Burma Refugee Persecution Escalates to “Humanitarian Crisis”

Burma Refugee Persecution Escalates to “Humanitarian Crisis”

By M.E. Dodge
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

BANGKOK, Thailand– Hundreds of Rohingya, Burmese Muslim, refugees are believed dead after being pushed back into the sea by Thai authorities, according to human rights activists based in Thailand.

Image courtesy of The New York Times.

A report was issued stating that as many as 200 people are missing, while more than 300 others are believed to have died after they were set adrift by Thai soldiers. It is said by one survivor, that some of the refugees were sent back with their hands tied behind their backs in boats without engines.

The United Nations’ Refugee Agency has also voiced its concern about the reports and urged the government to investigate the incidents. In an official statement by Kitty McKinsey, spokeswoman for the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees in Bangkok, she said, “We request the Thai government to take all measures necessary to ensure that the lives of Rohingya are not at risk and they are treated in accordance with humanitarian standards.”

Thai military authorities have denied these accusations, and Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, has promised a full investigation. In a statement to the public, the Thai Foreign Ministry said it was “investigating and verifying all the facts and surrounding circumstances.” The ministry added that while the Thai government was dedicated to protecting its sea borders from all illegal activities, including illegal immigration, “we are committed to maintaining our traditional adherence to humanitarian principles and the protection of human rights”.

Vejjajiva told journalists that Thailand would investigate allegations that the Thai navy set hundreds of Rohingya asylum seekers adrift. The country’s defense minister will investigate these accusations, and report back to the Prime Minister with any findings as soon as possible.

In describing the overall situation, Paul Critchley, who runs the Bangladesh program for the aid group, Doctors Without Borders, he said, “Over the last few months we have treated victims of violence, people who claim to have been beaten by the police, claim to have been beaten by members of the host population, by people they’ve been living next to for many years.” He went on to say that, “We have treated patients for beatings, for machete wounds and for rape,” and the circumstance is now a “humanitarian crisis” now that the atrocities continue and in light of the most recent string of horrific events.

Since October, the unofficial Kutupalong makeshift camp with its dirt paths, flimsy shacks and open sewers has grown by 6,000 people to nearly 30,000, with 2,000 arrivals in January alone. There are an estimated 250,000 Rohingya in Bangladesh. They do not have citizenship, and are subject to abuse and forced labor, and where they cannot travel, marry or practice their religion freely. Yes, many continue to flee Myanmar in fear of repression and in search of a better life.  About 28,000 of them have been officially recognized by Bangladesh, and documented as refugees. They receive food and other assistance in a camp administered by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and have not been subject to the abuses and forced returns described by other Rohingya. But, the government has not allowed the agency to register new arrivals since 1993.

A Photograph of Women who suffered beatings and abuse in Myanmar. Image courtesy of The New York Times.

The most recent incident and possible deaths to hundreds sheds light on the fact that the problem has worsened, many human rights activists are trying to call attention to the issue to get other foreign involvement.

For more information, please see:

The New York Times – Burmese Refugees Persecuted in Bangladesh – 20 February 2010

World NewsPersecution of Burmese Refugees – 20 February 2010

Open DemocracyBangladesh government accused of crackdown on Burmese refugees – 18 February 2010

Asia Times OnlineBilateral Repression for Myanmar’s Rohingya – 22 February 2010

Grenade Attacks in Rwanda’s Capital

By Kylie M Tsudama

Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

KIGALI, Rwanda – Three simultaneous grenade attacks in Rwanda’s capital have killed one and injured thirty.  Five of the injured remain in the hospital in serious condition.

Two of the attacks were in the town center and the other was in the international bus station.  Although it is unclear whether or not the explosions were coordinated, each one occurred within a thirty-minute timeframe.

“Three grenades exploded in Kigali … resulting in the death of one person and the injury of thirty,” said police spokesman Eric Kayiranga.  “Among them were women and children.”

Kayiranga said that the motive is not yet known.  He did say, however, that even 16 years after 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus were slaughtered, Rwanda has maintained its genocide ideology.

The police have two men in custody.

