U.N. to publish Syria war-crime suspect names
U.N. war crimes investigators plan to publish names of suspects involved in Syria’s 4-year-old war and push for new ways to bring them to justice, in a radical change of strategy announced Friday, The Daily Star reported.
Diplomatic sources said the independent Commission of Inquiry, led by Brazilian investigator Paulo Pinheiro, may publish some or all of hundreds of names on secret lists of suspects at the U.N. Human Rights Council on March 17.
Pinheiro, speaking to reporters after informally briefing the U.N. Security Council, refused to be drawn, saying any release of names would need to “be of some use” and have some “follow-up.”
“You have to understand that we have to keep the suspense,” he said.
The investigators have already drawn up four lists including military and security commanders, the heads of detention facilities, and commanders of nonstate armed groups, including the so-called “emirs” of radical groups, they said. They now have a fifth list ready.