UN Urges Papua New Guinea to Take Action to Stop Vigilante Witchcraft Killings

by Max Bartels 

Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania 

Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea 

Papua New Guinea (PNG) is under heavy criticism by the UN for doing little to combat the killing of women and sometimes men for suspected sorcery. Across the country deaths and illnesses are often blamed on sorcerers, those suspected of sorcery are often subject to vigilante killings. UN investigations have concluded that sorcery is often used in PNG to mask violence against women. Even though the PNG government has taken steps to combat the violence they have not been effective, impunity is often still given at the local level to those who kill alleged sorcerers.

papua-new-guinea_2481073b
Woman is burned at the stake for suspected sorcery in a PNG village
(Photo Curtesy of The Telegraph)

 These problems in PNG were brought to the forefront of the international community a year ago when a 20-year-old woman was killed for alleged witchcraft when a young boy died of illness. The town’s people blamed the young woman for the death, she was striped naked, tortured and burned alive at the stake. Even though the attack was over a year ago no one has been brought to justice for the killing. Since this disturbing murder the number of vigilante attacks on suspected witches has increased sharply, causing an increase of violence and unrest.

 The PNG government has responded to the UN demands to deter these attacks by repealing the Sorcery Act of 1971, which created the defense of sorcery for defendants on murder charges. The country has also responded by reinstating the death penalty for murder and rape in hopes that it will deter these violent attacks on women. The UN has criticized the reinstatement of the death penalty, saying that the death penalty does not help deter the violence in anyway. Instead the UN advises that prompt investigation and trials would be effective in halting the attacks.

Even with these heavy-handed measures to combat the violence, bringing those responsible for the killings to justice proves difficult. At the local level, those who kill witches or sorcerers are not deemed to be criminals by the population. Arresting them and convicting them is difficult when their local communities do not think of them as criminals.  Since the death penalty reinstatement not one person has been given the capital punishment, the deterrence is not effective if the punishment is never given out for the crime.

The UN has recently held a conference in Port Moresby, the capital of PNG to discuss these issues with the PNG government. The PNG Deputy Secretary for Legal and Justice Affairs has stated that the UN conference should form the basis for legislative reform in the country. Other government agencies have also voiced their support for the UN conference and possible policy and legislative reforms to combat the issue of witchcraft killings.

For more information, please see:

BBC News — UN Urges Action on Papua New Guinea Sorcery Attacks — 13 June 2014 

Yahoo News — UN Urges End to Impunity for PNG Sorcery Attacks — 13 June 2014

News.com.au — Papua New Guinea Slammed by Amnesty International for Lack of Actions in Socery Killing — 6 February 2014

MSN News NZ — UN Urges Action on PNG Sorcery Attacks — 13 June 2014

 

Russia Losing Support as More Eastern European Nations Choose European Union

By Kyle Herda

Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

CHISINAU, Moldova – Three Eastern European nations have all made moves that seem to support Western Europe. Moldova, Georgia, and Bulgaria have all taken a step away from Russian alliance due to European Union influence coming from Western Europe. Moldova and Georgia agreed to sign an alliance with the European Union while Bulgaria has halted work on a pipeline that will bring gas from Russia to Europe.

With reports of Russian tanks entering Ukraine, fears of conflict spreading to nearby countries escalate. (Photo courtesy of Al Jazeera)

Moldova and Georgia have both agreed to sign a June 27th association with the European Union. While both countries would still be far from joining the European Union, Moldova claims that the next step is to work towards gaining membership, with Moldovan Prime Minister Iurie Leanca stating they will “actively and effectively” work towards this goal. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will make one more visit to Chisinau in an attempt to convince Moldova to back out of the signing and work towards a stronger alliance with Russia.

Also playing a factor in Moldova is the United States. On June 7, Vice President Joe Biden announced that the United States will be giving Moldova an additional $8 million in aid to help businesses and help Moldovan businesses work more closely with other European markets.

Similarly, the United States continues to increase its presence in Europe as it sent over two B-2 stealth bombers this week “to become familiar with air bases and operations” in Europe. While the Air Force did not relate this move to the conflict in Ukraine, this appears to be a show of force and a further strengthening of assurance to allies that the United States fully supports the European Union in the Eastern European conflicts.

Bulgaria is another nation being forced to make decisions on which nations to align with, and they seem to be leaning west. A proposed pipeline through Bulgaria that would allow Russia to sell gas to Europe had its work halted in an attempt to further squeeze Russia’s economy even further.

On the other hand, Belarus lays on Russia’s border and appears to be leaning towards supporting Russia in the east-west dispute. With over 60% of respondents in a particular survey claiming they would prefer a Russian alliance and only 18% of respondents in the same poll preferring a European Union alliance, and over 65%  supporting Russia’s gaining of Crimea, it seems as though not all Eastern European nations are anti-Russia and ready to align with the European Union.

Only time will tell whether the east-west dispute will remain solely in Ukraine or spread into the surrounding nations that separate Russia from NATO countries.

