HRW: Syrian Opposition Leaders must Curb Abuses
Syria's new opposition leaders must act to monitor and curb any violations of international law by rebels fighting to oust President Bashar Assad's regime, human rights watchdogs said on Tuesday.
"Syria’s newly created opposition front should send a clear message to opposition fighters that they must adhere to the laws of war and human rights law, and that violators will be held accountable," said Human Rights Watch.
Amnesty International also urged the newly formed National Coalition and the new leaders of the Syrian National Council (SNC) to "set up effective oversight mechanisms to monitor the conduct of armed opposition groups".
"Syria’s new opposition coalition needs to make it clear that it envisions a Syria that turns the page on violations by armed gunmen," said Sarah Leah Whitson of the New York-based HRW.
Opposition groups struck an agreement to unite under the umbrella of the National Coalition at the weekend after marathon four-day talks in the Qatari capital Doha.
Among the groups that signed up was the SNC, the main opposition group in exile, which also elected prominent Christian dissident George Sabra as its new leader.
The opposition said it hopes the alliance will help attract international recognition and funding for the revolt, amid concerns that radical Islamists are gaining ground.
"Countries financing or supplying arms to opposition groups should send a strong signal to the opposition that they expect it to comply strictly with international human rights and humanitarian law," HRW said.
Both HRW and Amnesty have documented abuses by rebel fighters in Syria, including cases of extrajudicial mass killings and torture.
Rebel "commanders and others in a position of authority may be held criminally responsible if they fail to prevent war crimes and other violations of international humanitarian law," said Amnesty.
Both organizations also condemned the Syrian regime for violations of international law, noting its abuses far exceed those committed by rebels.
Amnesty "reiterated its call on the Syrian government, whose armed forces and paramilitary militias are responsible for most of the violations, to put an immediate end to the increasingly frequent attacks against civilians not involved in the conflict," said the London-based watchdog.
Source: Agence France Presse
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