Tension Between Uganda and DR Congo

Tension Between Uganda and DR Congo

By Myriam Clerge
Impunity Watch, Africa

The border separating the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda becomes increasing dangerous. Uganda is one of several countries involved in DR Congo’s five-year war. Currently, 17,000 soldiers, the largest UN peacekeeping force in the world, are stationed in DR Congo.

Last week, DR Congo’s army led a deadly attack across Lake Albert. Two people were killed when men dress in Congolese army uniform argues with security guards working at an oil barge owned by the company Heritage. The border between Uganda and DR Congo cuts straight through the lake. This makes it very difficult to control and patrol a watery frontier and especially so for 600 fishermen. In an unrelated incident, four Ugandan were arrested for trespassing.

Thousands of refugees fled from Congo into Uganda within the past three days. Ten thousands refugees spent the night in small town school. According to the UN refugee agency UNHCR, the refugees migrated after the UN mission in Congo, MONUC, fired shots into the air when a demonstration organized by militia General Laurent Nkunda turned violent. Luckily, Uganda has one of most generous refugees in the world. Presently, Uganda houses 218,000 refugees from South Sudan, DR Congo and Rwanda.

For more information, please see:

AllAfrica – Uganda: Congolese Flee to Country – 22 August 2007

BBC – Uganda and Congo’s Trouble Waters – 16 August 2007

BBC – Uganda threatens Congo over Raid – 10 August 2007

Indonesian Maids Beaten by Saudi Family

    Four Indonesian maids were gravely injured by their employers.  According to the attackers, the women practiced witchcraft on the employing family’s eldest son.  Reportedly, the family’s 17 year old son whipped the women with his igal, which is a ropelike cord used for the traditional Saudi headdress.  In all, seven family members attacked the four women.  Two of the women were killed while the other two women were severely injured.  One of the survivors has recovered from the hospital and been removed by police to an undisclosed place.  The police are also protecting the woman in critical condition.  However, the police have also barred the women from having visitors, including representatives from the Indonesian Embassy.  The Saudi authorities are hoping to question the injured maids to investigate the employers’ attack of the maids.  Saudi authorities detained the employers accused of the attack for interrogation. 
   
    The Saudi government must respond quickly and decisively in this action since the problem of employers abusing foreign migrant workers plagues Saudi Arabia.  Human Rights Watch reports that many Saudi employers and employment agencies have been accused of raping and impregnating their maids or physically and verbally assaulting their workers.  For example, in 2005 an Indonesian maid suffered from gangrene, because her employer locked her up.  The employer also withheld food from the woman and verbally and physically abusing her.  When the maid complained to the authorities, she was given 79 lashes for making false accusations against her employer.  Recently, maid was awarded a monetary judgment by the court and allowed to return to Indonesia, however, the employer has not yet been forced to give her a settlement.

    Although over 24 million migrant workers live in Saudi Arabia, the Saudi government has not taken an active role to protect its large contingent of foreign workers.  The workers are rarely given either legal protection or a translator when interrogated by the police for accusations involving employers.  Subsequently, the workers are not treated fairly by the Saudi authorities.  For example Human Rights Watch reported that an Indonesian maid was recently sentenced to death for practicing witchcraft.  However, her sentence was reduced to 10 years in prison and 2,000 lashes.  Furthermore, the Indonesian Embassy was only informed of the woman’s accusations a month after she received her sentence, which barred the Embassy from defending the woman in trial. 

    The Saudi Arabian government must act decisively to protect the foreign born workers.  The problem has plagued the Saudi Arabia and can only be resolved through the implementation of harsh consequences against employers for abusive actions.  If the Saudi Arabian government does not respond quickly, then it must quickly alert foreign embassies to allow them to protect their citizens.  However, if Saudi Arabia does not enact stringent punishments against abusive employers nor alerts foreign embassies of abusive practices against its citizens, then the appalling behavior of abusive employers will continue indefinitely.

