, and torture of peaceful demonstrators, human rights defenders and journalists by the Syrian authorities, and expresses deep regret at the deaths of hundreds of civilians."
It adds that "the widespread and systematic attacks currently taking place in Syria by the authorities against its people may amount to crimes against humanity."
It does not threaten sanctions, but does call for an end to arms deliveries to Syria.
The resolution would call for the release of all prisoners and for Syria to end its siege of Daraa and to cooperate with a U.N. Human Rights Council inquiry.
Russian diplomats have not yet indicated their attitude though the Russian government has insisted the international community should not interfere.
Arab rights groups from 18 countries said in a letter to the Security Council that its silence "sends the wrong message and fails to deter further violence and human rights abuses by the Syrian authorities."
"As tanks have rolled onto the streets of Syria, and hundreds of people have been deliberately killed, the U.N. Security Council has remained silent," said Ziad Abdel Tawab of the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies.
"It must waste no more time and send a clear signal to the Syrian authorities that their actions are unacceptable."
Separately, heads of the Group of Eight nations meeting in France called for an end to the violent repression of revolts in Syria and Libya.
The leaders urged Damascus to end violent repression and carry out reform, as they sought ways to encourage democracy in their first meeting since the "Arab Spring" uprisings.
"We call on the Syrian leadership to stop using force and intimidation against the Syrian people and to engage in dialogue and fundamental reforms in response to the legitimate expression of the demands of the Syrian people," the draft, obtained by Agence France Presse, said.
G8 member Russia had previously spoken out firmly against foreign intervention in its traditional Middle East ally, and had rejected calls for a special U.N. Security Council meeting on the country.
Source: Agence France Presse
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