Peru Looks into Military Corruption

October 20, 2015

By Kaitlyn Degnan
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

LIMA, Peru — Last week the Associated Press reported that the Peruvian military was turning a blind eye to regular and frequent flights transporting cocaine out of the Apurimac, Ene and Mantaro river valley region (known as VRAEM). Responding to the allegations, Peruvian authorities announced that they would launch an investigation into corruption in the military.

Peru’s military inspector general will head the probe.

Police in the region say that roughly half of Peru’s cocaine exports have left the country this way: four times a day, a small plane lands in the valley. Cash is exchanged for 300 kilos of cocaine, then the plane takes off and flies out to Bolivia. Each exchange is worth about $7.2 million.

An airstrip used for cocaine trafficking in the VRAEM region. (Photo courtesy of the Associated Press).

The remote jungle region where the flights land are under the control of the military. The landing sites are in close proximity to military bases.

An alleged pilot of a narcotics transport plane interviewed by the Associated Press claimed that local military commanders charged $10,000 per flight to look the other way.

The military claims that their forces in the region are outmatched by “heavily armed traffickers” and the participating community. Officials claim a connection between the traffickers and the Shining Path guerrilla group in the region.

A retired army general, Wilson Barrantes, has complained about drug related corruption in the military for years, calling military control of the cocaine-producing region “like putting four street dogs to guard a plate of beefsteak.”

Drug related corruption is an open secret in Peru, according to anti-corruption nonprofit Transparency International.

President Ollanta Humala named combatting illegal drug trafficking as a priority of his administration when he took office in 2011. Over the summer, Humala’s administration authorized an “eradication” campaign, in which government workers destroyed coca plots across the country. It was a controversial move which devastated the livelihood of thousands of Peruvians. Other efforts have included blasting holes in known airstrips.

In August, the Congress unanimously authorized the military to shoot down these narcotics transport planes.

Humala’s critics say that he has allowed cocaine production to go on in the VRAEM region, where the eradication campaigns didn’t reach. A narcotics public prosecutor says that trafficking has gone “from bad to worse” during Humala’s tenure. Humala has eight month’s left in office, with an approval rating of about 15 percent.

For more information, please see:

The Seattle Times – Eradication spells misery for Peru’s coca farmers – 17 August, 2015

Associated Press – Peru Military fails to act as narco planes fly freely – 14 October 2015

The Guardian – Peru to investigate cocaine ‘air bridge’ where smuggler planes are ignored – 14 October 2015

Latin Dispatch – Peru Will Probe Military Collusion With Traffickers After Damning Report – 15 October 2015

Syrian Kurdish Party Displaces Thousands of Civilians

October 20, 2015

By Brittani Howell

Impunity Watch Reporter, The Middle East

DAMASCUS, Syria – Thousands of Syrian civilians have been displaced from their homes by the Autonomous Administration. The Autonomous Administration is led by the Syrian Kurdish party Partiya Yekitiya Demokrat (PYD). The United States has backed the Autonomous Administration in its fight against the Islamic State.

In June 2014 there were 225 buildings, as of June 2015 only 14 buildings remain. (Photo Courtesy of The Washington Post)

The Senior Crisis Advisor at Amnesty International, Lama Fakih, stated, “By deliberately demolishing civilian homes, in some cases razing and burning entire villages, displacing their inhabitants with no justifiable military grounds, the Autonomous Administration is abusing its authority and brazenly flouting international humanitarian law, in attacks that amount to war crimes.”

The Autonomous Administration instructed a local armed group, the People’s Protection Units or YPG, to force Arabs and Turkmen from their homes.

According to Amnesty International, some civilians have reported that if they failed to leave, the U.S. led coalition would conduct airstrikes. One civilian, Safwan, told Amnesty International, “They told us we had to leave or they would tell the US coalition that we were terrorists and their planes would hit us and our families.”

The Kurdish authorities insist that displacement was limited and only for security purposes, to keep civilians out of areas facing conflict. However, there has been evidence that whole communities have been displaced and have had their homes destroyed.

It is alleged that the YPG threatened to burn down a house, with the inhabitants still inside. Bassama, a relative of the family, stated, “They started pouring fuel in my in-laws’ house. My mother-in-law was there refusing to leave and they just poured it around her.”

