Human Rights Watch: Syria Forces Told to Stop Protests 'By All Means Necessary'
Human Rights Watch has released a new report today titled “By All Means Necessary: Individual and Command Responsibility for Crimes Against Humanity in Syria.”
The report focuses on the protests taking place in Syria and the methods used by government forces in order to suppress the protesters. It is compiled of first-hand accounts given by 63 defectors from army and intelligence agencies.
These defectors gave chilling reports to Human Rights Watch (HRW) about the commands they were given and the orders they carried out.
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“All of the 63 defectors…said that their commanders gave them standing orders to stop the protests ‘by all means necessary’,” the report said.
The phrase “all means necessary” included acts of torture, murder, and firing into crowds of unarmed civilians. Forces did so because they (defectors) were convinced that officers or intelligence agents would kill them if they refused to follow orders.
Over 5,000 Syrians have been killed by government forces since the protests began on Mar. 18, in response to the arrest and torture of 15 school children by the Political Security Directorate, one of Syria’s intelligence agencies.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has denied giving any orders to kill.
“There was no command to kill or to be brutal. I did my best to protect the people, so I cannot feel guilty,” he told Barbara Walters in a recent interview.
The United States has shown support for rebel groups and the overthrow of al-Assad. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton met with the Syrian National Council, a group that is promoting the rebellion last week and offered her support.
State Department Official Frederic Hof told Congress yesterday, “Our view is that this regime is the equivalent of a dead man walking. I do not see this regime surviving.”
President Obama has also offered his support for the rebellion and gave a speech on Aug. 18, 2011, calling for President al-Assad to step aside.
“We have consistently said that President Assad must lead a democratic transition of get out of the way. He has not led. For the sake of the Syrian people, the time has come for President Assad to step aside,” Obama said.
“The United States opposes the use of violence against peaceful protesters in Syria, and we support the universal rights of the Syrian people. The future of Syria must be determined by its people, but President Bashar al-Assad is standing in their way," Obama said.
