Human Rights Violation Continues

Human Rights Violation Continues

By Myriam Clerge
Impunity Watch, Africa

While addressing a crowd in Harare during Zimbabwe’s National Heroes’ Day, President Robert Mugabe used the opportunity to blame Britain for the country’s failing economy. With an inflation rate past 5000 % and unemployment at 80 %, Mugabe accused the former colonial of conspiring with his opposition and undermining the country’s economy.

Mugabe also reiterated his warning to business owners against profiteering by raising prices. Thus far at least 7,500 business managers and shop owners have been arrested. In a desperate move to gain support, Mugabe has reverted to evicting white farmers, a strategy that won him the presidency. The government announced last week that white farmers who resist eviction of land targeted for blacks would be arrested.

Critics blame the violent eviction for the country’s food shortage and poor production. More than 4000 white farmers have lost their land and the remaining has had the size of their land reduced. Furthermore, the government has passed an amendment prohibiting former owners from challenging the eviction.

The Human Rights Forum, founded in 1988 when Mugabe sent troops to crush food riots, has documented 5,307 human rights violations. The violations include 328 cases of torture, 481 assaults by a governmental or military personal, 802 unlawful arrests and detention, and 1,937 violation of freedom of expression.

For more information please see:

Yahoo – Mugabe Rails Against Britian on Zimbabwe’s Heroes’ Day – 13 August 2007

Yahoo – Zimbabwe Rights Violations Rising-Report – 08 August 2007

Yahoo – Zimbabwe Threatens White Farmers on Evictions – 08 August 2007

Hamas tightens control over Gaza

It’s been nearly two months since Hamas seized control of Gaza.  Since then there has been many changes.  Factional street fighting has virtually disappeared.  Before Hamas took control of Gaza, rival political parties fought with each other.  The violence reached a peak during the days prior to the coup.  When Hamas forced Fatah out of Gaza, the level of violence subsided.  Hamas controlled militia, known as the Executive Force, worked hard to rid lawlessness from Gaza and restore order.

This new security comes at a heavy price.  Hamas’s takeover of Gaza has seen an increase in discrimination and harassment of members of other political parties, especially Fatah supporters.  Palestinian Centre for Human Rights has documented the numerous allegations of mistreatment of Palestinians by Hamas and its Executive Force.

Recent allegations include the dismissal of high ranking officials who are also Fatah supporters.  Jumaa al-Saqqa was dismissed from his post as public relations chief at Shifa Hospital for his support of Abbas and the interim government.  Following his dismissal, he and his son were arrested by the Executive Force, but were later released.  In addition to al-Saqqa, the director of the hospital, also a Fatah supporter, was also dismissed.  Other allegations against Hamas include the report of Executive Force storming and shutting down opposition television and radio stations.

Also, the Executive Force recently enforced a ban on public demonstrations and public gatherings.  According to Ehab Al Ghsain, spokesman of the Hamas-run Interior Ministry in Gaza, demonstrators must obtain a special permit to demonstrate 48 hours prior to the event, so that proper protection for the participants may be given.  On Monday, members of the Executive Force stopped buses filled with protesters from entering Gaza City, beat its passengers and turned the bus around.  Despite the Executive Force stopping buses filled to demonstrators, 300 still managed to reach the rally site.  At the rally, officers of the Executive Force confiscated cameras, video recorders, and cell phones with camera taking capabilities; even those belonging to journalists.

The ban on demonstrations and public gatherings is a response to an increased number of rallies and demonstrations over the weekend by Fatah supporters.  These rallies are a reaction of the arrests of Fatah members made during a wedding and a previous demonstration.

For more information please see:
BBC:  “Hamas forces ‘beat Gaza rivals’”  13 August 2007. 

Gulfnews.com:  “Hamas bans unlicensed rallies in Gaza”  13 August 2007. 

Ha’aretz:  “Hamas forcibly breaks up Fatah rally in Gaza, confiscates cameras”  13 August 2007. 

International Herald Tribune:  “Hamas opponents protest in Gaza, defying ban and militia force”  13 August 2007. 

Middle East Times:  “Two months on, Hamas tightens grip on Gaza” 13 August 2007. 

Reuters:  “Hamas cracks down on ‘unlicensed’ rallies in Gaza”  13 August 2007. 

New York Times:  “20 hurt as Fatah members protest arrests at wedding”  12 August 2007. 

BBC:  “Hamas detains Fatah men in Gaza”  11 August 2007. 

Palestinian Centre for Human Rights:  “Press Releases”.

