US Diplomat Will Travel to Syria to Discuss Iraqi Refugees; Egypt Deports Hundreds of Eritrean Refugees; Two Settlers Arrested in Connection to Videotaped West Bank Assault

US Diplomat Will Travel to Syria to Discuss Iraqi Refugees; Egypt Deports Hundreds of Eritrean Refugees; Two Settlers Arrested in Connection to Videotaped West Bank Assault

By Laura Zuber
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Middle East

WASHINGTON D.C., United States – US Ambassador James Foley, the US Department of State’s coordinator for Iraqi refugees, will visit Syria from June 23-26.  His visit to Syria is part of a trip to four Middle Eastern countries in an effort to increase the number of refugees going to the US.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees estimates that nearly 1 in 10 Iraqis are either internally displaced or has fled the country.  An estimated 2.3 million are refugees, with nearly 1.5 million refugees live in Syria and 500,000 in Jordan.  In 2007, some 52,000 Iraqis applied for refugee status, making them the largest applicant group.

Foley’s Middle East tour includes stops in Turkey, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria and the purpose is to increase the number of Iraqis traveling to the US in order to reach President Bush’s goal of accepting 12,000 Iraqis by the end of September.

“He will assess the needs of Iraqi refugees in these countries and look at ways to enhance programs that provide assistance to refugees and help resettle the most vulnerable in third countries,” said Kurtis Cooper, a Department of State spokesman.

For more information, please see:

Associated Press – US Diplomat to visit Syria on Iraqi Refugees – 20 June 2008

Reuters – Refugees of Shattered East Account for 50% of World-s Refugees – 20 June 2008

Bainimarama and Qarase Meet Again; UPDATE: Questions Arise Over Evan Hannah’s Removal Order; New Independent Chair of PCPP Appointed

By Ryan L. Maness
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Oceania

SUVA, Fiji — On Tuesday interim Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama and ousted PM Lasenia Qarase met for the second time to discuss the way forward for Fiji.  While the two have been trading barbs with one another about the future of Fiji since the military coup a year and a half ago, a statement issued after the talk emphasized “the great importance of constructive forward-looking dialogue, including the efforts that are now needed aimed at healing and reconciliation at the national level.”

The primary topics of the talk was the People’s Charter, a road map for change and a plan for reconciling the division of the nation.  Observers described the talk as candid.

Also present in the talks were Methodist Reverend Laisiasa Ratabacaca and the head of the Roman Catholic Church in Fiji, Archbishop Petero Mataca.  Fiji Times reports that the four leaders urged that civic, community and religious organizations would need to work together to move Fiji forward.

While no specific time line was established for another meeting, the Fiji Times reports that another meeting is expected.

For more information, please see:
Fiji Village — Rev Ratabacaca impressed with Interim PM, Qarase Meet — 18 June 2008

Fiji Times — Peace talks — 18 June 2008

Pacific Magazine — Bainimarama and Qarase Meet Again, in Suva — 18 June 2008

Fiji Times — Ousted PM questions reference terms — 18 June 2008

Radio New Zealand International — Bainimarama and Qarase meet to focus on moving Fiji  forward — 17 June 2008

Fiji Village — Interim PM, Qarase Meet — 17 June 2008

——

SUVA, Fiji — A dispute arose as Tuesday in the Court of Appeal in the deportation case of Evan Hannah.  Jon Apted, Hannah’s lawyer, said that neither he nor his client had even seen the deportation order that was issued in the case and that the document had never been presented before the court.  Solicitor General Christopher Pryde explained that the reason for this was that the Immigration Minister, Ratu Epeli Ganilau, only issued an “oral order”.

The controversy did not stop there.  While the permanent Immigration Secretary did eventually generate a form securing Hannah’s deportation, Apted argues that the interim government did not follow the law in issuing the order.  Under the Immigration Act of 2003, a person can only be deported seven days after service of a removal order.  Solicitor General Pryde says that Hannah was eligible for immediate deportation and that the interim government had simply used the wrong form.

Evan Hannah was expelled from Fiji by the interim government in April of this year.  According to Immigration Minister Ratu Epeli Ganilau, Hannah’s deportation was based on his opinion that Hannah was a threat to Fiji’s national security.

For more information, please see:
Fiji Times — Lawyer disputes order — 18 June 2008

Fiji Broadcasting Corporation Limited — Wrong form issued — 17 June 2008

Fiji Village — Hannah Lawyer Yet to Sight Deportation Order — 17 June 2008

——

SUVA, Fiji — Fiji President, Ratu Josefa Iloilo, announced this week that Sela Molisa will be the new chairperson of the independent monitoring group for the People’s Charter for Progress and Peace.

The role of the chairman is to monitor the activities of the People’s Charter and provide reports to the President about its progress.  Specifically, Molisa is meant to report on the transparency, robustness and integrity of the process of the People’s Charter.

Radio New Zealand International reports that Molisa was surprised to have been headhunted for this role.  He did not apply for the role and was reportedly shocked to have it offered to him.

