Islamic Scholar on Trial for Terrorism in Nigeria

Islamic Scholar on Trial for Terrorism in Nigeria

By Meryl White
Impunity Watch Reporter, Western and Central Africa

ABUJA, Nigeria –   An Islamic scholar who is accused of having ties to the terrorist network, Al-Qaeda, has appeared in an Abuja court. The defendant, Muhammed Ashafa, was arrested in 2004 in Pakistan. He was arrested on grounds of “reasonable suspicion” of planning terrorist attacks.  Security Services in Pakistan deported him to Nigeria last year.

According to the criminal information filed against Ashafa, he is suspected of gathering information and planning terrorist attacks on residences of Americans who live in Nigeria.

Ashafa’s lawyer, Mary Obegolu stated outside the court. “If they had reasonable suspicion why didn’t they charge him in Pakistan? Where are the facts? Suspicion, no matter how great does not mean it is automatically a conviction.”

Ashafa claims that he was tortured into confessing a terrorist attack that was targeted against America. He claims to have made 20 statements to the SSS “but all were torn and thrown into the dustbin because they did not reflect the necessary ingredients of the terrorism charge.”

Nevertheless, two agents from the State Security Services testified on Wednesday that Ashafa had signed the confession voluntarily. Moreover, presently, the Prosecutor has stated the prosecution will oppose any applications to bail on behalf of Ashafa.

For more information, please see:


All Africa – Nigeria: Accused Alleges Torture By SSS – 24 January 2008

BBC- Nigeria: Al Qaesa man in Court  – 24 January 2008

All Africa – Nigeria: Pandemonium in Court as Trial of Nigerian Leader of Al-Qaeda Begins – 23 February 2007

Gazans Breach Egypt-Gaza Border Barrier

By Laura Zuber
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

GAZA CITY, Gaza – On January 23, thousands of Gazans crossed their southern border into Egypt.  Within hours, stores in Rafah ran out of products and many Palestinians traveled to El Arish, the closest town with shops.  The most desired products included food staples and plastic containers of fuel.  However, many cigarettes and other non-essentials were purchased as well.

Gazans were able to cross the border easily since 17 explosives went off between midnight and 2am and destroyed nearly two-thirds of the Egypt-Gaza barrier.  In some areas, militants cut portion of the corrugated metal barrier that separates Gaza from Egypt.  In other areas, Palestinians used caterpillars to widened holes created by the explosions.  Estimates of Palestinians who crossed the border vary from 50,000 to over 350,000.

Israel expressed concern regarding Egypt’s lack of control of the Gaza border.  Officials within the Israeli Defense Force called the border breach a “first-class security risk.”  They argue since anyone can leave Gaza, anyone can enter Gaza.  Defense officials believe that militants will take advantage of the situation and smuggle weapons into the territory.

However, despite an agreement with Israel to secure their border, Egypt has said that it will not use force to send Palestinians back to Gaza.  Instead, Hossam Zaki, spokesman for the Egyptian Foreign Ministry, stated that the border will be closed again when all the Palestinians have returned. Also, Egyptian President Mubarak claimed that he authorized the crossing; saying “I told them, let them come in to eat and buy food, then go back as long as they’re not carrying any weapons.”

In contrast, on January 22, Palestinians protestors and Egyptian police clashed at the Rafah crossing; resulting in 60 Palestinians and 10 Egyptian police officers injured.  According to the Associated Press, several thousand Palestinian women gathered at the Rafah crossing, protesting Egyptian cooperation with the Israeli “siege” on Gaza.  Many protestors sought entry into Egypt in order to purchase necessities.  When dozens of Palestinians crossed the border, witnesses state that the police used water canons and gunfire to disperse the protestors.  However, according to an Al Jazeera report, the gunfire came from the Palestinian side of the border.

On January 17, Israel closed its border with Gaza.  This closure resulted in the fuel shortage, which instigated the border breach and the clash at the Rafah border crossing.  UN officials and humanitarian organizations warned Israel that the continuation of the border closure would result in a serious humanitarian crisis.  Israel lifted the total closure on January 22 to allow industrial diesel fuel, cooking gas, and emergency food and medical aid into Gaza.

However, the manager of the Nusseirat power plant warns that while the plant is currently operating, it may re-close at any time due to a lack in fuel supplies.  The lack in power has many implications regarding other essential services; including water, sewage treatment and hospital services.