 

Human Rights Watch.  Saudi Arabia: Migrant Domestics Killed by Employers.  17 August 2007.

 

Arab News.  Battered Indonesian Maid Held for Questioning.  22 August 2007.

 

Reuters India.  Saudi should do more to stop maid abuse- watchdog.  17 August 2007.

Bangladesh Students Riot, Burn Effigies of Army Leaders

Dhaka University students burned a military van and damaged at least 50 vehicles yesterday. The students also burnt effigies of army leaders. The students were protesting the army’s presence on the campus during a soccer game.

In response, police used teargas and rubber bullets to break up the crowd. More than 100 students were injured. The police also ordered a curfew on Dhaka and five other cities.

A military-backed interm government took power in January following months of political violence. Since then, the government has banned protests and street assemblies. Also since then, army troops have been camping in Dhaka Univerity’s gymnasium.

The students seek an immediate dismantling of the army camp on the campus. They retaliated against the police with sticks and stones. There are 40,000 students there. The Dhaka University Teachers Association supports the students’ demands. Some teachers have joined the protesting students.

The Dkaka and five other Bangladesh universities have been indefinitely closed.

For more information, please see:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/World/Rest_of_World/Students_clash_with_securtiy_forces_in_Bangladesh_dozens_hurt/articleshow/2296863.cms

http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/news/stories/s2011415.htm

http://www.france24.com/france24Public/en/administration/afp-news.html?id=070821120034.dtfeurpo&cat=null

UN Report Detailing Darfur Rapes

By Impunity Watch Africa

A UN report released today provides new details about the rape of dozens of Darfur women last year.  The report is a follow up to one issued in April 2007.  The women recounted that they were sexually assaulted in front of each other, beaten with sticks and forced to cook and serve food to their attackers.  Some of the victims became pregnant as a result of the attacks. The report accuses the Sudanese government of failing to investigate the rapes, allegedly carried out by Sudanese soldiers and allied militiamen.

For more information, please see:

UN News Centre – Sudan: Women and Children Must Be Protected From Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, Says High Commissioner for Human Rights – 21 August 2007

Yahoo – UN Reports New Details on Darfur Rapes – 21 August 2007

Charles Taylor Trial Delayed Until 2008

By Impunity Watch Africa

Charles Taylor’s new defense team will now have until 7 January 2008 to prepare for the former Liberian president’s war crimes trial.   Taylor’s trial began June 4 with prosecution’s opening statements.  Taylor boycotted the trial, sending a letter to the judge firing his attorney’s and claiming he wanted to represent himself.  He later ended his boycott, appearing in court to demand new attorneys and more money for his defense fund.  The court has increased his defense fund and appointed a new defense team headed by Courtney Griffiths of the UK.

Taylor is charged with arming and supporting rebels who murdered thousands of civilians and mutilated thousands more during the 10 year civil war of Sierra Leone, which ended in 2002.  Taylor has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Griffiths argued that the defense team needed more time in order to adequately prepare for his trial. The new defense team was appointed on August 1 and was given access to Taylor’s personal archive last week. Presiding Judge Julia Sebutinde stated that the delay was reasonable “given the complexity of the case with which the new defense team now has to grapple.”   The delay was granted during a status conference, one in a series that will occur over the next few months to evaluate the progress of the prosecution and defense in presenting their case.

Human Rights Watch says that its fair for Taylor to receive a delay, given that the prosecution has had years to gather evidence and prepare its case.   However, human rights organizations and activists are still inpatient for the trial to begin.

For more information, please see:

AllAfrica – War Crimes Trial of Former Leader Postponed by UN-Backed Court – 20 August 2007

BBC – Taylor Trial Delayed Until 2008 – 20 August 2007

Mercury News – Taylor’s Defense Gains More Time – 20 August 2007

VOA – Court Delays Charles Taylor’s War Crimes Trial Until 2008 – 20 August 2007