Amnesty International called for the United States and other allies of the Autonomous Administration to not turn a blind eye to the displacement of civilians. The forcible displacement of civilians for no military necessity is a violation of international humanitarian law.

Amnesty International also called for the Autonomous Administration to stop the displacement of civilians and to compensate the civilians whose homes were destroyed.

For more information, please see:

Amnesty International – Syria: US Ally’s Razing of Villages Amounts to War Crimes – 13 October 2015

The Guardian – US-Backed Kurdish Forces ‘Committing War Crimes Against Syrian Civilians’ – 13 October 2015

FOX News – Amnesty Says US-Backed Kurds Displace Thousands of Arabs in Syria, Demolish Villages – 12 October 2015

The Washington Post – Report: U.S.-Backed Kurdish Rebels May Have Committed War Crimes in Syria – 12 October 2015

Israeli Soldier is Killed and 11 Civilians Wounded by Palestinian Gunman

October 20, 2015

By Brittani Howell

Impunity Watch Reporter, The Middle East

JERUSALEM, Israel – As many as 11 people were wounded and one Israeli soldier was killed on Sunday by a Palestinian gunman in a bus station in the Israeli city of Beersheba. The attacker was shot and killed by police in what police described as a drawn out gun battle.

Israeli police officers standing near the body of the Palestinian gunman who shot and killed an Israeli soldier and wounded 11 people. (Photo Courtesy of the New York Times)

An individual who, at the time was believed to be a second attacker, was shot and wounded. The individual was mistaken as an assailant and was not involved in the attack.

Over the past month, 8 Israelis have been killed in random attacks by Palestinians and at least 18 suspected Palestinian attackers have been killed in the 30 attacks against Israel. Palestinians allege that Israel’s security forces are using excessive force. The latest attack is one of the more serious attacks this month.

Israel has erected a concrete wall approximately five meters high between Armon Hanatziv and Jabal Mukaber. The goal was to prevent rocks and petrol bombs from being hurled from Jabel Mukaber, a Palestinian neighborhood, into Armon Hazatziv, a Jewish neighborhood. Emmanuel Nahshon, spokesman for Israel’s foreign ministry, stated, “This has no political meaning.” He continued, “It’s one more aspect of our security measures.”

Palestinians allege that the roadblocks are merely collective punishment. Israel’s police spokeswoman stated that the barrier would remain, “for as long as needed and that it could be lengthened based on security needs.”

Israel has increased the presence of security forces in its cities as well as setting up roadblocks in East Jerusalem.

Tensions between Israelis and Palestinians have been high. Palestinians believe that Israel is changing the status quo of the hilltop compound, known as Temple Mount by Jews and the al-Aqsa Mosque by Muslims. Israel has denied any attempt to change the status quo and holds Palestinians accountable for promoting violence based off of false accusations.

Israeli’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, stated, “Israel is not the problem at the Temple Mount, Israel is the solution. He continued, “We will protect the status quo, we are the only ones who are doing this and we will continue to do it responsibly and seriously.”

For more information, please see:

BBC News – Israel-Palestinian Violence: Israeli Killed in Beersheva Bus Station Attack – 18 October 2015

Reuters – Palestinian Gunman Kills One, Wounds 11 in Israeli City of Beersheba – 18 October 2015

The Associated Press – Israel: Assailant Opens Fire on Bus Station, Soldier Killed – 18 October 2015

The New York Times – Israeli Soldier is Killed in Attack by Palestinian – 18 October 2015

War Crimes Prosecution Watch Volume 10, Issue 16 – October 19, 2015

October 19, 2015

War Crimes Prosecution Watch is a bi-weekly e-newsletter that compiles official documents and articles from major news sources detailing and analyzing salient issues pertaining to the investigation and prosecution of war crimes throughout the world. To subscribe, please email warcrimeswatch@pilpg.org and type “subscribe” in the subject line.

Opinions expressed in the articles herein represent the views of their authors and are not necessarily those of the War Crimes Prosecution Watch staff, the Case Western Reserve University School of Law or Public International Law & Policy Group.