The UN General Assembly had an emergency session concerning the situation in Gaza.  On January 22, the UN criticized Israel’s closure as collective punishment.  Currently, a resolution condemning the closure as a human rights violation is before the General Assembly.  Israel plans to boycott the resolution vote as it does not mention the rockets launched from Gaza.  According to Israeli officials, 20 rockets were launched on Tuesday.

For more information, please see:
Guardian – Palestinians Pour into Egypt After Militants Blow Hole in Border Barrier – 24 January 2008

Ha’aretz – Hamas Takes Control at Frontier as 200,000 Gazans Enter Egypt – 24 January 2008

Times – Hamas ‘Spent Month Cutting Through Gaza Wall in Secret Operation’ – 24 January 2008

BBC – Egypt Reluctant to Check Gaza’s Surge – 23 January 2008

BBC – Egypt ‘Won’t Force Gazans Back’ – 23 January 2008

The Jurist – Israel, US Boycotting UN Rights Council Meeting on Gaza Blockade – 23 January 2008

UN Human Rights Council – A.HRC.S-L.1 – 23 January 2008

Yedioth – ‘Flour? Terrorists Crossing Through Rafah’ – 23 January 2008

Al Jazeera – Angry Gazans Storm Rafah Crossing – 22 January 2008

Al Jazeera – Gazans Clash with Egyptian Police at Rafah – 22 January 2008

Associated Press – Clashes Erupt at Gaza-Egypt Border – 22 January 2008

BBC – Israel Eases Restrictions on Gaza – 22 January 2008

Ha’aretz – Palestinian Water Authority: 40% of Gazans Lack Running Water – 22 January 2008

Janjaweed Figure Appointed to Advisor Position

By Elizabeth Costner
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Africa

KHARTOUM, Sudan – Musa Hilal, the leader of the Arab militia known as Janjaweed, has been appointed as special advisor to Sudan’s Ministry of Federal Affairs.   The international community has spoken out in outrage over this appointment, as the Janjaweed are seen as one of the architects of the genocide in Darfur.  The militia is accused of some of the gravest human rights violations in the Darfur region.   

Hilal and the Janjaweed are accused of razing African villages, the murder of citizens, the raping of women and girls, and the displacement of 2.5 million people.  In April 2006 the UN Security Council imposed travel and financial restrictions on Hilal and three other militia leaders. 

The Sudanese government has been accused of supporting the Janjaweed, however they have repeatedly denied any involvement and insist that the Janjaweed act on their own.  These denials are in contradition to what Hilal told Human Rights Watch in 2004.  In an interview with the organization, Hilal stated that he had always acted under orders from the government.

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir defended the appointment of Hilal, maintaining that he had “contributed greatly to stability and security in the region.”  “In Sudan we don’t think the claims against Hilal are true” he said.  “The people who really commit murders in Darfur are receiving help from Europe and others.”

On Sunday Human Rights Watch labeled Hilal as the “poster child for Janjaweed atrocities in Darfur” calling the assignment a “slap in the face to Darfur victims and the UN Security Council.” 

Hilal is the third alleged war criminal to be given an appointment in the government.  Two individuals indicted by the International Criminal Court have also received appointments, with one of them being put in charge of humanitarian aid to Darfur. 

The five-year conflict in Sudan has killed an estimated 200,000 and has displaced 2.5 million.

For more information, please see:

International Herald Tribune – Once again, Sudan shows its scorn for the world – 23 January 2008

Washington Post – Sudan Names Janjaweed Figure as Top Advisor – 23 January 2008

VOA News – US Gov’t ‘Deplores’ Sudan’s Appointment of Darfur Militia Leader – 22 January 2008

Reuters – U.S. criticizes Sudan over Darfur militia chief – 22 January 2008

Human Rights Watch – Sudan: Notorious Janjaweed Leader Promoted – 20 January 2008

Cambodians Remember Labor Leader Chea Vichea’s Murder

By Kristy Tridhavee
Impunity Watch Reporter,
Asia

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia – Hundreds of Cambodians marched in the capital to remember the murder of the country’s most prominent labor leader, Chea Vichea. Vichea leadCambodia’s largest labor union, Free Trade Union of Cambodia. He was gunned down at a newsstand while reading a newspaper in January of 2004. At the march, his brother, Chea Mony, commented on the remembrance, “This is for his memory. I am very proud that so many people attended out of love for him.”

