By: Jessica Ties
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia – Cambodia has announced that it will not overrule the rejection of Judge Kasper-Ansermet who was selected by the United Nations to preside over the Khmer Rouge Tribunal which is also known as the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC).

Cambodian officials have rejected a judge selected by the UN to preside over the Khmer Rouge Tribunal (Photo Courtesy of Radio Free Asia).

According to an official spokesman, Phay Siphan, Cambodia’s Supreme Council of Magistracy is entrusted with final decision-making authority on whether the government would accept the United Nation’s choice of co-investigating judge at the Khmer Rouge Tribunal.  Read more...

By Carolyn Abdenour
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

MANAMA, Bahrain – On Thursday, 26 January, Bahrain’s police reported 18-year-old Mohammed Yaaqub died from sickle cell disease, a chronic disease, while in custody.  Although the officers asserted he died of natural causes, Wefaq, the main Shi’ite Muslim opposition group, claimed the young man died from torture.

Riot police chase anti-government protesters in Manama, the country's capital. (Photo Courtesy of The Boston Globe)

The police detained him on Wednesday for “acts of violence and sabotage.”  Police officers also clashed with and wounded several protesters in four Shi’ite villages in the country on Wednesday.  Read more...

“The app allows users to read news from all over the world,” says Laura E. Hirahara, a third-year law student and technical director for Impunity Watch.  “As the first law journal app, it allows readers to interact with the website and receive instant updates on human rights issues on their phone.”  Read more...

By Zach Waksman
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

NAIROBI, Kenya – In the wake of Monday’s confirmation of charges for crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court, two high-ranking officials in the Kenyan government resigned from their positions Thursday.  Finance Minister Uhuru Kenyatta and Head of Public Service and Secretary to the Cabinet Francis Muthaura both decided to step down was pressure on them mounted.  Kenyatta, who is also a presidential candidate this year, will remain in the government in his other role as Deputy Prime Minister.  Read more...

by Emilee Gaebler
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

BRASÍLIA, Brazil – This past Sunday, January 22, at 6 am, residents of the Pinheirinho slum were awakened by the police and forcibly evicted from their homes.  The police used rubber bullets, tear gas and were in full riot gear.  They were backed up by armored vehicles and two helicopters. 

Police catalogue and remove furniture in the Pinheirinho slum. (Photo courtesy of BBC)

Following the physical actions by the police, the government cut electricity, gas and telephone lines for the area.  The area was also blocked off and residents were unable to return.  The slum, which is located about 60 miles east of São Paulo, had roughly 5,500 residents.  Read more...

By Brittney Hodnik
Impunity Watch Reporter, North America

OTTAWA, Canada – Leon Mugesera lost his 16-year battle to stay in Canada on Monday, 23 January 2012.  Mugesera has been charged with crimes against humanity, by encouraging and promoting the Rwanda genocide.  Canadian authorities ruled that he would be deported, and returned to Rwanda as soon as possible.  A federal government official told BBC News that Canada “will remove him as quickly as legally possible.”

Mugesera is charged with crimes against humanity, encouraging the genocide of Hutu and Tutsi peoples. (Image Courtesy of The Canadian Press/CTV Montreal)  Read more...

By: Greg Donaldson
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia 

BEIJING, China – On the first day of the Chinese New Year security forces opened fire on Tibetan protesters yesterday killing one protester and injuring thirty-two others. This has been a contentious month between government officials and Tibetan protesters.

Norpa Yonten was killed in Luhuo yesterday (Photo Courtesy of BBC)

Four monks have already committed suicide by setting themselves on fire this month in protest of the government. With the most recent self-immolation just last week the total amount of monks killing themselves by fire has risen to sixteen over the past twelve months.  Read more...

By Paula Buzzi
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

CARACAS, Venezuela  — An estimated 160,000 Venezuelans living in Florida may not be able to participate in the upcoming elections after President Hugo Chavez closed the Venezuelan consulate in downtown Miami following the recent exile of Consul General Livia Acosta Noguera. The consulate served thousands of Venezuelans living in Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas.

Venezuelans gather in downtown Miami to protest the closing of the Venezuelan consulate. (Photo Courtesy of AFP).  Read more...

By Carolyn Abdenour
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

TUNIS, Tunisia – On Monday, 23 January, a Tunisian court delayed the case against Nessma TV for airing the award-winning French-Iranian film “Persepolis” for insulting Islam until 19 April.  The judges will now consider the new press code adopted after the overthrow of former dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.

Nessma TV’s station director Nabil Karoui. (Photo Courtesy of Tunisia Live)

Over 140 lawyers filed suit against Nessma TV’s station director Nabil Karoui and several of the station’s workers.  The court charged them with “attacks against sacred values and morals and disturbing the public order.”  Karoui could serve three years in jail if he receives a conviction.  His lawyers already stated they would appeal that verdict.  Read more...

by Emilee Gaebler
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

QUITO, Ecuador – Chevron has released statements that they will appeal an Ecuadorian court ruling, sustaining an earlier decision, that they pay $18 billion in damages to the indigenous and rural residents in the northern Amazonian region that was destroyed in the early 1990s by the company’s negligent business practices.

An activist photographed in February of 2011 shows the remnants of an oil spill from the 1990s. (Photo courtesy of CNN)  Read more...