Zimbabwe Talks End With “No Deal”

Zimbabwe Talks End With “No Deal”

By Jennifer M. Haralambides
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

HARARE, Zimbabwe – The former opposition leader, Mogan Tsvangirai, who has temporarily withdrawn from the unity government, and President Robert Mugabe recently held a four-hour meeting for the first time since the split.

Prime Minister Tsvangirai met with Mugabe for the first time since the prime minister pulled out of the unity government on October 16th.   Tsvangirai cited a lack of co-operation as the main reason for the split.  He also claims that Mugabe’s persistent human rights abuses support his reason for withdrawal from the unity government.

Sources say that these two leaders remain “poles apart” regarding the key unity government issues.

“The principals met.  Sadly and tragically the stalemate continues . . . we are poles apart on fundamental issues,” said Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) spokesman Nelson Chamisa.

Although Mugabe’s spokesman said that that this was going to be a “regular Monday meeting,” Tsvangirai spokesman James Maridadi said, “This is not a regular meeting.  The meeting will discuss the issue of disengagement and the other outstanding issues related to the Global Political Agreement.”

After the meeting the leaders did not make any comments on how it went.  But Maridadi said that Tsvangirai would issue a statement this coming Tuesday.

Tsvangirai’s movement, which was in opposition in Zimbabwe for many years, may be meeting in Harare later this week with the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) to try to break the deadlock between the two groups.

The MDC leader said that he will only resume cooperation in the unity government once all the outstanding issues regarding the Global Political Agreement are resolved.  These issues include wrangles over key posts and a crackdown on his supporters.

On Saturday, Mugabe was quoted in the state-run Herald newspaper vowing not to give in to the MDC demands, “We will not do that.  They can go to any summit, any part of the world to appeal.  That will not happen,” he was quoted.

A splinter faction from the MDC said that at the very least – the latest talks between Mugabe and Tsvangirai are a step in the right direction regardless of whether or not a resolution was reached.

“At least now they are talking.  These people were not talking.  We are hopeful that a solution will be found eventually,” said spokesman Edwin Mushoriwa.

For more information, please see:

AFP – Zimbabwe Leaders “Poles Apart” as Unity Talks Stall – 26 October 2009

AP – Zimbabwe Leaders in Split Unity Government Meet – 26 October 2009

BBC – Zimbabwe Talks End “Without Deal” – 26 October 2009

VOA – Top-Level Meeting Fails to Resolve Deadlock in Zimbabwe Unity Government – 26 October 2009

Migrant Workers Abused in South Korea

By Hyo-Jin Paik
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

SEOUL, South Korea – A report issued by Amnesty International documented how migrant workers in South Korea are beaten, sexually exploited and denied wages.

South Korea was among the first Asian countries to give legal recognition of rights to migrant workers, and granted these workers the same status as Korean workers in terms of equal labor rights, wages and benefits.  South Korea also implemented Employment Permit System (EPS) to protect migrant workers’ rights.

As of September 2008, an estimated 220,000 migrant workers were working in South Korea.   However, despite the EPS, South Korea failed to sufficiently monitor work sites, including properly investigating cases of inadequate medical treatment and unfair dismissals.

SK migrant workers Migrant workers protesting in South Korea.  Courtesy of Asia Resource Monitor Center.

The report said migrant workers are at greater risk for industrial accidents because the workers handle heavy machinery and dangerous chemicals without protective gear or being properly trained.

Amnesty’s report also told tales of migrant workers who were being forced to work night shifts and long hours, and cases of employers withholding their paychecks.

Roseann Rife of Amnesty said “Despite the advances of the EPS system, the cycle of abuse and mistreatment continues as…migrant workers find themselves at the mercy of employers…who mistreat them knowing their victims have few legal rights and are unable to access justice….”

The report pointed out that women in particular are at risk.  Female workers are recruited as entertainers in towns that house U.S. military camps where they face sexual exploitation.

One female Filipino singer told Amnesty, “I was forced to fill drinks quota…The Korean club owner tried to force me to have sex with the customers by threatening to send me back to the Philippines….”

