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Subscribe to RSSActivists say that more than 1,000 children have been killed since the uprising in Syria began last year.
Children were slaughtered, tortured, sexually attacked and used as human shields by pro-government Syrian forces, according to a damning United Nations report released late on Monday.
"Children were victims of killing and maiming, arbitrary arrest, detention, torture and ill-treatment, including sexual violence, by the Syrian Armed Forces, the intelligence forces, and the Shabbiha militia," the U.N.'s Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict Radhika Coomaraswamy said in a release issued along with the report.
Shaam News Network / AFP - Getty Images
Residents of Houla ride in the back of a pick-up truck on June 5, according to Syrian opposition's Shaam News Network. In May, a massacre in Houla claimed 108 lives including those of 49 children, according to UN figures.
The shabiha are a pro-government militia that recruits largely from the Alawite community- the same Muslim sect as President Bashar Assad. Sunnis, who make up the majority of the rebels, are an estimated 74 percent of the population.
NYT: Assad's response to Syria unrest leaves his own sect divided
In an interview with the BBC, Coomaraswamy said she had learned of "horrific" reports in Syria. She told the BBC:
"We are really quite shocked. Killing and maiming of children in cross-fire is something we come across in many conflicts but this torture of children in detention, children as young as 10, is something quite extraordinary, which we don't really see in other places."
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"We also had testimonies and saw children who had been tortured, and who carried the torture marks with them. We also heard of children being used -- this was recounted to us by some children -- of being put on tanks and being used as human shields so that the tanks would not be fired upon."
Coomaraswamy also criticized the rebellion's main armed group for its treatment of children.
'Battle is in Damascus' as Syrian tanks fire in 12-hour exchange
A civil war is breaking out in Syria between the Sunnis and Shiites with militia groups fighting along sectarian lines. Sources report regular gun battles close to the presidential palace where the Syrian regime is experiencing problems controlling its own armed forces. NBC's Richard Engel reports.
"For the first time we heard of children being recruited by the Free Syrian Army mainly in medical and service orientated jobs but still on the front line," she told the BBC.
The U.N. says Syrian forces have killed more than 10,000 people in the crackdown on an uprising inspired by revolts which toppled four Arab leaders in 2011. Syrian authorities say foreign-backed militants have killed 2,600 soldiers and police.
Activists say Syria's army and pro-Assad militia have committed two massacres in the last two weeks, in the Houla region and a farming hamlet called Mazraat al-Qubeir. Syrian authorities blamed the killings on "terrorists."
Report: Journalist says rebels tried to get him killed
The United States and other Western nations who have been critical of Assad's regime had little new to suggest to end Syria's 15-month long crisis, which has seen the United Nations Security Council deadlocked amid continued support for Assad by veto-holding Russia and China.
The use of civilians as human shields has been reported before. On March 25, Human Rights Watch released a video purportedly showing how Syrians were forced to walk in front of armored personnel carriers:
The international rights organization also quoted a resident of Kafr Nabl as saying:
"They took maybe 25 people, including me. There were also eight children, aged from 10 to 15, among us. They made us march in front and around the military vehicles to some houses where they were searching for wanted opposition activists. We marched for about 600 meters. They were insulting us the whole time. They arrested several people from the houses. Then they made us march back to their base, after which they released all of us, apart from the detained activists. The whole operation lasted for about two hours."
Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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- Chinese activists: You can't 'suicide' us
Follow us on Twitter: @msnbc_world
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Unless you are there, living in that environment day after day, can anyone truly speak to what goes on there? We rely on news reports to get our window onto the world, so to speak. Maybe there are some "slants" to articles, but I think on a larger scale what we hear and see from people who are actually there is a fairly accurate description of what is taking place. As far as who the rebel fighters or freedom fighters or pro-government militia are, it's hard to tell these players apart because of the diversity of the cultures and the lay of the land. No matter how you slice it, it's a horrific situation and, in most cases, innocents are slaughtered by men with their own pride and prejudice.
