Government’s Abuses ‘Far Outweigh’ Syrian Rebels’, Rights Chief Says
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Version 0 of 1. The United Nations human rights chief said Tuesday that abuses by the Syrian government “far outweigh” the atrocities committed by opposition forces, prompting the Syrian envoy to refer to her actions as “lunatic.” The comments of the high commissioner for human rights, Navi Pillay, were likely to fortify French efforts to push the Security Council to refer Syria to the International Criminal Court. Her office, as well as a commission of inquiry, have repeatedly cited rights violations on both sides. “But you cannot compare the two,” she said. “Clearly the actions of the forces of the government far outweigh. The violations, killings, cruelty, persons in detention, disappearances far outweigh, so you cannot compare the situation. It’s the government that’s mostly responsible for the violations.” The Syrian envoy, Bashar al-Jaafari, denounced Ms. Pillay for bias and said she was “acting irresponsibly.” |