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ProSense

(116,464 posts)
Thu Mar 20, 2014, 03:55 PM Mar 2014

The United States Should Support ICC Involvement in Syria

The United States Should Support ICC Involvement in Syria

March 19, 2014

Author(s): Balkees Jarrah

Recently, US Secretary of State John Kerry reported that President Obama had asked his top aides for new policy options to address the situation in Syria. Though Kerry didn't elaborate what exactly was under consideration, one option the White House hasn’t pursued – and should – is to support referring the situation in Syria to the International Criminal Court (ICC).

The Obama administration has repeatedly said that those responsible for serious crimes in Syria must be held accountable. Until now, the US government's approach to justice there has been focused on supporting documentation and investigative initiatives. These efforts are important and will no doubt be vital to future domestic and international accountability processes. Nevertheless, with the Syrian crisis entering a fourth year, it’s long overdue for the United States to raise the stakes and support a concrete accountability measure that could begin work immediately and potentially help deter further abuses.

The horror that the Syrian people have endured over the last three years is well-known. Human Rights Watch has extensively documented abuses by government and pro-government forces and concluded that they have committed crimes against humanity and war crimes. The government continues to carry out indiscriminate air and artillery strikes on residential areas and to arbitrarily detain, torture and extra-judicially execute civilians and combatants. Human Rights Watch has also documented war crimes and crimes against humanity by some opposition groups, including the indiscriminate use of car bombs and mortars, kidnapping, torture and extrajudicial executions.

These abuses take place in a pervasive climate of impunity. Syrian authorities have shown no interest whatsoever in ensuring credible justice for past and ongoing grave human rights crimes. Predictably, the failure to hold those responsible for these crimes to account has only fueled further atrocities by all sides. Indeed, the latest report of the UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria stated plainly that “(t)he warring parties do not fear being held accountable for their acts.”

- more -

http://www.hrw.org/news/2014/03/19/united-states-should-support-icc-involvement-syria



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The United States Should Support ICC Involvement in Syria (Original Post) ProSense Mar 2014 OP
This is a gang war to the death theboss Mar 2014 #1
Alternatively.... Democracyinkind Mar 2014 #2
Possibility. More: ProSense Mar 2014 #3
 

theboss

(10,491 posts)
1. This is a gang war to the death
Thu Mar 20, 2014, 03:59 PM
Mar 2014

I'm not sure prosecution at this point is going to be a deterrence to anyone.

Democracyinkind

(4,015 posts)
2. Alternatively....
Thu Mar 20, 2014, 04:13 PM
Mar 2014


Del Ponte will Syrien-Anklägerin sein

Ebenfalls heute äusserte sich Carla Del Ponte, frühere Chefanklägerin in Den Haag, zum Thema Syrien. Das absehbare Veto Russlands verunmögliche einen Gang vor den internationalen Strafgerichtshof (ICC). Deshalb sei ein spezielles Syrien-Tribunal vorzuziehen, sagte die Schweizerin vor den Medien in Genf. Sie wäre «glücklich, Anklägerin dieses Gerichts zu sein». Es seien Beweise in grosser Zahl gesammelt worden.

Dies verdeutlichte der Leiter der unabhängigen Untersuchungskommission für Syrien, Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro. Die Liste mutmasslicher Kriegsverbrecher werde immer länger, teilte er am Dienstag in Genf mit. Sie umfasse auch etliche Namen von Personen, die für Geiselnahmen, Folter und willkürliche Hinrichtungen strafrechtlich belangt werden könnten.

http://www.bernerzeitung.ch/ausland/naher-osten-und-afrika/Del-Ponte-bewirbt-sich-als-Chefanklaegerin-eines-SyrienTribunals/story/10316454





Translation: (by DiK)

Del Ponte willing to be a prosecutor in the Syrian matter

[Also] Today, Carla Del Ponte, former chief prosecutor in Den Haag, weighed in on the Syrian issue. Since a predictable Russian veto would make a trial before the International Criminal Court (ICC) impossible, a special tribunal on Syria would be preferable. She would be "happy (glücklich) to be a prosecutor in such a court". Already, a large amount of evidence has been collected.

This was highlighted by the leader of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic, Paulo Sergio Pinheiro. The list of suspected war criminals is growing steadily, as he pointed out to media on tuesday in Geneva. It (the list) also included the names of several people that could be held responsible for kidnappings, torture, and arbitrary executions.



I was thinking of posting a separate thread, as I haven't yet discovered this in an english version. Your thread seems just as appropriate to add this. Del Ponte means business, I would like to see her put in charge of it.

ProSense

(116,464 posts)
3. Possibility. More:
Thu Mar 20, 2014, 04:29 PM
Mar 2014
Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/IICISyria/Pages/IndependentInternationalCommission.aspx

Carla Del Ponte (Switzerland)
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/IICISyria/Pages/CarlaDelPonte.aspx

UN Commission of Inquiry: Attacks, sieges of civilian areas are leading to mass casualties and starvation in Syria

GENEVA (5 March 2014) – Widespread attacks and sieges on civilian areas in Syria by pro-Government forces are leading to mass casualties, malnutrition and starvation, according to the latest report of the independent international Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic, due to be presented to the Human Rights Council on 18 March.

Fighting around Yarmouk Camp and other areas in Reef Damascus must cease immediately for the supply of humanitarian assistance to reach affected civilians, the Commission said Wednesday.

For the first time, the Commission has also identified specific non-State armed groups that have committed torture as a crime against humanity in Al-Raqqah governorate.

Both pro-Government and non-State armed groups have committed massacres according to the findings.

“The absolute impunity that pervades the conflict, now entering its fourth year, is utterly unacceptable. The leadership of each party must be held responsible for the violations of its members, and must take action to curb these violations,” says Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro, Chair of the Commission, adding that the Commission is updating its confidential list of suspected perpetrators.

The latest report covers investigations conducted from 15 July 2013 to 20 January 2014 and is based on 563 interviews and other collected evidence.

- more -

http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=14314&LangID=E
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