|
War Crimes Prosecution Watch: Volume 12, Issue 21 – December 26, 2017
FREDERICK K. COX INTERNATIONAL LAW CENTER Founder/Advisor |
War Crimes Prosecution Watch
Volume 12 – Issue 21 |
Editor-in-Chief James Prowse Technical Editor-in-Chief Managing Editors |
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.
Contents
AFRICA
CENTRAL AFRICA
- VOA: CAR Experiences Alarming Rise in Violence, Criminality
- News 24: Clashes in northern C Africa threaten security plan
- Register Citizen: Under-fire UN peacekeepers struggle in African nation at war
- Al Jazeera: Displaced CAR residents fear new wave of violence
- The Guardian: ‘The future is very dark’: Central African Republic’s relentless cycle of suffering
- ReliefWeb: Human Rights Commission wants end to impunity for perpetrators of violence against South Sudanese
- Reuters: South Sudan rebels accuse army of attack as peace talks restart
- VOA News: Fighting Pushes More South Sudanese Into Congo
- Sudan Tribune: Sudan’s al-Bashir hails Rwanda stance against ICC
Democratic Republic of the Congo
- CNN: 15 UN peacekeepers slain in Congo
- Reuters: Congo fighters jailed for life for child rape ceremonies: rights groups
- Africa News: Congolese war criminal Lubanga ordered to pay $10m to child soldiers
- ABC News: Burundi’s president launches campaign to extend his rule
- Human Rights Watch: Burundi: Rights Defender Detained — Stop Intimidating Activists
WEST AFRICA
Lake Chad Region — Chad, Nigeria, Niger, and Cameroon
- Task and Purpose: Fallout From Deadly Niger Ambush Worsens As Bombshell Reports Target AFRICOM
- Los Angeles Times: Nigerian military arrests more than 400 associated with Boko Haram
- Voice of America: Militants in Lake Chad Region Block Polio Program
- CNBC: Al Qaeda’s arm in North Africa has made around $100 million through ransom and drug trading, study says
- Japan Times: Gunmen kidnap and later kill workers laying fiber-optic cables in Mali
- Vanguard: ‘Jihadists’ kill six in Mali attack
- The Daily Herald: African anti-jihadi force gets millions after French meeting
EAST AFRICA
- AllAfrica: The Monitor: US Envoy Decries Attack On Media
- Reuters: Uganda parliament debate on presidential age cap halted as scuffles break out
Rwanda (International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda)
- The New Times: President Kagame inaugurates Campaign against Genocide museum
- Medafrica Times: Fresh report accuses France of complicity in 1994 genocide
- Radio France Internationale: Rwandan defence minister refuses to face French judge over Habyaramina death
- Human Rights Watch: Rwanda Needs to Take Torture Seriously
- The Hill: US strikes explosives-filled vehicle in Somalia
- Merced Sun-Star: Suicide bomber kills 18 at Somalia police academy
- Al Jazeera: Officers dead in Somalia police academy bombing
- All Africa: U.S. Orders New Probe On Alleged Massacre
- All Africa: Up to 30 Percent of Soldiers Unarmed
NORTH AFRICA
- Reuters: Gunmen assassinate mayor of Libya’s biggest port city
- The Libya Observer: Presidential Council condemns murder of Misrata mayor, says it was terrorist act
EUROPE
Court of Bosnia & Herzegovina, War Crimes Chamber
- Balkan Insight: Bosnia Arrests Wartime Commander for General’s Murder
- Balkan Insight: Bosnian Serb Ex-Soldier Charged with Wartime Rape
- Balkan Insight: Bosnian Army Ex-Soldiers Arrested for Killing 30 Serbs
- Balkan Insight: Bosnian Croat Ex-Policeman Jailed for Assaulting Boy
- Balkan Insight: Bosnian Serb Ex-Soldiers Arrested on Genocide Charges
International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia
- Balkan Insight: Hague Tribunal Declares ‘Mission Accomplished’
- Anadolu Agency: UN Yugoslav court to close in December
- Balkan Insight: Vojislav Seselj Acquittal: UN Court to Hear Appeal
- Balkan Insight: Prosecution Challenges Vojislav Seselj’s War Crimes Acquittal
- Balkan Insight: Vojislav Seselj ‘Slept Through’ War Crimes Appeal
Domestic Prosecutions In The Former Yugoslavia
- Balkan Insight: Serbian Trial for Croatia Massacre Blighted by Delays
- Balkan Insight: The Never-Ending War Crimes Trial of Branimir Glavas