Kek Galabru, director of the Cambodian rights group Licadho, remembered Vichea, “He was the one who brought (the unions) all together. After him, there were divisions … fighting against one other.”

The anniversary of Vichea’s death highlighted improper imprisonment of Born Samnang and Sok Sam Oeum. Samnang and Oeum are both serving a 20-year prison sentence for Vichea’s murder. Rights groups allege the men’s arrests were a cover-up for a political assassination.

Their convictions are highly suspect though. The men’s confessed only after police torture. A judge, who dropped the initial charges for lack of evidence, was quickly removed from his position, and the murder chargers were reinstated. The trial violated Cambodian law and international law standards. And on appeal, the Appeals Court upheld the convictions despite prosecutors admitting there was a lack of evidence. Vichea’s family and a prime witness to the murder have also commented that they do not believe Samnang and Oeum are responsible.

Souhayr Belhassen, president of the Paris-based International Federation of Human Rights, said, “There is compelling evidence that these two men were targeted by the authorities as scapegoats for the murder, and nobody is fooled by this charade.”

In a joint statement by Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, the Asian Human Rights Commission, the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development, the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders (a joint program of the International Federation for Human Rights and the World Organization Against Torture), and the International Trade Union Confederation, the organizations asked the Cambodian government to exonerate and free Samnang and Oeum. The seven organizations also called upon the government to begin a full and impartial investigation of the murder and a independent, public inquiry into the prosecution of Samnang and Oeum, which would include allegations of police brutality, intimidation of witnesses, and political interference in the judicial process.

In the aftermath of Vichea’s murder, there has been an ongoing pattern of violence against trade union activists. Hy Vuthy and Ros Sovannarith were murdered in 2007 and 2004 respectively. There have also been reports of physical assaults. Guy Ryder of the Brussels-based International Trade Union Confederation commented, “The murder of Chea Vichea and other trade union leaders has had a chilling effect on labor rights and workers’ freedoms inCambodia, even more so given the lack of proper, credible investigations to find their killers. It sends a deplorable message to Cambodian workers that trade union membership or activity will put their safety at risk.”

For more information, please see:

AFP – Hundreds Remember Cambodian Labour Leader’s Murder – 22 January 2008

Earthtimes – Hundreds Rally in Cambodia for Anniversary of Union Leader’s Murder – 22 January 2008

Human Rights Watch – Cambodia: Release Scapegoats for Labor Leader’s Murder – 22 January 2008

PM Brown’s Visit to China Failed to Emphasize Human Rights

By Juliana Chan
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

BEIJING, China – British Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s two-day trip to China last week was aimed to encourage sovereign wealth funds to invest in the U.K. Mr. Brown has been criticized, however, for his failure to emphasize the world’s concerns about human rights in the country.

The Prime Minister’s spokesman said that Mr. Brown would raise the issue in a general sense, but would not be central to the discussions.

In an open letter to the Prime Minister on January 16, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said Mr. Brown should use this visit to Beijing to discuss urgent domestic and international human rights concerns with the Chinese government. Sophie Richardson, Asia advocacy director at HRW said, “With the Beijing Olympics just months away, Brown has a golden opportunity to press the Chinese leadership on human rights issues. But the moment will be wasted if Brown doesn’t make specific requests and urge specific Chinese action.”

The letter urged Mr. Brown to discuss six issues with Chinese Premiere Wen Jiabao and officials:

  • China’s failure to fully implement new regulations allowing greater press freedom.
  • The re-arrest on December 27,2007 of prominent HIV/AIDS activist Hu Jia.
  • China’s superficial commitments to upholding the rule of law.
  • Limited Chinese support for international efforts to promote civilian protection in Darfur, Sudan.
  • Limited Chinese support for international efforts to promote human rights in Burma.
  • Absence of transparency in Chinese aid to abusive governments.

Mr. Brown chose not to highlight these concerns, however, and focused on trade relations between the two countries instead.

For more information, please see:

HRW – UK: Brown Should Press Rights in China – 16 January 2008

HRW – Letter to British Prime Minister Gordon Brown Regarding His Upcoming Trip to China – 15 January 2008

Guardian Unlimited – UK’s Brown urged to press China on human rights – 17 January 2008

Reuters – Brown seeks to take China relationship to new level – 18 January 2008

Guardian Unlimited – Come on, Mr. Brown, stand up to the Chinese – 20 January 2008