What's all the fuss about? Only the civilized world is shocked by Asshad's behaviour. Where's the outrage in the Arab world. Oh, I forgot - they don't give a crap about human life anyway. Now, if they were using goats as shields, there would be outrage.
When men think they can get away with forcing sex on children, especially when they think the world won't know of their actions, many of them do. This seems to be the common denominator among millions of men worldwide. Why would a man do this to child? Then to torture them, use them as human shields and murder them too. What have these innocents done to these men that deserves such brutality? Nothing but existing as a different religious sect in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Hopefully these perpetrators will face the world court in time. Or better yet, die at the hands of these children as grown ups.
Nobody can get close enough to ASSad to give him a bullet?
This is all APPROVED BY RUSSIA AND CHINA! The two most useless countries on Earth.
Very Sad. VERY VERY SAD it is. No peace I see.
There is no logical answer. What is happening is inhuman and injust. Or is it Human just because the way mankind is, Well not not ALL mankind.
Can man ever learn?
Is the ground you stand on really worth killing someone over?
Isn't there enough ground for everyone ?
Greed, anger, hatred, fear in peoples lives. Strong mental healthy people I think would not do this.
What happens in the world by these terrible people is a sickness. Just an opinion.
as much as I think obozo's economic policies are idiotic I am so happy that he has not involved us in this mess I may vote for him
The UN is a waste of time and Islam is a religion for the demented.
The only upside to all the insanity in the middle east is that as they murder one another it keeps them busy so they leave us alone.
It is really up to the Arab League now, and they have been strangely silent. NATO can get involved, but only through the Arab League, since Russia and China are blocking U.N. action. - RC
UN Action??? Funny how the UN sends Kofi Annan to negotiate with Syria on behalf of the "merciless killing of children."......The same Kofi Annan who as UN Secretary General was implicated in the Iraq Oil for Food Program, which actually turned out to be "lining of the pockets of UN Dignitaries"??? . Wonder what scheme he has for this "opportunity". Anyone know how a poor boy from Africa managed to accumulate Millions of $$$$$$$$ without ever having a career that was not politically appointed??? PHUCK the UN!!!! Useless New World Order Dictatorship. These Clowns are totally useless and solve NOTHING!!!!
RickCarter
I agree The ARAB LEAGUE is strangely silent. Ever since the old world order has been changed there has always been a great division amonst these peoples. There always was warring and killings going on there too before the WORLD WARS. I have to wonder about the region as a whole.
If only. If only everyone in the world would stop the KILLING.
Just think what kind of world we would have.
It would have to be better. Never perfect. Maybe never even at peace. The blood letting has to stop.
Calls for arming the rebels begs the question, why? The article states both sides are involved. "The Free Syrian Army" alledgedly forces children into it's ranks, and I doubt if they play hopscotch with the non-Sunni kids when they are setting off car bombs in their neighborhoods. Arab matter, let the Arabs deal with it
Agree. Yeh....Save their a**es so they can burn our flag in the street and stomp on it while recruiting new, fresh, YOUNG Suicide Bombers willing to do their dirty work??? NOT!!!!!. I would personally have more respect for the Islamic leaders if I read a News Flash indicating one of THEM had blown their butts to smithereens. Actually, I wouldn't, but it would make my day.
Nothing new or news here. Same islamic COWARDICE that tells someone else to go Blow Yourself Up. Why is anyone surprised or shocked by anything satan does with His followers? After all he is the "father of lies, sin and death."
nuke them and let allah sort it out....they way they treat there own people...shameful...
