Land Mines Explode in Niger

Land Mines Explode in Niger

By Meryl White
Impunity Watch Reporter, Western and Central Africa

NIAMEY, Niger – Since December, there have been three landmine explosions in the south of Niger. Just this week, the director of a private radio station, Abou Mahaman, was killed when he ran over the device with his car in Niamey, Niger. A woman traveling with Mahaman was seriously injured. Moreover, forensic experts believe that a second landmine was planted at the side of the road but did not explode.

Government officials have accused Tuareg-led rebels of planting the previous two landmines. At this point, no group has officially claimed responsibility. Moreover, it is unclear if Mr. Mahaman was a deliberate target. BBC reporter Baroue claims that Mahaman was not known to be a critical supporter of either faction.

This attack is the first attack to occur inside the capital where army officers, including the chief of staff, work and reside. Presently, journalists are banned from visiting northern Niger to interview rebel leaders of the Niger Justice Movement (MNJ). Last December, two French journalists were arrested when they ignored the ban and were charged with colluding with armed rebels.

In the past year, land mine explosions and ambushed have displaced over 11,000 citizens and cut off large parts of the northern region from aid.

For more information, please see:

BBC – Niger reporter killed by landmine –   9 January 2008

All Africa –   Niger: Mine Explosion in Niamey –  9 January 2008

All Africa – Niger: Media Director Killed by Landmine –   – 9 January 2008

Ninth Opposition Leader Detained in Syria

By Laura Zuber
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

DAMASCUS, Syria – On January 8, former political prisoner and opposition activist, Mohammad Haji Darwish, was arrested.  His arrest is the latest in the crackdown on political dissidence in Syria.

The Damascus Declaration, which calls for non-violent democratic change, was written and signed in 2005.  On December 1, Riad Seif, a member of Parliament and an opposition spokesman, hosted a meeting of 163 signatories of the Damascus Declaration to call for an end on Syria’s repressive laws and for a renewal of free speech and political organization.  In violation of the state’s ban on independent political parties, the attendees created the National Council and elected a president and a leadership committee.  US President Bush applauded the creation of the group and stated “the brave men and women who formed this council reflect the desires of the majority of Syrian people to live in freedom, democracy, and peace.”

Beginning on December 9, Syrian authorities began arresting individuals who attended the meeting.  On December 9, Syrian security forces arrested over 30 individuals who attended the December 1 meeting, including Dr. Ahmad Tohme and Jabr al-Shoufi, two leaders of the movement.  Within a few hours of their arrests, all but Tohme and al-Shoufi were released.  More opposition leaders were arrested in the following days; including Fidaa Horani, the president the National Council of the Damascus Declaration and Akram Bunni, an executive member of the National Council of the Damascus Declaration and brother of a leading political rights lawyer.

For more information, please see:
Daily Star – Syria Arrests Political Activist – Rights Group – 9 January 2008

AFP – Rights Group Says More Opposition Activists Held in Syria – 5 January 2008

Associated Press – Syria Arrests 2 Human Rights Activists – 18 December 2007

AFP – Syria Steps Up Crackdown on Dissidents – 17 December 2007

Human Rights Watch – Syria: More Activists Arrested Following Opposition Meeting – 17 December 2007

International Herald Tribune – Syria Arrests Dozens of Political Dissenters – 13 December 2007

BRIEF: More Setbacks for Darfur Peacekeeping Force

KHARTOUM, Sudan – The UN peacekeeping chief announced today that the UN lacks enough troops and equipment to do much to improve the situation in Darfur before mid-2008.  Jean-Marie Guehenno, the UN undersecretary-general for peacekeeping warned of “dire consequences” for Sudan and voiced some doubt that the joint AU-UN peacekeeping force deployed this month would be able to provide for even its own security.   The mission currently has 9,000 soldiers and police officers, but is supposed to eventually have 26,000.   Sweden and Norway also announced today that they will not be sending 400 troops to Darfur due to opposition from the Sudanese government. 

Meanwhile, the UN and US have both condemned the recent attack on Sudanese troops and UN peacekeepers in Darfur.  The US has called for tougher sanctions in reaction to this attack.  State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said in a statement: “The United States believes this incident demonstrates the need for a stronger arms embargo for Sudan and we will be working with our security council partners to that end.” 

