Pandora's Box in Syria
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The State of Justice Syria 2020 The State of Justice Syria 2020 Syria Justice and Accountability Centre (SJAC) March 2020 About the Syria Justice and Accountability Centre The Syria Justice and Accountability Centre (SJAC) strives to prevent impunity, promote redress, and facilitate principled reform. SJAC works to ensure that human rights violations in Syria are comprehensively documented and preserved for use in transitional justice and peace-building. SJAC collects documentation of violations from all available sources, stores it in a secure database, catalogues it according to human rights standards, and analyzes it using legal expertise and big data methodologies. SJAC also supports documenters inside Syria, providing them with resources and technical guidance, and coordinates with other actors working toward similar aims: a Syria defined by justice, respect for human rights, and rule of law. Learn more at SyriaAccountability.org The State of Justice in Syria, 2020 March 2020, Washington, D.C. Material from this publication may be reproduced for teach- ing or other non-commercial purposes, with appropriate attribution. No part of it may be reproduced in any form for commercial purposes without the prior express permission of the copyright holders. Cover Photo — A family flees from ongoing violence in Idlib, Northwest Syria. (C) Lens Young Dimashqi TABLE OF CONTENTS Executive Summary 2 Introduction 4 Major Violations 7 Targeting of Hospitals and Schools 8 Detainees and Missing Persons 8 Violations in Reconciled Areas 9 Property Rights -
The Peace Vs. Justice Debate and the Syrian Crisis
American University Washington College of Law Digital Commons @ American University Washington College of Law Articles in Law Reviews & Other Academic Journals Scholarship & Research 2018 The Peace vs. Justice Debate and the Syrian Crisis Paul Williams Lisa Dicker C. Danae Paterson Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.wcl.american.edu/facsch_lawrev Part of the Human Rights Law Commons, International Humanitarian Law Commons, International Law Commons, Law and Gender Commons, and the Military, War, and Peace Commons THE PEACE VS. JUSTICE PUZZLE AND THE SYRIAN CRISIS Paul R Williams,' Lisa K Dicker," C. Danae Paterson I. INTRODUCTION........................................... 418 II. THE "PEACE-FIRST" APPROACH ........................ ..... 420 A. PrioritizingEnding the Conflict. .................. ....... 421 B. Benefits of the Peace-FirstApproach.............. ............ 422 1. Saving Lives...................................... 422 2. Ending Harm to the Environment and Infrastructure ..................... 422 3. Promoting Reconciliation ....................... ..... 423 C. Achieving Peace-Firstin Practice........................ 423 1. Singular Objective of Ending the Conflict............ ..... 423 2. Negotiating with the Guys with Guns ...... ....................... 424 3. Accommodation and Appeasement................ ......... 424 4. Minimizing Justice .............. ................... 425 5. Amnesty ........................................ 426 D. Case Studies ............................... ........ 426 * Rebecca -
Print This Article
ISSN 2039-2117 (online) Mediterranean Journal of Vol 8 No 6 ISSN 2039-9340 (print) Social Sciences November 2017 Research Article © 2017 Osaretin Idahosa and Harrison C. Ajebon. This is an open access article licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/). As the Beat Goes on in Syria, is There an Exit Route? Osaretin Idahosa, PhD Department of Political Science, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria Harrison C. Ajebon Department of Political Science, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria Doi: 10.1515/mjss-2017-0041 Abstract The UN Security Council unanimous Resolution 2254 (2015) endorsed a Peace Process for Syria on December 18, 2015. By this token the global body called on President Bashar-al- Assad and opposition groups to sheath their swords and allow a political settlement in the country. In context of the dynamics of the Syrian conflicts, this study looks at the workability of the resolution meant to reduce the cost of the war and deterioration of humanitarian conditions. The study reveals that after over half a decade of brutal mutual carnage (by both government and opposition forces) a top-bottom imposed peace process has lost its appeal. Rather, a bottom-top remedy that uses the cultural assets of the Syrian people to create a movement for peace and reconciliation in the country is urgently needed. Keywords: Syria, Global, Humanitarian, Opposition, Peace, Resolution, War 1. Introduction Resolution 2254 (2015) adopted by the Security Council of the United Nations at its 7588th meeting, on 18 December 2015 reaffirms the commitment of the global body to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Syria. -
The 2021 Syrian Presidential Election
