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| UN must act over chemical weapons in Syria UN must act over chemical weapons in Syria | |
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| We are extremely concerned about the continuing use of chlorine as a chemical weapon in Syria, which the UN has just confirmed, and the suffering it causes for an already traumatised people (Report, 25 August). Any use of chemical weapons, whatever the toxic chemical used, is illegal under the 1997 Chemical Weapons Convention and international customary law. Some 192 countries have signed up to this convention, including Syria. As with many chemical weapons attacks, identifying the user is problematic because the perpetrator has invariably fled the scene. Collecting evidence in the middle of an active theatre of war is even more complicated. We therefore welcome the recent report of the UN investigation and the call by the US that President Assad be held accountable by the security council. | We are extremely concerned about the continuing use of chlorine as a chemical weapon in Syria, which the UN has just confirmed, and the suffering it causes for an already traumatised people (Report, 25 August). Any use of chemical weapons, whatever the toxic chemical used, is illegal under the 1997 Chemical Weapons Convention and international customary law. Some 192 countries have signed up to this convention, including Syria. As with many chemical weapons attacks, identifying the user is problematic because the perpetrator has invariably fled the scene. Collecting evidence in the middle of an active theatre of war is even more complicated. We therefore welcome the recent report of the UN investigation and the call by the US that President Assad be held accountable by the security council. |
| It must be emphasised by all signatories to the CWC that those using chlorine to injure and kill are committing a crime and will be held to account. So, we call on the UK government, the UN and the international community to be resolute in their commitment to investigating both the use and users of chemical weapons in Syria, and to prosecuting the perpetrators. | It must be emphasised by all signatories to the CWC that those using chlorine to injure and kill are committing a crime and will be held to account. So, we call on the UK government, the UN and the international community to be resolute in their commitment to investigating both the use and users of chemical weapons in Syria, and to prosecuting the perpetrators. |
| We also call on all practitioners of chemistry, be they in academe, industry, or trading of materials, to point out that chemicals should be used to help mankind. Chlorine has many legitimate and valuable roles but absolutely not as a poison for human lungs.Professor emeritus Alastair Hay Leeds University, Chair-elect, Chemical Weapons Advisory Committee, Dr Tony Bastock Chairman, Contract Chemicals, and Prescot, Merseyside, chair, Chemical Weapons Advisory Committee, Dr Ron Manley Former director of verification, Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, Dr Catriona McLeish Harvard Sussex Programme | We also call on all practitioners of chemistry, be they in academe, industry, or trading of materials, to point out that chemicals should be used to help mankind. Chlorine has many legitimate and valuable roles but absolutely not as a poison for human lungs.Professor emeritus Alastair Hay Leeds University, Chair-elect, Chemical Weapons Advisory Committee, Dr Tony Bastock Chairman, Contract Chemicals, and Prescot, Merseyside, chair, Chemical Weapons Advisory Committee, Dr Ron Manley Former director of verification, Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, Dr Catriona McLeish Harvard Sussex Programme |
| • As a reader in Middle East politics one might have expected that Reinoud Leenders (UN aid mission in Syria pays millions to Assad’s regime, 30 August) would have known that prior to 2011, when a civil disturbance was fanned – mainly by the US, UK, Saudi Arabia and Qatar – into a catastrophic conflict which has claimed some 400,000 lives and displaced more than 5 million, Syria had relatively good governance when compared with other countries in the region. It had an efficient system of education for boys and girls, from primary school to university level, a basic universal system of healthcare, no dress code for women, freedom of worship for all faiths, and in times of hardship food was subsidised by the government. | • As a reader in Middle East politics one might have expected that Reinoud Leenders (UN aid mission in Syria pays millions to Assad’s regime, 30 August) would have known that prior to 2011, when a civil disturbance was fanned – mainly by the US, UK, Saudi Arabia and Qatar – into a catastrophic conflict which has claimed some 400,000 lives and displaced more than 5 million, Syria had relatively good governance when compared with other countries in the region. It had an efficient system of education for boys and girls, from primary school to university level, a basic universal system of healthcare, no dress code for women, freedom of worship for all faiths, and in times of hardship food was subsidised by the government. |
| I lived in Syria for two years and was able to travel freely and experience the society there first-hand. The main criticism of the UN in the article seems to be that it gave aid directly to the regime in Syria – something that is standard UN practice in the distribution of aid throughout the world. Of course, the aid could be distributed by “the genuine Syrian businessmen”, mentioned by Mr Leenders, whoever they may be.Paul HewitsonBerlin | I lived in Syria for two years and was able to travel freely and experience the society there first-hand. The main criticism of the UN in the article seems to be that it gave aid directly to the regime in Syria – something that is standard UN practice in the distribution of aid throughout the world. Of course, the aid could be distributed by “the genuine Syrian businessmen”, mentioned by Mr Leenders, whoever they may be.Paul HewitsonBerlin |
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