Syrian Arab News Agency S A N A
Damascus, SANA- The Government of the Syrian Arab Republic has followed with interest a report issued by Amnesty International Organization on the incidents that took place in the Syrian coast last March, and its preliminary conclusions to be later evaluated by the Independent National Commission of Inquiry and Fact-Finding in accordance with the broad capacities and independence granted to it by a presidential decree.
Believing in the importance of upholding justice and enhancing transparency, the government would like to point out that there are systematic observations that should not be ignored over time. The most prominent of these observations is the tendency of some human rights reports to ignore the track through which those incidents took place or to underestimate its importance, thus affecting the results reached.
“The regrettable incidents in the coast area began with a treacherous attack with a deliberate murderous intent launched by remnants of the former regime, targeting the public security forces and the army, during which violations were committed against the people and residents of the region, sometimes with sectarian motives. This resulted in a temporary absence of state authority, following the martyrdom of hundreds of personnel, leading to security chaos followed by reprisals, transgressions, and violations. The National Commission has taken it upon itself to investigate these violations and issue its findings within thirty days,” the press statement said.
We also affirm that the Syrian government’s efforts and willingness to cooperate with human rights organizations and allow them access throughout the country have been appreciated by the International Commission of Inquiry.
These efforts are consistent with a comprehensive national reconciliation approach based on transitional justice that addresses criminals alone, with the state and its institutions as the primary reference point in this framework, without any retaliation.
In this context, the Syrian government stresses its full responsibility to protect all its citizens, regardless of their associations, and to ensure their future in a state of equal citizenship with equal rights and duties, the press statement concluded.
Mazen Eyon
