A/HRC/21/32
57.
Information received by OHCHR indicates a pattern of military operations on
alleged anti-Government strongholds that included cordons, the use of heavy weapons and
house-to-house search operations. According to that information, targeted areas were
cordoned off by checkpoints and the supply of water, electricity and other basic services
was cut off. Reports show that, once the areas were cordoned, artillery and tank units
supported by helicopters conducted heavy shelling. Ground forces then entered the areas to
complete the military operations.
H.
Plan of Action of the League of the Arab States
58.
In paragraph 12 of its resolution 19/22, the Human Rights Council called upon the
Syrian authorities to implement the Plan of Action of the League of Arab States of 2
November 2011 in its entirety, as well as the League’s relevant decisions, without delay.
59.
In its note verbale dated 16 July 2012, the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic
stated that it had implemented in good faith the Plan of Action of the League of Arab
States, and recalled that it had granted access to and facilitated the League of Arab States
observer mission, and withdrawn its forces from the cities.
60.
The Government also pointed out that it cooperated with the Joint Special Envoy,
agreed to the six-point plan and implemented much of it,and sincerely supported and had
facilitated the work of UNSMIS observers, and provided them with protection. These
efforts, according to the Government, reflected its willingness to cooperate with the
international community to reach a peaceful solution, which would be based on national
dialogue. In this context, the Government accused “terrorist armed groups”, and certain
Member States that funded and armed them, of hampering UNSMIS observers from
carrying out their mandate and the implementation of the six-point plan.
61.
The Government stated that it remained supportive of political dialogue, and that
there must be an international commitment and political will to implement fully the sixpoint plan. It stated that, unless the arming and financing of “terrorist armed groups”
ceased, it would be difficult to implement the plan if only the Government was committed
to it..The Governmnet added that, while it welcomed the outcome of the meeting of the
Action Group on 30 June 2012, the “terrorist armed groups” and the Member States that
supported them were against that outcome.
I.
Detainees
62.
In paragraph 13 (b) of its resolution 19/22, the Human Rights Council demanded
that the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic release all persons detained arbitrarily
due to the crisis in accordance with the Plan of Action of the League of Arab States and its
decisions of 22 January and 12 February 2012.
63.
Under the six-point plan, the Government has an obligation to intensify the pace and
scale of release of arbitrarily detained persons, including especially vulnerable categories of
persons and persons involved in peaceful political activities, and to allow access to
detention places. As noted in my report on the implementation of Security Council
resolution 2043 (2012) (S/2012/523), progress in this area was insignificant in a context
where the status and conditions of thousands of detainees across the country remained
unclear. This includes not only persons engaged in armed fighting but also human rights
defenders, political activists, women and children.
64.
During the reporting period, the Government addressed a number of notes verbales
to OHCHR regarding detainees, stating that it had, as at 10 July 2012, released almost
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