Impunity Watch Headlines

Poet Appeals Three Year Jail Term for His Poetry

Lauren Mellinger — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 03:28:00 GMT

by Ann Flower Seyse Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East CAIRO, Egypt- Mounir Hanna Said Marzouk was a civil servant in Egypt, and wrote satyrical verses for his friends and colleagues. He had only been writing for two years. None of his writing had ever been published, and it was only...

Colombian Government Urged to Stop Displacement

Victor Garza — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 03:12:49 GMT

By Don Anque Impunity Watch Reporter, South America BOGOTA, Colombia – Today, Amnesty International denounced another dramatic increase in the number of Colombians forced to leave their homes due to the armed conflicts. Amnesty International also urged the warring parties to stop dragging civilians into the hostilities. Amnesty International claims...

Youth Activists Arrested in Azerbaijan

Alishba I Kassim — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 01:27:39 GMT

By Alishba I. Kassim Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia BAKU, Azerbaijan - Two student activists were arrested and beaten in Azerbaijan after they posted a video critical of the nation’s government. Authorities arrested Adnan Hajizada, a University of Richmond graduate and fellow activist Emin Milli, in the capital city of Baku...

Prominent Human Rights Activist Murdered: Medvedev Publicly Condemns her Killing

Elizabeth Conger — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 00:01:57 GMT

By Elizabeth A. Conger Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe MOSCOW, Russia - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has expressed public outrage at the murder of Natalia Estemirova, a human rights activist who was investigating alleged government backed militias in Chechnya. Estemirova was abducted from her home in the Chechen capital of Grozny...

Nigerian Militants Halt Offensive Attacks and Accept Amnesty

Dahee Nam — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 21:55:10 GMT

By Jennifer M. Haralambides Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa ABUJA, Nigeria - As a goodwill gesture for the release of the alleged rebel leader Henry Okah, there has been a unilateral 60-day ceasefire by Nigeria’s most notorious rebel group, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND). Henry Okah...

Members of US Congress Protest Guatemala's Exploitation of Workers

Nima Nayebi — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 21:20:38 GMT

By Nima Nayebi Impunity Watch Reporter, North America and Europe LONG BEACH, United States - Linda Sanchez, a democratic member of the US Congress from California, sent a letter to Guatemalan President Alvaro Colóm Caballeros on Monday to protest the country's exploitation of workers and unions. She was joined by...

Marshall Islands Test Victims Frustrated Over Ceased Compensation

Hayley Campbell — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 15:02:39 GMT

By Hayley J. Campbell Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Oceania SUVA, Fiji - Nuclear test victims in the Marshall Islands are saying they are frustrated with the United States government which has stopped its distribution of compensation payments due to a decline in funding. Between 1946 and 1959, the United...

Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb Vows to Target China

Lauren Mellinger — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 03:11:29 GMT

By Ann Flower Seyse Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East Desk ALGERIA- Al Qaeda in the Islamic Mahgreb or “AQIM” has vowed to avenge the deaths of many Islamic Uighur people during the recent riots in the northwestern province of Xin Jiang in China. Although the threat does not come directly...

Update: Charles Taylor Testified at His Trial

Dahee Nam — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 21:51:59 GMT

By Kylie M Tsudama Impunity Watch Reporter THE HAGUE, Netherlands - Warlord Charles Taylor took the stand in his trial today and immediately denied the charges against him, which include rape, amputation, and cannibalism. “This whole case against me is a case of deceit, deception and lies,” he said, adding...

PBS Airs Provocative Documentary on International Criminal Court

Christopher Doval — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 21:32:29 GMT

By Sarah Benczik, Impunity Watch Editor-in-Chief & Mario A. Flores, Impunity Watch Reporter, South America WASHINGTON D.C., United States – A new documentary, The Reckoning: The Battle for the International Criminal Court, will air today on Public Broadcasting System (PBS) channels across the U.S. The documentary catalogs the international effort...

Alleged Nazi John Demjanjuk to Face Prosecution for the Death Camp Murders of 27,900 in Germany's Last Major Nazi War Crimes Trial

Nima Nayebi — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 21:03:30 GMT

By Nima Nayebi Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe and North America MUNICH, Germany - German prosecutors charged 89-year old retired US auto worker John Demjanjuk with the murders of 27,900 people during his time as an alleged death camp guard in Nazi-occupied Poland. John Demjanjuk denies any involvement with the Holocaust....