For more information, please see: 

CNN – U.S. Sends B-2 Stealth Bombers to Europe 11 June 2014

Business Insider – Europe has Finally Found a Way to Make Russia Hurt Economically in Ukraine Crisis 11 June 2014

The Voice of Russia – Belarusians Turn from Europe to Russia – Sociologists 11 June 2014

The Moscow Times – Defying Russia, Moldova and Georgia Look to EU 10 June 2014

The Voice of Russia – Moldova’s Association Agreement with EU may be Serious Test for Relations with Russia – Deputy FM 10 June 2014

The White House – FACT SHEET: U.S. Assistance to Moldova 7 June 2014

UK Boosts Nigeria’s Military Aid to Fight Against Boko Haram

By: Danielle L. Cowan (Gwozdz)
Senior Desk Operator, Africa

ABUJA, Nigeria – The UK will increase its military and educational aid to help Nigeria tackle Boko Haram, Foreign Secretary William Hague has announced.

Boko Haram (photo courtesy of AFP)

 

He said Nigeria’s army would receive extra training, especially in counter-insurgency, and a million more children would be given schooling.

This is the latest promise of western help since Boko Haram abducted 200 schoolgirls in April.

Since the incident in April with Boko Haram, foreign help has been offered to help end the insurgency.

Correspondents say that attacks have increased since the April kidnappings.

The UK is hosting a meeting about the security situation and how to tackle the Boko Haram insurgents.

Nigeria’s Foreign Minister Aminu Wali will be attending the high-level gathering organized by his British counterpart Hague.

This meeting follows a summit Hague spoke at last month in London, where regional powers pledged to share intelligence and co-ordinate action against the group and its five-year insurgency.

Boko Haram has waged an increasingly bloody insurgency since 2009 in an attempt to create an Islamic state in Nigeria.

Thousands of people have died in the attacks done by Boko Haram and the subsequent security crackdown.

Hague has stressed that human rights must be respected in the operation against the militant group.

Human rights groups have accused Nigeria’s army of killing hundreds of civilians in crackdowns following Boko Haram attacks.

Hague also insisted that the extra aid must be spent effectively. There have been reports of corruption in the military.

There will be no immediate effect, however, in the villages of north-east Nigeria where people are being killed every day. There are no quick fixes to this insurgency.

The Nigerian government says the military cannot be everywhere in order to defend people.

Hague has insisted that the extra aid must be spent effectively. There have been reports of corruption in the military.

Hague further stated that the extra assistance would be provided in conjunction with France and the United States.

In a statement made last week, Hague said that “since the appalling abductions of over 200 schoolgirls in Chibok by Boko Haram, the international community has worked together closely to support Nigeria in the fight against terrorism.”

The UK, US, China, and France are among those countries that have sent teams of experts and equipment to help locate the girls.

For more information, please visit:
BBC News – Boko Haram crisis: UK boosts Nigeria military aid – 12 June 2014
The Guardian – Boko Haram crisis: UK meets on insecurity – 12 June 2014
News Break Nigeria – Boko Haram crisis: UK boosts Nigeria military aid – BBC News – 12 June 2014
Live 91.9 – Boko Haram crisis: UK boosts Nigeria military aid – 11 June 2014
World News – Boko Haram crisis: UK boosts Nigeria military aid – 12 June 2014

 

Still Possible to Prosecute Syrian War Crimes Despite UN Veto

By Kathryn Maureen Ryan
Impunity Watch Managing Editor

DAMASCUS, Syria – International prosecutors said on Tuesday that it is still possible to hold those reasonable for war crimes in Syria accountable despite the efforts by Russia and China to block any cases being referred to the international Criminal Court by the United Nations Security Council. Last month both Russia and China vetoed a U.N. Security Council resolution to refer the situation in Syria to the International Criminal Court for possible prosecution of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by actors on both sides of the conflict.

A man carries a young girl who was injured in a reported barrel-bomb attack by regime forces on June 3, 2014 in Kallaseh district of Aleppo (Photo courtesy of New Republic)
A man carries a young girl who was injured in a reported barrel-bomb attack by regime forces on June 3, 2014 in Kallaseh district of Aleppo. (Photo courtesy of New Republic)

However, despite the veto it is still possible to prosecute those reasonable for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Syria. “Just because we have had one veto in the (UN) Security Council should not stop any of us from moving forward and seeking justice for the people of Syria,” said David Crane, the former Chief Prosecutor for the Special Court for Sierra Leone  who  prosecutor who indicted Liberian president Charles Taylor.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad topped a list of 20 sample war crimes indictments of both government officials and rebels drafted by experts for eventual prosecution. The listed was given to the International Criminal Court (ICC). According to David Crane, now serving as the head of the Syria Accountability Project, this list cites specific violations of the Rome Statute for specific incidents under which a suspect could be charged.

