Concerns About Lebanon After the Lebanese Transparency Association Releases Results from its Corruption Preceptions Index

Concerns About Lebanon After the Lebanese Transparency Association Releases Results from its Corruption Preceptions Index

By Yasmine S. Hakimian
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

BEIRUT, Lebanon – In a news conference on September 23, the Lebanese Transparency Association (LTA) release the official results of the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) for 2008. The conference was held at the Press Federation in Beirut.

The LTA has announced the results of the Corruption Perceptions Index for Lebanon since 2003. Each year their report includes results from other national chapters of Transparency International around the world. This year the LTA reported on 180 states, 20 of which are Arab countries.

The CPI does not measure corruption in and of itself. It records the perception of corruption estimated by public officials and politicians for each country. Transparency International defines corruption as “the abuse of entrusted power for private gain.” As a result, the index is an indication of what how respondents feel about political and administrative corruption in their countries.

The index primarily focuses on corruption in the public sector, such as an abuse of official power for private interests. The CPI is a culmination of 14 different polls and surveys from 14 independent institutions. The data is handled by businesspeople, academics, analysts, and experts. Each country is assigned a score between 1-10, 1 being most corrupt and 10 being least corrupt. Using their score, the index ranks the countries.

Fadi Saab, the LTA board secretary, has emphasized that looking at the ranks of states each year does not accurately portray corruption. Instead, Saab suggests looking at the scores assigned to a country over the last several years and taking note of the country’s regional and international standing.

Of the 180 states included in the 2008 CPI, Denmark is as the least corrupt. Somalia is ranked the most corrupt. Of the Middle East, Qatar is ranked the least corrupt.

The CPI has reported on Lebanon for six years. This year, Lebanon received the same score it did in 2003 and 2007 at 3.0/10. The 2008 score as an improvement from Lebanon’s score of 2.7/10 in 2004. However, Lebanon scored slightly better in 2005 and 2006 at 3.1/10 and 3.6/10, respectively.

According to Saab, it is most concerning that Lebanon scored lower than the international average (4.0), as well as lower than the Arab Region average (3.49).

Lebanon’s score is a result of the country’s continuing political crisis over the past two years. It is also believed that the absence of legal mechanisms in Lebanon has affected its score. 

According to Saab, the CPI results indicate the necessity of serious efforts and urgent actions to help promote political stability in Lebanon. Saab believes a permanent solution needs to take place to re-shape the relationship between citizens and the state. Saab emphasized that cooperation among the different parties will strengthen good government, maintain the well-being of society, and promote the right of access to information.

For more information, please see:

The Daily Star – Lebanese Transparency Association Relays Parts of Corruption Study by Parent Organization – 25 September 2008

TerraNet – Lebanon Ranked 102nd Out of 180 Countries on Annual Corruption Scale – 24 September 2008 

Zawya – Lebanon Ranks 102nd Out of 180 Countries on Annual Corruption Scale – 24 September 2008 

Lebanon Support – LTA: Press Conference to Release the 2008 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) – 22 September 2008

Vietnam Police Threaten Protesters in Land Dispute

HANOI, Vietnam – Protests and violence broke out between the Vietnamese government and the Catholic Church in Vietnam regarding religious land disputes in central Hanoi. As many as 3,000 Catholics have gathered from all around Vietnam to hold vigils and protests in Hanoi. Tensions rose last Friday when the Vietnamese government started bulldozing the disputed area. Protesters said they were beaten by batons, and the police shot tear gas canisters into the crowds. The Hanoi Police denied the incident and said it was merely an “unintentional scuffle” that happened between the protesters and the police.

Since last December, protesters have been holding protests to what they believed to be an unjustified taking of lands, which was formerly a Vatican embassy and residence. However, the Vietnamese government claimed that under Vietnam law, land under management and socialist reform policies enacted in 1991 cannot be claimed. This law has generated more than 200 land disputes in Vietnam. The recent protests have been the most publicized.

The Vietnamese government criticized the area’s Thai Ha parishioners for instigating “public dissidence” in Hanoi.  In order to avoid more public outcry, Vietnamese authorities attempted to appease protesters by converting the land into a National Park and a public library for the “interest of the people.” However, many Catholics still view the disputed land as sacred and the protests continue.

For more information, please see:

AP – Vietnam Denies Use of Stun Gun to Break Protests – 29 August 2008

BBC – Vietnam Warns Priests Over Land – 23 September 2008

BBC – Prayers and Protest in Vietnam – 2 September 2008

HRW Calls for Saudi Arabia to End Religious Discrimination

By Nykoel Dinardo
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

NEW YORK, New York – Human Rights Watch released a report on Monday, September 22, calling for Saudi Arabia to end discrimination against Ismailis, a religious minority.  The report, “The Ismailis of Najran: Second-Class Saudi Citizens,” describes the systematic discrimination that has been implemented by the Saudi government.  It also details discriminatory policies and recommends changes to increase equality. 

The Ismailis are a sub-group within Shia Islam who live primarily in the southwestern region of Saudi Arabia.  The majority of the population follows Wahhabism, a sub-group within Sunni Islam.  Several Sunni religious officials have made statements against the Ismaili faith which HRW has classified as equivalent to hate-speech.

According to the report, the Saudi government has increased policies that treat Ismaili followers as second-class citizens, especially with regard to employment, education and the justice system. It outlines instances where Ismailis have been dismissed from employment positions, have been arrested, and some tortured due to their religious practices. For instance, a man’s marriage was annulled by the government in 2006 because he was Ismaili and his wife was Sunni.  The court reasoned that the marriage was invalid because the man did not have sufficient religious qualifications.