Rights Group Recommends Clinton Deny Mexico Aid in Light of Human Rights Abuses

Soveriegn Hager — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 20:10:53 GMT

By Sovereign Hager Impunity Watch Reporter, North America (Photo Courtesy of Amnesty International) WASHINGTON D.C., United States - On Monday, Human Rights Watch (HRW) released a letter urging U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton not to certify Mexico as compliant with the Merida Initiative's requirements to receive aid. 1.4 billion...

Burma’s Junta Prepare to Free Political Prisoners

Hyo-Jin Paik — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 20:03:47 GMT

By Hyo-Jin Paik Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia NEW YORK, United States– Burma’s UN Ambassador Than Swe announced during a Security Council session that his country is preparing to release some of the political prisoners so that they can participate in the 2010 general election. This decision was made at the...

Caracas Mayor resumes opposition to Hugo Chavez

Victor Garza — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 03:23:21 GMT

By Don Anque Impunity Watch Reporter, South America CARACAS, Venezuela - Earlier this month, Caracas Mayor Antonio Ledezma held a hunger strike for six days in protest of the political dealings of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. Ledezma carried out theprotest inside the offices of the Organization of American States and...

Recent Increase in Violence Spurs Increase in Security

Lauren Mellinger — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 03:21:27 GMT

by Ann Flower Seyse Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East BAGHDAD, Iraq - Vehicle bans were imposed in two predominantly Christian towns and security was increased around churches in Baghdad following a recent string of attacks that targeted the Christian minority. The most fatal bombing occurred around dusk on June 12...

Greek Police Bulldoze Migrant Camp

Elizabeth Conger — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 00:38:31 GMT

Elizabeth A. Conger Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe PATRAS, Greece - Approximately a hundred members of the Greek Special Anti-Riots Force demolished a makeshift migrant camp in Patras before dawn yesterday morning. Patras, a port town in western Greece, has been the home of thousands of migrants who hope to make...

New Zealand PM Says Pacific Forum Will Expel Fiji

Hayley Campbell — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 23:58:01 GMT

By Hayley J. Campbell Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Oceania SUVA, Fiji - The Prime Minister of New Zealand, John Key, says that the Pacific Forum has decided to expel Fiji from the group. The decision comes after the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) met in Port Vila to discuss Fiji’s...

Obama Reviews Slaying of Taliban During Bush Administration

Karla General — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 23:49:06 GMT

By Karla E General Senior Desk Officer, North America WASHINGTON, United States - President Obama has ordered national security officials to give a hard look to allegations that the Bush administration failed to investigate a CIA-backed Afghan warlord accused of killing hundreds of Taliban prisoners in 2001. General Abdul Rashid...

Kashmiris World Over Observe Martyr Day

Alishba I Kassim — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 23:33:18 GMT

By Alishba I. Kassim Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia ISLAMABAD, Pakistan – Kashmiris all over the world observed Kashmir Martyr Day on Monday to pay homage to the Kashmiri martyrs who sacrificed their lives for Kashmir’s struggle for self-determination. In occupied Kashmir, the present authorities have imposed curfews in places such...

Charles Taylor to Testify in His Own Defense

Dahee Nam — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 21:01:11 GMT

By Jennifer M. Haralambides Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa THE HAGUE, Netherlands - On Tuesday, the first African leader to be tried for war crimes, Charles Taylor, will take the stand to defend himself against massive human rights violations. Taylor, the ex-president of Liberia, will take the stand to answer the...

Due Process at U.S. Immigrant Detention Centers Called into Question by Hunger Strike

Soveriegn Hager — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 21:42:19 GMT

By Sovereign Hager Impunity Watch Reporter, North America (Photo Courtesy of KGBT-TV) LOS FRESNOS, Texas - Kenson Lima, a legal U.S. permanent resident has just ended a hunger strike in protest of his incarceration by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Lima was detained by ICE officials after being arrested on domestic...

Al-Qaeda Releases Swiss Hostage

Dahee Nam — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 20:45:23 GMT

By Jennifer M. Haralambides Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa TIMBUKTU, Mali - Swiss and Malian officials say that Al-Qaeda’s North African branch has freed a Swiss hostage, Werner Greiner, who was abducted in late January along with other westerners near the Mali-Niger border. (Source: BBC) “We can confirm that the Swiss...

