Syria Special: Observing the Observers --- Evidence of The Abuses in Homs

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Yesterday, I asked about Syria, "Who is Observing What, and What Will Happen When They Finish?" I questioned who the Arab League observers are, and whether or not they were making a legitimate effort to observer the realities on the ground. I finished writing that article at approximately midnight (0500 GMT).

By the time I woke up, we had some clues to the answers. Despite witnessing gunfire, and despite the clear damage to buildings, and the presence of what appears to be a tank, the observers did not seem alarmed by their visit to Homs. Scott Lucas reports:

Sudanese General Mohamed Ahmed Mustafa al-Dabi, the head of the Arab League observers in Syria said today that the situation in Homs was "reassuring so far": "There were some places where the situation was not good. But there wasn't anything frightening at least while we were there."

Al-Dabi continued, "Yesterday was quiet and there were no clashes. We did not see tanks but we did see some armored vehicles. But remember this was only the first day and it will need investigation. We have 20 people who will be there for a long time."

This evidence would suggest that, as perhaps the skeptics (myself included) predicted, the observers did not seem to be serious about taking the Syrian regime to task.

But there was something which the observers may not have anticipated: the citizen journalists, the activists who have so meticulously documented nine months of the uprising in Syria, would be "watching the watchers", and EA and other news agencies would be documenting the evidence.

Now that many eyes (and, more importantly, cameras) are documenting exactly what the observers have witnessed, we have decided to keep a log, adding to our previous feature, of the evidence of abuses and violence:

Homs

When the observers finally reached Baba Amr, Homs, they were approached by a man who brought them to the body of 5-year-old Ahmed Muhammad Ra'i, who had been killed while the observers were in the city. In the first video, a man whom we believe is Ahmed's father shows the observers what appears to be a bullet wound. In the last video, we see the body and the observers near a security checkpoint. According to activists we have consulted, the boy was killed either by soldiers behind the sandbags or by a soldier firing from the top of the armored personnel carrier that can be seen.

About 45 seconds into the third video, gunfire can be heard in the background.

Witnessing the body of a child, reportedly killed by security forces, may have had an impact on some of the observers. However, those who may have been targeted by gunfire while crossing the street in Bab Sbaa, Homs, are perhaps even less likely to forget what they saw.

A different street in Bab Sbaa, but no less dangerous, as gunfire rings out, preventing the observers from crossing the street:

The observers in the Baba Amr district also witnessed gunfire:

The Encounter with the Citizen Journalists

Beyond this, many eyewitnesses have confronted the observers, attempting to tell their tales. In this video, citizen-journalist Khaled Abu Salah confronts the head of the Arab League observers, Mohamed Ahmed Mustafa al-Dabi:

Al Jazeera provides a rough transcript of the exchange:

Resident:

Let us tell you the truth. The problem does not involve observers in person or as a group. The problem lies in the Arab initiative itself. You have come here to supervise the implementation of an Arab League plan which is composed of several items. The first item is to immediately halt the killing.

How can you be available in Homs, when 15 people got killed? We have not benefited from your presence as observers here. You have not protected people from getting killed. Yesterday [Tuesday], 10,000 people gathered at al-Sa’aa Square chanting their demands."

Arab League official:

This is our third day here. Do you expect what had occurred in six or nine or three months could be fixed in a day? Please be patient. Give us time. We will continue performing our duties to the point that would lead to dialogue.”

To this, a second resident, visibly angry, replies:

What dialogue? How can we reach dialogue while people get killed. We were told that security men would not kill anyone in the presence of Arab observers. But while the head of the observers team was here a child , among 15 other people, was killed. Have you been available there?”

Arab League official:

We are keeping a strict track of any incidents that take place here. This is only our first day here."

A man who has been watching the conversation then says:

We have been here for five days without bread. This is the first time bread has been distributed in the neighbourhood."

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Looking at the evidence of the last two days, witnessed by the observers on the ground, the situation in Syria is unsustainable. This evidence clearly implicates the Assad regime, but regardless of who is at fault, this situation is clearly a humanitarian disaster. Contrary to earlier statements by Mohamed Ahmed Mustafa al-Dabi, nothing about what we have posted above is "reassuring."

To borrow from the Latin phrase, "who is watching the watchers?" As it turns out, thanks to the citizen journalists, the Arab League will now find it very difficult to create their own narrative without mentioning these scenes.

And as these amateur videos spread through the media, the Arab League is likely to feel more international pressure to finally act to end the crisis in Syria.