“These women are double victims, first they are trafficked and then they become ‘illegal’ migrants under South Korean law when they attempt to escape…,” said Rife.

One researcher, Norma Kang Muico, criticized the South Korean government’s narrow definition of human trafficking saying, “[According] to UN Protocols to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, trafficking…involves the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of persons by means of…coercion….”  South Korea singed the Protocol in 2008.

Muico stated, “Migrant workers are not criminals and they have…[the] right to pursue happiness….”

For more information, please see:

AFP – Migrant workers face abuse in SKorea: Amnesty – 21 October 2009

Amnesty International – MIGRANT WORKERS TREATED AS ‘DISPOSABLE LABOUR’ IN SOUTH KOREA – 21 October 2009

The Korea Times – Amnesty Raps Korea Over Plight of Female Workers – 21 October 2009

Taiwan in Wake of China’s Press Freedom

By M.E. Dodge
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

TAIPAI, Taiwan –  As efforts to enforce ties with former diplomatic rival, China, there is concern that the media in Taiwan may be hampered. Awareness of the shift in content gained prevalence after press freedom index, published by Paris-based Reporters Without Borders, revealed that Taiwan fell 23 spots to number 59 in 2009.

The index, based on questionnaires completed by hundreds of journalists and media experts, reflects press freedom violations that took place between September 2008 and August 2009. While Reporters Without Borders said Taiwan’s press freedom was not in danger, it attributed the downgrading partly to the ruling party‘s attempt to interfere in the media.

Head of Reporters Without Borders Asia desk, Vincent Brossel, stated, “The state must take action to improve records and prevent restrictions, violence or any sort of obstacle to the media freedom.”

Concerns over Taiwan press freedom amid China thaw 

Local journalists in Taipai work on covering a story in October 2009. Photograph Curtesy of Yahoo! World News.

 Those who are critical of the change in media coverage, as well as journalists, observe that the recent Reporters Without Borders index report is a warning of how far the island is prepared to go to appease its giant Chinese neighbor and influence.

Skeptics note that, Taiwan’s government, which took office in May 2008, pledged a more pro-Beijing stance to strengthen political and trade relations.  A cabinet spokeswoman, Su Jun-pin, however, stated, “We did not see any media being pressured for criticizing the government when it was not doing enough. The government humbly accepted the criticism.”

There is further concern shared by journalists and media experts. One commentator said, “It all comes down to business, as public and private sectors aim to cash in on China’s rising economic clout.” Another from the National Chung Cheng University stated, “We see political considerations weighing on the handling of news as the government makes the development of cross-strait ties its priority.”

Regardless of the extent of China’s political or economic clout, the fear by media personnel is that beyond kowtowing and broadcasting stories China wants transmitted, journalists will be forced to report their coverage as a one-sided story – hampering press freedom.

For more information, please see:

TaiPai Times – Taiwan slides 23 places in global press freedom index – October 21, 2009 

Yahoo! World News – Concerns over Taiwan press freedom amid China thaw – October 25, 2009 

Radio Taiwan International – Taiwan to write to NGO to clarify falling press freedom – October 22, 2009

Kenya Recruiting Soldiers in Somalia

By Kylie M Tsudama
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

NAIROBI, Kenya – On Thursday, Human Rights Watch (HRW) called for the Kenyan government to immediately stop the recruitment of Somalis in refugee camps.

Hundreds of Somali men and boys in the Dabaab refugee camp have been recruited to fight for an armed force in Somalia.

The Dabaab camps in northwest Kenya, near the Somali border, are the largest concentration of refugees in the world with over 280,000 refugees, mostly from Somalia.  These camps have been ripe for recruiters looking to enlist young refugees.  These recruiters have been claiming that they are recruiting on behalf of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) to put together a new force to fight in Somalia.

“Permitting recruitment of fighters in refugee camps undermines the very purpose of the camps – to be a place of refuge from the conflict.  Kenyan authorities need to immediately put a stop to this recruitment drive targeting Somali refugees,” said Georgette Gagnon, the Africa director for HRW.

