(June 09, 2011) The United Nation's top human rights official on Thursday accused
Syria of trying to “bludgeon its population into submission'' by attacking anti-government
protesters with snipers, tanks and artillery. Navi Pillay, the U.N.'s High Commissioner
for Human Rights, said she was particularly concerned about reports of civilians fleeing
a threatened government assault on the north-western town of Jisr al-Shughour, where
authorities say ``armed groups'' have killed 120 security forces. “We are receiving
an increasing number of alarming reports pointing to the Syrian government's continuing
efforts to ruthlessly crush civilian protests,'' she said in a statement. “It is utterly
deplorable for any government to attempt to bludgeon its population into submission,
using tanks, artillery and snipers.'' Pillay said her office had received reports
from non-governmental organization that over 1,100 men, women and children have been
killed since protests began in March and some 10,000 people have been detained. In
her statement, she referred also to the recent torture and killing of a 13-year-old
boy by security forces. “The unimaginably cruel murder and mutilation of this child
seems to be emblematic of the moral and legal bankruptcy of the apparent policy of
crushing dissent by all available means,'' Pillay said. She urged neighbouring countries
such as Turkey to keep their borders open for refugees fleeing Syria. Syria has ignored
a request from Pillay to allow a high-level fact-finding team to visit the country.
The team will issue a report on Syria on June 15, she said.