BAGHDAD, Iraq – Over 1,000 Iraqis were killed across that country this month, reports AFP, reversing a trend of declining violence in Iraq.  Data from Iraq’s interior, health and defense ministries indicate that over 966 of those killed were civilians.

Most were killed in the crossfire in the fighting between Shiite militants and security forces, security officials said.  Combined figures from the three ministries complied by AFP shows that over 1,700 civilians were wounded in this violence, as well.  Read more...

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Over 1,000 Iraqis were killed across that country this month, reports AFP, reversing a trend of declining violence in Iraq.  Data from Iraq’s interior, health and defense ministries indicate that over 966 of those killed were civilians.

Most were killed in the crossfire in the fighting between Shiite militants and security forces, security officials said.  Combined figures from the three ministries complied by AFP shows that over 1,700 civilians were wounded in this violence, as well.  Read more...

TASHKENT, Uzbekistan – After reviewing sanctions placed on Uzbekistan for human rights violations surrounding the Andijan Massacre in 2005 (see Impunity Watch article here), the EU has decided to keep the sanctions suspended.  EU foreign ministers remain seriously concerned about human rights protections in Uzbekistan, but believe the sanctions should remain suspended due to progress made by the government by abolishing the death penalty and releasing some rights activists.

For more information, please see:

Impunity Watch - BRIEF: EU Reviews Sanctions on Uzbek Government for Human Rights Violations – 29 April 2008

Reuters - EU keeps sanctions on Uzbekistan suspended – 29 April 2008

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan – Pakistan’s coalition government leaders are meeting today to discuss reinstating the judges fired by President Pervez Musharraf during his declaration of emergency rule in late 2007.  By removing the judges, many believe Musharraf greatly abused his power and it has been a significant issue in Pakistani politics since.

When the coalition was formed in February after the parliamentary election (see Impunity Watch article here), it vowed to reinstate the judges by the end of April.  However, the coalition parties are struggling to resolve their differences and thus have not been able to reach a conclusion.  Analysts believe that the shaky coalition’s future rests on its ability to resolve this problem, and the future of Pakistan’s democracy is strongly connected to the coalition.  Read more...

HANOI, Vietnam – The Vietnamese government has decided to end its adoption agreement with the US after recent allegations of widespread corruption and baby-selling.

The Vietnamese government stated it will stop taking applications received after July 1^st, but it will continue to processing applications for families matched prior to that date. The end of the adoption agreement between the countries will close 42 adoption agencies operating in Vietnam.

Days earlier the US released a report accusing Vietnam of adoption fraud, baby-selling, and bribery. The US Embassy report described brokers coercing poor mothers in small villages, hospitals selling babies whose parents cannot pay their medical bills, a grandmother giving her grandchild up for adoption without the parents knowing, and cash-donations diverted for personal uses.  Read more...

SUVA, Fiji — After the Pacific Island Forum’s condemnation of Fiji for a lack of progress towards democratic restoration, the interim government has called for a political forum to discuss Fiji’s electoral process.  Interim Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama, who is currently in Singapore on a fact finding mission, called for the nation’s politicians to gather to work together for the betterment of Fiji.  Particularly, Bainimarama has appealed to deposed PM Lasenia Qarase to engage in talks in order to tackle of question about Fiji’s democracy and to improve their failing economy.  Read more...

By Laura Zuber
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Middle East

BEIT HANOUN, Gaza – On April 28, four young children and their mother were killed during an Israeli incursion into northern Gaza.  Palestinian medics identified the dead children as sisters Rudina and Hana Abu Maateq, aged six and three; and their brothers, Saleh, four, and Mousad, 15 months. Their mother, Meissar, died later of wounds she sustained.  In addition, two older siblings sustained serious injuries.  Read more...

TASHKENT, Uzbekistan – This week, the European Union (EU) begins its twice-yearly review of the current sanctions placed on Uzbekistan and it will decide whether the current suspension on those sanctions should continue.  The sanctions were originally instated in response to the Andijan Massacre, an incident in 2005 when the Uzbek government fired into a crowd of protesters, killing hundreds and then allegedly hiding the bodies in mass graves.

When the EU originally placed sanctions on Uzbekistan, it had also demanded that an independent international investigation be conducted.  The investigation has not yet taken place.  Read more...

By Hayley J. Campbell
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

DILI, East Timor — Twelve rebels suspected of masterminding the assassination attempts on East Timor’s President and Prime Minister in February, surrendered today after hiding in the jungle for more than two months. President Jose Ramos-Horta has declared the peaceful resolution a turning point in East Timor’s violent history.

The surrender comes after rebels shot and seriously wounded the President on the morning of February 11th. Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao was also targeted in a separate attack, but escaped unharmed. The President returned to his duties last week after a two month recovery in Darwin, Australia.  Read more...

NEW YORK, United States – Human Rights Watch sent a letter to the UN Security Council asking them to address serious concerns about the detention policies of US-led forces in Iraq.  The group said the US invokes Security Council resolutions to justify holding thousands of Iraqis for “indefinite periods, without judicial review, and under military processes that do not meet international standards.”

“The Bush administration pushed the [UN] Security Council to declare that the US-led occupation of Iraq had ended in June 2004,” said Joe Stork, HRW’s Middle East deputy director.  “And the end of occupation means that international human rights standards apply – judicial review, access to legal counsel and family members, and a fair trial,” he added.  Read more...