Veteran Norwegian reaches Syria as head of UN observer

As the UN-brokered peace deal not able to contain violence in Syria, and the relation between Syria and UN touching almost an all-time low, the arrival of Major General Robert Mood as the Chief UN observer in Damascus on Sunday couldn’t have been at a more difficult time. As the Chief UN observer, Major General Robert Mood understands the complexity of the task he has on hand. He is confident that his 300-unarmed observers would carry out their role and “make a difference” in Syria. He would be helped immediately by 30 ground observers. The number is expected to double in the coming week and the rest would join in a phased manner.

The city of Homs, which has borne the worst of the violence since the beginning of uprising, reported less violence on Sunday. Rebel forces have attributed this to the arrival of UN observers in Syria.  However, there were reports of gunfire and explosions in Damascus. The Central Bank building in the capital was hit by a grenade attack on Sunday and shown some damage.

Authorities in Damascus have claimed death of 2600 security personnel at the hands of rebel forces since the beginning of Syria uprising. A day before, Damascus has criticized the United Nations Chief Ban Ki-Moon for not telling the true picture and for turning a blind eye to Syria’s problems. On the other hand, the Bashaar-Al-Asaad government have been accused of killing 9000 people by the United Nations.

The first family of Syria faces fresh EU sanctions

In a bid to end the relentless violence in Syria, The European Union (EU) has slapped a fresh sanction on the close family members of President Bashar-Al-Assad on Friday. The ban list which already includes the President and senior officials has now his British wife, Asma Assad, and 11 other family members on it. The latest EU sanction not only forbids them to travel to any EU nations, but has also frozen their assets throughout the 27 nation block. However, this does not restrict the London-born Asma Assad, an ex-banker and a style icon, from visiting her native country, i.e. Britain.

To break the unending crackdown on people in Syria and tighten fund availability before the regime, EU has slapped Syrian currency ban last year November. Right now, as many as 150 Syrian companies and individuals are facing EU-imposed asset freeze and visa ban. Besides European Union, countries like the United States, the Arab League, Japan and such others have already sanctioned against Syria.

In spite of ongoing efforts globally to address the Syria unrest, violence is going on uninterrupted in Syria. Not less than 54 Syrians are believed to be dead on Friday. It is being claimed that heavy security forces deployed in Damascus are firing live ammunition and tear gas on people.

As many as 9000 refugees have received blankets, mattresses and food from the International Red Cross. The UN-Arab League special ambassador, Kofi Annan, is scheduled for an official visit to Beijing and Moscow this weekend to discuss on Syria crisis.

Kofi Annan calls for unfettered peace efforts in Syria

On Friday, Kofi Annan has called on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to broker a deal between President Bashar-Al-Assad and the opposition to address the ongoing Syria crisis. After a supposedly close-door teleconference with the 15-nation UN council, the special UN-Arab league ambassador has stated that he is working with all stakeholders including the Syrian government and the opposition for restoration of peace in Syria. News is that the United Nations humanitarian agencies would reach Damascus this weekend to start humanitarian aid with the government of Syria.

Kofi Annan and his team are engaged to break the deadlock between the government and the opposition and end the Syria crisis. In fact, his visit to Syria last week has been to push for international monitoring, opening of political dialogue and restoration of peace.

The ex-United Nations secretary general has admitted that unlike Libya or anywhere in the Middle East, the situation in Syria is quite complex and it calls for very careful handling. He feels that any misjudgment or miscalculation could have cascading effect on the entire region. Kofi Annan has also acknowledged that till now the six-point peace proposal has not found much favor in Syria, but his team is working with the Syrian government for their approval.

Baba Amr surrendered to Syrian military as rebels retreat

Baba Amr district of Homes, the center of rebel uprising against the President Bashar-Al-Asaad regime, finally fell in the hands of nations’s military on Thursday. After taking in heavy artilleries and sniper fires from powerful Syrian troops for almost a month, the day saw heavily outnumbered and exhausted rebel forces declaring “tactical retreat” from their stronghold.

For the Syrian regime, Thursday’s rebel retreat and the overwhelming victory for its troops in Baba Amr would open up possibilities of similar lethal attacks in other rebel-dominated areas, particularly Hamas or, perhaps, Idlib Province. This may not crush all the rebel hotspots in Syria. But, it is believed, such attacks would halt rebel forces and buy time for the regime to push for superficial changes in its political power.

On the other hand, pressure is intensifying on Bashar-Al-Asaad regime to declare cease-fire. China and Russia, who were earlier against intervention, have aligned with the United States, France and other nations demanding humanitarian access in Syria. The UN Human Rights Council in Geneva have also requested the regime to allow access in the affected areas with food and other help.

It has been confirmed that The International Red Cross and Syrian Red Crescent would reach with food and medical help on Friday. Right now, nearly a month-long captivity has left the people of Baba Amr with acute shortage of water, food and medical supplies. Evacuation of women, children and the wounded is also going to be a top priority for the aid providers.