Honduras Lifts Curfew Imposed After Military Coup d'etat

Nima Nayebi — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 19:35:52 GMT

By Nima Nayebi Impunity Watch Reporter, North America and Europe TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras - 2 weeks after the military coup which ousted President Manuel Zelaya, Honduran authorities have lifted a curfew in an attempt to restore a normal state of affairs in the crisis ridden country. In a nation-wide television and...

DR Congo Civilians Take Brunt of Violence

Dahee Nam — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 19:33:02 GMT

By Kylie Tsudama Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa KINSHASA, DR Congo - Humanitarian and security conditions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have worsened and civilians have taken the hardest hit. “Since May, security and humanitarian conditions worsened for thousands of civilians in North and South Kivu,” said Max...

Dictator’s Enforcer To Join Former Boss in Prison

Victor Garza — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 18:21:41 GMT

By Mario A. Flores Impunity Watch Reporter, South America LA PAZ, Bolivia – Former Bolivian Interior Minister Luis Arce Gomez was deported earlier this week from the United States. He had been released in November 2007 after serving a fifteen year sentence in Miami for drug trafficking. Arce Gomez arrived...

Concerns of Witch Hunt in the Uighur Riots Investigation

Hyo-Jin Paik — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 14:03:37 GMT

By Hyo-Jin Paik Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia URUMQI, China– Human Rights Watch has expressed concern that the latest development in the Xinjinag region indicates that the Chinese government appears to have launched a widespread, politicized crackdown of Uighurs instead of conducting an impartial investigation. Since the violence erupted on July...

Australian Killed In Attack Near Papua Mine

Hayley Campbell — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 13:52:37 GMT

By Angela Marie Watkins Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania JAKARTA, Indonesia - An Australian worker was shot dead near the Grasberg mine in Indonesia's Papua province run by a unit of Freeport McMoran Copper & Gold Inc., Papua's police chief said on Saturday. Police chief Bagus Ekodanto told Reuters the shooting...

Myanmar Orphans Flee to Thailand

Alishba I Kassim — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 01:29:12 GMT

By Alishba I. Kassim Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia THAI SONG YANG, Thailand – A sudden offensive against ethnic Karen rebels by Myanmar’s military junta has led to a mass exodus of refugees from Myanmar. The six-decade long conflict between the Christian Karen and the mainly-Buddhist Myanmar’s junta continues to escalate....

Mexican Military Accused of Torturing Citizens in War on Drugs

Soveriegn Hager — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 00:10:42 GMT

By Sovereign Hager Impunity Watch Reporter, North America (Photo Courtesy of Human Rights Watch) MEXICO CITY, Mexico - According to documents and interviews with victims, their families, political leaders and human rights monitors the Mexican military violates human rights in its pursuit of drug traffickers. Brutal tactics include forced disapearances,...

UN Human Rights Chief Warns of Possible War Crimes in Somalia

Dahee Nam — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 23:44:16 GMT

By Dahee Nam Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Africa MOGADISHU, Somalia – The United Nations human rights chief said Friday that grave human rights violations, which possibly amount to war crimes, have been committed in Somalia. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay warned on Friday that serious violations...

France: Life Sentence in Anti-Semitic Murder Case

Elizabeth Conger — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 23:25:25 GMT

By Elizabeth A. Conger Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe Photo: Youssouf Fofana, the gang leader convicted of abducting, torturing and murdering Ilan Halimi, a 23 year-old Jewish man. [Source: Issouf Sanog/AFP/Getty Images] PARIS, France - In a case that sent shock waves through France, Youssouf Fofana was convicted today of killing...

Venezuela Restricts Media

Victor Garza — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 21:59:07 GMT

By Don Anque Impunity Watch Reporter, South America CARACAS, Venezuela – The Venezuelan government took dozens of radio stations off the air while putting stricter rules on cable and satellite television. The move is part of President Hugo Chavez's battle with private media firms. President Hugo Chavez pictured here. Photo...

'False positives' scandal continues to plague Colombian army

Victor Garza — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 23:04:34 GMT

By Mario A. Flores Impunity Watch Reporter, South America BOGOTA, Colombia – Colombian prosecutors have been conducting criminal investigations into the activities of 1,603 military personnel involved in the 'false positives' scandal for six years. The investigations are related to the execution of more than 800 people. The probe is...

