BRIEF: Yemen releases USS Cole plotter

BRIEF: Yemen releases USS Cole plotter

SANAA, Yemen – Jamal al-Badawi, a Yemeni man convicted of plotting the bombing of the USS Cole in 2000, which resulted in the death of 17 US soldiers, was freed to house arrest by Yemen.  In 2004 he was sentenced to death for his role in plotting and carrying out the attack on the USS Cole.  This sentence was later commuted to 15 years imprisonment.

Badawi was one of 23 prisoners that escaped from jail in 2006.  He voluntarily turned himself in two weeks ago.  A Yemeni government official said that Badawi remains “under close scrutiny and control of security forces.”

National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe stated that “the United States is dismayed and deeply disappointed in the government of Yemen’s decision not to imprison Badawi.”  He claimed that Yemen’s action is inconsistent with the bilateral counterterrorism cooperation between the US and Yemen.

For more information, please see:

BBC – USS Cole plotter freed by Yemen – 27 October 2007

AHN – USS Cole bomb plotter in Yemen freed – 26 October 2007

Associated Press – US criticizes Yemen on terrorism – 26 October 2007

Reuters – Yemen grants house arrest to Cole attack planner – 26 October 2007

Rebel Groups in Chad Sign Peace Agreement

By Meryl A. White
Impunity Watch Reporter, Western and Central Africa

NDJAMENA, Chad– Four Chadian rebel groups have signed a peace agreement with the government of Chad. The peace negotiation process was moderated by Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi. Idriss Deby, the President of Chad, and Omar al-Bashir, the President of Sudan, were also present for the signing of the peace deal.

The agreement was signed by Adoum Younousmi, Chad’s infrastructure minister, and by leaders of the UFDD (Union of Forces for Democracy and Development), UFDD-F (UFDD-Fundamental), RFC (Rally of Forces for Change) and CNT (Chadian National Concord) rebel groups.

Rebel groups have waged rebellion against President Idriss Deby for years. Rebels were especially angry with President Deby when he modified the country’s constitution in 2005 to allow himself to run for a third term in office.

Officials believe that the future of Chad looks promising. Colonel Gaddafi stated “I hope this is the last stage in the peace process in Chad, and I guarantee all signatories will abide by the agreement.”

In early October, the Foreign Minister to Chad stated “We dare to hope that it will create conditions that will foster stability and reconstruction in the eastern region of our country that have been devastated by incursions of the Sudanese Janjaweed and other armed men coming from Darfur.”

Under the peace agreement, the rebel groups agreed to immediate ceasefire, amnesty for civil and military personnel, the release of all prisoners and “total respect for the Chadian constitution.” Chadian officials also plan on arranging a joint committee to involve participation among signatory groups on executive power decisions.

For more information, please see:

Google News – Chad president, rebels sign peace deal – 26 October 2007

NY Times –  Chad Rebels in Pact – 26 October 2007

Impunity Watch- Rebel Groups in Chad Expected to Sign Peace Agreement with Government – 5 October 2007

Political Oppression & Violence

By Myriam Clerge
Impunity Watch Reporter, Eastern and Southern Africa

HARARE, Zimbabwe – Zimbabwe is investigating several allegations of political violence against opposition groups. The claims allege assault and threat by police, security forces and supporters of President Robert Mugabe and his ruling Zanu-PF party. In an effort to purge rallies and organized public debates regarding the deepening economic and political crisis, Mugabe has passed strict security laws that require opposition groups to seek police approval before holding group gatherings. According to the Movement for Democratic Chance (MDC), the leading opposition party, many of its meetings have been banned without reason.

Promises of a governmental investigation come after several violent incidents by supporters of Zanu-PF. Three MDC officials were abducted from their homes in Chipinge South. According to the MDC, George Makuyaya, the MDC’s parliamentary candidate for next year’s elections, Philip Munopera, the party’s district elections director, and local ward Chairman Leornard Makusha, were pushed into a white truck by six men in broad daylight earlier today. Reports further suspect the three men are being held by loyal Zanu-PF members in a building owned by central committee member Enock Porusingazi. According to Pishai Muchauraya, the MDC spokesman for the region, Porusingazi wants to prevent Mukuyaya from running against him in the parliamentary election.

Another incident involved Tobias Gundavakura, the MDC ward chairman for Mutare. Gundavakura and his brother, wearing MDC shirts, were attacked by a group who accused them of “selling the country to the whites.” The confrontation turned violent when someone from the group, possibly a Zanu-PF youth, pulled out a machete and stuck Gundavakura on the head. The attackers fled and Gundavakura is being treated at the hospital for his injuries, which are serious but not life threatening.

Mugabe continues to deny reports of human rights violation. The Zanu-PF and MDC continue to hold talks of an end to political unrest and economic depression. These talks are mediated by South Africa President Thabo Mbeki who has been accused of bring too soft on Mugabe.

Despite the impression of improvement, the MDC has not been the only group to allege human rights violation by Mugabe’s supporters.  Last week the Women in Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA), one of the leading civil rights organizations in Zimbabwe, released a report alleging violence against women activists by the police and security officials.

For more information, please see:

AllAfrica.com- Zimbabwe: MDC Activist Attacked with Machete – 25 October 2007

AllAfrica.com- Zimbabwe: Three MDC Officials Abducted in Chipinge South – 25 October 2007

Reuters: Africa- Zimbabwe to Investigate Violence Accusation – 24 October 2007

Impunity Watch-  Women Activists Abused – 16 October 2007

Barak approves of Gaza power cuts

By Laura Zuber
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

JERUSALEM, Israel – Israel’s defense minister, Ehud Barak, approved sanctions against Gaza in an attempt to halt rocket attacks.  Israel hopes that by cutting off electricity and other supplies, Gaza residents will pressure militant groups to stop launching rockets into Israel.  Last month, Israel declared Gaza to be a “hostile entity” and reasoned that it would not be violating international law if they stopped supplying Gaza with electricity, water, or fuel.  Palestinians and many international organizations disagree and state that Israel has a responsibility, as occupiers, that these resources are supplied to Gaza.  The Carter Center, a human rights group began by former US President Carter, viewed the proposal as enforcing collective punishment against 1.4 million Palestinians for the actions of a few.

