Timely counsel

HH Prince Zeid, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva, has just issued a warning to all parties involved in the peace talks on the Syrian conflict, to not even think of granting amnesty to any person implicated in the commission of war crimes or crimes against humanity in this Arab country as part of an eventual deal that could emerge from the peace talks.

The UN human rights head said that his office has a well established, cardinal, principle against pardoning people who perpetrate war crimes and crimes against humanity even in the context of peace accords.

His warning came just before the start of the Geneva III peace talks on Syria, to ensure that no one would entertain the idea of issuing clemency or pardon to people accused of having committed crimes, as part of an eventual peace agreement.

The commissioner is to be commended for reinforcing his office’s stand on war crimes and crimes against humanity, in this case, in Syria, during the past five years of war between government forces and various opposition factions operating in the country.

It has been documented that various crimes have been committed by both sides to the Syrian conflict. The perpetrators must no doubt be brought to justice and held accountable for their crimes.

Peace in Syria must not come at any price.

All those responsible for carpet, indiscriminate bombings that took the lives of hundreds of thousands of innocent people cannot escape justice in the name of peace.

Letting them go scot-free will make anybody responsible for that an accomplice in the commission of crimes in Syria.

It is only right that the parties involved in peace talks on Syria be served notice on this uncontested rule of international law.

The parties can take it from there, aware that they would violate international law by advocating pardons for war criminals.