Charles Taylor to be Jailed in UK if Convicted

Charles Taylor to be Jailed in UK if Convicted

By Impunity Watch Africa

Former Liberian President Charles Taylor, on trial in The Hague for war crimes committed during Sierra Leone’s civil war, will serve his sentence in Britain if convicted.  Britain’s government signed a sentence enforcement agreement with the United Nations-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone this week.

Taylor’s trail opened last month, and he has plead not guilty to all eleven counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity related to Sierra Leone’s civil war that killed an estimated 50,000 people. He is accused of instigating murder, mutilation, and the recruitment of child soldiers while backing Sierra Leone’s rebels in exchange for diamonds.  After an initial boycott of his trial, Taylor made a surprise appearance earlier this month.  He has argued that he had inadequate funds to provide a defense, despite many suspicions that he his hiding a fortune somewhere.  Judges ordered that Taylor be assigned a new defense team, increased the amount of money available for his legal defenses, and postponed the trial until August 20.

Meanwhile, Liberia’s government has started to make moves to seize Taylor’s assets.  A bill that covers the property of Taylor’s relatives and associates has been passed to Liberia’s parliament for discussion.  The Liberian government is seeking power “to seek the assistance of other nations in tracking, freezing, confiscating the funds, properties and assets” of the ex-president and others concerned.   All of his assets held abroad have already been seized through a 2004 UN Order.  Taylor, who has claimed he is indigent, will be receiving $100,000 a month for his legal defense by the Special Court.

For more information, please see:

Reuters – Liberia’s Taylor to be Jailed in UK if Convicted – 13 July 2007

Daily Mail – Former Liberian President Will be Jailed in UK if Convicted of War Crimes – 13 July 2007

BBC – Liberia ‘to Seize Taylor Assets’ – 12 July 2007

Jurist – Liberia Moves to Seize Taylor Assets – 13 July 2007

Gunmen in Niger Delta Seize Chief’s Son

By Meryl White
Impunity Watch, Africa

Three year old son of Iriebe Chief Eze Francis Amadi was captured en route to school in Nigeria’s oil capital, Port Harcout. This most recent kidnapping in the Niger Delta comes four days after the three year old British girl, Margaret Hill was freed from captivity. Moreover, seven hostages, including five foreigners and two executive Nigerian managers, were recently released last week.

Nevertheless, in the past month, four children have been held hostage in this volatile region. Furthermore, in this year alone, more than 150 foreigners have been victims of targeted kidnappings. Presently, more than a dozen people still remain in captivity.

Tom Ateke, leader of a militant group in the Niger Delta calls for armed groups in the area to abandon their weapons and seek discussion with the Nigerian government. However, militants are likely to refuse this option, as they believe that it is unfair that they live impoverished conditions while residing in Africa’s largest oil producing nation. These militants want an increased share of the oil revenues.

Currently, criminal gangs take advantage of Nigeria’s oil state, as it allows for targeted kidnapping of wealthy and political individuals. According to journalist, Tony Tamuno, “It is all about cash; criminals have taken over,” he said. Conversely, other militants take hostages in an attempt to gain more political rights.

The “commercialization” of kidnappings have lead to much instability in the region. Moreover, it has decreased Nigeria’s oil production by more than 25%, which has ultimately lead to increased oil prices throughout the world.

For more information, please see:

BBC – Gunmen Seize Nigerian Chief’s Son – 12 July 2007

MSNBC – Police: Nigeria’s Chief’s 3 Year Old Son Kidnapped – 12 July 2007

VOA – Gunmen Kidnap Three-Year-Old Child in Nigeria – 12 July 2007

Battle Between Ugandan Clans

By Myriam Clerge
Impunity Watch, Africa

During the 1970’s and 1980’s Uganda was notorious for its civil rights abuses. Since then current President Yoweri Museveni has introduced democratic reform and has been credited with improving human rights.

Unfortunately that has not been enough to quell the dispute between rival groups, the Bagungu and the pastoralists. The source of dispute between the farmers and the herdsmen is a 20 square-mile piece of land at Bugana, Kichoke, Katareba and Waiga villages. Some claim the fighting is fueled by prospects of oil that has been discovered in the area. Last month 10 people were injured when the Bagungu tried to forcefully evict the pastoralists.

Two herdsmen were injured this past Saturday when the two groups clashed. The fighting erupted during a meeting convened by the Second Deputy Prime Minister, Henry Muganwa Kajura. The intention of the meeting was to come create dialogue between the two groups.

Mass police forces were deployed and stationed to the village of Rwangara, a village prone to trouble. Since the deployment there has not been any attack. However past fighting have left most homes deserted or burnt to the ground and the remains of hacked cattle.