Rape No Longer Legalized Under Afghan Marriage Law

Hyo-Jin Paik — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 20:06:15 GMT

By Hyo-Jin Paik Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia KABUL, Afghanistan – A new version of Afghan marriage law no longer requires a wife to submit to sex with her husband, only that she perform certain housework. The original law required the wife to submit to the husband’s sexual advances every four...

Hackers: Rupert Murdoch's 'News of the World' Allegedly Involved in Mass Violation of Privacy

Nima Nayebi — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 19:59:11 GMT

By Nima Nayebi Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe and North America LONDON, UK - The Guardian UK reported Wednesday that Rupert Murdoch's News Group Newspapers paid out more than £1 million ($1.6 million) to gag victims of an alleged phone-hacking scheme by its News of the World and Sun newspapers. The...

UN to Fight West African Organized Crime

Dahee Nam — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 19:17:26 GMT

By Kylie Tsudama Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa DAKAR, Senegal - The United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC) announced on Wednesday a new program to fight organized crime in West Africa, where traffickers have been allowed to operate in a climate of impunity. (Source: Google Map) The West Africa...

Caracas Mayor Ends Hunger Strike

Victor Garza — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 01:04:45 GMT

By Don Anque Impunity Watch Reporter, South America CARACAS, Venezuela - Earlier today, Caracas Mayor Antonio Ledezma ended a hunger strike after the head of the Organization of American States agreed to meet with him and other Venezuelan opposition leaders to discuss political actions by the Venezuelan government, which they...

Hague Tribunal Rejects Karadzic's Immunity Claim

Elizabeth Conger — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 01:03:33 GMT

By Elizabeth A. Conger Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe THE HAGUE, Netherlands - In a thirty page ruling issued today by The Hague tribunal, Radovan Karadzic's efforts to claim immunity from war crimes prosecution were denied. This ruling opens the way for the prosecution of the Bosnian Serb leader for war...

Imprisoned American Journalist in North Korea Speaks Out

Alishba I Kassim — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 23:56:35 GMT

By Alishba I. Kassim Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia North Korea – After weeks of no news, the sister of one of the American journalists imprisoned in North Korea finally received word. Lisa Ling, a CNN contributor, said, "It was only the first time I had heard her voice in weeks…...

Congolese Troops Ordered to End Sexual Violence Against Civilians

Dahee Nam — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 19:39:44 GMT

By Jennifer M. Haralambides Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa KINSHASA, DR Congo - Due to continued claims by human rights activists, any Congolese soldiers who are found guilty of human rights abuses will now be punished. Human Rights Watch issued a report stating that the Congolese army was responsible for most...

Wanted Former Thai PM Seeks Safe Haven in Fiji

Hayley Campbell — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 14:50:27 GMT

By Hayley J. Campbell Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Oceania SUVA, Fiji - The ousted prime minister of Thailand, Thaksin Shinawatra, may be seeking safe haven in Fiji which does not have an extradition treaty with Thailand. The former Thai prime minister’s Thai passport was cancelled, and he is wanted...

A message to Congress from National Security and Terrorism Experts:

Lauren Mellinger — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 08:06:55 GMT

Blocking the government from bringing any Guantanamo detainees to the U.S. is unnecessary and harmful to our national security. We do not presume in this statement to address all of the complex issues surrounding the detainees currently held at Guantanamo Bay. However, the undersigned national security and counterterrorism experts agree...

US to Sponsor Mediation Aimed at Resolving Honduran Political Crisis

Nima Nayebi — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 07:28:00 GMT

By Nima Nayebi Impunity Watch Reporter, North America and Europe WASHINGTON DC, United States- Exiled President Manuel Zelaya and Honduran coup leaders have agreed to US-sponsored talks aimed at settling the country's political crisis. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced Tuesday that Washington will sponsor the talks after meeting...

10,000 Victims of Colombia’s Violence To Receive Compensation Payments

Victor Garza — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 23:14:07 GMT

By Mario A. Flores Impunity Watch Reporter, South America BOGOTA, Colombia – 10,000 Colombians who were victims of the 45-year old violent conflict or their families will receive compensation for their suffering before the end of the year as part of the Colombian Government Reparations Program, a high government official...

Participants Withdraw From Fiji Youth Festival After Several Speakers Banned

Hayley Campbell — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 22:51:48 GMT

By Angela Marie Watkins Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania SUVA, Fiji - The Pacific Youth Festival in Fiji is still to go ahead despite some groups withdrawing after participants were vetted, and some banned, by Fiji’s military. Last month, the interim regime set up a committee made up of security forces...

