Spokesman for the Syrian Coalition Salem al-Meslet welcomes Human Rights Watch’s calls on the UN Security Council for imposing arms embargo on the Assad regime, stressing that this procedure, if materialized, represents a minimum of what the UN Security Council must do to assume its responsibilities towards the protection of millions of Syrian civilians who have been a target of Assad’s systematic bombardment.
“The Assad regime’s continued displacement and bombing of residential areas, especially marketplaces, undermines the UN efforts to initiate a political process aimed at restoring stability to Syria.
“While Syria’s cities and towns are reduced to rubble and their population are displaced, wounded killed or besieged, the international community persists in its indifferent and inaction. Its empty warnings have been presumed by Assad a green light to continue with the murder and destruction.”
Besides calling for meeting the latest Human Rights Watch’s demand, the Syrian Coalition calls for the implementation of UN Security Council resolution 2139 that prohibits the use of barrel bombs and indiscriminate weapons in populated areas. It also calls for working immediately and seriously to establish safe areas to protect civilians from random bombardment as well as for lifting the siege on all areas besieged Assad regime and the introduction of relief aid to these areas.
Meslet reiterates the Syrian Coalition’s rejection of any targeting of civilians in any place, emphasizing that the Free Syrian Army and rebel fighters are committed to neutralizing civilians. “Many reports indicate that regime forces bombed residential areas under its control to lay blame on rebel fighters and defame the revolution.
Human Rights Watch on Thursday urged the United Nations to impose an arms embargo on the Assad regime after the deadly air strikes on Douma where nearly 120 people were killed.
The New York-based group said the Sunday attack on Douma near Damascus showed the Assad regime’s “appalling disregard for civilians.”
“This latest carnage is another reminder — if any was still needed — of the urgent need for the Security Council to act on its previous resolutions and take steps to stop indiscriminate attacks,” HRW deputy Middle East director Nadim Houry said. (Source: Syrian Coalition)