Let's not be so quick to blame the forces loyal to Assad for these massacres. Is anyone looking to see who the victims are? According to a new report in Germany’s leading daily, the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ), the Houla massacre was in fact committed by anti-Assad Sunni militants, and the bulk of the victims were member of the Alawi and Shia minorities, which have been largely supportive of Assad. Christians also support Assad because without him they fear for their future in Syria. I am sure everyone knows the story of how St. Paul was converted on the way to Damascus. At that time there were Christians in the city who spirited him out to escape his enemies. But today, Muslims want to expel Christians from the Holy Land. Even now, the anti-government forces are routing Christians from their homes under the threat of death. Frankly, I don't trust anything the established media report anymore, like these accusations against Assad. They are quick to point out the flaws in Christianilty because they know they have nothing to fear from Christians. But why are they not criticizing the Muslim atrocities going on all throughout the world? Why don't we hear anything about the massacres in Nigerian, in the Sudan, in Thailand, and now in Burma? Why do they not report on the highly respected imans threatening Israel with annihilation and laying claim to Andalucia with impunity?
If you want to determine the tone of the "established" (sometimes spelled LIBERAL) Media on any International crisis, just turn towards NYC and ask yourself : "I wonder what the UN would do???".
In all countries within the Middle East, MUSLIMS cause death and destruction, and have no regards for Women and Children caught up in their MUSLIM HOLY WARs. We must remove ourselves from vested interest within the MUSLIM Community, as they have been fighting like this since the invention of gun powder. Actually ever since they first attached a rock to a stick to beat each other with it. MUSLIMS kill in the name of ALLAH and they always will. The United States cannot watch over the entire world, so just keep the MUSLIMS OUT of the U.S. and the war will be confined to ISLAM.
Whatever Obama does, the Republicans will criticize him for it, just like they did about Libya when he did EXACTLY what they wanted him to do.
Leading from BEHIND is hardly what this country needs. Obama and his Liberal band of Liars supported the Arab Spring, For ALL THE WRONG REASONS. It has turned into nothing but a bloodfest, aimed at purging of Islamic minorities in the indiidual countries involved, and of Christians as well. Yes, the Leaders of Egypt, Lybia, Syria, Iraq, and many other Islamic countries are and were ANIMALS. But take a look at what has and will continue to replace them. Regimes which will annihilate the Minorities as Fanatical RELIGIOUS cleansing. Yeh...nice choice. At least for the idiots who have no idea what is actually taking place. But then again, our dear leaders such as Hillary and John Kerry gave us a way out when we come to realize that life is not all Koombyah. : "If I knew THEN what I know NOW I would not have ___________— (Fill in the Blank)".
The Omnipotent UN pokes it's nose into every one of their self proclaimed 'Atrocities', Selective of course. Why have not the UN and it's supporters gone 'retro' and Investigated Janet Reno's Government Thugs and their handling of the WACO TEXAS incident? Women and children were massacred in Waco Texas and no one decried it as a Slaughter? The UN, with condolences from this present 'International Cabal' occupying DC, is using Unprecedented POWER 'within' the borders of the USA, in suing Florida and all associated for their Agenda driven (disarm the 'Subjects' of the USA) Travon Martin incident, why not re-open the WACO TEXAS Flame engulfing of innocents? Hypocrisy directed by Agenda?
Not to mention the Ok City False-Flag Bombing, that our little friend Eric Holder, was directly involved-in. when he was Deputy Attorney General, under the Criminal Clinton Administration....
Maybe...because the Branch Davidians started the fire themselves?????
It's time to make yourself a foil hat...to keep the voices out.
You two need to get together and share a bong. Give credit where credit is due. Wackos in Waco? Should have blew the @!$%# out of them on day 3 and dealt with the survivors. And really McVeigh was a False Flag attack? Puff, Puff, Pass...
MOSin EUR... You are a Moron.. your room temperature IQ ia very apparent... You have no idea, of how ignorant you really are.. that's a good thing..... A bullet in your head, would be a blessing.. hold it to your punk @!$%#ing head and pull the trigger..you POS!! Is that clear enough for You to understand, Moron? Do us all a huge favor and end your ignorance. Ciao
Leap-Frog...
With that rant - I think you're making MOSinEUR's point for him.
Maybe you do need a bong hit.
Yes.. you are correct Jonedep, concerning the Rant however, very sick of that Troll, and his nonsensical comments... Sry!... The Rants are also nonsensical...... but i was there in Waco, at that time. I am not at liberty to discuss the matter, and should not have in the first place... Ciao..have a good day...
