GA panel condemns Syrian human rights violations

Germany, supported by western and Arab countries alike, will introduce in the General Assembly's Social Committee next Monday a draft resolution that would "strongly condemn" the continued "grave and systematic" human rights violations by the Syrian authorities against the people, a German diplomat said late Wednesday.In reference to the recent Arab League meetings on Saturday in Cairo and yesterday in Rabat, Morocco, German Ambassador Peter Wittig told reporters "the Arab world has sent a very clear message: the massive human rights violations and the suffering of the Syrian people have to stop." "We appreciate that there is strong support for a resolution by the General Assembly. We hope it will show Assad just how isolated he is." He was quick to note, however, that the draft resolution in the Assembly's Social Committee is "no substitute for (Security) Council action. We still see a need for the Council to live up to its responsibilities and we expect that Council members don't easily dismiss the strong voices from the region." The Council tried earlier last month in a watered-down resolution to condemn Syria for those human rights violations but Russia and China vetoed it. Russia justified its veto saying that what is happening in Syria is an internal matter and it is for countries in the region to deal with it.Asked what message she would send to Russia now that the Arab League has spoken more than once on the issue, US Ambassador Susan Rice told KUNA late Wednesday "I think Russia needs to take heed, and I am sure it is, of the rapidly changing views within the region, and the fact that they (Russians) are about to stand alone in their opposition to condemnation of and actions against the Assad regime." She would not say exactly when the Council would take up the issue again, but she had told the Council last week "Let there be no doubt. The crisis in Syria will stay before the Security Council and we will not rest until this Council rises to meet its responsibilities." A German spokesman told reporters that German, French and British Ambassadors met late Wednesday with their Arab counterparts to discuss the way forward, especially in light of the Arab League meeting yesterday in Rabat."There was strong support to go ahead with the draft resolution. Some Arab delegations even expressed their intention to co-sponsor it," the spokesman noted.He indicated that Germany will send the draft resolution to the UN Secretariat later today, and Ambassador Wittig will introduce it in the Assembly's Social Committee on Monday, with a view for a vote on Tuesday.The Assembly as a whole will then vote on the resolution in the following days. The results of the voting in the Assembly are usually higher than those in the Committees.Germany, France and the UK circulated a similar draft early last month, but had to withdraw it for lack of support. The recent Arab League stance emboldened them this week.The Social Committee, also known as the Third Committee, examines violations of human rights all over the world, from Iran, to North Korea, to Myanmar. Syria will for the first time join the Committee's list of violators.Recalling Human Rights Council resolutions, mainly the one setting up an independent commission of inquiry to investigate all alleged Syrian violations of international human rights law, welcoming the recent Arab League decisions vis-a-vis Syria, expressing concern about Damascus' disregard of the international calls to halt the violence against its people, and reaffirming that all UN members "should refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State," the Assembly would: "Strongly condemns the continued grave and systematic human rights violations by the Syrian authorities, such as arbitrary executions, excessive use of force and the killing and persecution of protesters and human rights defenders, arbitrary detention, enforced disappearances, torture and ill-treatment of detainees, including children; "Calls upon the Syrian authorities to immediately put an end to all human rights violations, to protect their population and to fully comply with their obligations under International Human Rights Law and calls for an immediate end to all violence in the Syrian Arab Republic; "Calls upon the Syrian authorities to implement the League of Arab States' Plan of Action in its entirety without further delay; "Invites the Secretary General of the United Nations, in accordance with his functions, to provide support, if requested, for the League of Arab States' observer mission in the Syrian Arab Republic, consistent with the League of Arab States' decisions of 12 and 16 November 2011."Calls upon the Syrian authorities to comply with Human Rights Council resolutions, and cooperate fully and effectively with the independent international commission of inquiry." The Arab League suspended Syria's membership last Saturday, imposed economic and diplomatic sanctions on the regime and increased the pressure during a meeting in Rabat yesterday giving Damascus three days to stop the killing.King Abdullah II of Jordan last Monday was the first Head of State to call on Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad to step down.Turkey, a former ally of Syria, is now distancing itself and threatening the regime with sanctions.More Syrian soldiers are defecting and attacking government buildings such as the Intelligence Complex near Damascus.Diplomats speculate that this resolution, along with these developments, will, on one hand, embolden the European members in the Security Council - Germany, France, UK and Portugal - to revive their draft resolution on Syria vetoed by Russia and China on October 5th, and, on the other hand, compel Moscow and Beijing to soften their position in the future.