“Two suspects are being held by the national police.  We are still investigating what is behind this,” Kayiranga said.  “There is a possibility of it being FDLR (Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda), or criminals, or an accident.  It can be any of that.  We can’t confirm that for now.”

The FDLR is an ethnic Hutu rebel group.  The group’s leaders are responsible for the 1994 genocide.

The political temperature in Rwanda has been on the rise as the country prepares for elections in August.  It is not clear, however, if there are any links between the elections and the explosions.

Opposition parties have been complaining of harassment.

Human Rights Watch said that attacks against opposition party members has escalated.  Amnesty International expressed concern that the recent attacks on opposition party members are aimed at discouraging opposition groups.

Generally, Rwanda has little crime with occasional bombings.  In the past two months, however, four people have been killed by a string of grenade attacks.

For more information, please see:

Reuters – Grenade Attacks Kill 1, Wound 30 in Rwandan Capital – 21 February 2010

BBC – Rwandan Capital Kigali Hit by Deadly Grenade Attacks – 20 February 2010

Washington Post – Police: Grenade Attacks in Rwanda’s Capital Kill 1 – 20 February 2010

Montenegrin Political Opposition Leader Attacked

By David Sophrin
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

PODGORICA, Montenegro – The opposition political leader in Montenegro was attacked outside of his home in the capital city of Podgorica on Saturday.

Nebojsa Medojevic, the leader of the political party Montenegro Movement for Change (PZP), has been an outspoken critic of current Prime Minister Milo Dukanovic.  Among the allegations that Medojevic has made against the Prime Minster is that he has been protecting the former Yugoslavian republic’s organized crime elements and its illegal drug trade.

According to police reports the attacker threatened to kill Medojevic and warned him “to stop mentioning the name of Branislav Micunovic”, one of the nation’s wealthiest individuals.  In the past Medojevic as described Micunovic as having control over the country’s police forces and being “the most powerful person in Montenegro”.  Shortly after the attack the local police announced that they had captured the individual who carried out the assault on Medojevic.  The PZP reported that the suspect in custody is a relative of Micunovic.

Following the attack Medojevic declared that he will not stop continuing his fight against organized crime in Montenegro.  “I am in fear of being killed and I expect there will be more attacks in the next few days, because the attack on me is a message from the mafia to stop my fight against crime-generating organizations and organized crime.”  Medojevic also commented that he thought the attack on him was an example of “classic Mafia-style intimidation.”

The Police Director of Montenegro,Veselin Veljovic, has stated that the “police have no information on the well-known…businessman Branislav Micunovis having any connections to Drako Saric, or the cocaine smuggling business.”

For more information, please see:

NOVINITE – Montenegro Opposition Leader Allegedly Attacked by Mafia – 21 February 2010

RADIO MONTENEGRO – Montenegrin opposition seeks security council session after attack on party head – 21 February 2010

SETIMES – Montenegrin opposition leader assaulted – 21 February 2010

B92 – Montenegrin politician attacked and threatened – 2o February 2010

The Vanuatu Free West Papua Association Still Plans to March for Independence

By Cindy Trinh
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

PORT VILA, Vanuatu – The Vanuatu Free West Papua Association (VFWPA) says it hopes to re-schedule a march in support of independence for the West Papuan people of Indonesia within the next two weeks.

The VFWPA had planned a march for West Papua on February 22, 2010, which is Vanuatu’s public holiday, Lini Day.

The VFWPA has been collaborating with the Vanuatu Christian Council (VCC), the National Council of Chiefs, the Vanuatu Council of Trade Unions (VCTU), and other civil society groups to organize a peaceful march in Port Vila to demonstrate the continued support of the people of Vanuatu for the independence of West Papua, and to present a petition to Prime Minister Edward Natapei and the Vanuatu government urging greater support for West Papuan independence.

The VFWPA has been working closely with the VCC and other civil society representatives to raise awareness through church networks about the march in support for West Papuan independence.

The VCTU has also been urging all union members to participate in the march and the petition.