Nations warn Syrian government to declare truce or face trial

In a major development, governments across the globe, through their diplomats, are trying to press on President Bashar-Al-Assad of Syria to immediately stop violent crackdown on civilians. Till now, indiscriminate bombarding and firing by Syrian forces have taken the death toll to well above 7500. The Human Rights Commissioner of the United Nations’, Navi Pillay, has cautioned that if situation does not improve, the government of Syria would face International Criminal Court proceedings in the near term.

The United States state secretary Hillary Clinton has also condemned the action of Syrian government on Tuesday. She suggested that President Assad to be declared a war criminal or at least be forced to step down from power.

It is reported that months of government blockades have made life miserable, particularly in the cities of Homs and Hama. Essentials such as food, medical supplies and water have become scarce. With Syria crisis showing no sign of improving, there is little choice for people in both the cities between overflowing hospitals and makeshift clinics.

How different is Syria unrest from recent Arab uprisings?

As the death toll rises in Syria, diplomacy fails and call for help intensifies, for the first time countries of the world are at a loss regarding how best to handle Syria crisis. Unlike other countries Libya, Yemen, Egypt or Tunisia where the autocrat rulers were overthrown by the people of their country, toppling the current regime in Syria presents some unique problem.

While many believe that the Syria unrest would eventually make the Bashar-Al-Asaad government to step down from power, but not everyone is buying into the idea. Since the onset of revolution and President Assad unleashed crackdown on protestors, there is something unique going on in Syria. This is the proxy war that the larger powers in the world are reported to be engaged in with each other (due to geopolitical proximity or business stakes) in Syria. This means if the current regime is toppled, this may divide the world.

For many years, Syrian regimes have shared closed ties with Russia and Iran and allowed them to extend business interest into their country. On the other hand, they have also maintained fairly good relationship with the United States and a stable one with the neighboring Israel. But the gross human rights violations in Syria have put the United States against Russia and China who are against foreign military intervention.

Also, unlike rebels in Libya who were unified and used to have a strong hold in Bengazi, protestors in Libya are scattered and unorganized. This has made them an uncertain entity and therefore rules out support from outside, especially with artillery or machines.

Finally, as opposed to other Arab uprisings, especially in Egypt, the Bashar-Al-Asaad regime has the backing of its army. The Syrian army is powerful, modern and unified as compared to its Libyan counterparts. It is also being said that Asaad still enjoys some support in Syria. This makes an outright military intervention in Syria highly unlikely.

International Red Cross humanitarian aid finally reaches Syria

After weeks of atrocities, Bashar-Al-Assad regime gave in to heightened pressure from prominent world leaders and allowed medical help to reach Syria on Friday. Volunteers of Red Crescent have already evacuated seven wounded from the captive city of Homs to Syria’s Al Amin Hospital. They have also managed to shift twenty other unhurt Syrians to safety.

The beginning of evacuation has provided some measure of relief to ordinary Syrians who have been held captive for days under intense shelling and gun fire. The Red Cross has expressed that they would request Syrian authorities for a two-hour break each day to carry out humanitarian aid in the affected parts of the country, including Homs. It has further stated that their relief work would include every sick and injured in Syria who needs medical attention.

Red Crescent vehicles are to reach Syria to start evacuation of all foreign journalists who have entered the country incognito. It has been claimed that an armed group in Syria has refused to hand over bodies of two slain journalists and an injured one to the International rescue team unless ordinary Syrians are taken to safety.

But the immediate challenge before the humanitarian aid workers in Syria are reaching out to people with food and medical help which are of real scarcity. Even if shelling stops, the horrors of Syria crisis is going to take years to come before it starts disappearing from the mind of its people.

Kofi Annan chosen special UN emissary to Syria

In a major development, the United Nations is reported to have nominated Kofi Annan, the ex-United Nations Secretary, to be its special envoy to address the ongoing crisis in Syria. As the United Nations facilitator, Kofi Annan’s task is clearly cut out. He would convince the Bashar-Al-Asaad regime to come to a peace agreement and prevent the country from going into an all-out civil war.

Incidentally, this is the third time the United Nations is trying to prevent President Assad of Syria from waging violent attacks on its people and make him step down from power. The previous two attempts have been unsuccessful.

It has been confirmed that the Ghanian diplomat would widely engage with prominent interlocutors both within and outside the country to diffuse Syria crisis. The UN is depending on Kofi Annan’s persuasion skill to make President Assad put a halt to ongoing bloodshed in Syria.

The United Nations, for its part, has given a lot of thought in picking Kofi Annan as special emissary to Syria. It is believed that his non-Arab background plus distinguished career gives him an edge over others. So far, an estimated 5400 deaths have been attributed to incessant killing by its security force in Syria.