Despite Protests, Some Western Saharans Excited over Moroccan Poll Results

Despite Protests, Some Western Saharans Excited over Moroccan Poll Results

By Ann Flower Seyse
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

LAAYOUNE, Western Sahara – Some citizens of Western Sahara excitedly shared the news of Moroccan Poll results with their friends and relatives in refugee camps in Algeria, while many remained skeptical. Western Sahara’s sovereignty has been under dispute since Spain left the area in 1975 and Morocco annexed it.

Neighboring Algeria backed the Polisario Front, the independence movement in Western Sahara, in their fight for independence. A ceasefire has been in effect since 1991, but thousands of people remain in refugee camps and the resolution process is at a standstill.   No progress towards self-determination for Western Sahara has been made.

Before the elections the leaders of the Polisario had written to the United Nations asking them to put a stop to the illegitimate elections that were held in Western Sahara on June 11. Polisario envoy to Algeria, Brahim Ghali, said on June 12 that the “silence of the UN [would show] implicit complicity unacceptable to international logic.”

The elections were held, and now many Western Saharans, who are known as Saharwis, are hopeful about the results. The recently formed Authenticity and Modernity Party, or “PAM” won the majority of seats in Morocco’s local elections. PAM was formed in June 2008 by Fouad Ali el-Himma, who is a close friend of the Moroccan Monarch King Mohammed VI.

King Mohammed wants to change Morocco’s policies of repression and injustice, and to come to a peaceful compromise between Morocco and the Polisario. He hopes that his moderate message will convince the Saharwis that they do not need to be independent, because Morocco’s policies have changed.

Human rights groups agree that rights have improved since King Mohammed succeeded his father. However, these groups still accuse Moroccan police of beating citizens that speak out for Western Sahara’s independence, and occasionally torturing people in their custody. Pro-Polisario groups boycotted the elections and are skeptical of the PAM message of peace and compromise.

PAM won 6,015 seats, 21.7 per cent of the national vote, giving it a majority over the governing Istiqlal (Independence) party by 2.6 per cent, with 52.4 per cent of the registered voters voting. The elections were held across Morocco and the Western Sahara, as Morocco considers Western Sahara as part of their territory.

For more information, please see:

Al Jazeera- New Party Wins Morocco Local Polls– 14 June 2009

Magharebia- New Political Party Sweeps Local Elections in Morocco– 14 June 2009

Easy Bourse- Polisario Accuses Morocco of Provocation Over W Sahara Poll– 12 June 2009

Reuters –Morocco party woos Western Saharan Hearts and Minds– 11 June 2009

UN Expert Condemns Child Slavery in Haiti

By Sovereign Hager

Impunity Watch Reporter, North America

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti – The UN Special Rapporteur on Contemporary Forms of Slavery issued a report condemning the Haitian “restavek” system as “a modern form of slavery”.  The “restavek”, meaning “to stay with us” in Creole, is a social system where Haitian children whose parents are unable to provide for them live with relatives or other persons who provide housing and food in exchange for housework.
The recent development of professional recruiters who recruit children from rural areas to work for urban families as child slaves in domestic work and outside the home in markets was of special concern.  The Rapporteur also mentioned the “alarming” shift in demand for child slaves from just rich families to poor families as well.
The Rapporteur recommended that the government establish a National Commission on children, with particular attention to those most vulnerable.  Other recommendations include: a sensitization campaign on the impact of labor and slavery on children, child registration, free and compulsory education for those most needy, and alternative means of income for rural families.
The Rapporteur stated that child labor “deprives children of their family environment and violates their most basic rights such as the rights to education, health and food as well as subjecting them to multiple forms of abuse, including economic exploitation, sexual violence and corporeal punishment, violating their fundamental right to protection from all forms of violence.”

Human Rights Watch and Citizens Criticize Mexican Military Abuses

By Sovereign Hager
Impunity Watch Reporter, North America

MEXICO CITY, Mexico – Human Rights Watch (HRW) released its 4 year report on Mexico’s human rights record on Thursday.  The Mexican Military was found to be ineffectively investigating reports of rapes, killings, and torture.  In particular, HRW criticized the military’s use of only “dysfunctional” military tribunals to investigate allegations against soldiers, rather than civilian courts.

HRW researchers said that Mexico’s National Human Rights Commission, an autonomous government agency, received 1,230 abuse complaints against the military in 2008, as compared with 182 in 2006.  HRW pointed out that until two months ago the government could not provide a single example of a soldier being convicted of human rights violations for the past 10 years.