July 2021 The 2021 Syrian Presidential Election Political deadlock and Syrian Burnout Hadia Kawikji Introduction The legitimacy of any position is based on two main elements, first the manner in which the individual attained the position, and second is the ability of the individual to fulfill the related responsibilities. For the first point, Bashar al-Assad’s Presidency in Syria was attained through heredity within a ludicrous system following his father who seized the power via a military coup. Both father and son ruled Syria for the last half a century with de-facto legitimacy, through nominal referendums completely dominated by the Ba’ath party. This was instead of an election that reflects the Syrian people’s will. In terms of the ability to fulfill the responsibilities of the presidency, many indicators showcase the regime’s failures to the Syrians. The recent years have witnessed the collapse of the Syrian pound to unprecedented levels, along with the displacement of more than half of the Syrian population,1 and the rise of extreme poverty to 82%,2 with the fact that 37% of the Syrian territories are outside of the regime’s control. Additionally, the violation of the Syrian decision is evidenced by the control of the Lebanese “Hezbollah”, Iranian militias, and Russian troops controlling over roughly 85% of the Syrian borders, finally yet importantly, the Syrian regime’s inability to protect its territory is illustrated by the haphazard attacks by Israel on Syrian land at any given time. In March 2011, the majority of the Syrian people called for the removal of the Assad regime and the transition to a democratic country. -
The Syrian Arab Republic Was Established As a French-Controlled Mandate at the End of World War I and Became Officially Independent in 1946
COUNTRIES AT THE CROSSROADS COUNTRIES AT THE CROSSROADS 2011: SYRIA 1 RADWAN ZIADEH INTRODUCTION The Syrian Arab Republic was established as a French-controlled mandate at the end of World War I and became officially independent in 1946. After a period of intermittently-democratic rule and a short merger with Egypt from 1958 to 1961, the Arab Socialist Baath Party staged a coup in 1963, established a one-party government, and declared a state of emergency that remained in place for 48 years. A period of leadership transition among civilian ideologues and army officers, most of them members of the Alawite minority (adherents of an Islamic sect who comprise approximately 12 percent of the population) continued until 1970, when Alawite and Baath Party member General Hafez al-Assad assumed the presidency. The ongoing state of emergency, Alawite dominance of the security forces, and the omnipresence of the Baath Party enabled Hafez al-Assad to maintain strict authoritarian control over virtually all sectors of political and social life. The regime centralized the state‟s legislative, judicial, and executive institutions under its control, restricted virtually all forms of dissent, and prohibited the operation of all independent media. The new presidential system revolved around al-Assad‟s personal will and networks of social, economic, and military interests based on personal loyalty to the president. Syria‟s 1973 constitution designates the Baath as “the leader party in the state and society,” and the state is its sole source of funds, creating a very close relationship that renders indistinguishable the distinction between government institutions and ruling party. -
Chapter Iii Syrian Peace Process
1 CHAPTER III SYRIAN PEACE PROCESS Syrian Peace process are all about the many talks that had been done by several international actors in order to put an end to Syria Crisis, whether it is for their national interests or others. Briefly speaking, the peace talks or the peace agreements that have been carried out by the international actors, that somehow decided to involve their selves in Syria crisis, to assist Syria in resolving the prolonged crisis that took place in the country, whether the agreement or the talks involving Syria as an object (as a country involved in the talks or the negotiations) or agreements or talks that only make Syria the subject of the agreement without giving Syria any loophole to vote in the talks. These peace talks on how to solve the conflict in Syria also known as Syrian Peace Process. Syrian peace process is known to begin in the end of 2011- 2012 by The Arab League (Lundgren, 2016). Then, it was followed by one of the agreements that was very well known in the international arena and one of the Syrian peace agreements that attracted too much attention and involved several international actors, such as the United States and Russia, called as Geneva Peace Talks (2012-2017). Following the Geneva Peace Talks that had ended in 2017, another peace talks that will also address the issue of resolving the problems and achieving the peace in Syria without prejudice to both sides (government and oppositions) has been agreed upon by the international actors involved, known as Astana Peace Talks (2017-presents). -
The Syrian Civil War a New Stage, but Is It the Final One?
