On 18.12.2013, a statement signed by fifteen opposed armed factions in Eastern Gouta, Damascus Suburbs was issued – dated 15.12.2013– wherein they declared their innocence of several violations that have been committed in Eastern Gouta, including kidnapping prominent human rights activists Razan Zeitouneh, Samira Khalil,Wael Hamadeh, and Nazim Hammadi.The statement stated that all the signatory factions are "ready to cooperate and extend a helping hand to the fullest."
Violation Documentation Center in Syria (VDC) and the Local Development and Small Projects Support Office (LDSPS) stating that all armed factions hold the legal responsibility of protecting and ensuring the safety of the locals in areas under their control, welcome their willingness –expressed in the statement- to help investigating the case and contributing to it. They also cite that many of the reports from the area have already mentioned the lack of efforts exerted by many factions in revealing the whereabouts of the abduction and working to free them- safe and sound- as soon as possible , and stress the need for everyone to contribute in putting the last statement into action in order to bring the chaos to an end and to liberate the already "liberated" Syrian territory from the domination of tendentious parties and the bad behaviors that our revolution and people cannot be part of. We also draw attention to the fact that the delay in liberating the kidnapped activists shows an unacceptable vulnerability on the part of the factions which Syrians cherish and consider as a protectors and guardians.
Moreover, we call on all brigades and battalions to shoulder full responsibility and save no effort to reveal the destiny of our four kidnapped colleagues, and to bring them back safe and sound to their work, families and friends. Furthermore, to take the responsibiltiy bring the kidnappers to account so the revolution gets backits dignity which such bad actions have contaminated. We also call on all battalions in the field to work hand in hand to investigate the case, and request solemnly all international and regional efforts to call for the release of the kidnapped.
20.12.2013
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