\n2 August 2011\n<\/p>\n
\nUN HUMAN RIGHTS CHIEF SAYS WORLD IS WATCHING CARNAGE IN \nGENEVA – UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay \nShe expressed serious alarm at reports that at least 145 \n“The Government has been trying to keep the world blind \n“But they are not succeeding. The world is watching and the \nMs. Pillay called for the violence to stop immediately and \n“The Government has an obligation to protect its citizens. \n“I again urge the Government to allow the fact-finding \nAccording to information received by the UN human rights \n“It is high time that we work towards accountability for \nOHCHR Country Page – Syrian Arab Republic http:\/\/www.ohchr.org\/EN\/Countries\/MENARegion\/Pages\/SYIndex.aspx<\/a>\n<\/p>\n \nFor more information and media requests please contact \nUN Human Rights, follow us on social media:\n<\/p>\n \nhttp:\/\/www.facebook.com\/unitednationshumanrights<\/a>\n<\/p>\n
\nSYRIA<\/strong>\n<\/p>\n
\non Tuesday warned Syrian authorities that the world is bearing witness to the
\ngrave violence being perpetrated against the Syrian people, and urged them to
\nstop the bloodshed.\n<\/p>\n
\npeople have been killed and many others injured since Friday. At least 120
\nindividuals are reported to have been killed in Hama through the use of tanks,
\nshelling and heavy machine guns. Several others have been killed in Deir Ez
\nZur, suburbs of Damascus and other towns and cities across Syria. The exact
\ndeath toll may be considerably higher.\n<\/p>\n
\nabout the alarming situation in the country by refusing access to foreign
\njournalists, independent human rights groups and to the fact-finding mission
\nmandated by the Human Rights Council,” Ms. Pillay said.\n<\/p>\n
\ninternational community is gravely concerned. I stand in solidarity with
\npeaceful protestors who are demanding that the persistent violation of their
\nhuman rights ends now. I also stand in solidarity with the families of all the
\nvictims who have lost their lives since the crackdown began, and condemn in the
\nstrongest terms the reprehensible violence this Government is using against its
\nown people.”\n<\/p>\n
\nfor humanitarian actors to be granted access without delay.\n<\/p>\n
\nThe use of force in restoring law and order must be an option of the last
\nresort, but it appears that it is being used as a measure of first response to
\ndemonstrations in Syria,” she said.\n<\/p>\n
\nmission into the country to assess the situation first-hand,” she added.\n<\/p>\n
\noffice, in addition to the killings there have been dozens of arbitrary
\ndetentions across the country, including of human rights defenders whose rights
\nto freedom of expression and assembly have already been violently suppressed.\n<\/p>\n
\nperpetrators of human rights violations in Syria in recent months,” the High
\nCommissioner said. “There is a need for an international, transparent,
\nindependent and prompt investigation into the violence, the killings, the
\nexcessive use of force, the arbitrary arrests, ill-treatment and torture that
\nthe people of Syria have been subjected to.”\n<\/p>\n
\nRavina Shamdasani (+ 41 22 917 9310 \/ rshamdasani@ohchr.org) or Xabier Celaya:
\n(+ 41 22 917 9383 \/ xcelaya@ohchr.org)\n<\/p>\n