Since 2006, President Felipe Calderon has deployed more than 45,000 soldiers in his fight against drug cartels which supply the U.S. drug market.  The U.S. Government has supplied Mexico with $700 million dollars in training and equipment. Some of the aid is conditioned on State Department confirmation that Mexico meet human rights and police corruption goals.

Local sentiment in areas with high military presence appears increasingly hostile to the military.  Three months after the military surge in the border town of Juarez, the military have been blamed for at least four deaths, eight disappearances, and the torture of many more.

Individuals who claim to have been abused by soldiers have similar stories.  Among the dead is 21 year old Javier Rosales who was picked up by the military with his friend while walking to buy beer. The men were blindfolded, taken to a building, stripped, beaten with boards and dumped on a dirt road.  Rosales was found dead from the beating the next day.

There have been more than 500 abuse complaints against federal forces since March, and all from individuals who are not on any arrest list.  A lawyer who represents abused citizens says that the more impoverished areas are those most affected by abuse, as the military presence is greatest there.  In these areas homes have been ransacked and possessions stolen by military.

As far south as Michoacan state authorities are furious that the federal government has arrested a slew of state officials and community members, including the mayor of Apatzingan without consulting the governor.  Protesters have occupied the town hall and are demanding that the mayor be released.  Protest signs read ” We demand the authorities respect individual rights”.

A military spokesman claims that 85 percent of the complaints have been resolved, though no details or time frame has been provided.

Transgender Abuse Condoned in Honduras?

By Nima Nayebi

Impunity Watch Reporter, North America

SAN PEDRO SULA, Honduras – Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called on Honduras to end an epidemic of violence against transgender people in that country. HRW has also called on the Honduran government to repeal certain “public morality” and “public scandal” laws that give police the power to abuse their authority.

HRW’s new report chronicles rapes, beatings, extortion, and the arbitrary detention of transgender people by Honduran authorities. Approximately 17 transgender people have been killed since 2004, including the high profile murder of transgender rights activist Cynthia Nicole Moreno this past 9 January.

Nicole Moreno, 32, a member of Colectivo Violeta, was shot four times by three men who were never identified. Her killing was reportedly linked to her activism in the area of transgender rights.

On 9 May, two men beat Barbára Paola, a worker for an LGBT organization, but neither was identified or apprehended. Transgender people report being raped and beaten by police in Honduras. The HRW report also identifies incidents where police have stood by and watched transgender abuse without pursuing the perpetrators.

Honduras has stated that it is committed to ending violence against its LGBT community. In June of last year it voiced support for the Organization of American States (OAS) “Resolution on Human Rights, Sexual Orientation, and Gender Identity.” HRW states that these public statements have not been translated into “local action.”

A photo essay on the struggle for transgender rights in Honduras is available from HRW.

Celebrities Tweeting for Freedom

By Alishba I. Kassim
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

BANKGKOK, Thailand – A movement started by several Hollywood celebrities and human rights activists around the world aims to finally free Myanmar’s democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, who is approaching her 64th birthday. She has spent 14 of them in detention.

Sui Kyi will likely spend her birthday in Yangon’s notorious lnsein prison, facing charges of violating the terms of her house arrest. Suu Kyi harbored an American who swam uninvited to her lakeside home.

Although the ruling junta is expected to deliver a guilty verdict, several activists and celebrities are standing in unison to stop the Nobel laureate from spending up to five years in prison. “We must not stand by as she is silenced again. Now is the time for the international community to speak with one voice,” Julia Roberts wrote as part of the campaign.

Myanmar, also known as Burma, has been largely controlled by the military since 1962, and prior similar campaigns have failed to illicit any real change. “Burma’s generals think they can act with impunity. We’ll have to wait until after the trial verdict to see if this time will be any different,” said Mark Farmaner of Burma Campaign UK.

In a parallel campaign, the organizers have gathered the signatures of over a 100 former and current political prisoners from over 20 countries calling for the release of political prisoners in Myanmar. They have also called upon the U.N. Security Council to impose a global arms embargo on Myanmar.

A collective message sent out by the organizers, celebrities, and activists read, “The continued denial of your freedom unacSUU KYIceptably attacks the human rights of all 2, 156 political prisoners in Myanmar. As those also incarcerated for our political beliefs, we share the world’s outrage.”

Although the united front put up by the campaigners is commendable, it makes one wonder if the collective international voice has the power to illicit change, or whether the power lies with a handful of government leaders talking over whiskey in a smoke-filled room.

For more information, please see:

AP – Celebrities Tweet for Suu Kyi’s Release – June 14, 2009

The New Nation – The Future of Democracy in Myanmar – June 14, 2009