The Sudanese government has denied any responsibility for the attack and insists it was the work of rebels.  Sudan’s UN envoy, Abdalmahmood Mohamad, stated that “the armed forces have no relationship whatsoever” with the convoy attack.  The government has specifically blamed the rebel group Sudanese Justice and Equality Movement (JEM).  JEM commander Abdel Aziz el-Nur Ashr dismissed the accusation and insists that that attack was in territory controlled by government forces.

For more information, please see:

International Herald Tribune – UN: 6-month setback for Darfur peacekeeping because of inadequate troops, equipment and security – 9 January 2008

AFP – Security Council, US slam Darfur attack – 9 January 2008

VOA News – Sudan UN Envoy Denies Army Attack on UN/AU Convoy in Darfur – 9 January 2008

AFP – US demands tougher sanctions on Sudan – 9 January 2008

Reuters – Sudan says rebels, not army, attacked peacekeepers – 9 January 2008

Reuters – Sweden, Norway withdraw plan for Darfur troops – 9 January 2008

Egypt Police Officers Jailed in Abuse Case

By Kevin Kim
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

CAIRO, Egypt – An Egyptian court has convicted and jailed three police officers for beating a prisoner and forcing him to parade up and down a busy street wearing women’s underclothes.

Amid increasing high-profile accusations of brutality and torture by the nation’s police officers, the court in the Mediterranean port city of Alexandria convicted three officers. It convicted senior officer Maj Yosri Ahmed Issa of torture and of degradation of prisoner, and sentenced him to five years in prison. Two other lower ranking officers who followed his orders were also given one-year sentences for degrading the prisoner.

The ordeal for the victim began on April 2007. Ibrahim Abbas was working at a car park when he asked officer Issa to move his car so other cars can enter the lot. Issa considered the request as an insult and arrested Abbas. At the police station, Issa attempted to force Abbas to confess to a robbery and beat him with batons. Later, he ordered the other two officers to force Abbas to wear women’s clothing and walk on a major street.

Many rights groups say that torture is widespread and systematic in Egyptian jails and police stations. They say torture can include beatings, electric shocks, and sexual assault. And because most torture cases never make it to court, rights violators often times enjoy impunity. Moreover, those who are accused of torture so far have been either acquitted or received light sentences and subsequent pardons.

In recent months, however, the ministry of Interior has increasingly investigated torture allegations. In November, three police officers were sentenced to seven years in prison for torturing a man to death. Three weeks earlier, a Cairo court sentenced two officers to three years in prison after a recorded video in which a man was sodomized with a stick was widely circulated on the Internet, including on the popular video-sharing site YouTube.

The Egyptian government denies torture is systematic. The authorities insist that they prosecute all cases where evidence of torture is provided against policemen.

For more information, please see:

BBC News – Egypt nightie stunt police jailed – 7 January 2008

Associated Press – Police officer jailed 5 years – 7 January 2008

Reuters – Egypt court jails three police in abuse case – 6 January 2008

Independent Online – Egypt policemen jailed in latest abuse case – 6 January 2008

Impunity Watch – Egypt police jailed 7 years for torture death – 1 December 2007

Impunity Watch – Torture endemic in Egypt – 8 November 2007

BRIEF: Georgia Election results disputed

Mikheil Saakashvili was elected to his second term as president of the Republic of Georgia.  However, his main opposition candidate Levan Gachechiladze claimed that the election was rigged and disputed the results of the vote.

Levan Gachechiladze has promised to challenge the election results through the court system.  He has threatened that he and his supporters would stage hunger strikes and massive protests.  Gachechiladze’s ally, Salome Zurabishvili stated that “the whole of Georgia will be out on the streets” by Sunday,  if the results stood with Saakashavil receiving more than 50% of the vote, which would make Saakashavil the president without having a second round vote.

For more information, please see:

BBC News- Georgia confirms Saakashvili win- 9 January 2008

Guardian Unlimited- Thousands Protest Georgia Election- 6 January 2008

International Herald Tribune (AP)- President Saakashvili says Georgia is on way to democracy- 7 January 2008

The Independent- Hunger strike vow as Saakashvili is declared victor in Georgian poll- 10 January 2008