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China and Russia veto UN bringing Syria to court for war crimes

The Security Council wants to bring the crisis to the International Criminal Court for investigation of possible war crimes.

UN Syria The U.N. Security Council vote on referring the Syrian crisis to the International Criminal Court AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

CHINA AND RUSSIA vetoed a draft UN Security Council resolution today to refer Syria to the International Criminal Court for crimes committed by both sides in the three-year civil war.

Western powers pressed for the resolution in the face of mounting atrocities in Syria, including chemical attacks, systematic torture, barrel bombings and blocked aid access.

‘Paralysing’

It was the fourth time China and Russia have blocked Western resolutions on the conflict, paralysing Security Council efforts to end a war estimated to have killed more than 160,000 people.

The 13 other members of the Security Council voted in favor and Western powers rounded on China and Russia for protecting not just the Syrian regime but also opposition “terrorist groups.”

“Our grandchildren will ask us years from now how we could have failed to bring justice to people living in hell on earth,” said US ambassador Samantha Power.

The victims of the Assad regime’s industrial killing machine and the victims of terrorist attacks deserve more than to have more dead counted.

Moscow is Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s closest ally, and has provided him with diplomatic cover throughout the crisis.

Beijing generally aligns with the Russian position.

“It is disgraceful that they have yet again vetoed the Security Council’s efforts to take action on human rights violations in Syria,” said British ambassador Mark Lyall Grant.

Countries who sponsored the text

The text, drawn up by France, was co-sponsored by 60 countries, including members of the European Union, Japan, South Korea and several African states.

Syria is not a signatory to the International Criminal Court so only the Security Council can decide whether to refer war crimes or crimes against humanity on its territory to the court.

It did the same for Darfur in 2005 and Libya in 2011.

UN Syria Syrian activist Quasi Zakarya, center, stands at the request of U.S. Ambassador Samantha Powers as she addressed the U.N. Security Council AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

French ambassador Gerard Araud said before the expected veto it “would be an insult to millions of suffering Syrians.”

Western powers said they would continue to document atrocities and press for justice.

Security Council ‘must unite’

Writing in The Wall Street Journal today, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said the Security Council “must unite.”

Holding the perpetrators of war crimes and crimes against humanity accountable for their actions is a way of obtaining justice for the victims.

Jan Eliasson, deputy secretary general of the United Nations, told the Security Council before the vote that the chamber’s more than three years of disagreement was deeply damaging.

“If members of the Council continue to be unable to agree on a measures that could provide some accountability for the ongoing crimes, the credibility of this body and of the entire organization will continue to suffer,” he said.

But the Russian veto had never been in doubt.

Peace talks have been locked in stalemate since February and international mediator Lakhdar Brahimi has resigned.

Western diplomats say China is embarrassed but was reluctant to oppose Russia again after abstaining from a resolution denouncing the separatist referendum in Crimea in March.

London-based rights group Amnesty International accused China and Russia of displaying “chilling disregard” for the countless victims in Syria.

- © AFP, 2014

Read: Eamon Gilmore calls for support on UN Syria, but Russia’s already said no>

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    Mute John Roche
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    Aug 2nd 2014, 9:57 AM

    Dr Hadden was elected to Wexford Corporation where he served for many years. He also founded the Wexford Male Voice Choir which is still going strong. I , like many of my generation, knew Dr Hadden as he was extremely well known in town. Summer or Winter he never wore an overcoat or socks and only wore very lightweight shoes. He was indeed a great walker and walked miles every day , for many years with his little dog at his side. When his dog was killed by a car it made the newspapers.As far as I can remember he was made a Freeman of the Borough.It was an honour to have known such a man.

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    Mute vv7k7Z3c
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    Aug 2nd 2014, 10:19 AM

    Thanks for that great info, John!

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    Mute L-Plate
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    Aug 2nd 2014, 12:53 PM

    Was he actually 7ft?

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    Mute Anne Marie O'Connor
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    Aug 2nd 2014, 4:25 PM

    No he wasn’t. He was tall, 6ft six maybe.

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    Mute Adam Murphy
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    Aug 2nd 2014, 9:19 AM

    The Pretenders don’t look so impressive now huh?

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    Mute Conor Dunne
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    Aug 2nd 2014, 9:56 AM

    Classic Adam. I tip my hat to you sir

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    Mute Hipster Enda
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    Aug 2nd 2014, 10:06 AM

    The Proclaimers ?

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    Mute Boganity
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    Aug 2nd 2014, 3:58 PM

    Da lat da (Da lat da), da lat da (Da lat da)
    Da-da-da dun-diddle un-diddle un-diddle uh da-da

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    Mute John Roche
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    Aug 2nd 2014, 10:09 AM

    Just to confirm that Dr Hadden was made an Freeman of Wexford in 1972. He never sought to serve as Mayor but probably would have succeeded had he done so. He also founded the Old Wexford Society now known as the Wexford Historical Society.

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    Mute Captain kirk
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    Aug 2nd 2014, 10:55 AM

    Was he 7ft tall?

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    Mute John Roche
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    Aug 2nd 2014, 11:39 AM

    No he was about 6’1″ when he was in his later years so probably about 6’3″in his prime.

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    Mute Robespierre
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    Aug 2nd 2014, 9:23 AM

    Great story – some man for one man.

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    Mute John Roche
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    Aug 2nd 2014, 11:53 AM

    Incidentally his wife Helen lived beyond 100 yrs and died in the early 1980′s. During his time back in Wexford from approx 1940 to his death in 1973 he never practiced as a doctor. He spent his time organising the bodies he had founded and started to conduct tours around town for tourists a practice which is commonplace today. In appearance he had a Chinese type long white beard down beyond his chest and walked very fast ( even when old) usually with his hands clasped behind his back.

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    Mute the flying picket
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    Aug 2nd 2014, 9:24 AM

    If only he had facebook !

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    Mute Noel Quinn
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    Aug 2nd 2014, 10:18 AM

    Some men would walk 10000 miles in the opposite direction !!!!

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    Mute bob®
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    Aug 2nd 2014, 9:24 AM

    Wexford always had great Walkers

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    Mute damien kierans
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    Aug 2nd 2014, 10:43 AM

    Movie please

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    Mute Qwerty
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    Aug 2nd 2014, 11:36 AM

    There already are films where it’s just people walking and nothing else happens. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy!

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    Mute Owen Lynch
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    Aug 2nd 2014, 9:38 AM

    The present Wexford hurling could do with a few (15) like him.

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    Mute Dave Field
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    Aug 2nd 2014, 9:47 AM

    Some tall tale…

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    Mute Alan Lawlor
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    Aug 2nd 2014, 9:25 AM

    I wonder if he sang any Proclaimers songs to keep himself amused along the way…
    da da-da da duh. da da-da da duh …..

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    Mute Alan Lawlor
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    Aug 2nd 2014, 9:27 AM

    Now I see Adam got in ahead of me!

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    Mute Dylan Ryan
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    Aug 2nd 2014, 5:45 PM

    He woulda spotted her miles away with that hat on her….

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    Mute ZeeFeb
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    Mar 20th 2017, 6:44 PM

    @Dylan Ryan: actually that is my great great grandmother. Don’t make fun of her hat. It was the early 1900s

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    Mute ZeeFeb
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    Mar 20th 2017, 6:46 PM

    actually the story is real. I should know. That man is my great great grandfather.

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