Syria crisis: ‘Main priority’ is preserving criminal evidence, UN investigators say

The head of the International, Objective and Independent Mechanism for the Investigation of Serious Crime in Syria (IIIM), Robert Petit, told reporters in Geneva that with “a series of interwoven crime scenes” across the country water is now accessible, has access to evidence and has “finally” determined the fate of tens of thousands of people who have been “illegally arrested, detained and subjected to years of violence within the prison system.” prison,” nearly 14 years after the state began its devastating crackdown violence against Arab Spring protesters.

The Golan community faces evacuation orders

Meanwhile, UN humanitarian organizations warn that the humanitarian crisis in Syria is worsening, with fighting in the northeast, including the occupied Golan Heights. “Israeli forces have ordered several villages to evacuate and residents have resisted leaving,” the UN refugee agency said. UNHCR.

When asked if there was anything new he had learned since the fall of the Assad regime just days ago, Mr. Petit emphasized IIIM’s eight years of investigative experience and said that what impressed him most was witness “the horror of the impact.” about crimes against victims released from detention camps and against their families.”

Established in 2016 by the General Assembly, IIIM is tasked with collecting, preserving and analyzing evidence to assist competent jurisdictions in the investigation and prosecution of international crimes committed in Syria from March 2011 onwards. These can include war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.

Interaction with the new Syrian government

Mr. Petit emphasized that the Syrian Government has never previously recognized the legitimacy of IIIM and did not participate in this mechanism despite many efforts. While preparing for future accountability processes, IIIM has gathered evidence from multiple sources, accumulating 283 terabytes of data that can be used to support current and future jurisdictions . Over the years, they have received over 400 requests for support from 16 different jurisdictions and were able to support over half of them with evidence and analysis.

With new opportunities emerging amid the rapidly evolving political situation, Mr. Petit said, “over the past week, we have received at least four different requests for support from jurisdictions ”. “If a jurisdiction has for several years now had an open file on crimes committed by agents of the regime without the ability to collect evidence, that file may have been shelved for some time, But now it has been reactivated.”

Investigators are in demand

The UN investigator said he expected “increasing demand” for IIIM’s support. However, the destruction of potential evidence during the Syrian rebels’ lightning attack – although “quite understandable” given the rapidly evolving situation – is a major concern.

The UN investigator spoke of “papers strewn all over the floor, people leaving with computers, hard drives burned and smashed”, and stressed the need for a coordinated conservation effort “from everyone”, with IIIM playing a role in this process.

The mechanism has “reiterated through contacts with Syrian representations” in Geneva and New York its “willingness to participate and go to Syria to carry out our mandate”.

“We are waiting for a response. And as soon as we have that feedback, we will implement it,” Mr. Petit emphasized.

He also noted with hope that “the transitional authorities and Syrian civil society organizations have clearly recognized the need to preserve evidence.”

“When you talk about a government, a state apparatus, who for 14 years used every aspect of that apparatus to commit crimes, you have a huge amount of material left behind.”

A number of domestic and international organizations have offered to help transition authorities preserve evidence, Mr. Petit said, expressing hope that these efforts will continue. He warned that the situation “varies from province to province” and that parts of the country “are still in a state of armed conflict”.

“It’s a very delicate and fluid situation.”

When asked about reports that Syrians accused the United Nations of coming too late to help them, Mr. Petit said, “If the crime has been committed, it’s too late, right? It’s always too late.”

He emphasized that now the call of the international community has been heard. “You have seen statements from the United Nations, many international organizations, many countries, regional organizations” in the context of a level of access that just 13 days ago was not possible.

“Now that we have access, I think there is a real demonstration of commitment to helping Syria rebuild. And we certainly hope to be a part of that,” he concluded.

Meanwhile, the United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR, warned that Syria faces a deepening humanitarian crisis amid ongoing fighting in the northeast and the occupied Golan Heights. close. In recent days, Israeli forces have advanced beyond the zone established under the May 1974 Withdrawal Agreement for the first time in 50 years and are believed to have carried out more than 500 airstrikes since the ouster. Assad regime.

The Israeli army attracts attention

Rema Jamous Imseis, Director of the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) in the Middle East and North Africa, said that in the Golan, “there was an order from Israeli forces to some villages to evacuate people and people did oppose leaving”.

The UNHCR official emphasized the “huge humanitarian needs” in the country, with 90% of the population living below the poverty line, and the need for donors to also support “early recovery and reconstruction” so that Syria can can absorb expected capital flows. citizens returned and moved toward self-sufficiency.

Ms. Imseis said both internal and external population movements across the borders with Lebanon, Türkiye and Jordan have been observed amid the current “dynamic, fluid situation.” Next year, UNHCR expects to see around one million Syrians return to their country between January and June.

Ms. Imseis warned against any forced returns, emphasizing the “no return advice” issued by the agency on Monday and calling on host countries to respect the rights of asylum seekers and No returns rule.

“It’s simply too early to know how safe it will be,” she said. “We need to respect the Syrian people’s right to voluntary, safe and dignified return…And people simply cannot, after 14 years of displacement, pack their bags overnight and return to a country that has been devastated by conflict.”