Human Rights Watch urges int'l community to impose sanctions against Syria

2011-04-25 13:18:24 GMT+7 (ICT)

NEW YORK (BNO NEWS) -- Human Rights Watch on Monday urged the United Nations and the international community to launch an investigation into the shootings by Syrian security forces against unarmed protesters, killing dozens of people.

The killing spree by security forces in 14 separate Syrian towns happened on Friday, leaving at least 76 and possibly as many as 112 anti-government protesters killed. It sparked worldwide condemnation.

According to Human Rights Watch, an international inquiry should be launched that addresses the killings on Friday as well as other possible human rights violations committed since anti-government protests began in mid-March.

The organization also calls upon the United States and the European Union to impose sanctions on Syrian officials who are responsible for the use of lethal force against protesters, and the detention and alleged torture of hundreds of protesters. They also call for an urgent meeting of the United Nations Security Council.

"After Friday's carnage, it is no longer enough to condemn the violence," said Joe Stork, deputy Middle East director at Human Rights Watch. "Faced with the Syrian authorities' 'shoot to kill' strategy, the international community needs to impose sanctions on those ordering the shooting of protesters."

Human Rights Watch interviewed a number of protesters in the towns of Homs, Ezraa, Douma, and Maadamiya over the weekend, who reported that security forces opened fire on them without warning. On Saturday, security forces shot at funeral processions in Barza, Douma, and Ezraa, killing at least 12 additional mourners, according to media reports.

Many leaders, including U.N. Secretary-General Ban and U.S. President Obama, have condemned the killings but did not call for specific measures against the government.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-04-25

http://www.debka.com/article/20870/

Bashar Assad's tanks and infantry made their first assaults Sunday, April 24 on Jableh on the Mediterranean and Daraa in the south, after a 48-hour bloodbath by his security forces claiming up to 350 lives failed break the five-week countrywide uprising against his rule. Video-clips show tanks converging on the two towns with soldiers running in their wake while heavy gunfire continued to resound in Hama, al-Nuaimeh near Daraa and Saraqeb, southwest of Aleppo.

Ok Mr Obama, You cut Mubarak loose in favour of the Muslim brotherhood, then you called for the ousting of Gaddafi the secular despot in favour of a coalition including Islamists. Now we have Syria with exactly the same dynamic playing out. Do we get the no fly zone and the calls for Assad's removal or if not how do you avoid being labelled a hypocrite?