Although there were complaints of religious discrimination before, following Prince Mish’al bin Sa’ud becoming governor of Najran in 1996 there were reports of increased tensions between religious groups in the region.  Specifically, the report details an incident in 2000 when Saudi officials refused to allow entrance into Ismaili mosques on Eid Al-Fitr, an important religious holiday.  The Minister of Interior required guards be placed outside Ismaili mosques and that anyone trying to enter be arrested.

The report also narrates the incidents known as the Holiday Inn Events.  In 2000, an Ismaili sheikh was arrested and accused of ‘sorcery.’  At a student protest responding to the arrest, gunfire and fighting broke out.  There were varying accounts of injuries but no fatalities.  When Ismaili leaders went to the Holiday Inn and requested to meet with the governor, who was staying there, a unit of armed personnel arrived at the scene and fired into the crowd.

The report makes recommendations for the Saudi government to change their policies.  These include an investigation, to be made public, regarding the Holiday Inn Events.  HRW also asks that Saudi Arabia take affirmative steps to ensure that Ismaili citizens are not discriminated against.  These steps include rebutting negative statements against Ismailis and passing legislation that protects Ismaili interests in constructing religious buildings.   

HRW released the report only two months after King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia hosted an interfaith conference with leaders in Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism and Buddhism.  HRW Middle East Director, Joe Stork commented that this report shows Saudi Arabia needs to practice what it preaches within its own borders.

For more information, please see:

Financial Times – Saudi Arabia Urged to End Discrimination – 23 September 2008

The Guardian – Discrimination Against Muslims in Saudi Arabia – 22 September 2008

Human Rights Watch –  The Ismailis of Najran: Second-Class Saudi Citizens – 22 September 2008

Human Rights Watch – Saudi Arabia: Shia Minority Treated as Second-Class Citizens – 22 September 2008

Khaleej Times – Human Rights Group Reports on Saudi Discrimination – 22 September 2008

Fiji Moves to Rejoin Pacific Forum

By Hayley J. Campbell
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

SUVA, Fiji – After last month’s summit boycott, Fiji’s interim Prime Minister has expressed interest in resuming his country’s participation in the Pacific Forum.

The Pacific Islands Forum was originally founded in 1971 to promote peace, harmony, security and economic prosperity within the Pacific nations. Fiji was one of seven founding members. The group of independent and self-governing states is now sixteen strong.

Bainimarama’s request to re-engage with the Forum is surprising given the interim government’s recent attitude toward the Forum. In June, the interim government suspended discussions with the Forum Joint Working Group on Fiji. Last August, the Pacific Forum issued Fiji an ultimatum that either Bainimarama return his country to democratic rule by March 2009 or face suspension from the Forum. In addition, Bainimarama choose to boycott the Forum’s summit meeting in Niue last month.

In his letter to the Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum, Niue’s Premier Toke Talagi, Bainimarama discussed proposals for Fiji’s return to democracy.

When interviewed, Talagi said the Forum was eager to continue their dialogue with Fiji:

“He wants to re-engage with the groups that have been working with them in the past, and that’s they joint consultative group and the ministerial contact group. And the Forum is pleased that he wants to do that because obviously we want to continue a dialogue to ensure that we can encourage them to hold elections by March as he promised.”

For more information, please see:
Fiji Times – Regime backs down, seeks Forum talks – 25 September 2008

Fiji Live – Fiji PM wins support from Cooks’ speaker – 25 September 2008

Radio New Zealand International – Pacific Forum chair welcomes Fiji moves to re-engage – 24 September 2008

Fiji Village – Revelations of Fiji Re-engaging In Forum – 24 September 2008

Pacific Islands Forum Website

Is the International Community Neglecting Human Rights Issues in North Korea ?

By Ariel Lin
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

PYONGYANG, North Korea – An independent report commissioned by the former leaders of the Czech Republic and Norway and a Nobel peace laureate, urged the international community to increase its level of intervention on North Korea’s human rights issues.  The report said the international community has far too long neglected the human rights situation in North Korea because of the nuclear threat.  The report comes as six-nation nuclear negotiations have stalled, with North Korea threatening to restart its nuclear reactor.  It said the discussion of human rights in those disarmament talks has largely been an “issue of secondary concern.”

The report pointed out one of the most pressing problems in North Korea – food distribution.  “Large segments of the North Korean population never receive any of the food provided by international relief agencies and other countries,” it said, noting that prisons still operate with “brutality and massive disregard for basic human rights.”  The report suggested that all dialogue with North Korea must make as a starting point Pyongyang’s commitment under global treaties and laws on rights and other issues, including the nuclear talks.  The report followed a 2006 assessment that accused Pyongyang of failing to live up to its responsibility under international law to protect its population from genocide, war crimes, or crimes against humanity.

North Korea recently took steps to restart its nuclear program after agreeing in November to dismantle it as part of an aid-for-disarmament deal. North Korea asked the International Atomic Energy Agency on Monday to remove seals and surveillance equipment from a key nuclear facility, the UN nuclear watchdog said Monday.  The request came three days after North Korea confirmed it was working to restart the Yongbyon reactor, and no longer wanted US concessions promised under the aid-for-disarmament agreement. US State Department spokesperson Robert Wood told reporters at a news briefing that Washington is “very concerned” about North Korea’s actions. The six-nation aid-for-disarmament deal is deadlocked due to a dispute over verification of the declaration of the North’s nuclear program, which it delivered in June as part of the agreement.

For more information, please see:

AP – North Korea wants seals removed at nuclear plant: IAEA – 22 September 2008

KBS – NGO Urges Participation in NK Human Rights Issues – 23 September 2008

International Herald Tribune – Report faults North Korean human rights – 23 September 2008

Reuters – World seen neglecting N. Korea human rights abuses – 22 September 2008