THE SYRIAN CIVIL WAR A NEW STAGE, BUT IS IT THE FINAL ONE? ROBERT S. FORD APRIL 2019 POLICY PAPER 2019-8 CONTENTS * SUMMARY * 1 INTRODUCTION * 3 BEGINNING OF THE CONFLICT, 2011-14 * 4 DYNAMICS OF THE WAR, 2015-18 * 11 FAILED NEGOTIATIONS * 14 BRINGING THE CONFLICT TO A CLOSE * 18 CONCLUSION © The Middle East Institute The Middle East Institute 1319 18th Street NW Washington, D.C. 20036 SUMMARY Eight years on, the Syrian civil war is finally winding down. The government of Bashar al-Assad has largely won, but the cost has been steep. The economy is shattered, there are more than 5 million Syrian refugees abroad, and the government lacks the resources to rebuild. Any chance that the Syrian opposition could compel the regime to negotiate a national unity government that limited or ended Assad’s role collapsed with the entry of the Russian military in mid- 2015 and the Obama administration’s decision not to counter-escalate. The country remains divided into three zones, each in the hands of a different group and supported by foreign forces. The first, under government control with backing from Iran and Russia, encompasses much of the country, and all of its major cities. The second, in the east, is in the hands of a Kurdish-Arab force backed by the U.S. The third, in the northwest, is under Turkish control, with a mix of opposition forces dominated by Islamic extremists. The Syrian government will not accept partition and is ultimately likely to reassert its control in the eastern and northwestern zones. -
Putin's Syrian Gambit: Sharper Elbows, Bigger Footprint, Stickier Wicket
STRATEGIC PERSPECTIVES 25 Putin’s Syrian Gambit: Sharper Elbows, Bigger Footprint, Stickier Wicket by John W. Parker Center for Strategic Research Institute for National Strategic Studies National Defense University Institute for National Strategic Studies National Defense University The Institute for National Strategic Studies (INSS) is National Defense University’s (NDU’s) dedicated research arm. INSS includes the Center for Strategic Research, Center for Complex Operations, Center for the Study of Chinese Military Affairs, and Center for Technology and National Security Policy. The military and civilian analysts and staff who comprise INSS and its subcomponents execute their mission by conducting research and analysis, publishing, and participating in conferences, policy support, and outreach. The mission of INSS is to conduct strategic studies for the Secretary of Defense, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the unified combatant commands in support of the academic programs at NDU and to perform outreach to other U.S. Government agencies and the broader national security community. Cover: Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier, August, 2012 (Russian Ministry of Defense) Putin's Syrian Gambit Putin's Syrian Gambit: Sharper Elbows, Bigger Footprint, Stickier Wicket By John W. Parker Institute for National Strategic Studies Strategic Perspectives, No. 25 Series Editor: Denise Natali National Defense University Press Washington, D.C. July 2017 Opinions, conclusions, and recommendations expressed or implied within are solely those of the contributors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Defense Department or any other agency of the Federal Government. Cleared for public release; distribution unlimited. Portions of this work may be quoted or reprinted without permission, provided that a standard source credit line is included. -
Syria: Playing Into Their Hands
Syria Playing into their hands Regime and international roles in fuelling violence and fundamentalism in the Syrian war DAVID KEEN Syria Playing into their hands Regime and international roles in fuelling violence and fundamentalism in the Syrian war DAVID KEEN About the author David Keen is a political economist and Professor of Conflict Studies at the London School of Economics (LSE), where he has worked since 1997. He is the author of several books on conflict and related problems, includingUseful Enemies, Complex Emergencies, Endless War? and The Benefits of Famine. Saferworld published a discussion paper by Professor Keen in 2015 entitled Dilemmas of counter-terror, stabilisation and statebuilding, on which this paper builds. Acknowledgements This discussion paper was commissioned as part of Saferworld’s work to challenge counterproductive responses to crises and critical threats and promote peacebuilding options. It has been managed and edited by Larry Attree and Jordan Street for Saferworld. Very valuable comments and advice, on all or parts of the text, were additionally provided by Rana Khalaf, Henry Smith, Fawaz Gerges, Rajesh Venugopal, Stuart Gordon, Paul Kingston, Sune Haugbolle, Leonie Northedge, Shelagh Daley and David Alpher. Any errors are solely the responsibility of the author. The author is grateful to Mary Kaldor at LSE for supporting the fieldwork component of this research, funded by the European Research Council. I am particularly grateful to Ali Ali for his guidance and inside knowledge during fieldwork on the Turkey-Syria border and for subsequent comments. Some people have helped greatly with this report who cannot be individually acknowledged for security reasons and my sincere gratitude extends to them. -
International Terrorist Organization "Islamic State": History, Contemporaneity, Future
