BRIEF: Tonga Remains Under Emergency Regulations

BRIEF: Tonga Remains Under Emergency Regulations

NUKU’ALOFA, Tonga – Tonga’s emergency regulations have been extended yet again, nearly a year after pro-democracy riots demolished most of the business district in downtown Nuku’alofa.  The regulations limit access and activities in the central business district, and prevent groups of five or more from meeting in certain areas.  This is the thirteenth time the regulations have been extended.

While pro-democracy groups claim that the state of emergency constitutes an admission of guilt by the government for the conditions that led to the riot, Police Minister Noble Siaosi’Aho says that the shooting of a businesswoman during an attempted robbery is what spurred the extension this time.  He also said police investigations revealed that some individuals still plan to incite unrest or to burn down business premises or government buildings.

For more information, please see:

Islands Business – Emergency regulations continue a year after destructive riots– 13 November 2007

Radio New Zealand International – Tongan minister says recent robbery a factor in emergency extension – 13 November 2007

20 Cameroonian soldiers attacked in Bakassi Peninsula

By Meryl White
Impunity Watch Reporter, Western and Central Africa

BAKASSI, Cameroon – Near the Nigerian border, more than 20 Cameroonian soldiers were killed when attackers wearing Nigerian military uniforms ambushed a boat. The Nigerian military has denied the attacks. Instead, Nigeria claims that militants from the oil rich Niger Delta were responsible. Presently, no group has claimed responsibility for the attacks.

Bakasi has been the site of bloody clashes between Nigeria and Cameroon since the 1990s. This area extends into the Gulf of Guinea contains up to 10% of the world’s oil and gas reserves. Moreover, the area is rich in fish.

More than one year ago, Nigeria gave the Bakassi peninsula to Cameroon to comply with a decision set forth by the International Court of Justice.

The Nigerian government speculates that the attack could have been conducted by the same militant group that had earlier attacked a nearby oil terminal run by Exxon Mobil. The Exxon Mobile attack follows the five-month ceasefire against workers of the oil industry. The ceasefire was an attempt for armed groups in the area to abandon their weapons and seek discussion with the Nigerian government.

The Nigerian Defense Spokesman stated “We are willing to cooperate with Cameroon to investigate this incident. All our resources are at their disposal to ensure that the criminals are brought to justice.”

For more information, please see:

BBC – Soldiers Killed in Cameroon Raid  – 13 November 2007

AllAfrica.com – Cameroon: Bakassi – More Than One Place, More Than One Problem – 13 November 2007

Reuters – Up to 21 Cameroon troops killed in Bakassi– 13 November 2007

Turkey uses air strikes in Iraq

By Vivek Thiagarajan
Senior Desk Officer Impunity Watch, Middle East

SULAIMANIYAH, Iraq- Turkey has decided to use air strikes to attack the Kurdistan Worker’s Party (PKK) in Iraq.  The PKK is a militia seeking an independent Kurdish state.  The attack followed the deterioration of diplomatic discussion between Turkey and Iraq, because the Turks believed that their interests regarding the PKK would not be fully represented through diplomacy.  However, the action by the Turks also shows its desire to avoid a full scale invasion of the northern Iraq, because a full scale invasion could be very damaging to Turkey.

Turkish helicopters raided suspected hideouts of the PKK.  The Kurds have stated that the raids have not affected the PKK militia but rather only hit abandoned houses and shacks.  The earliest reports also seem to indicate that no one was killed in the initial attacks.  The Turkish military must try to avoid to collateral casualties, because it must not allow the PKK to incite the 14 million Kurds in Turkey to join an independence movement.

Prime Minister Erdogan has been under constant Turkish pressure to respond to the PKK’s attacks on the Turkish military.  In the month of October, 48 Turkish soldiers were killed by PKK attacks.  As the death toll increased, the Turkish government has come under increased pressure by the Turks to take action to prove that the Turkish army can act independently to protect its soldiers.  The Turkish government seems to be somewhat reluctant about this aerial attack is a reluctant attack, because it understands that the destabilization of the region could undermine Turkey’s chances to enter the European Union.

