Daily Newsletter – 27/01/2014

Syrian Coalition: Assad Regime Still Refuses To Recognize Terms Of Geneva I.

Louay Safi,  spokesman for the Syrian Coalition, said that the “negotiations are still on going with the Assad regime’s delegation but with no progress as the regime delegation is trying to evade the terms of Geneva I. “They have submitted proposals that we consider aimed at derailing the course of the negotiation,” Safi said. He also said that “the Coalition delegation seeks to “discuss the mechanisms of implementing the terms of Geneva I and forming transitional ruling body.” Safi…Read more

Syrian Women’s Network Launches “Syria Is A Homeland Not A Prison.”
The Syrian Women Network, which includes independent figures and non-governmental organizations who side with the demands of the Syrian revolution, launched a campaign dubbed “Syria is a Homeland not a Prison.” The campaign calls for the release of prisoners of conscience as a fundamental step at Geneva II. The network quoted several documented reports issued by the Syrian human rights groups that “thousands of prisoners died in Assad’s prisons where conditions of detention are at the minimum humanitarian standards.” The campaign also calls for implementing the terms of the Geneva and the UN Security Council resolution No.1325 and other related international treaties. Azza Al Bahra, a member of the Syrian Women’s Network, said that “the campaign is one in a series of campaigns that the Network is planning to launch. This campaign is advocating for detainees who have been suffering so much inside Assad’s prisons.” Bahra said that “the Network held a meeting during January 13 and 14 in Geneva and met with the UN envoy Lakhdar Brahimi as well as several international organizations within the Women’s Initiative for Peace and Democracy. The initiative proposed many views that received positive responses and it was agreed to activate the contribution Syrian women at the international forums.” The Network expressed concern about the indiscriminate raids targeting all Syrian men, women and children, and the the torture of detainees and the violation of all international conventions and treaties on the torture of women in detention. The network said also that women are being used as a means of pressure on detainees and the community. The campaign coincides a petition by the Euro-Mediterranean Network for Human Rights for the release of all prisoners of conscience and detainees in Syria. The petition was signed by more than 46 Syrian and regional organizations. (Source: Syrian Coalition)

Wife of Mazen Darwish Demand the Release of Her Husband
The wife of Mazen Darwish, director of the Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression, called on the Assad regime yesterday to release her husband and his two fellow detainees held by the intelligence services since February 2012. The call comes on the eve of the appearance of Darwish and Hassan Greer and Hani Zitani for the sixth time in court on terrorism-related charges. Air Security Apparatus raided Syrian Center for Media in February 16, 2012, and arrested 14 staffers, including Darwish and his wife, who were later released except for Darwish, Ghareer and Zitani who were charged with terrorism. Yara Badr hopes that Geneva II provide an opportunity to reach a real and peaceful solution, and lead to the release of the detainees as part of the solution. “The majority of the activists who have been detained since the start of the protests against the Assad regime in mid-March 2011, were charged with terrorism, even those the most peaceful,“ she said. A UN organization said in last November that Darwish and his colleagues were arbitrarily arrested. The International Commission of Inquiry for Syria said last month that “forced disappearances carried out by the regular troops constitute a crime against humanity.” (Source: Coalition + AFP)

Assad’s Forces Prevent the Entry of Food Aid to Yarmouk Camp For The Fifth Day
An official at the Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) said yesterday that she was unable for the fifth day to provide essential humanitarian supplies to Palestinian refugees in Yarmouk refugee camp in southern Damascus.  The agency has welcomed the announcement of the Assad regime in January 18 to allow the current staff of the agency to provide food and relief supplies to the refugee camp of Yarmouk. The UNRWA official said yesterday that he is “disappointed especially he got confirmations the relief aid will be allowed to the enter the district. Everyone must support and facilitate humanitarian access to civilians in order to alleviate their suffering”. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the number of deaths as a result of malnutrition in the camp has risen to 75 since last June, including 24 women and 4 children. (Source: Al Hayat)

Interim Government Welcomes Turkey’s Decision to Buy Syrian Oil
The Syrian interim government welcomes the decision of the Turkish government to limit the selling of Syrian oil in Turkish territory to the interim government, adding that this decision will support the Syrian people in their steadfastness and promotes their economic independence. Dr. Elias Wardah, the Minister of Energy and Oil in the Syrian interim government said that this decision “will help the interim government extend the national sovereignty in the liberated areas in cooperation with all factions of the FSA that are working to achieve the goals of the revolution. This decision will also help reduce the price of fuel in Syria in general and in the liberated areas in particular.” He also said that the interim government hopes cooperation of everyone “to benefit from this decision in order to serve our people and our revolution and put the public interest above personal considerations.” Wardah added that the interim government is studying bids it received to export oil from some areas in northern and north-eastern Syria. (Source: Syrian Coalition)

Regime Artillery Shelling On Yabrood Kills Three as Clashes Rage in Al Qadam
Regime forces conducted artillery bombardment today on Yabrood, killing three civilians and wounding others. Regime forces stormed the village in Qastal in Kalamoon and shot a number of people. Meanwhile, regime warplanes dropped barrel bombs on Dariya. Regime forces also shelled Rankous, Zabadani and eastern Ghouta, causing civilian casualties and material damage. Five people died in the Yarmouk camp in Damascus of hunger because of the suffocating siege imposed on the district. Violent clashes broke out between the Free Syrian Army and regime forces in Al Qadam district in southern Damascus. (Source: Syrian Coalition + LCC)

FSA Captures A Strategic Hill Northwest of Aleppo
The FSA captured today Maarat Alertik and Sheikh Lutfi northwest of Aleppo after violent clashes with regime forces. Violent clashes broke out between the Mujahideen Army and ISIS fighters in Bashkwa, Kafr Hamra and Haritan in rural Aleppo, with reports of the death of five ISIS fighters. (Source: Syrian Coalition + LCC)

Clashes Rage in Sheikh Misqin in Rural Dara’a
Regime forces shelled the towns of Sahm al Jolan, Inkhil and Gharriyya Al Gharbiya, injuring a number of civilians and causing material damage. Regime forces also targeted the civilian neighborhoods in the town of Sheikh Misqin alongside violent clashes on the southern front of the town and reports of regime losses. (Source: Syrian Coalition + LCC)

Regime Forces Intensify Shelling Of Besieged Districts Of Homs
Regime forces shelled the besieged districts of Homs Al Wa’r district west of the city with various weapons, causing civilian casualties and material damage. Regime forces also shelled the towns of Rastan, Talbisah, Al See’n, Addar Al Kabira and Al Ghannto, north of Homs with heavy artillery and mortar rounds. (Source: Syrian Coalition + LCC)

• Washington to persuade Russia to dissuade Assad from running for third term.
• United States calls on the Assad regime to allow the entry of relief aid to Homs