- Balkan Insight: Kosovo Veterans Campaign Against Special Court Law
- Balkan Insight: Serbian Court Delays Srebrenica Massacre Trial
- Balkan Insight: Serbia’s War Crimes Strategy ‘Failing to Deliver’
- Balkan Insight: Kosovo Witnesses Tell Belgrade Court of Relatives’ Murders
MIDDLE EAST AND ASIA
- Middle East Monitor: Rights group: ‘Hunting down’, ‘killing’ British Daesh fighters is a war crime
- The Washington Post: Iraq declares complete victory in the war against Islamic State
- Iraqi News: Mass grave with relics of 50 people found in Nineveh’s Sinjar
- The Guardian: British troops breached Geneva conventions in Iraq, high court rules
- BBC News: Iraq hangs 38 on terrorism charges
- The New Arab: ‘Execution is not the answer’: Human rights groups condemn Iraq’s mass hangings
- Iraqi News: Official warns of IS return to border area between Salahuddin, Diyala
- Al-Jazeera: More than 9,000 killed in battle for Mosul
- The Huffington Post: Time Is Running Out For Syria’s Besieged Communities
- Reuters: France says Syria’s Assad not looking for peace, committing mass crimes
- The Intercept: Assad Agreed to Local Cease-Fires In Syria — But War Crimes Worsen In Eastern Ghouta
- Al-Jazeera.com: Saudi-led coalition air raids ‘kill 11 Yemen civilians’
- Department of Defense, From a U.S. Central Command News Release: Centcom Officials Provide Update on Recent Counterterrorism Strikes in Yemen
- BBC News: Yemen rebel missile fired at Riyadh ‘bears hallmarks’ of Iran
- The Washington Post: Source: UN: Coalition airstrikes kill 136 in Yemen in 11 days
Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia
- Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia: Pre-Trial Chamber Concludes Two Days Hearings In Case 004/1
- Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia: Case 004
- The Daily Star: At STL, defense tries to paint extremist picture of self-proclaimed bomber
- The Daily Star: STL prosecution links accused to Hezbollah
Bangladesh International Crimes Tribunal
- Sri Lanka Guardian Culture: Bangladesh: Gonojagoron Monch Movement: It remains in the garden of its grace
- The Economist: The battle between Bangladesh’s two begums is over
- Fazlur Rahman Raju: ‘All of them need to face justice’
- Dhaka Tribune: Trial of 195 Pakistani soldiers in limbo
- Dhaka Tribune: International Crimes Tribunal instructs submission an investigation report against Musa
War Crimes Investigations in Burma
- The Times of Israel:UN slams ‘shocking’ killing of double amputee Gazan protester
- Aljazeera: Palestinian teen in coma after shot with rubber bullet
- Gulf Times: Israeli troops kill 3 Palestinians, wound scores in protests over Jerusalem
- ReliefWeb: Coinciding with International Human Rights Day, Israeli Forces’ Kill and Injure Non-Violent Protestors of US Decision on Jerusalem
AMERICAS
- Colombia Reports: Colombia, Mexico and US vow increased cooperation against crime
- Associated Press: Citizen’s Group Seeks US Accountability for CIA Renditions
- The Guardian: Mexico: murders of women rise sharply as drug war intensifies
- Newsweek: Mexican Drug War: More than 100 Mayors Killed Sinced 2006 Because the Federal Government Abanoned Them, Data Shows
- The New York Times: Mexico Strengthens Military’s Role in Drug War, Outraging Critics
- Fox News: In rare visit, UN expert pleads with Venezuela
- DailyMail: Colombia rights activists facing danger, U.N. says
- TeleSUR: Ford Argentina Former Execs on Trial for Human Rights Crimes
TOPICS
Truth and Reconciliation Commission
- Daily Maverick: South Africa confirms withdrawal from ICC
- Human Rights Watch: Gambia: Truth Commission to Uncover Jammeh Abuses
- Al Jazeera: After a year of elections, Nepal moves closer to China
- Anadolu Agency: Germany welcomes Istanbul court ruling on reporter
- Daily Nation: Syria’s Bashar al-Assad accuses France of backing ‘terrorism’
- Dallas News: Man gets 28 years in plot to behead blogger who organized prophet Muhammad cartoon contest in Garland
- Maritime Herald: Success and Failure for Asian Pirates in November
