Crimes Against Humanity Found in North Korea

By Kevin M. Mathewson
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

GENEVA – United Nations investigators say North Korea has committed crimes against humanity in an effort to sustain its political system and will call for an international criminal investigation.

The North’s leaders are frequent targets of angry protests in the South. (Photo courtesy of BBC News)

A report to be released Monday draws on testimony of survivors and those who escaped the country. It is the most authoritative account yet of rights violations by North Korean authorities. The report details how North Koreans have been summarily executed, subjected to rape, forced abortions and enslavement, and have suffered persecution on political, religious, racial and gender grounds. There is even evidence of a widespread campaign of abductions of individuals in South Korea and Japan.

While the report does not examine individual responsibility for the crimes, it recommends steps towards accountability.

Michael Kirby, a retired Australian judge and chairman of the independent Commission of Inquiry, said the report “calls for attention from the international community”.

“At the end of the Second World War so many people said ‘if only we had known… if only we had known the wrongs that were done in the countries of the hostile forces'”, he said.

“Well, now the international community does know… There will be no excusing the failure of action because we didn’t know,” he said at a news conference at UN headquarters in Geneva.

The three-member commission, led by Kirby, was set up by the U.N.’s top human rights body last March in an attempt to probe evidence of systematic rights violations in the authoritarian state notorious for its political prisons camps, and repression and famine that claimed hundreds of thousands of lives in the 1990s.

The commission, which was never allowed into North Korea to conduct public hearings, recommends that the U.N. Security Council refer its findings to the International Criminal Court in The Hague.

Yet, there are several procedural hurdles. For example, permanent council members that have veto power, such as Chine, are unlikely to support any referral to the court. Another obstacle is that the court’s jurisdiction does not extend to crimes committed before July 2002.

When the Human Rights Council authorized the commission last March, the North denounced it as politically motivated by “hostile forces” trying to discredit it and change its socialist system.

A spokesman for North Korea’s U.N. Mission in New York who refused to give his name told the AP, “We totally reject the unfounded findings of the Commission of Inquiry regarding crimes against humanity. We will never accept that.”

For more information, please see:

BBC News – World must act on North Korea rights abuse, says UN report – 17 February 2014

CNN – ‘Abundant evidence’ of crimes against humanity in North Korea, panel says – 17 February 2014

The New York Times – U.N. Panel Finds Crimes Against Humanity in North Korea – 15 February 2014

The Associated Press – Crimes against humanity in NKorea, UN panel finds – 14 February 2014

 

Venezuela Anti-Government Protests Ends in Deadly Violence

By Ellis Cortez
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

CARACAS, Venezuela – At least three people were shot dead as violence erupted during anti-government protests in the Venezuelan capital, Caracas, on February 12.

Opposition demonstrators throw stones against riot police during a protest against President Nicolas Maduro's government in Caracas February 15, 2014. REUTERS-Carlos Garcia Rawlins
Opposition demonstrators throw stones against riot police during a protest against President Nicolas Maduro’s government in Caracas on February 15, 2014. (Photo Courtesy of Reuters/Carlos Garcia Rawlins)

A crowd of demonstrators, many of them students, marched to the federal prosecutor’s office to demand the release of 13 protesters who they say were illegally detained in previous marches. The demonstration was the latest in a series of mass protests against the policies of President Nicolas Maduro.

A small group of protesters stayed behind after the end of the main march and clashed with security forces. It was at that time that a number of armed men on motorcycles shot at the crowd, triggering a stampede. Two people died after the gunmen opened fire and a third died in later clashes.

Authorities on Thursday issued an arrest warrant for Leopoldo Lopez, head of the Venezuelan opposition party, Popular Will, on charges including conspiracy and murder in connection with the recent clashes. President Nicolas Maduro accused Lopez of instigating violence that led to the death of three people during the protests on February 12. Lopez, who has maintained his innocence, said he only called for peaceful protests. Military officials visited Lopez’s house in Caracas, and the residence of his parents, yesterday and showed a warrant that included the charge of intentional homicide.

Lopez said he’ll lead a march on February 18 to the Interior Ministry in Caracas where he’ll enter alone and present four petitions that declare the government responsible for the February 12 violence, ask for the release of students currently being held, and ask for the disarmament of pro-government groups known as collectives.

