Simon Busuttil
How can the world let this happen?
Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad has now gone past the point of no return. He is responsible for the murder of some 6,000 people since democracy protests started in March last year. These include 400 children, mostly under the age of 14. These are numbers of genocidal proportions.
Last week, the General Assembly of the United Nations voted in favour of a resolution condemning the continued widespread and systematic human rights violations by the Syrian authorities and calling on both sides “to stop all violence or reprisals immediately”.
The resolution was adopted by an overwhelming 137 votes in favour, 12 against and 17 abstentions.
In so doing, the General Assembly did what the UN Security Council failed to do when a similar resolution was blocked earlier this month as a result of a veto by China and Russia.
It is truly sad to see two great nations of the likes of China and Russia vote against both resolutions. Whereas their veto blocked the Security Council resolution, their vote was not able to veto that of the General Assembly and, on this occasion, they preferred to join countries such as Algeria, Cuba, North Korea, Iran and Venezuela.
Russia also continues to supply arms to the Syrian government notwithstanding clear evidence that they are being used against unarmed civilians or lightly armed opponents who have deserted the Syrian army.
As a minimum, Russia should stop supplying arms.
China has played its cards more delicately, dispatching its Deputy Foreign Minister Zhai Jun to Damascus on Friday. Mr Zhai condemned violence against civilians and called for the Syrian government to respect the people’s “legitimate” desire for reform.
But this sweet talk has not saved many lives.
For it is clear now that President Al-Assad is not interested in a peaceful solution. For him, staying in power is more important than the lives of the Syrian people. This is why the international community is calling on him to relinquish power forthwith.
On the same day of the UN vote, another resolution was overwhelmingly adopted, this time in the European Parliament in Strasbourg. I am proud to have co-signed it.
The European Parliament has always been at the forefront in supporting nations that choose the path of democracy. And this was not the first time that we adopted a resolution in support of the Syrian people.
We also expressed support for the Arab nations that took an exemplary lead rather than turned a blind eye to the killing fields in their neighbourhood.
Already last December they had sent an observer mission to Syria thinking that this would persuade the Syrian authorities to tone down the violence. But it was not to be. The Syrian authorities ensured that the observers were tightly watched and shuttled them only to places where there was nothing to be seen – while elsewhere the violence continued unabated.
The mission was eventually withdrawn and Arab diplomatic pressure was refocused at the UN, while many Arab countries bravely withdrew their ambassadors from Damascus.
At the United Nations, the Arab League and its Western supporters first met the disappointment of a vetoed resolution but last week pulled through a remarkable victory in the UN General Assembly. This victory was only half a victory because the General Assembly has no authority to impose legally-binding decisions. Thus, the Syrian regime is safe for the moment.
So what happens now? Will the violence end? And will President Al-Assad go?
I strongly doubt it.
So the world cannot let more time pass and it is now time for the Arab League, the European Union, the United States and all those countries that put the respect of human life above other considerations to take action.
To be sure, the available options are limited. Political instruments of persuasion are fast running out, whereas economic sanctions are a blunt weapon.
Legal instruments include a resolution at the UN Security Council. So efforts to bring China and Russia on board must be pursued.
Likewise, action to indict President Al-Assad in the International Criminal Court must be launched as soon as possible. In the case of Muammar Gaddafi, this action went a long way into cementing world public opinion against the Libyan dictator.
And if that does not work?
Military action in Syria is fraught with danger because it could easily have pernicious regional consequences in a zone that is already one of the world’s most volatile. Israel sits uncomfortably next to Syria whereas Iran, with its nuclear ambitions, is not so far away.
That makes military action an extreme option, which ought to be avoided. But it might have to be considered if President Al-Assad continues to rely on the world’s reluctance to force him out.
A no-fly-zone in parts of the country is a soft military option and could at least create a humanitarian safe-haven and allow the opposition to regroup. Turkey could have a key role here given that it is a neighbouring country and that it has already allowed in Syrian refugees and accommodated the Syrian opposition.
One thing is for sure. The world cannot let the slaughter in Syria continue to happen.
simon.busuttil@europarl.europa.eu
Dr Busuttil is a Nationalist member of the European Parliament.
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Martin Cassar
Feb 23rd, 19:08
@ Andy Farrugia.
Sir,
Will you join me to promote human rights and freedom of expression and inform the unwashed so not to vote for any politician that lecture many countries about those great values (a case of point, the author of this piece), yet still doing business with oppressive regimes such as those of China, Russia or Saudi Arabia?
Martin Cassar
Feb 22nd, 17:41
Straight to the point.