Update on the Investigation into the Death of Tevita Malasebe

Since the death of rugby player Tevita Malasebe in June the international community has been paying particularly close attention to the courts of Fiji to see if the interim government was serious about its desire to end corruption in Fiji.  While there are several heartening signs to indicate that the interim government is not using its authority to shield those implicated in the death, there jury is still out regarding whether the government will behave in good faith.

Malasebe, 30, was taken from his family’s home by police officials early on the morning of 6 June, the officers insisting that he was only being taken to discuss “minor matters”.  The officers indcated that Malasebe was to be taken to Valelevu Police Station for questioning. When Malasebe’s mother, Anisa Nakuila, went to the police station an hour later to look for her son, she was told that neither Malasebe nor any of the arresting officers had returned to the station.  She did not learn of her son’s fate until staff at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital called her and asked her to come down and identify her son’s body.  acting police commissioner Romanu Tikotikoca announced that the incident would be investigated as a murder and that transparency and justice would be the hallmarks of the investigation.

The first heartening sign came during the bail procedure on July 26.  Seven police officers–Corporal Eremasi Naraga, Constable Lole Vulaca, Constable Waisale Boletawa, Constable Maika Rauqera, Constable Rusiate Korovusere, Constable Jone Cama and Constable Eronimo Susunikoro–were charged with the murder of Malasebe and Sargeant Pita Matai was charged as an accessory to the murder.  Each man posted his $500 and most offered their spouse as their surety.  Wilisoni Kurisaqila, the State Lawyer in charge of the case, suggested to the court that alternate surety be provided, believing that the spouses of the accused would not be credible enough.  Justice Shameem agreed and ordered the defendants to provide more appropriate sureties.  Attorney for the Defendants Semesa Karavaki assured the court that the accused would provide alternate sureties, but that it would take some time to find such individuals.  The matter was then adjourned for later consideration.

Transparency International’s Fiji administrator, Harry Singh, has also issued a statement that the investigations into Malasebe’s death and into the death of two other men, Nimilote Verebasaga and Sakiusa Rabaka (who also died while in police custody), were proceeding well.  While there have been delays in both cases, Singh insists that there are good reasons for the delays.  “I don’t see anything wrong with it from our perspective, because the DPP has approved the charges to be laid and now it is a matter of charges being processed in the proceedings with the court system. I have no difficulty with that. And the other case, we have full confidence in the independence of the DPP in taking the other cases to the courts.”

However, the Fijian President, Ratu Josefa Iloilo, has still not taken a firm stand on whether or not he will extend immunity to the police and military personnel implicated in these cases.  After last December’s coup, the President presented a mandate which stated that: “Where necessary, facilitate all legal protection and immunity, both criminal and civil, to the Commander, officers and all members of the military”.  If the president does decide to grant immunity it could prove the worst fears of many international observers regarding the state of the the judiciary in Fiji.

The case is scheduled for call on September 20.

Please see also:
“Mum Grieves for Dead Son” Fiji Times Online (6 June 2007)
“Police Treat Case as Murder” Fiji Times Online (8 June 2007)
“Accused to Provide ‘Alternate Sureties'” Fiji Times Online (4 August 2007)
“President Silent on Immunity” Fiji Times Online (13 August 2007)
“Fiji agency of watchdog group says investigation into deaths in custody proceeding transparently” Radio New Zealand International (13 August 2007)

Update on the Investigation into the Death of Tevita Malasebe

Since the death of rugby player Tevita Malasebe in June the international community has been paying particularly close attention to the courts of Fiji to see if the interim government was serious about its desire to end corruption in Fiji.  While there are several heartening signs to indicate that the interim government is not using its authority to shield those implicated in the death, there jury is still out regarding whether the government will behave in good faith.

Malasebe, 30, was taken from his family’s home by police officials early on the morning of 6 June, the officers insisting that he was only being taken to discuss “minor matters”.  The officers indcated that Malasebe was to be taken to Valelevu Police Station for questioning. When Malasebe’s mother, Anisa Nakuila, went to the police station an hour later to look for her son, she was told that neither Malasebe nor any of the arresting officers had returned to the station.  She did not learn of her son’s fate until staff at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital called her and asked her to come down and identify her son’s body.  acting police commissioner Romanu Tikotikoca announced that the incident would be investigated as a murder and that transparency and justice would be the hallmarks of the investigation.