U.N. Accused of Killing Haitian Protester Amid Political Turmoil

Soveriegn Hager — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 21:31:26 GMT

By Sovereign Hager Impunity Watch Reporter, North America (Photo Courtesy of Reuters) PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - An unidentified man was killed on June 18th while demonstrating in support of former president Jean Bertrand Aristide at a funeral service for Rev. Gerard Jean-Juste, a well known priest and supporter of former president...

Burn Attacks Against Pakistani Women Increase

Hyo-Jin Paik — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 20:32:12 GMT

By Hyo-Jin Paik Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia LAHORE, Pakistan – Violence against Pakistani women has increased in the past few months. According to one report, more than 220 women were burned between April and June of this year, leading to the deaths of 40 women in Punjab. The report also...

Massive Violence Sends More IDPs Into Kismayo

Dahee Nam — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 19:36:31 GMT

By Kylie Tsudama Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa (Source: IRIN) MOGADISHU, Somalia - Since fighting began, the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) fleeing Mogadishu has risen to more than 200,000. Fighting broke out between the Somali government and Islamist rebel groups Al-Shabaab and Hisb-ul-Islam in May. The rebel groups want...

Guyanese Nationals Face Deportation

Victor Garza — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 00:34:26 GMT

By Don Anque Impunity Watch Reporter, South America GEORGETOWN, Guyana - 53 Guyanese were deported from Barbados since May as the result of a change in Barbadian immigration policy. The new immigration policy stipulates that undocumented immigrants living in Barbados must leave the country willingly or face deportation. For years,...

Study Finds Parisian Police Target Arabs, Blacks

Elizabeth Conger — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 00:23:20 GMT

By Elizabeth A. Conger Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe PARIS, France - A study carried out between November 2007 and May 2008, has found that young Arab and young black men were far more likely to be stopped by police for identity checks than young white men, despite the fact that...

UN Chief Urges China to Respect Freedoms

Alishba I Kassim — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 23:32:59 GMT

By Alishba I. Kassim Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia GENEVA, Switzerland – UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has been leading international calls to encourage restraint in China in the face of the recent riots. The riots in China’s Xinjiang region have killed at least 140 people. The violence erupted as China’s...

Nigerian Rebel Groups Continue to Attack Chevron

Dahee Nam — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 20:54:27 GMT

By Jennifer M. Haralambides Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa NIGER DELTA, Nigeria - The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) said it attacked Chevron’s Okan manifold late on Sunday in the southern Delta state, just after it sabotaged an oil well operated by Shell Oil. MEND militants have...

Fiji Interim Government Censors Youth Festival

Hayley Campbell — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 12:26:11 GMT

By Hayley J. Campbell Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Oceania SUVA, Fiji - Fiji’s interim government has banned several speakers scheduled to attend this month’s Pacific Youth Festival. The youth festival is backed by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The recent bans are part of Fiji...

Canadian Mineral Extraction Continues in Guatemala After Protests and Company Intimidation

Soveriegn Hager — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 12:24:27 GMT

By Sovereign Hager Impunity Watch Reporter, North America SAN MIGUEL IXTAHUACÁN, Guatemala - The Association for Integral Development of San Miguel Ixtahuacán (ADISMI) filed an urgent request with the Inter-American Commission for Human Rights that protective measures be put in place for Guatemalan families as Goldcorp expands its gold mining...

Caribbean Leaders Meet to Discuss Immigration and Economic Questions

Victor Garza — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 20:51:39 GMT

By Don Anque Impunity Watch Reporter, South America GEORGETOWN, Guyana-This week, Caribbean Community leaders formally opened their 30th summit with a focus on the global economic crisis, immigration and questions about one Caricom member’s affiliation with the Venezuelan-Alternativa Bolivariana para las Américas (ALBA) ALBA began as an agreement between Venezuelan...

Migrants Gathered in Calais Makeshift Camp Hoping to Reach the UK Get UN Help

Nima Nayebi — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 20:11:10 GMT

By Nima Nayebi Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe and North America Volunteers distribute food and supplies to migrants in Calais, France. Photo: UN CALAIS, France - A group of migrant men and children are perpetually gathered in the northern port city of Calais, France with the hope of crossing the channel...

