UN human rights chief says death toll in Syria has risen to 5,000

[News_Editor]

UN human rights chief says death toll in Syria has risen to 5,000

2011-12-13 21:29:14 GMT+7 (ICT)

GENEVA (BNO NEWS) -- The United Nations human rights chief on Monday evening said the death toll in Syria as a result of the ongoing government crackdown against protesters has surpassed at least 5,000. Thousands more have been detained.

Navi Pillay, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, informed the UN Security Council about the latest details the organization has gathered from Syria. She expressed alarm about unconfirmed reports which suggest a possible imminent military crackdown and called for urgent action from the international community.

"Many voices are warning that a major assault on Homs may be imminent," Pillay said after briefing the UN Security Council in a closed session. "I am not in a position to confirm those reports, but the prospect of such an attack is extremely alarming."

The UN Human Rights office said it has received reports from sources that hundreds of tanks and weapons have been deployed into Homs over the past few days, dozens of check-points have been set up and trenches have been dug around the city. Video footage also showed corpses on the street, tanks in residential areas and bullet-riddled buildings.

"Credible reports from a variety of sources received by my office indicate that the total number of people killed since the protests began in March now probably exceeds 5,000," Pillay said. "This number includes civilians, as well as defecting soldiers and those executed for refusing to shoot civilians. It does not include serving members of the military and other security forces and militias, hundreds of whom have also been killed."

The new number of fatalities given by Pillay on Monday represents a sharp increase from the 4,000 figure she provided on December 2. "I am concerned that this continued ruthless repression and deliberate stirring of sectarian tensions, especially in Homs, may soon plunge Syria into civil war," Pillay warned. "The Government of Syria has manifestly ignored the pleas and the condemnations of the international community at all levels, including the Security Council."

The UN human rights chief called on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to make a 'very clear public order' to his security forces not to commit further human rights violations. "If anyone disobeys these orders, he must then order their immediate arrest and prosecution," she said.

In addition to the fatalities, the UN estimates that more than 14,000 people are still in detention as a result of the government crackdown, and reports claim some are being tortured. At least 12,400 Syrians have fled to neighboring countries where some of them have given information to officials.

Late last month, a UN commission of inquiry on Syria released a report in which 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.

Among the fatalities are also at least 307 children, according to UN estimates. Pillay previously noted reports of schools being used as detention facilities, children being subjected to sexual torture and women being sexually assaulted while in detention.

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.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-12-13

[elgato]

Deplorable!

[maidu]

The real numbers of killed, maimed, unfairly imprisoned and tortured will never be known, but it's certainly higher than UN numbers - particularly when no reporters are allowed in that country. Do the UN bean counters think everyone who's been seriously wronged will go and register their complaint with authorities? - the same authorities who are murdering their daughters and sons?

In interviews (Barbra Walters recently) Bashir claims with a straight face that he doesn't condone such violence. His brother (or bro-in-law) is head of Syrian Security. Whether the head thug knows or not, it's all happening on his watch. Being drawn and quartered is too good for those giving orders or condoning the violence. Prediction: blood bath coming for Bashir and all his top applauders, at least for all those who can't slink away to hide in an Arab or north African country. Any guesses on which country will offer safe harbor? My guesses: Mali, Sudan, Iran or Pakistan.

Notice, as usual, it's always US and Europe who lead the way in condemning atrocities such as what's going on in Syria. It's never China nor any other Asian country. Sometimes Japan joins up, but always belatedly. Thailand is always out of the loop. Same with former Yugoslavia and in Kuwait, in East Timor and Sudan. Arab countries are making some noises re; Syria (months after western countries expressed dismay), but they're about as effective as ASEAN is in SE Asia - in other words, completely ineffective.