By Bryony Jones, CNN
December 14, 2011 -- Updated 1821 GMT (0221 HKT)
Activist: Humanitarian crisis in Syria
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
.Human rights activists call for an international response to violence in Syria
.Diplomats say intervention could make situation worse
.U.N. says more than 5,000 people had been killed in Syria since the uprising began
(CNN) -- Pressure is growing for world leaders to respond to Syria's brutal crackdown on anti-regime protests.
Earlier this week, the United Nations' Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, said more than 5,000 people had been killed in Syria since the uprising began in March.
The Syrian government has issued activists in the restive city of Homs an ultimatum: Cease their protests, or face bombardment, prompting fears of an increase in hostilities.
Human rights activists have called for an international response to the violence -- but some diplomats have warned that any intervention could make the situation worse.
What happens in Syria is no different from what happened in Libya -- it's the same atrocities, the same tyranny and the same crimes against humanity
Mousab Azzawi
Mousab Azzawi, of the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said events in Syria amounted to a "humanitarian crisis," just like that seen in Libya prior to the NATO intervention, and that the situation merited a similar response.
"When the international community went to Libya to protect civilians, were they deceiving [everyone]?" he told CNN's Connect the World.
"Because if the principle of protecting civilians is the motivation of the international community, what happens in Syria is no different from what happened in Libya -- it's the same atrocities, the same tyranny and the same crimes against humanity committed there."
But Oliver Miles, a former British ambassador to Libya, said there was no comparison between the two countries -- or between Syria and Iraq, another high-profile example of international intervention.
"Syria is different in many, many ways. Iraq was invaded by a foreign government, and seven, eight years later, is in ruins," he said.
"Libya was not invaded by a foreign government; in Libya there was an uprising which so far seems to have succeeded in overthrowing a tyranny and is on the way to building something to replace that tyranny.
"Syria bears no resemblance to either of them. Syria is a larger country than Libya, it's a more complicated country than Libya, it doesn't offer any scope for foreign intervention."
Miles said politicians and diplomats were unlikely to take major action against the Syrian regime without backing from the U.N. -- and that such support was unlikely.
"I think the situation in Syria is absolutely dreadful, and if I could think of a way that the British government, or any other government, or the United Nations could intervene effectively, I would be all for it, but I think intervention would probably make things worse," he told CNN.
"When foreign air forces started to take part in the Libyan struggle back in March, they had a clear mandate from the United Nations, which meant that under international law, what we did could be argued to be legal.
"There is no possibility whatsoever that we will get a mandate from the United Nations to intervene in Syria as things stand at the moment."
But Azzawi said such pragmatic attitudes were making the situation worse, accusing foreign powers who failed to act of "participating in the bloodshed in Syria" by default.
And he said he feared the influence of Syrian military defectors, the Free Syrian Army, on the protests -- unless the fighters were offered international support.
"The numbers of the Free Syrian Army -- without being supported by the international community -- is so small now, and the big risk is when these peaceful demonstrators are tempted by the FSA to hold arms and then we move to a stage of militarizing the uprising, which is a very big risk.
"The people in Syria are trying hard to stick to the principle of peacefulness," he said.
"I don't think that will last forever, but if we have militarization of the uprising, then we will heed to a civil war and I think this is the last thing the international community wants to see in Syria, because any civil war in Syria would be spreading very quickly to the neighboring countries."
CNN's Max Foster contributed to this report
***
(25 Comments)
Julio Can someone tell the UN or anyone else to keep their noses out of other countries affairs? Hey, how about asking the UN to intervene in the US to protect the people in the "Ocuppy....." from the attrocities of the police !!!!!!!! Is ridiculous...
0 minutes ago | Like | Report abuse
offorandby
Its not just the money, its the cost in American lives and the further damage that entering into another war will do to the US in the world.We can not and should not be the world's police force. The concept of Pax Americana just doesn't work. And in the end they will still hate us. Reference ... more
Its not just the money, its the cost in American lives and the
further damage that entering into another war will do to the US in the
world.We can not and should not be the world's police force.
The concept of Pax Americana just doesn't work. And in the end they
will still hate us. Reference (Kuwait, Iraq, Afgan, Sudan, Lybia etc...)
less
0 minutes ago | Like | Report abuse
DLB562 Syra will have a civil war, that's the only outcome, there will be no intervention.
2 minutes ago | Like | Report abuse
crabman1 let em duke it out in the end no one wins anyway --- U S need not get involved
2 minutes ago | Like | Report abuse
Ir8American
Here's what I'm reading: Mousab Azzawi, "These people want their freedom but, just not enough to have to die to get it. We want 'any other country' to intervene so our own people don't have to die for their freedom. Any foreign country that does not help us is participating in the bloodshed of Syria... more
Here's what I'm reading: Mousab Azzawi, "These people want their freedom but, just not enough to have to die to get it. We want 'any other country' to intervene so our own people don't have to die for their freedom. Any foreign country that does not help us is participating in the bloodshed of Syrians."
Way to play the pity card. If you want it so baldy then take up arms against your government. less
8 minutes ago | Like | Report abuse
______Ir8American If you want it so badly...
7 minutes ago | Like | Report abuse
Anonymous010
"Syria bears no resemblance to either of them. Syria is a larger country than Libya, it's a more complicated country than Libya, it doesn't offer any scope for foreign intervention."You mean to say that there is no incentive for foreign intervention - i.e. there's no oil in Syria. That's the REAL r... more
"Syria bears no resemblance to either of them. Syria is a larger country than Libya, it's a more complicated country than Libya, it doesn't offer any scope for foreign intervention."
