Anitesh Mukherjee’s Post

Kurdish forces and the path to peace Discussing the disarmament of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in Syria prior to reaching a constitutional agreement that guarantees their political, cultural, and social rights is an unrealistic step from a political perspective. Such a move could result in severe repercussions for the stability of the region. The Kurdish forces, which form the backbone of the SDF, are not merely a military entity but represent a political identity and are an integral part of the balance of power in Syria. Any attempt to disarm these forces without providing clear and binding guarantees in the Syrian constitution would be an effort to marginalize the Kurds and weaken their negotiating position. Furthermore, disarming these forces without establishing clear security alternatives would create a security vacuum in the areas under their control, leaving them vulnerable to chaos or the resurgence of extremist groups. This scenario could replicate the security crises that Syrians and the international community have previously endured. Historical experiences also demonstrate that minorities who relinquish their means of self-defense before obtaining legal and constitutional guarantees often face marginalization or oppression. Therefore, any disarmament initiative must be part of a comprehensive agreement that includes recognition of Kurdish rights within the framework of a unified Syrian state, accompanied by international guarantees to ensure the implementation of such an agreement. Ultimately, the optimal solution lies in drafting a new constitution that acknowledges all components of the Syrian population and ensures their equal rights. Only then can discussions on disarmament take place as part of a broader political process aimed at building a new Syria founded on justice and citizenship.

Israel added to United Nations UN 'list of shame' In a significant development, Israel has been included in the United Nations list known as the "list of shame." This list, attached to an annual report from the UN secretary-general's office, documents violations of children's rights in armed conflict. For the first time, this entity appears on this list, which already includes states and groups such as for example the Islamic State, Al-Qaeda, Boko Haram, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Somalia... The decision was announced by a diplomatic source to Reuters and is scheduled to be published on June 18. The “List of Shame” is a crucial initiative to raise awareness of the plight of children in conflict zones and to encourage officials to take action to protect children's rights. It also serves as a constant reminder to parties involved in armed conflict of their obligation to fundamental human rights. This addition highlights the continued importance of international attention to children's rights and the lasting impact that armed conflict has on their futures. It is expected that this list will contribute to a reduction in violations and better protection of children in these regions, and particularly in Israel and the colonized territories. #israel #gaza #un #genocide #palestine #unitednations

Prabowo mouths a false equivalence. 1. Israel is aiming at terrorists with moderate civilian casualties. Russia is aiming at civilians. Big difference. 2. Hamas is a dictatorial proxy of the Axis of Evil group including Iran, Russia, China, and North Korea. Ukrainians are freedom fighters in support of their own freedom, democracy, human rights, and a broader coalition of democracies. Choose the right side in this New Cold War of democracracies vs. dictators and their terrorist proxies. Recognize it for what it is and stop treating dictatorships as you do democracies. War is never pretty, but when the dictators bring it, as Churchill noted, be fierce and do not shrink from the fight.

To the Syrian Rebels of the HTS - Our Kurdish lands are not up for debate & will remain under the control of the Kurdish people! This includes Rojava, Sinjar & Afrin. The following statement was released by the Syrian Democratic Forces.., To our free Syrian people, Kurds, Arabs, Syriacs, Assyrians, Muslims, Christians and Yazidis. Today, we turn a dark page in the modern history of Syria with the fall of the tyrannical Baath regime, which ruled the country with an iron fist and repression for decades. Our people have suffered from marginalization, oppression and divisions planted by this regime to tear apart the national fabric and consolidate its rule. But the will of the people is stronger than any tyrannical regime, and here we are witnessing a historic turning point towards freedom and dignity. At this critical stage, we call on all components of the North and East Syria region to protect the achievements of the Autonomous Administration and rally around the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) as a guarantor of security and stability in the liberated areas. The SDF has proven to be a unifying national force working to protect the people in all their components, and believes in pluralism and democracy as the basis for building the future of Syria. We, the parties and forces that signed this statement, While we congratulate our people on the fall of the regime of oppression and tyranny, We affirm that the responsibility of the next stage falls on all of us to work for: 1. Ensuring security and stability: through cooperation with the national forces on the ground and preventing any attempts to sow chaos or turn back the clock. 2. Comprehensive national dialogue: between all components of the Syrian people without exclusion or marginalization, to lay the foundations of a new Syria. 3. Building a democratic, pluralistic and decentralized Syria, where each component has the right to manage its own affairs, human rights are respected, and justice and equality are preserved for all. We also call on our people to be aware and responsible, as the next stage is full of challenges but also carries hope for building a democratic homeland where peace and justice prevail. Let's work for a free, democratic, pluralistic, decentralized Syria. Continued strength, prayers & support go out to the SDF / YPJ / YPG. 🙏❤️💛💚🙏 #sdf #ypj #ypg