VLADISLAV KRASINSKY VLADISLAV MASHKO International terrorist organization "Islamic State": history, contemporaneity, future Moscow 2017 Authors Krasinsky Vladislav Vyacheslavovich - Doctor of Law, colonel, expert on the problems of terrorism and national security. Member of the section on international electoral cooperation under the Central Electoral Commission of Russian Federation and the expert group of international anti-extremist cooperation under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Author of over 200 scientific, analytical and methodical judicial publications. Mashko Vladislav Valerevich - Candidate of Historical Sciences, Associate Professor of the Russian State Humanitarian University. Author of more than 20 scientific and educational works. Reviewers: Damaskin Oleg Valerevich - Doctor of Law, leading researcher of the Border Academy of the Federal Security Service of Russia, Professor, Honored Lawyer of the Russian Federation Aleshin Vladimir Vasilievich – Doctor of Law, Deputy Head of the Legal Department of the Council of Federation Staff Krasinsky V.V, Mashko V.V. International terrorist organization "Islamic State": history, contemporaneity, future. Moscow., 2017. ISBN 978-5-16-012878-8 (print) ISBN 978-5-16-105741-4 (online) This monograph is a comprehensive study of the activities of the international terrorist organization "Islamic State", which analyzes the history of its emergence, organizational structure, tactics of activity, participation of foreign militants in the ranks of a terrorist organization, the efforts of the world community, including Russia, in combating it, etc. key questions. With reference to the "Islamic state", the authors give recommendations on counteracting the spread of ideological concepts of terrorism in the Russian Federation. The book is intended for civil servants, law enforcement officers, faculty members, media representatives, will be of interest to a wide range of readers. -
The 12Th Annual Report on Human Rights in Syria 2013 (January 2013 – December 2013)
The 12th annual report On human rights in Syria 2013 (January 2013 – December 2013) January 2014 January 2014 TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction 3 Genocide: daily massacres amidst international silence 8 Arbitrary detention and Enforced Disappearances 11 Besiegement: slow-motion genocide 14 Violations committed against health and the health sector 17 The conditions of Syrian refugees 23 The use of internationally prohibited weapons 27 Violations committed against freedom of the press 31 Violations committed against houses of worship 39 The targeting of historical and archaeological sites 44 Legal and legislative amendments 46 References 47 About SHRC 48 The 12th annual report on human rights in Syria (January 2013 – December 2013) Introduction The year 2013 witnessed a continuation of grave and unprecedented violations committed against the Syrian people amidst a similarly shocking and unprecedented silence in the international community since the beginning of the revolution in March 2011. Throughout the year, massacres were committed on almost a daily basis killing more than 40.000 people and injuring 100.000 others at least. In its attacks, the regime used heavy weapons, small arms, cold weapons and even internationally prohibited weapons. The chemical attack on eastern Ghouta is considered a landmark in the violations committed by the regime against civilians; it is also considered a milestone in the international community’s response to human rights violations Throughout the year, massacres in Syria, despite it not being the first attack in which were committed on almost a daily internationally prohibited weapons have been used by the basis killing more than 40.000 regime. The international community’s response to the crime people and injuring 100.000 drew the international public’s attention to the atrocities others at least. -
Operation Inherent Resolve Operation Pacific Eagle–Philippines
LEAD INSPECTOR GENERAL I REPORT TO THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS OVERSEAS CONTINGENCY OPERATIONS OPERATION INHERENT RESOLVE OPERATION PACIFIC EAGLE–PHILIPPINES APRIL 1, 2018‒JUNE 30, 2018 ABOUT THIS REPORT In January 2013, legislation was enacted creating the Lead Inspector General (Lead IG) framework for oversight of overseas contingency operations. This legislation, which amended the Inspector General Act, requires the Inspectors General of the Department of Defense (DoD), Department of State (DoS), and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to, among other things, provide quarterly reports to Congress. The DoD Inspector General (IG) is designated as the Lead IG for Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR) and Operation Pacific Eagle-Philippines (OPE-P). The DoS IG is the Associate Inspector General for OIR and OPE-P. The USAID IG participates in oversight for both operations. The Offices of Inspector General of the DoD, DoS, and USAID are referred to in this report as the Lead IG agencies. Other partner agencies also contribute to oversight of OIR and OPE-P. The Lead IG agencies collectively carry out their four statutory missions related to these overseas contingency operations: • Develop a joint strategic plan to conduct comprehensive oversight over the contingency operation. • Ensure independent and effective oversight of programs and operations of the Federal Government in support of the contingency operation through either joint or individual audits, inspections, and investigations. • Perform analyses to ascertain the accuracy of information provided by federal agencies relating to obligations and expenditures, costs of programs and projects, accountability of funds, and the award and execution of major contracts, grants, and agreements.