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| Cartoon campaign to tackle human rights abuse in Syria | Cartoon campaign to tackle human rights abuse in Syria |
| (6 days later) | |
| The Syrian opposition has defended its attempt to stamp out rebel atrocities through the use of simple cartoons outlining the dos and don’ts of modern warfare. | The Syrian opposition has defended its attempt to stamp out rebel atrocities through the use of simple cartoons outlining the dos and don’ts of modern warfare. |
| The “Fighter, not Killer” campaign, which involves TV and YouTube ads, and a comic strip booklet, covers the main human rights violations currently causing most concern in Syria: the use of human shields, child soldiers, chemical weapons and sexual violence. | The “Fighter, not Killer” campaign, which involves TV and YouTube ads, and a comic strip booklet, covers the main human rights violations currently causing most concern in Syria: the use of human shields, child soldiers, chemical weapons and sexual violence. |
| One commentator described the initiative as “war for dummies”, another mocked it at a “patronising” PR exercise. | One commentator described the initiative as “war for dummies”, another mocked it at a “patronising” PR exercise. |
| But Oussam Abo-Zayd from the opposition Syrian National Coalition said the messages were deliberately basic. | But Oussam Abo-Zayd from the opposition Syrian National Coalition said the messages were deliberately basic. |
| Abo-Zayd, who is running a series of workshops for rebels based on the campaign, said: “The booklet and video take into account the education level of the participants – some of them don’t know how to read. It’s simple because we want everyone to understand.” | Abo-Zayd, who is running a series of workshops for rebels based on the campaign, said: “The booklet and video take into account the education level of the participants – some of them don’t know how to read. It’s simple because we want everyone to understand.” |
| So far workshops have taken place in Turkey, but Abo-Zayd is also planning to organise them in rebel-controlled areas inside Syria. | So far workshops have taken place in Turkey, but Abo-Zayd is also planning to organise them in rebel-controlled areas inside Syria. |
| “Our priority is to stop revenge operations, no matter what the regime does," he said. "Whatever atrocities the regime stoops to, rebel fighters should not do the same. The second goal is to stop children becoming involved in the fighting.” | “Our priority is to stop revenge operations, no matter what the regime does," he said. "Whatever atrocities the regime stoops to, rebel fighters should not do the same. The second goal is to stop children becoming involved in the fighting.” |
| One of the cartoons urges combatants in the conflict not to commit revenge attacks. “Atrocities by the enemy never justify violation of the law,” it says. | One of the cartoons urges combatants in the conflict not to commit revenge attacks. “Atrocities by the enemy never justify violation of the law,” it says. |
| The campaign comes after horrific video emerged earlier this month showing rebel commander Abu Sakkar eating the heart, or liver, of a government soldier. | The campaign comes after horrific video emerged earlier this month showing rebel commander Abu Sakkar eating the heart, or liver, of a government soldier. |
| Abo-Zayd noted that Sakkar attempted to explain his actions by claiming that he was repeating what he had seen government soldiers doing in mobile phone footage. “We don’t want rebels to repeat the crimes of the Assad regime, or act out of vengeance," Abo-Zayd said. | Abo-Zayd noted that Sakkar attempted to explain his actions by claiming that he was repeating what he had seen government soldiers doing in mobile phone footage. “We don’t want rebels to repeat the crimes of the Assad regime, or act out of vengeance," Abo-Zayd said. |
| He added: “We condemn all the atrocities that have been committed. The acts of Abu Sakkar should not be treated as typical.” | He added: “We condemn all the atrocities that have been committed. The acts of Abu Sakkar should not be treated as typical.” |
| The “Fighter, not Killer” campaign, which is aimed at both sides in the conflict, was developed by the Swiss based charity Geneva Call. | The “Fighter, not Killer” campaign, which is aimed at both sides in the conflict, was developed by the Swiss based charity Geneva Call. |
| Its spokesman, Tim Carstairs, said: “We have honed down the whole of international law into 15 rules published in a booklet form. And we summarised that down further into videos of the six main violations that are occurring at the moment.” | Its spokesman, Tim Carstairs, said: “We have honed down the whole of international law into 15 rules published in a booklet form. And we summarised that down further into videos of the six main violations that are occurring at the moment.” |
| The six videos, which several regional TV stations have agreed to broadcast as adverts, include pleas not to use banned weapons such as chemical weapons and land mines. | The six videos, which several regional TV stations have agreed to broadcast as adverts, include pleas not to use banned weapons such as chemical weapons and land mines. |
| Another urges rebels to educate children rather than involve them in warfare. | Another urges rebels to educate children rather than involve them in warfare. |