Molisa is taking over for Geert van der Linden who resigned as chair last month.

For more information, please see:
Radio New Zealand International — Newly appointed Fiji People’s Charter Monitoring Group chair prepared for difficult role — 13 June 2008

Radio New Zealand International — Vanuatu MP appointed chair of Independent  Monitoring Group on Fiji charter — 13 June 2008

Hamas Confirms “Truce” with Israel

By Laura Zuber

Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Middle East

GAZA CITY, Gaza – On June 17, Mahmoud Zahar, a Hamas leader in Gaza, confirmed at a news conference that militant groups had agreed a truce with Israel. In addition, Hossam Zaki, Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesman, said, “Both sides have pledged to halt all hostilities and all military activities against each other.”

Israeli officials have yet to confirm that a truce has been reached with Hamas. But, security sources said an accord is in the offing. Defense Ministry official Major General (res.) Amos Gilad left Tuesday for Cairo to conclude the final agreement. While, Ehud Barak, Israel’s defense minister, stopped short of announcing an official agreement, he stressed the importance of making all possible efforts toward achieving calm.

According to the detailed time table released by Hamas, the six month cease-fire will occur in a series of stages. First, all violence should end beginning at 6am June 18. Then, if the cease-fire holds, then Israel will gradually relax the border blockade and begin to allow more supplies into Gaza. After two weeks of peace, the Israel and Hamas will begin discussing opening the Rafah border crossing, from Gaza into Egypt, and the release of captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.

Hamas official Ahmed Yousef told the BBC: “I am confident that everybody will abide by what we’ve agreed. All the groups which went to Cairo gave their okay to the ceasefire… If anybody does anything, they will be doing it on their own.”

Despite the renewed optimism for lasting peace, there is a fair amount of skepticism. In the past seven days, IDF operations have resulted in the deaths of 20 Palestinians in Gaza. For example, two IDF operations in and near Khan Younis killed six Palestinians. Also, according to Israeli military, over 90 rockets and mortar shells have been fired by Palestinian militants into Israel.

In related news, on June 16, the new Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, Richard Falk addressed the UN Human Rights Council. In his address, Falk expressed concern that his role would be biased and asked the UN to expand his mandate to include investigating human rights violations carried out by Palestinians, as well.

Currently, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967 is limited to investigating Israeli violations of human rights and international humanitarian law in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. This has caused Israel and others to argue that the Human Rights Council is biased and one-sided.

Falk stated that “the idea of investigating violations of international humanitarian law only make sense if all the relevant parties are included.” Also, that attention has been diverted from Israel’s human rights abuses in the Palestinian territories by those who argue his role is one-sided and biased. “One exposes the real character of the occupation much more effectively if one responds to that criticism, which I think is in any event a fair criticism.”

Falk’s appointment as the new Special Rapporteur was controversial. In 2007, Israel responded angrily when Falk compared Israel’s treatment of Palestinians with Nazi atrocities against Jews during the Holocaust. At the June 16 meeting of the Human Rights Council, Israel expressed concern as to whether Falk fulfilled the requirement that the Special Rapporteur be independent, impartial and objective.

For more information, please see:

Guardian – Israel and Hamas Agree Ceasefire as Air Strike Kill Six Palestinian Fighters – 18 June 2008

Ha’aretz – Hamas, Egypt Back Gaza Truce, Israel yet to Confirm Deal – 18 June 2008

Al Jazeera – Israel-Hamas Truce Announced – 17 June 2008

BBC – Israel and Hamas ‘Agree Truce’ – 17 June 2008

Human Rights Tribune – Thunderclaps over Palestine – 17 June 2008

International Herald Tribune – New UN Rights Expert Wants to Investigate Palestinian Abuses as well as Israel’s – 16 June 2008

ReliefWeb – High Commissioner for Human Rights and Special Rapporteur on Situation in Occupied Palestinian Territories Address Council – 16 June 2008

Opposition in Solomons Pushes Accountability After Woman’s Death; Niue Donor Funds Were Misused; Foreign Workers in Saipan Rally for Better Treatment

By Hayley J. Campbell
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

HONIARA, Solomon Islands — Opposition leader, Manasseh Sogavare, says that a law should be changed to discourage government impunity and encourage transparency and accountability. Sogavare’s recommendation follows the death of a woman who was hit by two Samoan officers reportedly intoxicated while driving.

On Friday, the two officers for the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI) struck and killed Hilda Ilabae, a trainee nurse. Members of RAMSI offered their condolences to Ms. Ilabae’s family, and transport and supplies for the burial was provided.

Sogavare’s criticism is that under the Facilitation Act, RAMSI is not held accountable under the Solomons law.  Sogavare said, “. . .right now they [RAMSI] are in fact quite a privileged group of people in the whole of our country. They can break our laws and get away with it. There is a procedure that outlines that they can be dealt with in their own country but there is no assurance, there is no guarantee that that will happen.”