Many of the refugees are fleeing the conflict between the TFG and armed opposition groups, including al-Shabaab.  Originally Kenyan military spokesman Bogita Ongeri sait that this was all “propaganda.”

Recruiters for this new force have used deceitful practices, promising exorbitant pay and telling enlistees that they are backed by the UN and the international community.  They have also encouraged young recruits to lie about their age and to join without telling their families.

Kenyan authorities, including the foreign minister, deny that there is a recruitment drive in refugee camps.  Somali Prime Minister Omar Sharmarke said, “We never recruited in Kenya.”

“We are not involved in any such operation,” said Ongeri.

On Friday, a Somali general said that 1,500 young men are receiving military training in Kenya, a contradiction from the country’s original position denying that recruitment is taking place.

General Yusuf Dhumal, Commander of Somali military forces, said that Somalia and Kenya are working together to recruit.  He said that the 1,500 that have been recruited are being trained to fight Islamist rebels.  The recruitment is part of Somalia’s plan to build a strong army to defend the country.

Ongeri said that they are in line with all international agreements.

“The Kenyan military has not done anything outside the UN and AU frameworks of assisting Somalia as a country to achieve peace and tranquility.  Kenya was to chip in my training the Somali police.  We will continue to train them,” he said.

Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki has called on the international community to support the TFG and help Somalis achieve a stable and peaceful nation.  He also asked the international community to fulfill $214 million United States dollars in pledges to support the Somali peace process.

We’re not saying the Kenyan government should not fear the seepage [of violence],” said Letta Tayler, researcher for HRW.  “But what we’re saying is: play by the rules.”

For more information, please see:

Daily Nation – Kenya Admits to Secret Police Training for Somalia – 26 October 2009

CNN – Rights Group Urges Kenya to Stop Military Recruitment of Refugees – 25 October 2009

Bloomberg – Human Rights Accuses Kenya of Recruiting Somali Refugees – 23 October 2009

VOA – Somali General Confirms Kenya Recruiting Soldiers – 23 October 2009

Xinhua – Kenya Urges World to Support – 23 October 2009

HRW – Kenya: Stop Recruitment of Somalis in Refugee Camps – 22 October 2009

Moldovan Presidential Election Postponed

By David Sophrin
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

CHISINAU, Moldova – The Moldovan presidential elections that were scheduled for October 23 have been postponed by the country’s Constitutional Court.  Since only one party had put forth a candidate, the Court concluded that the election could not go forth.

The political environment of this southeastern European country has been unstable since parliamentary elections were held six months ago.  Following victories by the Communist Party, there were large-scale protests in the capital of Chisinau regarding allegations of election fraud.  Past attempts at holding presidential elections in May and June of 2009 failed, which brought about the most recent election.

As a result of the most recent election, the opposition parties boycotted the parliamentary votes necessary to elect a new president.  This prevented the Communist Party’s candidate from receiving the necessary numbers of votes to take office and forced the dissolution of the parliament.

The Constitutional Court gave a parliamentary commission until November 11 to come to a compromise.  If not, elections may not be held until next year.  The commission has proposed a number of constitutional amendments regarding election law that may resolve future electoral issues.

The only candidate that is currently in the running for the presidency in Marian Lupu.  Lupu, who is the former Communist parliament leader, has become the head of the Democratic Party, which is a part of the Alliance for European Integration (AEI), a four-party political alliance.  The Communist Party has stated that it will not put forth its own candidate nor will it support Lupu.  Due to ambiguity in the Moldovan Constitution, which requires that the election be competitive, it may be the strategy of the Communist Party that by withholding a candidate they can thereby force yet a new round of parliamentary elections.

For more information, please see:

EUROPEAN VOICE – Moldovan election on ice – 23 October 2009

MOLDPRESS – Moldovan presidential election to be held in two weeks – 23 October 2009

RADIO FREE EUROPE – Moldova Postpones Presidential Election – 22 October 2009

RIANOVOSTI – Moldova’s parliament delays presidential election – 22 October 2009

AFP – Official: Moldova presidential vote may be postponed – 19 October 2009