| It comes after mounting concern about the involvement of child soldiers on the rebel side. | It comes after mounting concern about the involvement of child soldiers on the rebel side. |
| Carstairs claimed the animations had been well received. “Cartoons are quite a traditional thing in Syria, so people seem to be responding well. | Carstairs claimed the animations had been well received. “Cartoons are quite a traditional thing in Syria, so people seem to be responding well. |
| "Some of the guys who are fighting were taxi drivers or farmers so one can’t expect them to know the laws of war. Our job is to get the message to them. | "Some of the guys who are fighting were taxi drivers or farmers so one can’t expect them to know the laws of war. Our job is to get the message to them. |
| “In the feedback we have received there has been no suggestion that we are being patronising at all. These messages didn’t come out of thin air, they are based on a lot of legal experience.” | “In the feedback we have received there has been no suggestion that we are being patronising at all. These messages didn’t come out of thin air, they are based on a lot of legal experience.” |
| Human Rights Watch, which has documented abuses by both sides including highlighting the video depicting cannibalism, welcomed the initiative. | Human Rights Watch, which has documented abuses by both sides including highlighting the video depicting cannibalism, welcomed the initiative. |
| Nadim Houry, its deputy Middle East director, said: “Many of the combatants have never heard of these principles and these laws. It is important to spread this message in a way that is effective and simple. It is positive that the opposition’s leadership has taken it on board and given it its own stamp of approval.” | Nadim Houry, its deputy Middle East director, said: “Many of the combatants have never heard of these principles and these laws. It is important to spread this message in a way that is effective and simple. It is positive that the opposition’s leadership has taken it on board and given it its own stamp of approval.” |
| He added: “The conflict is not abating and, if anything, it's getting worse. Both sides are acting as if the ends can justify the means. Executions are rampant on both sides. The treatment of fighters who surrender is also of great concern.” | He added: “The conflict is not abating and, if anything, it's getting worse. Both sides are acting as if the ends can justify the means. Executions are rampant on both sides. The treatment of fighters who surrender is also of great concern.” |
| One of the animations urges combatants not to hood or shackle prisoners. | One of the animations urges combatants not to hood or shackle prisoners. |
| Houry said widespread horror at the cannibalism video had galvanised attempts to tackle atrocities. | Houry said widespread horror at the cannibalism video had galvanised attempts to tackle atrocities. |
| “The Abu Sakkor video is an extreme case, but sometimes you need extreme cases to talk about broader patterns. Every war has its Abu Sakkor the key question is will his act become accepted as normality, because they were revenge for other horrible acts? That’s what’s dangerous and any effort that reminds everyone of rules that have to be implemented are essential." | “The Abu Sakkor video is an extreme case, but sometimes you need extreme cases to talk about broader patterns. Every war has its Abu Sakkor the key question is will his act become accepted as normality, because they were revenge for other horrible acts? That’s what’s dangerous and any effort that reminds everyone of rules that have to be implemented are essential." |
| Houry added: “You can’t do awareness raising without a sense that these rules are going to be enforced. These things are important but not sufficient. You need a mechanism to ensure they are enforced.” | Houry added: “You can’t do awareness raising without a sense that these rules are going to be enforced. These things are important but not sufficient. You need a mechanism to ensure they are enforced.” |
| Amnesty International also welcomed the initiative. Its Syria researcher, Neil Sammonds, said: "There's nothing unique about the ignorance of opposition fighters in Syria about the rules of armed conflict. We see this in many such situations, including Libya for example. | Amnesty International also welcomed the initiative. Its Syria researcher, Neil Sammonds, said: "There's nothing unique about the ignorance of opposition fighters in Syria about the rules of armed conflict. We see this in many such situations, including Libya for example. |
| "The complete disregard of international humanitarian law by what is supposed to be a professional military force, namely the Syrian government armed forces, which are responsible for the overwhelming majority of violations in this conflict, both in scale and in gravity, is somewhat more surprising." | "The complete disregard of international humanitarian law by what is supposed to be a professional military force, namely the Syrian government armed forces, which are responsible for the overwhelming majority of violations in this conflict, both in scale and in gravity, is somewhat more surprising." |
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