You mean to say that there is no incentive for foreign intervention - i.e. there's no oil in Syria. That's the REAL reason everybody went to Libya and nobody is going to Syria; anybody saying anything else is either naive, in denial, or a liar. We obviously did not go to Libya purely for humanitarian reasons or we'd already be in Syria too.
As for my opinion, we shouldn't be in/have been in either country. In both cases, it's clearly the internal affair of another country and when that is the case, it's best to stay out of it completely, no matter how noble your intentions might be. Interfering in things like this has done nothing but cause problems for us for the past 60 years and yet our government STILL refuses to learn from the past. less
12 minutes ago | Like | Report abuse
HermanCain99
Yes. We need to ramp up this war machine of ours. Japan is very weak right now. We could take them out in about 4 weeks(max). Next, on to Russia and China. We could turn their populations against them and join us. War would last 6 weeks. Next, Iran. This will be the golden goose of the bunch because... more
Yes. We need to ramp up this war machine of ours. Japan is very weak right now. We could take them out in about 4 weeks(max). Next, on to Russia and China. We could turn their populations against them and join us. War would last 6 weeks. Next, Iran. This will be the golden goose of the bunch because of the oil and not a single mcdonalds or walmart. less
15 minutes ago | Like (1) |
dontfollow We should help any way we can without sending our military people over there. We should send arms, supplies, etc......
15 minutes ago | Like | Report abuse
______karlNJ So send weapons over so they can kill each other? Do you have the money send?
12 minutes ago | Like (1) | Report abuse
DRinNC
Absolutely NOT. The sovereignty of a nation is NOT just an abstract idea to be used when it seems to cause no harm. If ANY government is not wanted. Outside intervention is always based on some outside interest or objective. The outcome is often as not just as bad as the original problem. Stay ou... more
Absolutely NOT. The sovereignty of a nation is NOT just an abstract idea to be used when it seems to cause no harm. If ANY government is not wanted. Outside intervention is always based on some outside interest or objective. The outcome is often as not just as bad as the original problem. Stay out if they are not threatening their neighbors. less
16 minutes ago | Like (3) | Report abuse
yeahhbuddi
I hope they intervene. I'm syrian born and raised in the US...I'm not asking for US soldiers to be sent in, but I believe strategic bombings and arming them for a civil war is the best way..Assad is a Killer him and his savage military. The soldiers that refuse to shoot at civilians are being execu... more
I hope they intervene. I'm syrian born and raised in the US...
I'm not asking for US soldiers to be sent in, but I believe strategic bombings and arming them for a civil war is the best way..
Assad is a Killer him and his savage military. The soldiers that refuse to shoot at civilians are being executed by LT's and Sgts right there on the spot.
No one likes the government they have been stealing money for decades. less
17 minutes ago | Like | Report abuse
toguh no
20 minutes ago | Like | Report abuse
Dantx11
The Arab league of Nations should send help.
21 minutes ago | Like (2) | Report abuse
volcom518 Just let them wipe out each other
21 minutes ago | Like | Report abuse
Guest Yes we should the same way we helped the Libyans....give them guns, advice, and air support; and nothing else.
22 minutes ago | Like (1) | Report abuse
______karlNJ The USA needs to get out of the business of overthrowing government. It is up to the Syrian people to make a change.
14 minutes ago | Like (1) | Report abuse
jwstin
We should not intervene. That is not America we should mine our own business their way of thinking is not compatible with our principals if we intervene they will not thank us but instead they will condemn us this countries have never been happy that is the way they think even the immigrants from th... more
We should not intervene. That is not America we should mine our own business their way of thinking is not compatible with our principals if we intervene they will not thank us but instead they will condemn us this countries have never been happy that is the way they think even the immigrants from those countries don't like us Americans I have been a witness of their comments against our country even after we open our doors to hem, they are very dangerous people to be trusted. less
24 minutes ago | Like (1) | Report abuse
truethinker So its now Politically incorrect to save lives?
28 minutes ago | Like (2) | Report abuse
______karlNJ It is politically incorrect to save lives of people who want to kill you. If you have an extra 100 billion or so to help out be my guest. I want no part of another intervention.
17 minutes ago | Like (1) | Report abuse
karlNJ By the world you mean the USA right? No No No Hell No!
35 minutes ago | Like (7) | Report abuse
______offorandby
Its not just the money, its the cost in American lives and the further damage that entering into another war will do to the US in the world.We can not and should not be the world's police force. The concept of Pax Americana just doesn't work. And in the end they will still hate us. Reference (Kuw... more
Its not just the money, its the cost in American lives and the further damage that entering into another war will do to the US in the world.
We can not and should not be the world's police force. The concept of Pax Americana just doesn't work. And in the end they will still hate us. Reference (Kuwait, Iraq, Afgan, Sudan, Lybia etc...) less
3 minutes ago | Like | Report abuse
______ karlNJ I don't want to spend another trillion and have Americans killed as the thank you. Let the Syrian people solve their own problems - or do you think they are to stupid to do so?
19 minutes ago | Like (1) | Report abuse
______ truethinker Why not? How would it affect you? Don't want to spend a few bucks to save lives?
27 minutes ago | Like (1) | Report abuse
wikifacts NOT AT ALL. FOR GOD SAKE MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS.
41 minutes ago | Like (6) | Report abuse
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Các anh chị nghĩ thế nào, có ý kiến phê bình gì qua bài viết "Should the world intervene in Syria?" của Bryony Jones và 25 Ý kiến phê bình từ "25 Comments" của đọc giả ?
Đặc biệt, các anh chị nghĩ thế nào về nhận định của Mousab Azzawi:
"What happens in Syria is no different from what happened in Libya -- it's the same atrocities, the same tyranny and the same crimes against humanity"
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