(MENAFN- Jordan Times) Moscow says that respect for international law and the UN Charter is what determines its policy on the Syrian conflict. This is a laudable stance. But what does the UN Charter have to say of relevance to the Syrian conflict?
The preamble to the UN Charter reaffirms "the faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women ....".
How does Moscow, which supports a regime that violated so wantonly this very principle, abide by the UN Charter, then?
Damascus brutally crushed the very early peaceful protests in the city of Deraa, using tanks and heavy military equipment. The Syrian people was pushed to the wall by the brutal crackdown tactics and forced to arm to defend itself from repeated massacres, perpetration of crimes against humanity and war crimes against it.
What democratic country uses gunships, battleships and heavy artillery to crush a peaceful people protest movement?
Children, women and non-combatant Syrians have been blown up by the mighty Syrian war machine over the past 18 months.
Article 2 of the UN Charter stipulates that among the purposes of the charter is "to develop friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination..." Paragraph 3 of the same article calls for the promotion of human rights and fundamental freedoms.
Any country abiding by the UN Charter should keep in mind these principles and goals. Even if claims that Al Qaeda and other extremist groups have infiltrated the opposition forces and now threaten to take over the country are true, one can only ask how Syria got to this stage. The answer is through the veto of all sensible UN Security Council resolutions on Syria.
There is more to international law that just protecting the independence and territorial integrity of nations. International law also talks about basic human rights, like the right to life, to self-determination, and to be free from torture, ill-treatment, extra judicial killing and arbitrary detention.
Isn't protection from massacres, war crimes and crimes against humanity also part of international law? Isn't providing people with an opportunity to determine their future in free and fair elections part of it as well?
In contemporary international law, the world community can interfere in domestic affairs of states when grave human rights are committed. Isn't international intervention in the internal affairs of nations where gross human rights violations take place what the UN is all about?
One can go on and about the international norms that Syria has violated brutally and violently. This is not to absolve the opposition of its share of responsibility to protect and promote human rights and humanitarian law in its armed struggle. The opposition bears an equal responsibility and must be held accountable in due course as well.
Russia and like-minded nations must remember that the non-combatant Syrian civilians are bearing the brunt of the war unleashed by Damascus against the opposition. These countries should raise their voice against the continued killing of innocent people.
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.