Amnesty International on use of chemical weapons in Syria

[ProSense]

Document - Syria: Possible international armed intervention after alleged chemical weapons attack

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

29 August 2013

AI Index: MDE 24/043/2013

Syria: Possible international armed intervention after alleged chemical weapons attack

Introduction

In recent days, a number of governments have signalled their intention to take military action against the Syrian government, which they hold responsible for the alleged chemical weapons attacks of 21 August. Scores of civilians, including many children, were apparently killed in the attacks on the outskirts of Syria’s capital, Damascus,.

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Has Amnesty International found evidence of chemical weapons use in Syria?

Amnesty International has gathered information from survivors of the chemical weapons attack believed to have taken place in the Eastern Ghouta region, east of the capital Damascus, on 21 August, as well as doctors who examined those killed and treated those affected by the contamination. We have also shared this and other information about the alleged chemical release with specialists in chemical agents. Based on this research and the analysis by specialists, Amnesty International believes that it is highly likely that chemical agents contaminated several neighbourhoods in the adjacent towns of Zamalka and Ain Tarma in Eastern Ghouta.

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Amnesty International has not so far been able to conduct in-depth research into the chemical weapons attack that is believed to have taken place in Mo’damiya, west of Damascus, also on 21 August. However, the symptoms exhibited in those affected, as shown in video footage, appear to be similar to the symptoms shown in those affected by the alleged attack on Eastern Ghouta. Accordingly, Amnesty International is concerned that Mo’damiya was also contaminated by a similar chemical agent.

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Has the UN team on the ground found evidence of chemical weapons use in Syria?

Its work is still ongoing and it is yet to issue any findings.

The UN Mission to Investigate Allegations of the Use of Chemical Weapons in the Syrian Arab Republic began a mission to Syria on 19 August to visit three sites where chemical weapons had allegedly been used earlier this year, including Khan al-Asal in Aleppo governorate. Following the most recent alleged chemical weapons attack of 21 August, the Syrian authorities were pressured into giving the UN team access to this area as well. The UN team was due to spend up to 14 days in Syria, with a possible extension.

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http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/MDE24/043/2013/en/6f93cf47-5adf-4b7f-ac2a-1ec57261dcca/mde240432013en.html

[ProSense]

1. Kick! n/t

[Scurrilous]

2. Thanks!

K & R

[msanthrope]

3. Thank you for posting this. nt

[ProSense]

8. You're welcome. n/t

[spanone]

4. k&r...

[leftstreet]

5. '...should refer the situation in Syria to the International Criminal Court'

should also refer the situation in Syria to the International Criminal Court to ensure accountability for the use of chemical weapons and all other war crimes and crimes against humanity.

If they find anything

[kentuck]

6. Is it possible?

That Assad felt so threatened by the rebel forces that he set off the chemical weapons in order to bring in the UN team and to buy his regime a few more days or weeks? I don't believe any of our intelligence knows how fragile is his hold on power in that country? A US attack may be the only thing that would unite the Syrian people behind Assad and against the "great devil"?

[pampango]

7. AI says if chemical weapons used next step - The UN-mandated Commission of Inquiry on Syria must be

allowed access to Syria to assess who was responsible for the attack

If they do find evidence, what will it mean?

Any confirmed use of chemical weapons is of course very serious. The use of such prohibited weapons would be a serious violation of international humanitarian law and constitute a war crime. (As is the deliberate targeting of civilians using weapons of any kind.)

However, the mandate of the UN Mission is just to determine whether chemical weapons were used, not to identify the perpetrators.

So what can the international community do if they do find proof that chemical weapons were used?

The UN-mandated Commission of Inquiry on Syria must be allowed access to Syria to assess who was responsible for the attack, as well as to investigate other ongoing allegations of crimes under international law being committed in the context of the armed conflict. Given that the Commission of Inquiry has been denied permission to enter Syria since it was set up in August 2011, the UN Security Council should demand that the Syrian government and opposition forces allow it access to territory under their respective control and co-operate fully with its inquiries. All other governments should use any influence they have with the parties to the conflict to support this demand.

As Amnesty International has been repeatedly calling for, the UN Security Council should also refer the situation in Syria to the International Criminal Court to ensure accountability for the use of chemical weapons and all other war crimes and crimes against humanity.

I did not realize that Assad has not permitted the UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria into the country for the past 2 years. Perhaps he will be more willing to do so now.

If the Security Council insists on this and refers the Syrian conflict to the International Criminal Court, without authorizing any kind of military intervention, perhaps that is a way out.

[ProSense]

9. Kick! n/t

[freshwest]

10. Thanks for linking to other thread that brought me here. Learned some more.