Kenya reaches peace deal; its government defends against allegations of planned violence

Kenya reaches peace deal; its government defends against allegations of planned violence

By Julie K. Narimatsu
Impunity Watch Managing Editor – Journal

NAIROBI, Kenya – After several weeks of negotiation, primarily mediated by former Secretary-General of the UN, Kofi Annan, a deal was reached by the parties of President Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga. The deal creates the office of the prime minister, only the second in the nation’s history, as well as two deputies. The creation of the office of the prime minister represented the most significant controversy in the negotiation process. According to the agreement, the prime minister will have executive authority while the President will retain the role of head of state, and the deputies will each represent one of the parties. The cabinet positions will consist of members of both parties that will coincide with party roles in the Parliament.

The next obstacle entails obtaining the approval of the Parliament. Parliament will convene this Thursday to consider legislation and an amendment to the constitution that will give this agreement the force of law. The legislation is being drafted jointly by each party’s legal teams. Both leaders and the Kenyan people expressed relief and hopefulness regarding the future of Kenya

At the same time, the Kenyan government has been deflecting reports that it condoned violence directly after the disputed elections last December. BBC is reporting that meetings were held at the President’s residence with regard to hiring the banned Mungiki militia to act as a defense force to protect the Kikuyu, the group to which the President belongs. The government has denied these allegations as “preposterous.”

As the Parliament works to enact the new power-sharing agreement, these allegations could possibly counter this progress. The allegations also raise suspicions that both sides planned for violence in the post-election conflict. Reports from International Crisis Group and Human Rights Watch are expected, and the Kenyan government is planning a Truth and Reconciliation Commission that will likely investigate these allegations.

For more information, please visit:

Africanews.com – Kofi Annan: ‘We have a deal’ – 29 February 2008

BBC News – First Kenya meeting since deal – 4 March 2008 

BBC News – State ‘sanctioned’ Kenyan clashes – 5 March 2008

allAfrica.com – Kenya: State Denies BBC Report On Link to Post-Election Violence – 6 March 2008

Iraqi Court Drops Death Squad Charges

By Ben Turner
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

BAGHDAD-Iraq—Two former high ranking Shiite government officials charged with the kidnapping and killing of scores of Sunnis were released on March 3 for lack of evidence.

Former Deputy Health Minister, Hakim al-Zamili, and the ministry’s former Head of Security, Brig-Gen Hamid al-Shammari, were accused of orchestrating the death squads that killed Sunni Arabs.  They were charged on five counts of murder and five counts of kidnapping.

The two men denied that they allowed the death squads to use ambulances and hospitals to carry out the attacks.

The fact that the case had been brought against these officials was originally viewed as a step forward for Iraq’s judicial system, but problems arose soon after it began.  The trial court sent the case back to the investigative court three times, asked for more information, and delayed the case when witnesses failed to appear.

American officials then produced evidence that one of the judges on the panel had promised to find the defendants not guilty.  He was replaced by a senior judge.  Witnesses that did appear later contradicted their testimony.  One witness testified against al-Zamili in October before recanting his testimony on March 3.  The witness said he had “misspoken” in his earlier testimony because he was weak from fasting for Ramadan.

On March 3, two days into the trial, the prosecutor asked the court to dismiss the charges against al-Zamili and al-Shammari for lack of evidence.  The court dismissed the charges, leaving U.S. officials stunned and raised concerns about Iraqi officials’ willingness to act against sectarian violence.  The independence of the Iraqi judiciary was also questioned.

Families of the victims were outraged by the decision.

“It’s a travesty, an absolute travesty of justice,” said Ali al-Safaar.   Al-Safaar’s father, a deputy health minister, was kidnapped from his home after preparing a report on corruption that identified Zamili. “How can 13 murder cases and kidnappings and corruption be dealt with in two days?”

Zamili and al-Shammari are followers of the anti-American Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, who has recently won praise from U.S. officials for ordering his militia to abstain from violence.