Young Venezuelans clashed again Friday where police used teargas and water cannon to clear some 1,000 protesters from Altamira Square in eastern Caracas, where some of them had lit trash bonfires and blocked streets. On Saturday, supporters of the opposition gathered again to sing and chant slogans in the square. Many then set off to block a major highway.

President Nicolas Maduro condemned the incidents, which he blamed on a “neo-fascist upsurge”. The president called for peace, but stressed that those who engaged in violence would not go unpunished. Maduro said state and senior military officials will work together to reduce violence.

Venezuela’s state prosecutor said 25 of 99 people arrested in connection with this week’s violence had been freed pending trial.

Maduro insists he is facing a slow-motion coup. “I want to alert the world. We are facing a developing coup plan against the democracy and the government that I preside over, orchestrated by a small group of irresponsible leaders, violent, full of hatred and personal ambitions,” he said Wednesday.

The U.S. State Department expressed concerns about the state of affairs in Venezuela. “We are deeply concerned by rising tensions, by the violence surrounding this February 12 protest and by the issuing of a warrant for the arrest of the opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez,” said spokeswoman Marie Harf. “We join the secretary general of OAS (Organization of American States) in condemning the violence and calling on authorities to investigate and bring to justice those responsible for the death of peaceful protesters.”

Students are fed up with the lack of security and the poor state of Venezuela’s economy. Venezuela has one of the highest murder rates in the world and is deeply politically polarized, with the opposition blaming the government for the country’s economic troubles and for shortages of basic products in stores. Inflation, at 56.2%, is the highest in the world. Amid stringent price and exchange controls, Venezuela is running out of hard currency to pay foreign suppliers of goods and services.

Maduro’s critics say he is ruining the economy by sticking with failed Chavez-era policies such as currency and price controls, which many local economists blame for the shortages.

For more information please see:

Fox News Latino – Venezuela Anti-Government Protests: Security Forces Search For Opposition Leader – 16 February 2014

Bloomberg News – Venezuela Opposition’s Lopez Says He’s Willing to Face Arrest – 16 February 2014

Reuters ‘Chavistas’ march in Venezuela, opposition protests continue 15 February 2014

CNN Protests, violence continue in Venezuela 14 February 2014

BBC Venezuela student protest ends in deadly violence 13 February 2014

NSA Forces Out Individuals Alleged to Have Aided Snowden

by Michael Yoakum
Impunity Watch Reporter, North America

WASHINGTON, D.C., United States – According to an NSA memo, a civilian NSA employee resigned last month after having his security clearance revoked for aiding Edward Snowden in acquiring confidential information. Representatives from the NSA told Congress that the civilian employee was forced out after an investigation to “assign accountability” for Edward Snowden’s disclosure of classified materials.

Snowden obtained the civilian employee’s log-in information which allowed him to access more classified materials. (photo courtesy of The Washington Post)

Two other individuals, an active duty military member and a civilian contractor, have been implicated in aiding Snowden in gathering materials, according to the NSA memo, and have been barred from accessing NSA headquarters.

The memo, authored by the director of the agency’s legislative affairs office, Ethan L. Bauman, was intended to answer Congressional inquiries about who, other than Snowden, would be held accountable for his disclosure of classified documents. The memo indicates that no senior level NSA officials will be disciplined for Snowden’s actions.

It said that an NSA civilian, reportedly Snowden’s supervisor, gave Snowden his Public Key Infrastructure certificate, the first step in a process to access restricted files. Snowden then captured the NSA civilian’s password when he entered it on Snowden’s computer.

Snowden denied in past interview that he stole passwords from colleagues in order to gain access to classified documents.

The Washington Post reports that a senior official working on the investigation assured that the three individuals accused of aiding Snowden were not being accused of colluding. Rather, investigators suspect that Snowden independently used the three individuals to help gain access to classified materials.

James Clapper, the Director of National Intelligence, told the Senate Armed Services Committee that Snowden took advantage of a “perfect storm” of security flaws.

“He knew exactly what he was doing,” Clapper said. “And it was his job as assistant administrator to arrange across a lot of the databases. And he was pretty skilled at staying below the radar, so what he was doing wasn’t visible.”