Gerard Araud (C), France's UN representative; Professor David Crane (L), former Chief Prosecutor of the Special Court for Sierra Leone; and Dr. Stuart Hamilton, forensic pathologist, on April 15, 2014 at the UN in New York
Gerard Araud (Center), France’s UN representative; Professor David Crane (Left), and Dr. Stuart Hamilton, a forensic pathologist, Presenting on the Caesar Report on April 15, 2014 at the United in New York. (Photo Courtesy of News Republic)

Crane said the list, which was compiled by his expert group, includes both members of Syria’s military and political elite and rebel Islamist groups, the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) and the al-Nusra Front. Crane told the Press; “we have about 20 indictments of those who bear the greatest responsibility. This is a neutral effort. We’re not just going after Assad and his henchman, we are actually documenting all incidents on both sides.” although he gave no names of individuals other than Syrian President Bashar al-Assad

Desmond Lorenz de Silva, another former chief prosecutor of the Special Court for Sierra Leone, told the press that prosecuting war crimes outside of the UN system could be possible because a number of special court, including the Nuremberg trials against suspected Nazi war criminals after World War II were created outside the UN system. He said; “it’s already been done. Justice will be done in this case.”

Both Crane and de Silva were among the legal experts behind the “Caesar Report” released earlier this year which contained about 55,000 photographs depicting the tortured and abused bodies of around 11,000 people who had been killed in Syria prions between 2011 and 2013. The report is a rare visual documentation showing some of the extent of horrific atrocities committed in Syria during the nation’s three year civil war.

“We rarely get this type of evidence, most of it is circumstantial,” Crane said of the 55,000 photographs of people killed by the regime, many of the horrific photos showed evidence of forced starvation and showed that many of the victims had their eyes gouged-out.

“Make no mistake about it, these photographs could not be faked. This takes responsibility for what happened up the ladder of responsibility. It is not an act of a maverick colonel or a mad major, this is government policy,” said Sir Desmond de Silva.

A separate team of United Nations investigators has produced four confidential lists of war crimes suspects on all sides of the Syrian civil war, but the investigators have so far declined to reveal any names.

For more information Please see:

Gulf Times – Assad Tops List Handed To ICC Of War Crime Suspects – 11 June 2014

India.com – Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad Tops List of Syria War Crimes Suspects Handed to ICC – 11 June 2014

News Republic – Possible to Prosecute Syria Crimes, Despite Veto: Prosecutors – 10 June 2014

Reuters – Assad Tops List of Syria War Crimes Suspects Handed to ICC: Former Prosecutor – 10 June 2014

Jailed Opposition Leader in Venezuela Ordered to Face Trial

by Mridula Tirumalasetti
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

CARACAS, Venezuela—Leopoldo Lopez, the Harvard-educated politician, who is the leader of the Popular Will party in Venezuela, has been ordered to stand trial. Lopez has been in jail since February 18 for allegedly instigating violence, damaging property, and arson during an anti-governmental protest on February 12 where three people were killed. Lopez turned himself in after being accused of, by President Nicolas Maduro of the United Socialist Party and other ministers, planning these protests. Lopez, if convicted, faces up to 13 years in jail. The trial is supposed to start in August, according to Lopez’s lawyers.

Cardboard figure of Leopoldo Lopez, the jailed opposition leader (photo courtesy of BBC News).

The Popular Will party, a radical opposition group, seeks to force the resignation of Maduro. Demonstrations began in February over the escalating crime rates, and have continued on over the past few months. The main issues are the collapsing economy, shortages of certain food staples, and political corruption. At least 42 people have been killed since the February 12, the start of the unrest.

Human rights organizations, such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, as well as some U.S. congressman have condemned and criticized the imprisonment of Lopez and the case against him. Amnesty International argued the charges Lopez faces are a “politically motivated attempt to silence dissent.”

Even Governor and former presidential candidate, Henrique Capriles, said “Thursday’s decision was brewing for some time.” He agrees that the imprisonment of Lopez is evidence of the deteriorating Venezuelan judicial system. Capriles added, “It’s just another barricade for justice.”

The Venezuelan government has also recently accused another opposition leader, Maria Corina Machado, of conspiring with U.S. officials to assassinate the president. Both Machado and U.S. officials have denied these allegations. U.S. officials argued these allegations to be the government’s distraction from the real issue of the Venezuelan economy.

U.S. congressional leaders have, however, drafted a bill that would impose sanctions that would specifically target the Venezuelan government officials who have been accused of human rights abuses. Although the bill was approved in the House of Representatives and is currently awaiting a decision from the Senate, members of the State Department are discouraged from using these sanctions because of the possibility of ending any negotiations between the government and the opposition. Talks between the opposition forces and the government are currently halted, as the opposition demands the release of all prisoners jailed during the protests.

For more information, please see:

Al Jazeera America–Venezuela opposition leader to remain jailed–5 June 2014

BBC News–Venezuela: Leopoldo Lopez must stand trial, judge rules–5 June 2014

The Wall Street Journal–Jailed Venezuela Opposition Leader to Face Trial in August–5 June 2014

The Guardian–Venezuela opposition leader remains in jail while awaiting trial–5 June 2014