- Port Technology: Pirates Attack Container Vessel in Gulf of Guinea
- Mfame: Greek Bulk Carrier Attacked by Pirates, 10 Crew Kidnapped
- CNN: Sexual violence widespread during Kenyan elections, report says
- Human Rights Watch: Kenya: Sexual Violence Marred Elections
- Relief Web: Human Rights Commission wants end to impunity for perpetrators of violence against South Sudanese
- Eyewitness News: [Analysis] A Chance For International Criminal Court To Fix Sex Crimes Injustice
- The Economist: What the Yugoslav war-crimes tribunal achieved
- CNN: Syria civil war: Will anyone be prosecuted for war crimes?
- The Guardian: The Observer view on the effectiveness of international law
- Miami Herald: Something’s wrong with war court prosecutor’s charges in Southeast Asia terror plots
WORTH READING
—
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups “warcrimeswatch – War Crimes Prosecution Watch” group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to warcrimeswatch+unsubscribe@case.edu.
Syrian Network for Human Rights: The Syrian Regime Has Dropped Nearly 70,000 Barrel Bombs on Syria
The Ruthless Bombing
SNHR has released a report entitled: “The Ruthless Bombing” which documents that Syrian regime forces has dropped nearly 70,000 barrel bombs since July 2012.
The report says that the use of barrel bombs by the Syrian regime army manifest one of the most appalling ways in which the international community has blatantly let down the Syrian people as these barrel bombs have been forgotten almost completely in the last year with no condemnations to be heard about the repeated use of this barbarian type of weapons. Additionally, the report questions the possibility of accepting a regime that drops barbarian barrels on its own country without agreeing to any form of political settlements, except for one that rehabilitees it and only leads to giving some ceremonial ministries to its opponents.
Fadel Abdul Ghany, chairman of SNHR, says:
“The repeated use of this arbitrary, indiscriminate weapon against residential communities is a message to the Syrian people that protecting civilians and the international law are mere illusions, and that you have to submit and accept the regime that is killing you. Security Council has to take decisive action against the Syrian regime’s use of arbitrary weapon on this large, widespread scale. The U.N. special envoy has also to play a more effectual role in putting an end to the winter of barrel bombs in Syria.”
The report documents the toll of barrel bomb use by Syrian regime forces from the first time it was used in July 2012 until December 2017 and the resultant casualties and attacks on vital civilian facilities. The report stresses that the use of barrel bombs haven’t stopped for even one month, including the months that saw de-escalation agreements or Geneva Talks.
The report draws upon the daily, ongoing, routine monitoring and documentation efforts, in addition to accounts by survivors, eyewitnesses, and local media activists as the report contains nine accounts. Also, the report relies on videos and pictures that were posted online.
The report sheds light on the nature of barrel bombs, manufacture methods used by the Syrian regime, types of containers and explosive materials, and whatever chemical or incendiary substances that are added in some cases. Also, the report outlines a number of areas where the Syrian regime used barrel bombs heavily in the context of military progression such as Darayya city and Khan al Sheih town in Damascus suburbs, and al Mayadeen city in Deir Ez-Zour.
The report records that no less than 68,334 barrel bombs have been dropped by Syrian regime helicopters or fixed-wing warplanes from its first documented use in July 2012 until December 2017. These barrel bombs have resulted in the killing of 10,763 civilians, including 1,734 children and 1,689 women (adult female). In addition, no less than 565 attacks on vital civilian facilities were recorded in which barrel bombs were used, including 76 on medical facilities, 140 on schools, 160 on mosques, and 50 on markets.