Chinese Baby Girls Being Sold for $3,000

Hyo-Jin Paik — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 15:33:30 GMT

By Hyo-Jin Paik Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia BEIJING, China– An investigation by a Chinese newspaper found that about 80 baby girls in southern China’s Guizhou Province have been sold to childless families in the U.S. and Europe for $3,000 each. These baby girls were “confiscated” from families when the parents...

US blocks trade benefits to Bolivia

Victor Garza — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 20:10:01 GMT

By Don Anque Impunity Watch Reporter, South America LA PAZ, Bolivia - Bolivian President Evo Morales criticized United States President Barack Obama on Wednesday for blocking US trade benefits to Bolivia, citing that the US decision was based on "slander and lies." On Tuesday, officials in Washington DC claimed they...

Demjanjuk Declared Fit to Stand Trial

Elizabeth Conger — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 18:39:09 GMT

By Elizabeth A. Conger, Impunity Watch Reporter MUNICH, Germany - In a brief statement released today, German doctors have concluded that John Demjanjuk is fit to stand trial. Demjanjuk, 89, faces charges that he was a Nazi death camp guard, and is accused of being an accessory in the murder...

South Pacific Leaders Join Australia and New Zealand in Condemning Fiji Interim PM’s Roadmap for Democracy

Hayley Campbell — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 15:56:06 GMT

By Hayley J. Campbell Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Oceania SUVA, Fiji - Leaders around the South Pacific have joined Australia and New Zealand in criticizing Fiji’s recent announcement of the interim government's roadmap for the country’s return to democracy. Australia and New Zealand were quick to voice their concerns...

EU Disappointed With Interim PM's Road Map

Hayley Campbell — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 00:41:41 GMT

By Angela Marie Watkins Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania SUVA, Fiji - The European Union says it is disappointed by Fiji’s new road map. Fiji’s interim prime minister, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, has said the country will have a new constitution by 2013 to make way for elections the following year and...

Moroccan Court Decision Appears to Support the Restriction of Free Speech

Kristen Dinardo — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 12:48:33 GMT

By Ann Flower Seyse Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East CASABLANCA, Morocco- On June 29 three Arabic language newspapers were ordered to pay three million Dirhams, about $372,300 US, for defaming a head of state. The papers, the Al-Massae, Morocco’s most popular daily paper, Al-Jarida Al-Oula and Al-Ahdath Al-Magrebia, were sued...

Amnesty International: Lack of Rule of Law by Russia in North Caucasus Resulting in Human Rights Violations

Elizabeth Conger — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 15:38:31 GMT

By Elizabeth A. Conger, Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe MOSCOW, Russia - In a report published yesterday, Amnesty International has called on Russia to enforce rule of law in Chechnya and the north Caucasus where human rights violations continue without check. The human rights organization asserted that there will be no...

Fiji Interim PM Delays Return to Democracy and Draws Criticism

Hayley Campbell — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 12:12:30 GMT

By Hayley J. Campbell Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Oceania Interim Prime Minister Bainimarama- Image courtesy of BBC News SUVA, Fiji - Fiji’s interim prime minister, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, says the government will wait three years before rewriting the country’s constitution in time for the 2014 elections. In addition, Bainimarama...

France To Compensate Nuclear Test Victims

Hayley Campbell — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:30:33 GMT

By Angela Marie Watkins Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania PAPEETE, French Polynesia -The French National Assembly approved a landmark bill Thursday to compensate victims of nuclear tests carried out in French Polynesia and Algeria over more than three decades. The bill calls for the establishment of a review commission and fund...

Moroccan Activist Sentenced to Three Years for Contempt

Kristen Dinardo — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 16:28:27 GMT

By Ann Flower Seyse Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East RABAT, Morocco- On June 24, Moroccan human rights activist Chekib El-Khiari, was sentenced to three years imprisonment for “gravely insulting state institutions” and for minor violations of Moroccan foreign account regulations. In addition, El-Khiari has been fined about 753,000 dirhams (US...

Palestinian Journalists Caught in Political Power Struggle

Kristen Dinardo — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 09:37:36 GMT

By Meredith Lee-Clark Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East RAMALLAH, West Bank – On June 22, Palestinian government forces shut down the offices of As-Subeh (The Morning) and detained the newspaper’s chief editor, Sari Al-Qudweh. The closure and arrest are the latest in a troubling trend in the Palestinian Territories, as...