The first heartening sign came during the bail procedure on July 26.  Seven police officers–Corporal Eremasi Naraga, Constable Lole Vulaca, Constable Waisale Boletawa, Constable Maika Rauqera, Constable Rusiate Korovusere, Constable Jone Cama and Constable Eronimo Susunikoro–were charged with the murder of Malasebe and Sargeant Pita Matai was charged as an accessory to the murder.  Each man posted his $500 and most offered their spouse as their surety.  Wilisoni Kurisaqila, the State Lawyer in charge of the case, suggested to the court that alternate surety be provided, believing that the spouses of the accused would not be credible enough.  Justice Shameem agreed and ordered the defendants to provide more appropriate sureties.  Attorney for the Defendants Semesa Karavaki assured the court that the accused would provide alternate sureties, but that it would take some time to find such individuals.  The matter was then adjourned for later consideration.

Transparency International’s Fiji administrator, Harry Singh, has also issued a statement that the investigations into Malasebe’s death and into the death of two other men, Nimilote Verebasaga and Sakiusa Rabaka (who also died while in police custody), were proceeding well.  While there have been delays in both cases, Singh insists that there are good reasons for the delays.  “I don’t see anything wrong with it from our perspective, because the DPP has approved the charges to be laid and now it is a matter of charges being processed in the proceedings with the court system. I have no difficulty with that. And the other case, we have full confidence in the independence of the DPP in taking the other cases to the courts.”

However, the Fijian President, Ratu Josefa Iloilo, has still not taken a firm stand on whether or not he will extend immunity to the police and military personnel implicated in these cases.  After last December’s coup, the President presented a mandate which stated that: “Where necessary, facilitate all legal protection and immunity, both criminal and civil, to the Commander, officers and all members of the military”.  If the president does decide to grant immunity it could prove the worst fears of many international observers regarding the state of the the judiciary in Fiji.

The case is scheduled for call on September 20.

Please see also:
“Mum Grieves for Dead Son” Fiji Times Online (6 June 2007)
“Police Treat Case as Murder” Fiji Times Online (8 June 2007)
“Accused to Provide ‘Alternate Sureties'” Fiji Times Online (4 August 2007)
“President Silent on Immunity” Fiji Times Online (13 August 2007)
“Fiji agency of watchdog group says investigation into deaths in custody proceeding transparently” Radio New Zealand International (13 August 2007)

Papua New Guinea: Somare re-elected PM; tensions with Australia escalate

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Michael Somare was re-elected on Monday for a second consecutive term, and his fourth term overall.  During the election, he accused Australia of interfering in the election process, likely due to the heated discussions last week over a leaked report which revealed that Somare sanctioned or ordered the flight of Julian Moti, who is wanted on sex offense charges in Australia.

Australia will continue to press the issue.  Foreign Affairs Minister Alexander Downer said, “We would hope that with Sir Michael Somare reappointed as Prime Minister, he would now publish the board of inquiry’s report into the Moti affair so that everybody can have a good look at it.”  The current tensions between PNG and Australia have led to a slow-down of other bilateral projects, including development, and Downer emphasized that the annual aid would be focused on the welfare of everyday PNG citizens rather than politicians, reports the Sydney Morning Herald.

There were internal tensions surrounding this election in addition to those with Australia.  Three rival members of Parliment filed a Supreme Court application challenging Somare’s election on the grounds that he was not the leader of the National Alliance party at the time of the election.  Under the party’s constitution, Somare was not capable of representing the party as its leader, and this in turn violates the Organic Law on the Integrity of Political Parties and Candidates.  The court will rule on the submission on Friday.  A ruling in favour of the opposition would require parliment to hold another election for prime minister.

Civilians planned a large-scale protest in Port Moresby.  Their primary grievances are what is now being termed the Moti Affair, the legalization of casinos, and the discontinuation of a corruption inquiry into the Finance Department.  Governor Powes Parkop and regional MPs for Port Moresby have backed the protest march.  Parkop is a human rights lawyer, in addition to being governor.  He said, “Civil groups are organizing to protest in Port Moresby and police are being deployed — hopefully not a means to stop them — but it appears to be a means to stopping them.  And my concern is that our people have the right to influence the formation of the government; we should not leave it to those people with money and power and a lot of resources.”

Please see also:
“PNG PM accuses Australia of interference in elections”  Radio New Zealand International (12 August 2007)
“Somare elected PNG PM for second consecutive 5-year term”  Radio New Zealand International (13 August 2007)
“Court challenge may marr Sir Michael’s PM appointment”  Pacific Magazine (13 August 2007)
“Tensions rise over Moti affair”  Sydney Morning Herald (14 August 2007)

* Those curious about civilian statements on Somare’s election may find this article from the Post-Courier to be of interest.