It could be worse; they're only using children as human shields. At least they're not trying to use them as ammunition.
A wise Man/Woman would question the validity of any/all statements, made by the United Nations at this time. Another so-called Kinetic-Action, as used in Lybia, would not be beneficial to anyone. Syria, has been in the sights of the New World Order for sometime now...
The US press acts outraged at the use of human shields, but fails to mention that the Union army did the same thing in the Civil War. As Sherman's army burned and looted through Georgia, civilians would be taken and strapped to the outside of trains carrying men and equipment to prevent attacks from Confederate forces. A historical fact, though perhaps one we prefer to forget.
Civil War? Over the last 10 years, the US has killed over 250,000 civilians (120,000 women and children) - where is the outrage over that.
Kind of hard for the US to take the moral high ground on this one.
Or the Battle of Washi-ta River, where Custer used Native American women and children as human shields.
HNL, you are very correct however, heavy hangs the head of an intellectually superior human being.... so soon are We, to forget Our past atrocities against Humanity...
Atrocities? You fight a war to win. It really is not a game.
What exactly have we won? Step up and claim your prize.
1. $4 trillion of borrowed money flushed down the toilet.
2. Almost 7,000 KIA
3. Over 40,000 Wounded in Action.
Boy, we really hit the jackpot.
MOSinER, Have You ever waded through, Blood and Guts?? Seen babies torn in half by 50 cal. machine-gun fire? Thrown dead bodies of Women and Children in ditches, dug by bull-dozers, and then diesel-fuel poured on them, and burned?? Seen the Enemy, wrapped in barbed-wire, and German-Shepard's turned upon them to feast?? I seriously doubt you have seen these things..would You not classify these as Atrocities Against Humanity?? Oh yes, i try to forget all those Human Ear Necklaces worn... that is War Pal... that is HELL!!
First. Who cares; this is a local problem; does the press play up the slaughter in the Congo over the past ten years? Short of invasion, which we don't have the money for or Obama's need to make a big splash prior to the election, we should let the locals slaughter each other. All third world nations kill children and then play it up in the media to secure Western support. This is just another media event to grow some "war" correspondents - sitting in a comfortable reproting site in Tel Aviv or Istanbul.
I'm not sure what good killing off a Mussolini will do if the end result is that you may end up with a Hitler?
The Christians and other minorities in Syria will suffer if Assad is toppled, just like they did in Iraq, after Saddam got toppled.
Maybe the World will get lucky and the various Islamic tribes will have their own little "war" and wipe each other out, or at least diminish their numbers to a manageable volume. I am blown away by the diatribes and ridicule of this country, with obvious approval by the POTUS and his Liberal Media "mouthpiece", against Christianity and the "Religious Right". YET, don't have a clue or care regarding the ever growing threat of Radical Islam, OR of the atrocities they will commit to attain their objective of annihilating "Infidels".
The UN says "some children" told them about the human shields. What they told them, in all likelihood, was they saw at least one child on a tank and the rest of it is presumption and elaboration by the UN, which is then published far and wide to whip up hysteria.
This really does not sound any different than Libya, Iraq, Afghanistan, Chechnya, Bosnia, Serbia, or any of the other Muslim areas where combat is common. It's just a way for them to send somebody else to meet 'Allah' because they are afraid themselves to meet God in person. Cowards!
The UN is nothing but war mongers, run by an illegal thug. They have been trying so hard to get the US to get into a war with Syria by any means necessary. These middle east countries are going to have to fight for their freedom on their own. Americans are tired of wars and rebuilding other countries besides their own, not to mention the raising taxes associated with such.
Anytime the UN is involved I can assure you Monetary fraud, Theft, and ill gotten gains for the UN Dignitaries (Now there's a conflict of words for you) and their leadership will be present. UN......MOVE TO SWITZERLAND. WE ARE SICK OF YOU.