Gas attack in Syria

DAMASCUS AND the opposition groups are once again in a row over alleged use of toxins on the civilians. Scores of people are supposed to have died through the poisonous gas on a village in Kafr Zita in Hama province. This development has come just within a span of eight months when the regime in Syria was blamed for using chemical gas, resulting in the death of hundreds of civilians. The point is: if either of the party has resorted to poisonous substances as warfare agents, what was the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons doing? The watchdog under the aegis of International Atomic Energy Agency was supposed to comb out such material from across the country, and had in its report admitted great successes. The OPCW had also praised the regime for complying with the deadline and providing access to the inspectors.

If that is so how come the rebels or the regime were capable of laying their hands on toxics, and using them at impunity. The United Nations should investigate into the issue, and it is mandatory upon the Nobel Peace Prize winning OPCW to come up with an explanation as to what happened and how. The veracity of the incident has to be investigated across the board.

The international community on its part should see an opportunity in disaster to reengage itself in the peace process that has come to a halt by all means. The deadlock that is pestering between opposition parties and the government has brought to a naught diplomatic initiatives. The UN and the Western powers seem to have abdicated their role as peace brokers, and apparently got themselves busy in the Crimean discord. Syria is too risky to be left alone at the mercy of mercenaries and a callous regime.

The OPCW owes an explanation as to what happened and how