Journalists Arrested Daily in Iran

Kristen Dinardo — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 22:04:00 GMT

By Meredith Lee-Clark Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East TEHRAN, Iran – The BBC, Newsweek, and the Washington Times are among several western news organizations that have recently announced that their correspondents in Iran have disappeared or been detained, allegedly as a result of the Iranian government’s crackdown on media freedom....

PRESS RELEASE: IHRDC Condemns Iran's Abuse of Human Rights

Lauren Mellinger — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 03:25:56 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 24, 2009 NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT - The Iran Human Rights Documentation Center (IHRDC) condemns the Iranian regime’s abuse of the human rights of its citizens for merely exercising their fundamental rights to free expression and association. The Center has investigated and reported on human rights abuses...

Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb Responsible for Increasing Violence in Algeria

Kristen Dinardo — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 21:20:02 GMT

By Ann Flower Seyse Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East ALGIERS, Algeria- On June 23, five parliamentary police were killed by insurgents, and two more were kidnapped in the Khenchela province of Algeria. This attack follows the June 19 ambush, which killed eighteen officers and one civilian. Additionally, the attack this...

International Community Calls for a Halt on the Violence in Iran

Kristen Dinardo — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 19:49:31 GMT

By Nykoel Dinardo Senior Desk Officer, Middle East TEHRAN, Iran – The United Nations, several state leaders, and human rights organizations throughout the world put out calls for the violence in Iran to cease. Following reports that Iran has been utilizing the Basij militia group, a grassroots military organization that...

Egypt Deports Son of Chechen Rebel in Spite of Concerns

Kristen Dinardo — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 09:43:40 GMT

By Ann Flower Seyse Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East CAIRO, Egypt - On June 19 Egypt deported the son of a Chechen rebel leader back to Moscow, in spite of concerns of mistreatment and torture in Russian custody. Maskhud Abdullaev, the 22 year-old son of Supyan Abdullaev, was flown to...

New Report from Aegis Trust Details War Crimes Suspects Evading Justice Due to Legal Loopholes

Lauren Mellinger — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 08:51:30 GMT

On June 16, 2009, the Aegis Trust published a new report, entitled Suspected War Criminals and Genocidaires in the UK: Proposals to Strengthen our Laws. The report describes loopholes in existing UK law that has resulted in war crimes suspects evading justice. To see the entire report, visit http://www.aegistrust.org/images/PDFs/Suspected%20War%20Criminals%20and%20Genocidaires%20in%20the%20UK.pdf

PRESS RELEASE: Iran's Mistreatment of Women's Rights Activists Must Stop

Christopher Doval — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 11:14:40 GMT

June 12, 2009 USA, New Haven, CT - Today is Election Day in Iran. But, it is also the anniversary of what the New York Times called the “first public display of dissent by women since the 1979 revolution.” On June 12, 2005, seventeen days before presidential elections, hundreds of...

Al-Qaeda Financing and the Kimberley Process

Julie Narimatsu — Thu, 28 May 2009 13:42:26 GMT

By: Adam R. Young Young takes an in-depth look at diamonds and their implications for fueling conflict and terrorism, specifically examining al-Qaeda's use of them as a financing tool. He further explains the international community's response to conflict diamonds through the Kimberley Process and its limitations. For the entire article,...

At Risk in Sri Lanka's War

Christopher Doval — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 22:19:24 GMT

By James Traub Wednesday, April 22, 2009 At this moment, at least 60,000 civilians trapped in a tiny strip of land along the northern coast of Sri Lanka are being deployed as human shields by the insurgent force known as the Tamil Tigers -- while artillery shells fired by the...

Crushing the Press with an Iron Fist

Julie Narimatsu — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 16:06:01 GMT

By: Mark R. Butscha Jr. In Impunity Watch's first published student note, Mark Butscha examines Russia's restrictions on the freedom of information, ideas, speech and the press against the backdrop of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. For the entire article, please see: Download Crushing the Press with...

WATCH: 2009 Impunity Watch Annual Symposium, "American Warlord"

Christopher Doval — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 16:07:44 GMT

This years Impunity Watch Symposium is now available for public viewing. This year's topic was the first ever application of the United States torture statute on Chucky Taylor, the son of former Liberian dictator Charles Taylor. The discussion featured Johnny Dwyer of Rolling Stone Magazine, who wrote an article for...