Saleem Abdullah, a member of Parliament and a spokesman for Tawafiq, the main Sunni bloc, questioned whether the U.S. did not push the Iraqi government for a fair trial for fear of angering al-Sadr.

“Maybe because Sadr recently froze the Mahdi Army, they are trying not to criticize or provoke him,” Abdullah said, referring to Sadr’s recent decision to extend a cease-fire for six more months.

For more information, please see:
BBC – Iraq Drops ‘Death Squad’ Charges – 4 March 2008

New York Times – Charges Are Dropped Against 2 Shiite Ex-Officials Accused in Sectarian Killings – 4 March 2008

Times – Iraqi ‘Death Squad Chiefs’ freed – 4 March 2008

UPI – Iraq Drops Sunni Death Case For Shiites – 4 March 2008

Washington Post – Case Is Dropped Against Shiites In Sunni Deaths – 4 March 2008

Reuters – Terrorism Charges Dropped Against Ex-Iraqi Officials – 3 March 2008

BRIEF: Human Rights Activists’ Letter to Uzbek President

TASHKENT, Uzbekistan- The Birdamlik Solidarity Movement, an Uzbek human rights group, has written a letter to President Islam Karimov demanding the release of human rights activists, journalists, and religious prisoners.

The letter mentions that Karimov released five rights activists in early February in response to European Union pressure, and argues that the President only released them for political reasons.  According to the Birdamlik Solidarity Movement, “the tyrant still oppresses the government, and the innocent people who waste away inside prison walls become mere pawns on a chessboard. What will become of their fate, when they are released, and whether they will ever see the light of day remains unknown.”  The letter requests that Western societies acknowledge that Karimov is only doing the bare minimum to maintain good international relations and asks that they demand more.

The letter was copied to United Nations’ Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, as well the Uzbek Prosecutor’s office and the Uzbek Ombudsman’s office.

For more information, please see:

Inter Press Service – RIGHTS-UZBEKISTAN: ‘EU Must Take Away the Cover’ – 5 March 2008

BRIEF: Human Rights Activists’ Letter to Uzbek President

TASHKENT, Uzbekistan- The Birdamlik Solidarity Movement, an Uzbek human rights group, has written a letter to President Islam Karimov demanding the release of human rights activists, journalists, and religious prisoners.

The letter mentions that Karimov released five rights activists in early February in response to European Union pressure, and argues that the President only released them for political reasons.  According to the Birdamlik Solidarity Movement, “the tyrant still oppresses the government, and the innocent people who waste away inside prison walls become mere pawns on a chessboard. What will become of their fate, when they are released, and whether they will ever see the light of day remains unknown.”  The letter requests that Western societies acknowledge that Karimov is only doing the bare minimum to maintain good international relations and asks that they demand more.

The letter was copied to United Nations’ Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, as well the Uzbek Prosecutor’s office and the Uzbek Ombudsman’s office.

For more information, please see:

Inter Press Service – RIGHTS-UZBEKISTAN: ‘EU Must Take Away the Cover’ – 5 March 2008

BRIEF: Human Rights Activists’ Letter to Uzbek President

TASHKENT, Uzbekistan- The Birdamlik Solidarity Movement, an Uzbek human rights group, has written a letter to President Islam Karimov demanding the release of human rights activists, journalists, and religious prisoners.

The letter mentions that Karimov released five rights activists in early February in response to European Union pressure, and argues that the President only released them for political reasons.  According to the Birdamlik Solidarity Movement, “the tyrant still oppresses the government, and the innocent people who waste away inside prison walls become mere pawns on a chessboard. What will become of their fate, when they are released, and whether they will ever see the light of day remains unknown.”  The letter requests that Western societies acknowledge that Karimov is only doing the bare minimum to maintain good international relations and asks that they demand more.

The letter was copied to United Nations’ Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, as well the Uzbek Prosecutor’s office and the Uzbek Ombudsman’s office.

For more information, please see:

Inter Press Service – RIGHTS-UZBEKISTAN: ‘EU Must Take Away the Cover’ – 5 March 2008