According to the report, the governorates that saw the largest portion of barrel bombs were Damascus and its suburbs, followed by Aleppo and then Daraa while barrel bombs were used the most in 2015 where Syrian regime forces dropped 17,318 barrel bombs in that year alone.
The report says that Security Council resolution 2139 represented some hope for the Syrian people due to the fact that barrel bombs were explicitly mentioned in that resolution which also promised to take further steps in the case of non-compliance. However, the rate of barrel bomb use, according to the report, never changed after the resolution was adopted. The report divides the overall toll of barrel bombs before and after the resolution as the report records no less than 20,183 barrel bombs since from July 2012 to February 22, 2014, when the resolution was adopted, while no less than 48,151 barrel bombs were documented in the period of time from the resolution was adopted until December 2017.
According to the report, 87 attacks with barrel bombs loaded with a poison gas and four attacks with barrel bombs loaded with incendiary ammunitions were recorded. All of these attacks took place after Security Council resolution 2139 was adopted.
The report stresses that the Syrian government has, beyond any doubt, violated Security Council Resolutions 2139 and 2254, and used barrel bombs in a systematic, widespread manner. Also, the Syrian government, through the crime of willful killing, has violated Article 7 of Rome Statute as well as the rules of the international human rights law, which guarantee the right to life. Seeing that these crimes were committed in a non-international armed conflict, it constitutes war crimes.
The report adds that barrel bomb attacks are an indiscriminate bombing that targeted defenseless civilians and caused significant damages to civilian objects. The damage was too excessive compared to the anticipated military benefit.
According to the report, The Syrian regime has violated the rules of the customary international law, the CWC, and all relevant Security Council resolutions -particularly 2118, 2209, and 2235- through the use of barrel bombs. Additionally, using chemical weapons constitutes a war crime according to the ICC’s Rome Statue.
Furthermore, the report says that Syrian regime forces have used barrel bombs loaded with incendiary ammunitions against populated residential neighborhoods without taking any measures to reduce the damages to civilians and civilian buildings and facilities.
The report calls on the Security Council to ensure the serious implementation of its resolutions, and calls on the four permanent state members to apply pressure on the Russian government in order to cease its support for the Syrian regime. In addition, the report stresses that an arms embargo should be imposed on the Syrian regime and all those who supply the Syrian regime with finance and weapon should be prosecuted in light of the risk of these weapons being used in crimes and serious violations of human rights.
Also, the report calls on the Security Council to refer the Syrian case to the International Criminal Court and provide all possible facilitations in this regard. Additionally, the report says that the Security Council should start imposing security and peace and Syria and prosecute all those whose involvement in perpetrating war crimes and crimes against humanity should be prosecuted. The report calls on the European Union and the United States to support the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism that was established in accordance with General Assembly Resolution 71/248, adopted on December 21, 2016, establish local tribunals that enjoy a universal jurisdiction, and address the war crimes that were perpetrated in Syria.
The report says that steps should be taken on the national and regional levels to form alliances to support and protect the Syrian people from the daily killing. In addition, steps should be taken to put the principle of universal jurisdiction into practice with regard to these crimes before local tribunals. Moreover, the report says that pressure should be applied on the Syrian government in order to compel it to ratify Protocol III of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons and comply with its restrictions.
The report calls for the implementation of the “Responsibility to Protect’ (R2P) norm especially after all political steps had been consumed through the agreement of the Arab League and then Kofi Annan’s plan and the Cessation of Hostilities statements and Astana Agreements that followed. Therefore, steps under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations should be taken, and the norm of the Responsibility to Protect, which was established by the United Nations General Assembly, should be implemented. The Security Council is still hindering the protection of civilians in Syria.
International Center for Transitional Justice: Year in Review 2017
|
||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||
|
ASP 2017: Day Nine Summary – Marathon diplomatic negotiation criminalizes aggressive war at ICC
|