American University's Washington College of Law Released International Criminal Court Report

Christopher Doval — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 16:03:02 GMT

The War Crimes Research Office at American University's Washington College of Law has just released its sixth International Criminal Court report, entitled Victim Participation at the Case Stage of Proceedings. (title in italics) To see the full report, visit http://www.wcl.american.edu/warcrimes/icc/documents/WCROReportonVictimParticipationattheCaseStageofProceedingsFebruary2009.pdf?rd=1

The Criminalization of Dictatorship

Julie Narimatsu — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 21:45:07 GMT

By: Patrick J. Glen This paper questions whether the human rights framework is adequate to prevent the commission of atrocities. Rather, the author suggests that dictatorship should be criminalized, provides a mechanism for achieving this, and describes the challenges that would certainly surface with such a significant shift in international...

Impunity Watch Annual Symposium: 'American Warlord' the Prosecution of Chucky Taylor

Christopher Doval — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 23:05:43 GMT

Impunity Watch is hosting a symposium to discuss the legal and political ramifications of Chucky Taylor's war crimes prosecution. The discussion will feature Johnny Dwyer of Rolling Stone Magazine, who wrote an article for that magazine about Chucky Taylor, Professor Evan Criddle of the Syracuse University College of Law and...

The Prosecution of Kim Jong Il: Accountability in a Post 9/11 World

Julie Narimatsu — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 16:56:04 GMT

By: Eric M. Pedersen With the world watching as the International Criminal Court takes on Sudanese President Omar al Bashir, this paper proposes a similar take down of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il. This paper outlines the possibilities for criminal charges and the different fora available for such a...

HRW Reports on Efforts to End Dress Code Arrests

Christopher Doval — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 11:31:52 GMT

Human Rights Watch posted the following story about a Guyana law requiring people to wear gender appropriate clothes on March 5, 2009. (Georgetown) - Guyana should halt arrests and police abuse of transgender people and repeal a repressive law that criminalizes wearing clothes considered appropriate only for the opposite sex,...

ICC Issues Arrest Warrant Omar Hassan Al-Bashir

Christopher Doval — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 21:29:33 GMT

Today, the International Criminal Court's Pre-Trial Chamber issued an arrest warrant for Sudanese president Omar Hassan Al-Bashir. This is the first time that the ICC has issued such a warrant for a sitting head of state. The office of the United Nations Secretary-General and the United Nations Association of the...

Proposing the Incorporation of the Doctrine of Command Responsibility into the International Human Rights Context

Julie Narimatsu — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 08:55:19 GMT

By: Sarah Davila A. In an effort to introduce new tools to the human rights agenda, this paper proposes the incorporation of the doctrine of command responsibility to the human rights context. This would serve the dual purpose of providing a standard for determining when a superior is responsibile for...

Torture: Its Use, Prohibition and Futility

Julie Narimatsu — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 19:21:01 GMT

By: Lissa Palermo This paper describes the law of torture around the world and, in particular, its effect on the United States. The paper also discusses the possibility that the United States engaged in torture after 9/11 and presents arguments in favor and against the use of torture to counter...

Spirit of Nuremberg - Idealism

Julie Narimatsu — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 15:20:39 GMT

By: Henry T. King, Jr. This speech was given at the International Humanitarian Law Dialog, held at the Chautauqua Institution on August 29, 2007. It is republished with the permission of its author and original publisher, American Society of International Law. For the entire speech, please see: Download Spirit of...

The Path from the 1907 Hague Conference to Nuremberg and Forward

Julie Narimatsu — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 20:36:00 GMT

By: John Q. Barrett This speech was given at the International Humanitarian Law Dialog, held at the Chautauqua Institution on August 29, 2007. It is republished with the permission of its author and original publisher, American Society of International Law. For the entire speech, please see: Download the_path_from_the_1907_hague_conference_to_nuremberg_and_forward.pdf

The Legacy of Nuremberg

Julie Narimatsu — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 20:33:35 GMT

By: Whitney R. Harris This article was part of the first International Humanitarian Dialogs at the Chautauqua Institution in August, 2007. It is republished with the permission of its author and original publisher, American Society of International Law. For the entire article, please see: Download the_legacy_of_nuremberg.pdf

Echoes of Nuremberg

Julie Narimatsu — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 20:28:33 GMT

By: Michael A. Newton This article was part of the first International Humanitarian Dialogs at the Chautauqua Institution in August, 2007. It is republished with the permission of its author and original publisher, American Society of International Law. For the entire article, please see: Download echoes_of_nuremberg.pdf