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March 18, 2015

Assad Regime Accused of New War Crimes as U.N. Panel Prepares to Name Suspects 
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The regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad faces new allegations of
atrocities in its bombings of rival-held areas. Amnesty International
says regime attacks on Raqqa, the stronghold of Islamic State militants,
in November carry "every indication of being war crimes." According to
Amnesty, "ruthless air strikes" killed at least 115 civilians, including
14 children. Meanwhile, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says at
least 19 people have reportedly been killed in barrel and gas attacks in
northwestern Syria. Witnesses say chlorine may have been used. On
Tuesday, the U.N. panel investigating Syria's civil war said it will
start sharing the names of Syrian war crimes suspects with states
prepared to bring international prosecutions. Briefing the Human Rights
Council in Geneva, panel chair Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro said the names
would not be made public.

Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro: "We will not be releasing the list of names
publicly now. We can best aid the pursuit of justice at this time
through targeted disclosure. We will share names and information about
specific alleged perpetrators with state prosecution authorities that
are preparing cases to be heard before a competent and impartial
judiciary. This will be a process that respects human rights, the fair
trial rights of the accused, and the right to truth of the victims."

 

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