For more information, please see:
Pacific Magazine — RAMSI Commander, Official Bury Solomon Islander Killed In Accident — 16 June 2008

Radio New Zealand International — Solomons opposition queries RAMSI immunity after fatal road incident — 16 June 2008

Solomon Times Online — Prime Minister of Samoa Apologizes for Death of Young Nurse — 16 June 2008

ABC, Radio Australia — Regret from RAMSI over death of woman in Honiara — 16 June 2008

——————————–

ALOFI, Niue — A financial report to the Niue government has revealed that donor funds were misused in order to supplement government funds. As a result, the misallocation of funds has caused many special projects to go unfinished.

Treasury officials found that roughly $650,000 has prevented the use of donor funds through the creation of “separate bank accounts.” The report recommends increasing government revenue by more rigorously pursuing tax defaulters and adjusting the collection of import duties. Officials have also reported that revenue from port charges is down due to other expenditures.

The Niue Government has halted the flow of imported goods until full, realistic appraisals of their value are made.

For more information, please see:
Radio New Zealand International — Officials say Niue using donor funds to prop up Government finances — 16 June 2008

——————————–

SAIPAN, Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands — Last week, U.S. federal officials were on hand in Saipan to address rallying foreign workers’ concerns.

The rally was meant to address the need for improved immigration statuses as well as $6.1 million in back claims for unpaid wages and damages owed to hundreds of aliens. The Human Dignity Movement encouraged workers to gather at the American Memorial Park in order to help bring these immigration issues to light.

Among the requests, Jerry Custodio, president to the Human Dignity Movement, has asked, “federal officials for fair protection and treatment, justice to long-term workers, payment of unpaid wages in Labor administrative orders and for improved immigration status.”

For more information, please see:
Saipan Tribune — Foreign Workers To Rally For Better Status — 10 June 2008

Iranian Police Crackdown on “Un-Iranian” Dress; Suicide Bomber Strikes Soccer Fans in Baghdad; Japanese Student Kidnapped in Iran Released

By Ben Turner
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

TEHRAN, Iran – Iranian police have begun a new campaign against violations of the state enforced dress code.  The police are arresting women whose headscarves do not fully cover their hair or if their clothes do not hide their figure.  Men are also being stopped if their hairstyles are deemed inappropriate.

After Iran’s 1979 Islamic revolution, a dress code was imposed requiring women to cover their hair and wear long, loose-fitting clothes to disguise the shape of their bodies.  Violating these rules can result in lashes, fines or imprisonment.

Police have closed dozens of stores and hairdressers in an attempt to stop the selling of potentially inappropriate clothes and hairstyles.  The crackdown is an annual attempt by the government to curb dress code violations at the beginning of the summer, when women are more likely to wear lighter clothes as the temperature rises.

For more information, please see:

Associated Press – Iranian Police Crack Down on Dress Code Violations – 16 June 2008

BBC – New Iranian Dress Code Crackdown – 16 June 2008

Reuters – Iran Police Start Wider Crackdown on Un-Islamic Dress – 16 June 2008

——

BAGHDAD, Iraq – A female suicide bomber targeted soccer fans in a café north of Baghdad on June 14.  The fans were celebrating Iraq’s World Cup qualifying win when the suicide bomber attacked.

The explosion injured 34 people including seven policemen.  More injuries were prevented because a policeman spotted the woman holding a detonator and yelled for the crowd to disperse.

20 women have carried out suicide bombings in Iraq this year, many more than in previous years.  Only eight women carried out suicide bombings in Iraq in all of 2007.

For more information, please see:

Associated Press – Female Suicide Bomber Strikes Soccer Fans; 34 Hurt – 14 June 2008

CNN – Female Suicide Bomber Strikes Soccer Fans in Iraq – 14 June 2008

International Herald Tribune – Iraq: Female Suicide Bomber Strikes Soccer Fans Near Café North of Baghdad, Wounding 34 – 14 June 2008

——

TEHRAN, Iran – Japanese tourist Satoshi Nakamura, 23, was kidnapped while traveling in Iran last year.  He was released on June 14, eight months after he had been taken hostage while traveling alone in Iran’s dangerous southeastern border with Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Iran’s Intelligence Minister Gholam Hossein Mohseini Ejehi was quoted as saying drug smugglers and armed bandits were responsible for the kidnapping.  Iran has historically blamed kidnapping of foreigners on criminals and drug smugglers and foreigners are urged to be cautious when traveling there.

Japan’s Foreign Ministry said Nakamura was in good spirits when they spoke with him.  No further details, including whether a ransom was paid, have been released.

For more information, please see:

International Herald Tribune – Kidnapped Japanese Tourist Freed in Iran After 8 Months – 15 June 2008

Reuters – Freed Japanese Arrives in Iran’s Capital – 15 June 2008

Associated Press – Japanese Tourist, Seized by Bandits in Iran, Freed – 14 June 2008

BBC – Japanese Captive Freed in Iran – 14 June 2008