Confidence-building Measures Must Include Release of Detainees

Press Statement

Syrian Coalition

Media Office

March 7, 2016

As the “cessation of hostilities” agreement enters its 8th day, the Assad regime, Iran and Russia continue to breach the agreement on a daily basis, with dozens of violations documented so far. The siege, starvation and restrictions the Assad regime imposes on hundreds of Syrian cities, towns and villages, also continue. Moreover, the UN Security Council demands for tens of thousands of detainees in Assad’s prisons to be released have been ignored.

The Syrian Coalition underscored that international efforts culminating in the signing off on the Munich agreement last month would be worthless had no pressure been exerted on the Assad regime to abide by the truce agreement, including the cessation of hostilities, and the release of detainees.

Over 215,000 Syrians, including women and children, have been arbitrarily detained since March 2011, according to estimates by the Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR). Nearly 99% of the overall number of detainees have been incarcerated by the Assad regime.

The international community should not continue to ignore the regime’s violations of the truce agreement. We warn that if these violations continued, the truce would totally collapse. The Syrian Coalition reiterates that the implementation of any agreement is the real proof of its value, and real confidence-building measures need to be taken to pave the way for a political solution in Syria.