In the meantime, herdsmen in the conflict torn Bulisa village are sleeping in the bushes at night, while their families shelter in camps protected by the police.

For more information please see:

AllAfrica – Uganda- ‘We’ll Die Here’- Bulisa Herdmen – 11 July 2007

AllAfrica – Uganda- Fresh Fighting in Bulisa – 09 July 2007

BBC – Country Profile: Uganda – 12 April 2007

Man Stoned to death in Iran

On July 5, local Iranian authorities executed Jafa Kiana near the town of Takestan, Qazvin province.  10 years ago, the Criminal Court in Takistan found Kiana, along with Mokarrameh Ebrahimi, guilty of adultery and sentenced them to death by stoning.  On June 20, a day before the pair was scheduled to be stoned, Ayatollah Mahmud Hashemi Shahrudi, Iran’s top judicial official stayed the execution.  Despite the stay, local officials carried out the execution.

Now, international organizations, like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch are working to protect Ebrahimi from the same fate.  In December 2002, Shahrudi ordered a ban on stoning.  Despite the ban, the practice still continues.  Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch argue that until Iran officially removes stoning as a punishment, local authorities will continue to carry out these executions.

Iran is experiencing international pressure for their position on capital punishment.  Not only is Iran facing criticism for implementing stoning as a method of execution, but they are also facing criticism for sentencing adulterers to death.  In the face of this criticism, Iran plans to execute twenty sex offenders by hanging.  Officials refuse to bow to outside pressure on the issue of capital punishment and will continue to uphold the country’s religious beliefs and legal system.

For more information please see:
Guardian :  “Iran to defy west by executing sex offenders”  11 July 2007. 

Human Rights Watch:  “Iran:  Prevent stoning of condemned mother”  11 July 2007. 

Amnesty International UK:  “Iran: Woman faces stoning for adultery”  10 July 2007. 

BBC:  “Iran ‘adulterer’ stoned to death” 10 July 2007. 

Amnesty International:  “Save Iranian woman from execution by stoning”  9 2007. 

Human Rights Watch:  “Iran:  Stop executions by stoning slated for June 21”  20 June 2007.

Yemen ceasefire becomes increasingly fragile

The ceasefire between the Yemen government and the Believing Youth has become increasingly fragile, disturbing Sa’ada residents.

The Sa’ada region has been a bloody battleground for many years.  The Yemen Government is fighting to stop the Believing Youth.  The purpose of the Believing Youth is to overthrow the government and replace it with a Zaidi imamate.  The group is opposed to Yemen’s close relationships with the United States and Israel. Beside self-preservation and overthrowing the government, the group’s purposes are unclear.

The ceasefire was enacted on June 16, 2007 to help the Sa’ada region recover from the warfare.  The purpose of the agreement was to enable the government to give the people in the region the necessary healthcare, food, and agricultural supplies for the Sa’ada people’s survival.  In exchange for the treatment of the people of Sa’ada, the rebels agreed to turn over their weapons to the Yemenite Government.

The continued instability combined with the rebels increasing reluctance to turn over their weapons to the Yemenite government has created a fragile ceasefire.  However, gunfire has been continually exchanged in the Ghamer district between the rebels and the pro-government tribesmen.  The Believing Youth have been hesitant to agree to the initial ceasefire agreement.  They have added additional conditions, as well as, demanding that the government fulfills its obligations before they hand over their weapons.  The government sees this demand as impossible and has tried to negotiate a different agreement.

Furthermore, the rebels have accused the government of launching a media campaign against them, and abducting the rebel soldiers.  These claims are possibly legitimate since the Yemenite government has shut down the competing media outlets to the official news, and has arrested the editor of the leading online newspaper which supported the Believing Youth.  With a strong hold on the media, the government has the opportunity to operate without the necessary scrutiny of the general public.

The ceasefire is necessary for the people in the war-torn region, because the agreement infuses the area with the government aid necessary to rebuild the community.  The battle has taken its toll on the people, leaving killing many civilians, destroying the region’s agriculture, and spreading diseases.  Not only have civilians been killed, but it is difficult for those who are remaining to get jobs and survive.  Recently, UNICEF reported that the children at the regional camps suffer from anemia and leg swelling.  If these problems are not addressed soon, it will give the people in the Sa’ada region a greater reason to overthrow the government, because they will not have anything left to lose. 

Yemen Times. Sa’ada residents fear renewal of clashes. 8 July 2007.
Reuters. Yemen ceasefire strained over arms handover. 12 July 2007.
IRIN. Yemen:Despite Ban on arms, activists warn of increasing violence. 8 July 2007.