Who came up with the name ‘International community, I wonder? In reality there is nothing exists that reflect this vague concept.
Actually I am not seeing a double China-Russia VETO. Simply I am seeing a shift of power in slow motion.
Capitalism is heading to the unknown while the Eastern economic powers are emerging and ready for replacement. The whole Syrian population and the whole Middle East (bar the Zionists) for this matter doesn't worth 1 euros in war-for-natural-resources calculations.
We are living in a jungle; the rule of the jungle is very simple: survival for the fit.
This double veto by Both Russia and china is backed by a Russian nuclear arsenal and a Chinese growing economy. Russia and China are not Libya or Iraq.
Both the EU and the USA have been financially backing and providing political immunity to counless number of dictators acroos the Globe, and going an extra mile and supporting the the illegal occupation of the Zionists for the past 60 years and very few that lift a finger to protect the Palestinians.
Fiction and romance has no place. In reality, the world in more in black and white format, the real picture is far from what our politicians would like us to believe. In real politics there are no fictions or romance. In real politics the world is divided: rich countries and poor countries, strong and powerful, small countries and big countries, allies and enemies, suzerain countries and satellites…etc.
Do as I say or you will be wiped-off the map, says nuclear powered Russia
Do as I say or you will go begging in the street, says the financially-growing communist dragon that soon will swallow Wall Street and EU.
As for USA and EU they only have one thing left: to use military machines to ‘remedy’ the collapse of he already deteriorated capitalist economies. This however can be done by keep-lecturing small wealthy nations about democracy and human rights….etc and keep flexing the military mussels to get some funds by fabrications, lies (if required) and creating the conditions for terrorism (if necessary) of some wars so they can sell weapons then take part of some business.
Let us get real for once, since when the Roman Catholic west care for freedom or human rights in Orthodox and Muslim East? I think the octogenarian guy at the Vatican could give best answer!
Save your crocodile tears and hypocrisy for goodness sake!
John Azzopoardi
Feb 23rd, 11:30
MR CASSAR, YOUR LAST COMMENT ABOUT THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IS UNCALLED FOR. GROW UP
Andy Farrugia
Feb 23rd, 16:20
@ John Azzopardi
That is because you are not aware of the typical rants and ravings of this Cassar: he pens frequent diatribes against the West, he presents the most surreal conspiracy theories about the workings of the US and Israel, he is an admirer of the likes of Ahmadinejad, Assad, Chavez and other murderous tyrants, who have long since been dispatched to kingdom come. His hatred of the West, the US and Israel knows no bounds.
Joseph Calleja
Feb 22nd, 17:27
Mr Busttil the United Nations and the United Nations are nothing but a token and nothing more. They are a bag of hot air and nothing else. So they have Russia and China dictating to them and that is the way it goes. The Syrian people need help and they need it fast, after all Russia and China are both supplying arms to this dictator so he can murder his own people like Gadafi did with his. Except in this case President Al-Assad knows that the other big powers like the United States, Britain and France are not going to get directly involved. They are very cautious in helping to arm the rebels. In the meantime they are sitting on the wings while this madman slaughters more of his citizens. Who is going to take charge and try to save these innocent people from genocide? It's not our problem. Is that it? How can the powers of this world let something like this go on? This is a one sided war and President Al-Assad has the advantage. It is true that no country wants to get involved in another country's revolution but at least try to make it a fair fight and make sure both sides are armed equally. At least help arm the rebels.
Francis Sammut
Feb 22nd, 12:45
Obviously, the sanctions don't seem to be working much now, do they? Of course as you rightly said, there is Russia and China helping Al-Assad so it's proving to be a steep uphill all the way! Dr. Busuttil, how about the option of trying to help the opposition by giving them arms to help protect themselves, like it happened in Libya?
John Azzopoardi
Feb 22nd, 12:35
Mr. busittil, are you living in a bubble or something. We see wars happening around us all the time. And what is it that the maltese do except talk talk talk. Yes, we may give some humanitatian assitance, but unless the big boys of this world get involved, nothing will happen. And now we are seeing the Russians getting involved earlier in Syria before the West goes in. We saw this happening in Bosnia, Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Yemen, Irqa, Afghansitan, etc. And the people of these countries are still suffering enormously. PIty the citizens of these countries for they are paying for the power mongering individuals who want power at all cost. Pity the children, the women and men who do not want any part of this but through no choice of their own, they must endure so much pain, fear and terror.
Pat Hobson
Feb 22nd, 11:06
How come the UN backed by the USA did not intervene this time round? Of it was grudge against the Gaddafi regime that put the wheels of the UN to intervene in motion? Or could it be BLACK GOLD? Only time will tell.