TURKEY’S JAILED JOURNALISTS

Quick: What country jails the most journalists?

If you guessed China, you were close, but no cigar. Twenty-seven reporters are in prison there, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists in New York. If you guessed Iran, you’re getting warmer—forty-two in prison there—but you’re still off.

How many of you guessed Turkey? Read more

Syria:Kurds killed in the street in March 2004 + 2008 + 2010

This looks familiar, but it is a demonstration/funeral by Kurds in Qamishlo in 2008 after their people were killed in the street for celebrating Newroz – new year.

Kurds were also killed in the streets – 2004 in Qamishli, and 2010 in al-Raqqa.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEu_LpzQ3oM Read more

Journalists and bloggers arrested; fears for safety

The Writers in Prison Committee of PEN International fears for the safety of leading journalist Mazen Darwich, who was arrested on 17 February 2012 along with thirteen fellow press freedom activists and bloggers from the Centre for Media and Freedom of Expression. Darwich and six bloggers in the group remain detained incommunicado at an unknown location, and are considered to be at serious risk of torture and ill-treatment. PEN International considers Mazen Darwich and bloggers Hussein Greir, Joan Farso, Bassam Al-Ahmad, Mansour Hamid, Hani Z’itani and Abdelrahman Hamadah to be targeted solely for the peaceful exercise of their right to freedom of expression as guaranteed by Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Syria is a signatory, and calls for their immediate and unconditional release.  It urgently seeks information about their whereabouts, any charges against them and guarantees of their safety in detention. Read more

Syria: New Satellite Images Show Homs Shelling

Russia and China Fail to Act While Residents Suffer Death, Destruction 

(New York, March 2, 2012) – New satellite imagery and eyewitness accounts reveal that the bombardment of the Baba Amr neighborhood in Homs has inflicted widespread destruction and a large number of deaths and severe injuries of civilians, Human Rights Watch said today. The bombardment has severely restricted movement and relief efforts and deprived thousands of civilians of the ability to access the most basic commodities, Human Rights Watch said. Read more

The Human Rights Council calls on the Syrian Government to immediately end attacks on civilians

Council adopts resolution on escalating grave human rights violations and deteriorating humanitarian situation in Syria
Human Rights Council  MORNING 1st March 2012

UN relief chief ‘deeply disappointed’ by inability to visit Syria to assess situation

The head of United Nations relief operations said today that she was “deeply disappointed” that she has not yet been able to visit Syria to assess the humanitarian situation and meet with some of the country’s top officials.Valerie Amos, the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator and Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, issued a statement voicing her disappointment and noting both her “repeated requests” to meet with top Syrian officials and the need for unhindered access by aid workers to people affected by the violence. Read more

UN: I am particularly appalled by the recent escalation of violence in the country.

Statement by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay at The Urgent Debate on the Human Rights and Humanitarian Situation in the Syrian Arab Republic at the Human Rights Council 19th Session: Geneva, 28 February 2012

Draft Constitution of Bashar al-Assad

Draft Constitution for the Syrian Arab Republic Feb 25, 2012 

[Comment: this is uploaded to the SKS website for those who are interested. The issue is not about a new constitution under Bashar al-Assad's leadership  - the current Constitution does not allow wanton killing of civilians. Stop the bloodshed.

We note: there is no intention to recognise Kurds as a significant minority; and the rules will not allow Kurdish political parties to be recognised. See also points made by Reuters below]

DAMASCUS, (SANA)_ Following is the full text of the Draft Constitution for the Syrian Arab Republic, to be put to referendum on February 26, 2012: Read more

Tunis conference 24 February 2012

A Statement from the delegation of the National Coordination Body to the ‘Friends of Syria’ conference in Tunisia

The National Coordination Body for Democratic Change has been closely following the movements leading to the ‘Friends of Syria’ conference. The NCB acknowledges the noble intentions behind the calling of the conference, especially since it is to be hosted by Tunisia, the country that sparked the Arab spring, whose its officials have always been resolutely against foreign military intervention in Syria and who abhor sectarianism and violence no matter where it emanates from. Tunisia has been dedicated to preserving the unity of Syria. It has sought to do this by attempting to unite the democratic resistance, unifying the efforts of the opposition rather than dividing them or creating tensions through favoritism and marginalization; and maintaining this unity through promoting the Arab plan because of its wide acceptance by the popular movements and the civil and political groupings in Syria. For these reasons the NCB agreed to send a signficant delegation to the conference led by Dr. Haytham Manna, the Deputy General Coordinator accompanied by the following: Abdulmajeed Manjooneh, Rajaa’ AlNasser, Ma’amoon Khaleefa, Saleh Muslim, Mohammed Hijazi, Dr. Hani Abu Saleh, Dr. Huda Al Zain, Fadel Ali, Abdulrahman Khaleefa, all of whom are leading members of the NCB in Syria or in exile. Read more

Report of the independent international commission of inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic

UN Summary:
The human rights situation in the Syrian Arab Republic has deteriorated significantly since November 2011, causing further suffering to the Syrian people. Widespread violence and increasingly aggravated socio-economic conditions have left many communities in a perilous state. Meeting basic needs to sustain everyday life has become increasingly difficult.

The present situation risks further radicalizing the population, deepening inter-communal tensions and eroding the fabric of society. Divisions among the international community complicate the prospects for ending the violence. Read more

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