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Syrian government 'demolished thousands of homes' | Syrian government 'demolished thousands of homes' |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The Syrian government has been "deliberately and unlawfully" demolishing thousands of homes, a new report by Human Rights Watch says. | The Syrian government has been "deliberately and unlawfully" demolishing thousands of homes, a new report by Human Rights Watch says. |
Satellite images appear to show large-scale demolitions with explosives and bulldozers in opposition strongholds in Damascus and Hama in 2012 and 2013. | Satellite images appear to show large-scale demolitions with explosives and bulldozers in opposition strongholds in Damascus and Hama in 2012 and 2013. |
The report says the apparent wanton destruction of civilian property and collective punishment are war crimes. | The report says the apparent wanton destruction of civilian property and collective punishment are war crimes. |
It comes as government and opposition delegates attend peace talks in Geneva. | It comes as government and opposition delegates attend peace talks in Geneva. |
On Wednesday, UN envoy Lakhdar Brahimi admitted he did not expect there to be any substantial progress during the current round of negotiations, which are scheduled to end on Friday. | On Wednesday, UN envoy Lakhdar Brahimi admitted he did not expect there to be any substantial progress during the current round of negotiations, which are scheduled to end on Friday. |
'Wiped off the map' | 'Wiped off the map' |
Human Rights Watch's report, Razed to the Ground, documents seven cases of large-scale demolitions which it says took place between July 2012 and July 2013. | Human Rights Watch's report, Razed to the Ground, documents seven cases of large-scale demolitions which it says took place between July 2012 and July 2013. |
Satellite images, online videos and eyewitness reports suggest they were carried out by government forces, it concludes. | Satellite images, online videos and eyewitness reports suggest they were carried out by government forces, it concludes. |
The satellite images show seven districts of Damascus and Hama before and after the demolitions. | The satellite images show seven districts of Damascus and Hama before and after the demolitions. |
In many of the images, buildings - many of them blocks of flats several stories high - have been reduced to rubble. | In many of the images, buildings - many of them blocks of flats several stories high - have been reduced to rubble. |
HRW said it had documented the destruction of at least 145 hectares of building land - a total area equivalent to about 200 football pitches. | HRW said it had documented the destruction of at least 145 hectares of building land - a total area equivalent to about 200 football pitches. |
Thousands of families had lost their homes as a result of these demolitions, it added. | Thousands of families had lost their homes as a result of these demolitions, it added. |
"Wiping entire neighbourhoods off the map is not a legitimate tactic of war," said Ole Solvang, an HRW emergencies researcher. "These unlawful demolitions are the latest additions to a long list of crimes committed by the Syrian government." | "Wiping entire neighbourhoods off the map is not a legitimate tactic of war," said Ole Solvang, an HRW emergencies researcher. "These unlawful demolitions are the latest additions to a long list of crimes committed by the Syrian government." |
He added: "This was collective punishment of communities suspected of supporting the rebellion." | He added: "This was collective punishment of communities suspected of supporting the rebellion." |
HRW demanded the Syrian government immediately end the demolitions, saying they were in violation of international law, and provide compensation and alternative housing to the victims. | HRW demanded the Syrian government immediately end the demolitions, saying they were in violation of international law, and provide compensation and alternative housing to the victims. |
It also urged the UN Security Council to refer the situation in Syria to the International Criminal Court. | It also urged the UN Security Council to refer the situation in Syria to the International Criminal Court. |
'Illegal construction' | 'Illegal construction' |
Government officials told HRW that the demolitions were carried out in order to remove illegally constructed buildings. | Government officials told HRW that the demolitions were carried out in order to remove illegally constructed buildings. |
However, the New York-based group found that there had been no similar demolitions in pro-government districts. | However, the New York-based group found that there had been no similar demolitions in pro-government districts. |
The demolitions were also supervised by military personnel and often followed fighting in the areas between government and rebel forces, it said. | The demolitions were also supervised by military personnel and often followed fighting in the areas between government and rebel forces, it said. |
Several residents also told HRW that they had all the necessary documentation for their homes. | Several residents also told HRW that they had all the necessary documentation for their homes. |
They added that government forces had given little or no warning of the impending demolitions, and that they had not been allowed to remove their belongings. | They added that government forces had given little or no warning of the impending demolitions, and that they had not been allowed to remove their belongings. |
"No-one should be fooled by the government's claim that it is undertaking urban planning in the middle of a bloody conflict," Mr Solvang said. | "No-one should be fooled by the government's claim that it is undertaking urban planning in the middle of a bloody conflict," Mr Solvang said. |