The mach was planned to start at Chantilly’s on Fatumaru Bay at 9:00am on Monday, February 22, and would end at Seafront Stage, where Prime Minister Edward Natapei was to receive the petition. Members of the stakeholder organizations which are co-sponsoring the action, and members of the general public, were invited to assemble at Fatumaru Bay by 8:00am on Monday.

The march was scheduled for Lini Day in recognition of the late Father Walter Lini’s famous statement that “so long as any Pacific Islands remain colonized, none of us are free.”

The march would have been the first time in many years that a public rally was staged in support of the West Papua cause.

Despite the efforts of the VFWPA, the march was cancelled because the organizers failed to submit a permit application to the police in time. The VFWPA plans to re-schedule the march within the next two weeks.

The chairman of the VFWPA, Alain Nafuki, says that the march for West Papuan self-determination could be the biggest in Vanuatu’s history.

He stated: “The government has diplomatic ties with the Indonesian government and they’re maybe a little bit too reserved on that. But we, the people from the street, we are free to decide on what we want to deliberately say to the government about the situation in West Papua.”

For more information, please see:
Radio New Zealand International – More plans for West Papua march in Vanuatu despite police cancellation of today’s event – 22 February 2010

Islands Business – March in support of West Papua’s struggle for independence – 19 February 2010

Pacific.Scoop – Peaceful march for West Papuan Independence – 17 February 2010

ICC: Crimes Against Humanity in Guinea

By Kylie M Tsudama

Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

CONAKRY, Guinea –  An International Criminal Court (ICC) investigation has revealed that Guinea’s military junta committed crimes against humanity during last year’s massacre of more than 150 opposition supporters.

ICC Deputy Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda went on a three-day mission to Conakry.

“As the Deputy Prosecutor of the ICC, I end this visit with the feeling that crimes of the order of crimes against humanity were committed,” she said.  “On the basis of the information that we have received from this visit, we will pursue our preliminary investigation.”

Bensouda spoke of “atrocious crimes” that had been committed, adding “men in full uniform attacked civilians, they killed and wounded.  In full daylight they mistreated, violated and submitted women to unprecedented sexual violence.”

Guinea security forces attacked the protestors, shooting, stabbing, and beating them, and publicly raping women at a protest rally opposing the military junta at Conakry Stadium on September 28.

On Thursday, Bensouda promised families of the victims that they would have justice.

The UN has found that Captain Moussa Dadis Camara had “direct criminal responsibility” for what happened.  He was the junta chief at the time of the attack.

The Guinean people have high hopes that the ICC will bring justice, but the ICC has no police power to arrest those who are responsible for the attacks.  It must rely on the police in each individual country.

According to Bensouda, however, “If the Guinean authorities are not seen to be doing something… [then] the ICC will do it.  The bottom line is that there will not be impunity.  The victims of these crimes will have justice one way or another.”

Captain Moussa Dadis Camara is now in exile in Burkina Faso.  Prime Minister Jean Marie Dore is the transitional authority overseeing the country’s movement from a military government to democratic elections.

“The judiciary is a problem in Guinea, the way it is organized, the training of the magistrates and some of their behavior presents problems between the Guinean authorities and their internal and external partners,” said the Prime Minister.  “If we are honest, there are difficulties to overcome so that Guinea is up to the job of properly judging those responsible for what happened on 28 September.”

Guinea could set an example if it is willing to bring the main perpetrators to justice.

“These few days working in Guinea confirmed that Guinean institutions and the ICC can work in a complementary way: either Guinean authorities can prosecute the main people in charge themselves, or they will turn to the court to do it,” Bensouda said.

For more information, please see:

AFP – Guinea Massacre a Crime Against Humanity: ICC – 20 February 2010

Al Jazeera – ICC Outrage Over Guinea Massacre – 20 February 2010

Reuters – ICC Finds Crimes Against Humanity in Guinea – 20 February 2010

BBC – Guinea PM Says Judiciary Incapable of Judging Killers – 19 February 2010

BBC – No Impunity for Guinea Massacre, Says ICC – 18 February 2010

Impunity Watch – Guinea to Probe Violence Against Protestors – 10 October 2009