A senior defense official stated that Palestinians need to be shown that life does not go on when rockets land in Israel; “If rockets are fired, then the Palestinians will pay a price.”  Israeli Deputy Defense Minister, Matan Vilnai, led the development of the proposal.  He said the amount of power Israel supplied to Gaza will be “dramatically reduced” over the several weeks.  Officials stated that electricity will be shut off for 15 minutes following a rocket attack and the period will be extended as the attacks continue.

It appears that Israel plans to eventually stop supplying Gaza with electricity at all.  Vilnai stated he hoped that Gazans would be able to produce their own electricity and would not be dependent on Israel.  Currently, 120 of the 200 megawatts consumed in Gaza are delivered directly from Israel.  Only 65 megawatts are produced in Gaza and the rest comes from Egypt.

Israeli officials claim that they do not intend to cause a humanitarian crisis.  However, serious humanitarian issues already exist in the area.  Gaza is already isolated following a Western freeze on aid, when Hamas won elections in 2006, and Israeli border restrictions, following Hamas’ takeover of Gaza in June 2007.  The border restrictions allow only “vital humanitarian supplies.”  However, according to Gaza’s governor, 200 Red Cross vehicles carrying food and humanitarian aid are needed, but only 60 have been allowed to enter Gaza.  Hospitals are running out of supplies and only patients with serious injuries are treated.

For more information, please see:

Ha’aretz – PA seeks int’l intervention as Gaza power cuts imminent – 26 October 2007

Al Jazeera – Israel approves Gaza Sanctions – 25 October 2007

BBC – Israel approves Gaza power cuts – 25 October 2007

Guardian Unlimited – Israel proposes cutting power to Gaza to deter attacks – 25 October 2007

International Herald Tribune – Israel plays down Mideast conference, approves Gaza sanctions – 25 October 2007

Jerusalem Post – Barak okays plan to gradually reduce power supply to Gaza – 25 October 2007

Reuters – Barak approves limiting Israel’s Gaza power supply – 25 October 2007

Yedioth – Palestinians: Limiting Gaza power supply a crime – 25 October 2007

Al Jazeera – Israel set to sever power to Gaza – 24 October 2007

Upcoming Peace Talks in Sudan in Jeopardy

By Elizabeth Costner
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Africa

KHARTOUM, Sudan – Peace talks scheduled to begin in Libya on October 27 are possibly in jeopardy amid rebel groups threatening to boycott and continued fighting.  The Justice and Equality Movement (Jem) is the latest of six rebel groups to announce that they will boycott the upcoming talks.   Although there have been many problems, the African Union (AU) and United Nations (UN) remain optimistic.

The chief mediator for the AU, Salim Ahmed Salim, told BBC that they could not afford to be pessimistic and that the talks will go ahead as scheduled.  Sudan’s permanent representative to the United Nations, Abdalmahmood Abdalhaleem Mohamad, has repeatedly said that the peace process will not be held ransom by the rebel groups.  Both the UN and the AU continue to emphasize to the press that they are not there to impose what sort of peace there should be in Darfur, but rather through negotiations and consultation hope to evolve an agreement which would contribute to peace.

Jem, on its website, stated that they are “not ready to take part in the masquerade.”  On Tuesday, Ahmed Abdel Shafi, the leader of a Sudan Liberation Movement splinter group which represents the Fur tribe said he would not attend the talks because he said the atmosphere is not “conducive” to success.

Yesterday, Amnesty International issued a report claiming the Sudanese government was obstructing the deployment of a 26,000 joint UN-AU peacekeeping force.  Amnesty’s director for Africa urged the government to allow the force freedom of movement and to immediately provide land for the establishment of bases.

Sudan is scheduled to announce a ceasefire with rebel groups this weekend, at the opening of the talks.  However, past cease-fires in Darfur have been regularly violated and it is doubtful that all of the rebel troops will agree on a truce.

The UN remains hopeful that the peace talks will go ahead as scheduled and that eventually all the rebel groups will join.  John Holmes, UN undersecretary-general for humanitarian affairs has said that he hopes others may join once negotiations begin.  He emphasized, “It’s not a once-for-all offer.  It is possible to join later if the process starts to make progress.”

Since the conflict began in 2003, more than 200,000 people have died and 2.5 million have been displaced from their homes.  Ethnic African rebels in Darfur took up arms against the Arab-dominated Sudanese government, accusing it of decades of discrimination.  The government is accused of retaliating by unleashing a militia of Arab nomads known as the janjaweed, a charge officials deny.

For more information, please see:

International Herald Tribune (AP) – UN hopes all Darfur rebel groups will attend talks eventually – 24 October 2007

BBC News – Darfur peace talks under threat – 24 October 2007

Guardian Unlimited – Sudan to announce Darfur ceasefire – 23 October 2007

Amnesty International – Amnesty International Says Sudan is Again Obstructing Peacekeeping Deployment to Darfur – 22 October 2007

For more information on the Darfur conflict, please see the following Impunity Watch reports: New Atrocities in Darfur; Ceasefire Ends in Sudan; African Union Peacekeepers Attacked in Darfur; Ongoing Conflict in Sudan; ICC Prosecutor Demands Arrests in Sudan; Secretary General Urges Sudan President to Commit to Ceasefire; Peace Talks on Darfur Scheduled for October