Amid brutal crackdown, Syria poised to join UN Human Rights Council

[oberliner]

Massacring dozens of its own citizens one day – elected to the United Nations’ top human rights group the next?

That’s the trajectory Syria is on, meaning that the once-dependably stable but now-bloodied domain of President Bashar al-Assad could join the United States and 45 other countries on the UN Human Rights Council.

After state-directed violence against civilians has left some 400 Syrians dead, a rising chorus of diplomats and human rights advocates is calling for Syria to be kept off the council when the UN General Assembly votes on new members May 20.

The rising consternation over Syria’s Human Rights Council candidacy is part of mounting international efforts to punish the Assad regime for its increasingly violent response to spreading protests.

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Foreign-Policy/2011/0426/Amid-brutal-crackdown-Syria-poised-to-join-UN-Human-Rights-Council

[King_David]

1. I do not see a problem with this,

I am sure they are very well suited to condemn Israel.

:sarcasm:

[shira]

18. Neither do some of our fellow DU'ers here. n/t

[ProgressiveProfessor]

2. Are they taking the seat formerly held Libya?

[oberliner]

4. Libya's term isn't up until 2013 (though their membership has been suspended)

This is to replace one of the four Asian countries that are up this year.

[Jefferson23]

3. The use of "poised" and "could" yet not much clarity in the OP. Syria

was endorsed back in January and until quite recently Assad was defined as a reformer, by Hillary Clinton.

Mar 28, 2011 12:01 AM ET
Clinton said the elements that led to intervention in Libya -- international condemnation, an Arab League call for action, a United Nations Security Council resolution -- are “not going to happen” with Syria, in part because members of the U.S. Congress from both parties say they believe Assad is “a reformer.”

“What’s been happening there the last few weeks is deeply concerning, but there’s a difference between calling out aircraft and indiscriminately strafing and bombing your own cities,” Clinton said, referring to Qaddafi’s attacks on the Libyan people, “than police actions which, frankly, have exceeded the use of force that any of us would want to see.”

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-03-27/u-s-won-t-intervene-in-syria-unrest-clinton-says-on-cbs.html


22 March 2011

UN human rights office voices concern at recent events in Yemen, Bahrain and Syria

OHCHR is also greatly concerned by the recent killings of protesters in Syria and reiterated the need to put an immediate halt to the excessive use of force against peaceful protesters, especially the use of live ammunition.

http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=37847&Cr=protests&Cr1=


Statements by the UN Official
26 March 2011

High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay

Syria's violent repression of protests risks fuelling further anger - UN official

http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=37905&Cr=Syria&Cr1=


March 29, 2011, 2:16 PM EDT

Singapore’s Ambassador Vanu Menon said the Asian Group of nations endorsed Syria before the latest unrest began and will support its candidacy unless another country bids for a seat.

India, Indonesia and Philippines are the other Asian nations seeking seats on the Human Rights Council.

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-03-29/syria-seeking-seat-on-human-rights-council-at-un-amid-turmoil.html


AP) – Apr 18, 2011

The Associated Press: US official: US opposes Syria for UN rights body

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hRFNaf65wu22urXigL92ZtW3CRPw?docId=f2a7c4ef87c54f4a8095e1399757550f


Campaign to bar Syria from UN human rights body

Snip* Since the 53-member Asian Group endorsed its slate — which also includes India, Indonesia and the Philippines — for the council in January, rights groups and some governments have engaged in a behind-the-scenes effort to keep Syria off the council.

Those efforts have gathered steam since a crackdown on pro-democracy protests since mid-March has left more than 350 dead and hundreds wounded, diplomats said.

One diplomat involved in the process, speaking on condition of anonymity because the consultations are private, said he was confident that another country would be found to contest the election but declined to say which countries were being pursued.

Diplomats in Geneva were also scrambling to find a way to stop the violence in Syria, including counting potential votes to see if the Human Rights Council can call a special session later this week to address the crisis.

Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Campaign-to-bar-Syria-from-UN-human-rights-body-1352342.php#ixzz1KgFJff1p

[oberliner]

5. Those are old articles

The vote takes place on May 20 and right now there are four candidates running for four seats.

[Jefferson23]

6. No kidding they are old articles...to give context to the OP you

posted which gave next to none.

[oberliner]

9. The information is outdated

The context is well-established.

Your thoughts on their candidacy?

[Jefferson23]

13. The older, not out dated information brings context, the context is not established as it

should be.

[shira]

14. So what are your thoughts on Syria's candidacy? n/t

[Jefferson23]

15. I'm not interested in discussing Syria's candidacy with you. n/t

[shira]

16. Oberliner asked. Are you interested in discussing it with him? n/t

[Jefferson23]

17. No. n/t

[King_David]

20. I am not as grumpy tonight as others,so I will discuss it with you,

I think it`s just as much a JOKE as the UNHRC (the same one that issued the Goldstone report) has and probably always will be.

[azurnoir]

7. Bahrain, Japan, Pakistan, South Korea. the 4 Asian countries

leaving the UNHRC this year I'm sure with so 'limited' a global range there is no other country save Syria that can replace one of the 4 that are vacating their seats, still less than 1 month ago HRC was singing Syria's praises, the election is still almost a month away, we'll see what happens

[Mosby]

12. you're joking right?

I imagine there are a lot of countries that could replace syria.

[azurnoir]

19. well it seems you get it that was my point n/t

[aranthus]

8. Business as usual at the UN. n/t

[leftynyc]

10. Is it any wonder

the UN has so little credibility these days? Blech.

[shira]

11. The UN has plenty of credibility to those who are anti-Israel. n/t

[leftynyc]

21. You're making my point ;-) (n/t)