Ethiopia's Ethnic Amhara’s Under Siege: Abiy Ahmed Regime Forces Targeting Civilians and Destroying Property -------------------------------------- The genocidal war on the Amhara people by the Abiy Ahmed ethnocentric military regime in Ethiopia has resulted in devastating consequences for civilians. The following video shows the burning of houses belonging to impoverished farmers in the Wollo area of the Amhara Region. This mass burning and killing, reportedly carried out by the Abiy Ahmed Regime forces, specifically targeted civilians, including women and children, causing significant loss of life and destruction of property. The video highlights the deliberate targeting of poor Amhara farmers in the genocidal war. This genocidal war raises urgent concerns about the humanitarian crisis in the Amhara region and the need for immediate international attention and intervention, including United Nations European Commission European Commission African Union Amnesty International Human Rights Watch Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention António Guterres Genocide Watch Ethiopian Human Rights Ethiopian Human Rights Council (EHRCO) Commission (EHRC) - ኢሰመኮ #GenocideOnAmhara #WarOnAmhara #HumanRightsViolations #SaveAmhara #AmharaUnderSiege #EthiopiaGenocide #StopTargetingCivilians #StopWarCrimes

In the aftermath of Assad’s downfall, many European countries decided to suspend or halt asylum applications for Syrians, who remained the largest group seeking asylum until November 2024. Syrians have long fled the brutal grip of Assad’s regime, but with his downfall, the specter of chaos now looms as the nation’s greatest threat: the rise of extremist militant groups, sectarian violence, and the erosion of state institutions... These factors can potentially deepen instability within Syria and across the region. Rushing to send Syrians back to Syria risks condemning them to uncertainty, as there is no immediate assurance of a safe return and readmission in line with the principles outlined in the Global Compact on Migration. This map aims to highlight how these decisions transform what should be a technical and fundamentally humanitarian process into a politicised battleground. Addressing this situation requires a clear approach to a complex and evolving crisis - not one that ended with Assad’s downfall. All this is to say that reconstruction takes time and in times of crisis, it is not the turmoil itself that defines us, but our responses to it. As always happy to engage with anyone interested in the map, datasets, methodology used, etc… Peaceful incidents = not deadly #dataforgood #qgiss #syria

Blinken is going to Turkey and the SDF are going to Damascus. It’s time for a ceasefire in NE Syria, a Turkey-PKK ceasefire regionally, and negotiations to institutionalize Kurdish rights and democratic participation on both sides of the Syrian-Turkish border so that taking up arms is no longer needed. My latest below.

https://lnkd.in/dFCwPMar How to Hold Syria Together In the Wake of Assad’s Fall, the Biggest Threat Is Chaos Sam Heller December 16, 2024 Until Bashar al-Assad fled Syria, on December 8, few countries actually wanted the Syrian dictator’s government to fall. This was not because foreign governments liked Assad or approved of the brutal way in which he reigned over Syria. Rather, they were afraid of what might replace him: rule by extremist militants, sectarian bloodletting, and chaos that could engulf not just Syria but much of the Middle East. That fearful vision was also the Assad government’s argument for itself, that its continued survival kept anarchy and carnage at bay—and many people, including foreign policymakers, were convinced of it. In 2015, when opposition militants came close to toppling Assad, U.S. officials regarded the possibility of outright rebel victory and regime collapse as tantamount to “catastrophic success.” Now Assad is gone. Syrians are celebrating in the streets of Damascus, opposition groups are attempting to organize a political transition, and the world is about to find out what comes after the fall. Assad remained ruthless and cruel to the end, even as he presided over an increasingly impoverished and dysfunctional state. He leaves a shattered country in his wake, and any new government—never mind a coalition of fractious armed opposition groups—would struggle in these circumstances. But the poor record of Syrian rebel groups when they have ruled significant stretches of territory also makes it difficult to be optimistic. Still, it is in everyone’s interest that Syria succeed. Syrians do not want to endure further strife and devastation, and the international community cannot afford to see Syria come apart. Interested countries now need to do everything they can, including encouraging a peaceful, inclusive transition and providing ample humanitarian and economic assistance, to ensure that the worst fears about a post-Assad Syria do not come to pass.

Syria: Ensure Transition Respects Human Rights (Dec. 10, 2024) – The leadership of any Syrian transitional government that emerges should take urgent steps to ensure respect for human rights obligations and lay the foundation for a new government based on democracy and the rule of law, DAWN said today. DAWN urged the emerging leadership in the country to establish a civilian-led transitional council, deploy its forces to protect vulnerable people from possible reprisals, abide by human rights obligations with respect to the treatment of detainees, and secure weapons facilities throughout the country before it seeks to demilitarize armed groups and merge them into a single, unified military force. DAWN urged the international community to support Syria to transition to democratic rule and end foreign military interference in the country. "The new Syrian government should recognize that its victory over the Assad regime is the result of the sacrifices of millions of Syrians who have suffered for over a decade in their struggle for democratic rule and respect for human rights," said Sarah Leah Whitson, Executive Director of DAWN. "It should urgently issue public commitments that it will respect the rights of the Syrian people to justice and immediately seek to establish democratic governance in the country." Read more: https://lnkd.in/e4qtQKaR

ICYMI: #Syrians now face the daunting task of rebuilding their state after the fall of the Assad regime. In a nation full of diverse voices, it is vital to ensure that both of these processes—meeting national security challenges while ushering in a viable political transition—reflect the will of the Syrian people. Watch as Syria experts discuss how the country can be rebuilt and what might come next. #webcast #mideast #middleeast #video #syria