Since the breach, the NSA has introduced policies to prevent similar breaches; system administrator positions will no longer be filled by contractors and access to information will divided among several individuals.

For more information, please see:

The LA Times – Three former NSA workers accused of aiding Snowden – 14 February 2014

The New York Times – N.S.A. Forces Out Civilian Employee With Snowden Tie – 13 February 2014

The Washington Post – NSA employee implicated in Snowden probe resigned, memo says – 13 February 2014

TIME – NSA Memo Says Snowden Tricked Colleague to Get Password – 13 February 2014

NBC News – Exclusive: Snowden Swiped Password From NSA Coworker – 12 February 2014

Spanish Border Authorities Shoot at Migrants, Government Offers Millions Spanish Nationality

By Ben Kopp
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe


MADRID, Spain
– The European Union wants answers regarding at least fourteen migrants who drowned after Spanish border authorities fired rubber bullets at them. This comes amidst a possibility that Spain will offer nationality to any of the world’s nearly five million Sephardic Jews, as amends for their ancestors’ exile.

Amidst possible nationality offer for hundreds to millions, Spain admits that its border authorities fired rubber bullets to deter immigration. (Photo courtesy of BBC News)

Each year, thousands of immigrants attempt to reach Europe near Melilla and Ceuta, both Spanish territories along Morocco’s Mediterranean coastline. Many migrants are sub-Saharan African and, currently, Syrian refugees.

On 6 February 2014, a few people attempting to cross the border drowned. They belonged to a group of nearly 200, some of whom tried to climb the razor-wire-lined frontier fence. Those who jumped into the sea hoped to swim around a man-made breakwater separating Moroccan and Spanish waters.

On 13 February 2014, Spain admitted that its border police fired rubber bullets at fourteen persons in attempt to push them back. While all fourteen drowned, only nine bodies were recovered.

“The Ceuta Civil Guard have found at 12:30 this morning on the beach of Almadraba, five meters (16 feet) from the shore, the dead body of a sub-Saharan immigrant. It is the second body found today,” Spanish officials said in a statement.

The European Commission promised to ask Spain to explain why police fired rubber bullets. The Spanish opposition has call for National Police director Arsenio Fernandez de Mesa to step down over the incident.

EU Commissioner for Home Affairs Cecilia Malmstrom said she was “very concerned about Spanish police using rubber bullets to deter migrants.”

“I expect clarifications from the authorities,” Malmstrom tweeted.

“This loss of life is appalling,” said Jezerca Tigani, Deputy Europe and Central Asia Programme Director at Amnesty International, “and the Spanish authorities must come clean on what happened – particularly as the Minister’s version of events contradicts earlier official statements. They must determine what went wrong and bring those responsible to account as a matter of urgency.”

“Regardless of whether any of the migrants were hit,” Tigani said, “it will be up to an independent investigation to determine whether the Civil Guard and border authorities acted appropriately. The results of any such investigation must be made public, and anyone responsible for human rights violations brought to justice.”

The news of migrants kept out of Spain comes amidst the Spanish government’s plans to make historic amends for Sephardic Jews who were exiled five centuries ago. In coming weeks or months, a new law would require a grant of Spanish nationality to those who can prove they are descendants of that exile’s victims.

While nearly three million Sephardic Jews can already travel to the EU from Israel with ease, the possibility of an EU passport provides access to residence, employment, and subsidized education throughout the entire 28-country bloc.

Before Spain makes amends for past atrocities, the EU Member State needs to answer for what appears to be a current anti-immigration atrocity.
For further information, please see:

Reuters – Bodies Found in Spain’s North Africa Waters Likely Brings Migrant Drownings to 14 – February 15, 2014

RT – EU ‘Very Concerned’ by Spanish Police Use of Rubber Bullets to Deter Migrants – February 15, 2014

Amnesty International – Spain: Accountability Urged for ‘Appalling’ Migrant Deaths in Ceuta – February 14, 2014

BBC News – EU to Probe Spain over Rubber Bullets Fired at Migrants – February 14, 2014

Seattle Times – Spain Opens Door to Sephardic Jews after Historic Expulsion – February 14, 2014