UN human rights chief warns of 'full-fledged civil war' in Syria

[News_Editor]

UN human rights chief warns of 'full-fledged civil war' in Syria

2011-12-02 22:33:01 GMT+7 (ICT)

GENEVA (BNO NEWS) -- The United Nations human rights chief on Friday warned that Syria is on the verge of a full-fledged civil war as the death toll from the nine-month government crackdown against protesters has surpassed at least 4,000, including more than 300 children.

Navi Pillay, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, spoke at a special session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on Friday to discuss the situation in Syria, where protesters have risen up against the regime of President Bashar al-Assad but have been met with violence.

According to Pillay, more than 4,000 people have been killed and thousands more have been arrested since the unrest began in mid-March. "More than 14,000 are reported to be in detention as a result of the crackdown," she said, adding that at least 12,400 people have fled to neighboring countries.

The UN human rights chief warned the situation may further escalate if no action is taken. "The Syrian authorities' continual ruthless repression, if not stopped now, can drive the country into a full-fledged civil war," she said. "In light of the manifest failure of the Syrian authorities to protect their citizens, the international community needs to take urgent and effective measures to protect the Syrian people."

Pillay urged all forms of violence, including murder and torture, to stop immediately. "All prisoners of conscience and those arbitrarily detained must be released and acts of reprisal against human rights defenders must end," she said. "International and independent monitoring bodies, including my Office and the League of Arab States, must be allowed into the country, particularly to all places of detention. All humanitarian actors must be guaranteed immediate and unhindered access to the country."

According to the United Nations, among the more than 4,000 people killed are at least 307 children. Pillay also noted reports of schools being used as detention facilities, children being subjected to sexual torture and women being sexually assaulted while in detention.

Friday's statement by Pillay follows a report released by a UN commission of inquiry on Syria on Monday. The three-member commission alleged that the Syrian government is responsible for 'wrongful acts,' including crimes against humanity which were committed by members of its military and security forces. The report was based on interviews of 223 victims and witnesses of alleged human rights violations.

Meanwhile, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a London-based group, said on Friday that at least one person was killed and dozens were injured in Homs province when government forces "opened fire randomly" from checkpoints. It is not possible to independently verify the reports due to reporting restrictions.

Pro-democracy demonstrations have spread across the country since mid-March, resulting in a fierce government crackdown. The Syrian government has claimed violent acts against protesters have been carried out by 'terrorists dressed as soldiers,' although international observers have rejected these claims.

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