Invaded by the fear of identifying him, a neighbor of the city of Latakiaon the Mediterranean coast of Syriahe confesses to El Periódico his distrust in front of the two commissions promoted by the government of Ahmed Al Sharaa To investigate the killings against the Alauí community, the majority Muslim minority in the region from which the Asad family comes and accused of supporting the crimes and human rights violations committed by the previous regime. Pray that your name is not mentioned, not even the initial one. “I don’t think the Investigation Commission is impartial. They only do it for foreign media and for UN sessions.” “Until the moment murders continue to be committed, but they do not film, because their bosses have given orders not to film them,” he adds.
According to this woman, although the situation “is calmer” now, they live with constant fear “that something happens again.” “The Alauí community lives in a daily horror “he says, and reiterates that commissions only intend to “show the world that they are interested in punishing criminals, but that it is not like that.”
Nerouuz Satik, a Syrian citizen doctorate right now at the University of Sussex, coincides with the neighbor of Latakia. “I don’t think they are of any symbolicnothing more, “and adds that” they put on a mask Not to show the world how they are. “His family is in the region yet, and in one of his daily calls he has confessed that” leaving the country is one of the most realistic options right now “and that they live” in a constant uncertainty“.
Optimism from OSDH
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (OSDH) has been the main organ that has monitored crimes in Syria during the last 14 years. Your report is the most detailed piece about recent killings. The CEO, Fadel Abdulghani, and one of his researchers, Yurem Findo, value, instead, the creation of the investigation commissions.
“The commissions will be very important. I don’t think they are a symbolic gesture only“, says Abdulghani.” I know some members who participate in them, and for what they tell me, the government has given them independence Total to carry out the investigations, “says the CEO of the Observatory. Find adds that the relevance of these commissions is that the alauíesthe community most affected by the recent killing, “they need a true government performance that shows that it really wants protect them and hold the authors of the violations. “Both agree that the sectarianismeven being the only reason, it has been one of the main drivers of both the insurrection and the actions carried out by paramilitary groups. “Both parties committed violations, hate is still there,” says Findo.
Even so, Abdulghani sees necessary rethink the composition of the commissions and admits that “at least one member of the commission should be Alauí”, and also “they would have to include a investigator (lawyers or judges trained to assess criminal responsibility).”
Need to abandon the circle of violence
Aware that both the legitimacy of the government and the stability of the country beat a thread, the executive of Al Sharaa “is trying to be pragmatic.” “The massacre had a devastating effect on the government and its legitimacy,” says Findo. Therefore, “it is the current government decision to make those responsible pay accounts and act seriously in regards to civil peace. In this way, things can improve,” he adds.
More than two weeks have passed since Syria’s coastal region lived a already seen of his recent civil war. According to both local sources and the OSDH, which was intended to be an operation to placate the insurgents faithful to Basha revenge On your own.
The massacre invaded international headlines, and the new Al Sharaa regime, characterized so far by its pragmatismhe had to react immediately. Two investigation commissions, one criminal and one of civil order, would serve as extraordinary courts for those responsible. On Sunday, March 9, Sharaa said the commission of seven members “would investigate the reasons, circumstances and context Of the facts, I would study the violations against civilians and identify those responsible. “
Although hopeful at first glance, both the local population and international observers wait with skepticism resultsthat must be published within a period of 30 days since they were established The commissions.
