Syrian Arab News Agency S A N A
Damascus,SANA – Dr. Mohammad Reza Jalkhi, head of the National Commission for Missing Persons in Syria, said that the commission has documented 63 mass graves so far, while the number of missing persons is estimated ranges between 120,000 and 300,000, within its mandate, which covers the period from 1970 till now.
In an exclusive interview with SANA, Jalkhi emphasized that the commission’s duty is a cornerstone of the transitional justice process, and thus of achieving civil peace in Syria. This requires cooperation from official institutions, civil society organizations, families and their associations, and international institutions and mechanisms.
“The Commission reviewed the experiences of several countries that encountered similar situations”, as Jalkhi pointed out, “in addition to reviewing studies and work strategies submitted by various parties, which led to six basic principles that govern the Commission’s work.
He pointed out that the Commission is organizing an expanded national conference on the needs and rights of the families of missing persons. The conference will bring together all relevant Syrian and international bodies.
He noted that training national capacities of forensic doctors and legal experts to handle samples professionally in accordance with international documentation standards is a priority.
He revealed Syria has been granted scholarships to train Syrian personnel in developed European countries in the fields of forensic medicine and documentation.
He said that the Transitional Justice Process and civil peace course is long and arduous because of the long legacy of injustice and tyranny under the Assad regime, both father and son, the dilapidated judicial system, which requires restructuring and rehabilitation to enable it to conduct fair and transparent trials, much evidence has been lost or destroyed, and the need to train and build qualified national capacities to handle the case, which requires years of work.
Dr. Jalkhi said that the Commission’s mandate was set as of 1970, the year Hafez al-Assad seized power in Syria. This determination came after national consultations, given the heavy legacy of missing and forcibly disappeared persons dating back to the 1970s, through the events of the 1980s and beyond.
Amer Dhawa
