The Killing of 46 Individuals and the Documentation of Not less than 180 Breaches since the Beginning of the Ceasefire
SNHR issued the fifth report that documented the breaches and violations in the Ceasefire Agreement which started on February 27, as it recorded 35 breaches which include 23 military attacks and12 arrests by government forces.
The report recorded 20 breaches through military attacks by government forces while alleged Russian forces committed 3 breaches. Thus the total of violation reached to 180 breaches from the beginning of the agreement in February 27.
The report documented the killing of one member of armed opposition groups by government forces.
The report questioned if the ceasefire is sponsored by Russian and the USA only. As it is known, Russia cannot take that part since it is a loyal ally to the Syrian regime and one of its supporters. The Syrian regime has violated and breached several UNSC resolutions and it was not held accountable.
The director of SNHR, Fadel Abdul Ghani stated that the international community, represented by the UNSC, knows exactly what it should do to end this circle of violence, however, it resorts to unproductive solutions. They need a political transition that would transform the ruling to a democratic one. They have previously said that after Geneva 1, the bloodshed is not going to end and state administrations will be doomed to failure. ISIL and Iranian militias are filling the space the corrupted Syrian government left. They are with any agreement or resolution that would end the cycle of violence and massacres in Syria.”
The report indicated that Concerning the statement itself, the Syrian regime and its Russian accomplice could strike regions under the control of armed opposition in northern of Syria under the pretext of the presence Al Nusra front, even if it is extremely limited, without breaching the ceasefire.
The report observed the bare minimum of violations according their methodology. They interviewed eyewitnesses and verified the footages and images they received. It also showed the attacks by those binding truce in regions under the control of armed opposition and in regions that are controlled by joint forces of Al Nusra front and the armed opposition groups. The report did not include any military operations in regions under ISIL’s control. As it did not record any improvement in the detainees’ situation or releases by all main conflict parties.
The report mentioned that the violations distributed in all governorates as follows: 9 violations in Lattakia, 6 violations in Damascus suburbs, 2 violations in Hama, 2 violations in Homs, and one violation in Idlib. While it recorded 3 violations in Lattakia by alleged Russian forces, 2 violations in Idlib and one violation in Hama. The report recorded one violation in Al Raqqa by Kurdish self-management.
The violations through arrests by government forces were distributed as follows: 3 arrests in Damascus, 2 arrests in each of Damascus suburbs, Aleppo, and Homs. One violations in each of Deir Al Zour, Lattakia and Hama.
The report demanded the joint American and Russian committee to investigate those incidents, announce its results to the Syrian people and prevent it from happening again. The report confirmed that the international community has to correlate the ceasefire with political efforts that would pave the way towards a transitional stage that would result in a democratic regime, which will end the suffering of the Syrian people.
The report indicated that if breaches continued as it is, that fragile ceasefire may fail at any moment. Since USA is a major advocate for that agreement, then it should persuade the Russian government to cease its airstrikes and pressure its ally the Syrian government to do so.