The limited aerial strike seems to be a good solution for Turkey.  It will enable the Turkish government to show it citizens that it values its soldiers.  Also, assuming the number of Kurdish casualties are limited, the aerial strikes will not enable the PKK to garner the support that it needs to engage in a full secessionist movement.  Aerial strikes should not destabilize the region too much either, which will ensure that the number of casualties in the region will be very limited.  However, the strike will only be successful if it calms down the warmongers in Turkey and does not turn into a full scale invasion.

For more information, please see:

Associated Press- Turkish Helicopters Strike Inside Iraq- 13 November 2007

Economist- Back from the brink?- 22 October 2007

Economist- Iraq’s Kurdish leader in a bind- 8 November 2007

MSNBC News- Turkish air strikes inside Iraq- 13 November 2007

New York Times- Turkish Aircraft Attack Abandoned Iraqi Villages- 13 November 2007

UPDATE: Continued Delays in Deployment of Sudan Hybrid Force

KHARTOUM, Sudan – US Deputy Secretary of State John Negraponte and Nigeria’s Foreign Minister Ojo Madeukwe discussed today the importance of a rapid deployment of the joint AU-UN peacekeeping force to Sudan’s Darfur region.  The current 7,000 AU force is scheduled to be replaced with a 26,000 UN-AU force sometime next year.   

Meanwhile, the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon appealed to the Sudanese government and other members of state to facilitate the deployment. Ban expressed his concern over the increased security incidents and worries that continued delays in deployment could lead to further deterioration in the situation.   

The aim of the joint force is to end the fighting that has killed more than 200,000 people and displaced 2.5 million since ethnic African rebels began fighting the Arab-dominated government in 2003 on accusations of discrimination.  Sudan’s government is accused of retaliating with the use of Arab militias responsible for a large part of the violence, something the government continues to deny. 

For more information, please see:

International Herald Tribune – UN chief worried about continued delay in deployment of Darfur peacekeeping force – 12 November 2007

AFP – US, Nigeria discuss early deployment of hybrid force to Sudan – 12 November 2007

For more information on the Darfur conflict, please see the following Impunity Watch reports: Upcoming Peace Talks in Sudan in Jeopardy; New Atrocities in Darfur; Ceasefire Ends in Sudan; African Union Peacekeepers Attacked in Darfur; Ongoing Conflict in Sudan; ICC Prosecutor Demands Arrests in Sudan; Secretary General Urges Sudan President to Commit to Ceasefire; Peace Talks on Darfur Scheduled for October 

BRIEF: Radio Shabelle Ordered Off the Air

MOGADISHU, Somalia – Earlier today, security forces of the Somali transitional government entered the building of Radio Shabelle and ordered all the staff out. The broadcast and station was subsequently shut down without cause. Two of the station’s senior staff, Radio Director Ja’far Kuukay and Head of Programs Abdirahman Yusuf, publicly known Al-Adala, was briefly detained by the soldiers.

Shabelle is one of the leading independent radio stations remaining in Mogadishu. Earlier this year the government accused the radio station and several Somali news organizations of supporting the rebels.  Radio Shabelle has been ordered off the air several times. The station recently resumed broadcasting on October 3rd after being forced to shut down for 15 days.

Concerned about the growing press freedom crisis, the National Union of Somali Journalist (NUSOJ) has publicly denounced the actions of the interim government and informed them, again, that it is their international obligation to protect and respect journalists. Besides Iraq, Somalia is the most dangerous place for journalists in the world. Last month, Bashir Nor Gedi, the former manager of Radio Shabelle, was murdered in front of his home after being confined in the station for nearly a week because of threats. Bashir’s death marked the eighth journalist killed this year in Somalia

For more information please see:

AllAfrica.com – Somalia: Popular Radio Station Silenced, NUSOJ Strongly Protests – 12 November 2007

Impunity Watch – Gunned Down Journalist – 22 October 2007