Charles Taylor Trial Resumes

Charles Taylor Trial Resumes

By Jonathan Ambaye
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa Desk

THE HAGUE, Netherlands-Last week saw updates in the trial of Charles Taylor for war crimes against humanity.  Last week Taylor denied having any knowledge of rebel Commander, Sam Bockarie’s, public calls to kill sierra Leoneans.  Taylor has long claimed that when he became president of Liberia in 1997, the Economic Community of West African States made him the “point-person” for peace in Sierra Leone.  Lead prosecutor Brenda Hollis, used his self-proclaimed status as the “point person” to prove he was aware of Sam Bockarie’s threats to kill Sierra Leoneans.

Taylor however still denied having any knowledge of these public statements by Bockarie. Prosecutors have argued throughout the trial that although Taylor was never present in Sierra Leone when RUF rebels committed crimes in the country, he was still aware of their actions and gave them his support to commit such crimes.

Taylor also denied allegations that during his time as Liberian President the Liberian judiciary was not independent.  Prosecutors have put together testimony by former lawyers in Liberia who have claimed that there was a “strong influence of the government on the judiciary.”  Taylor dismissed these allegations as “totally incorrect.” He further said, “the judiciary was rotten, I agree with the contents, but I met it this way, and I am trying to fix it.” This is a conference where Liberians are trying to solve historical problems.”  During his direct examination, Taylor said he brought good governance to Liberia and that he respected the fundamental human rights of his citizens.

Prosecutors are now trying to establish that he was not a good president for Liberia. They allege that as “leader of Liberia’s rebel group the National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL), Taylor was involved in the commission of atrocities against the people of Liberia and that when he became president, his system of governance did not reflect a democratic society.” Taylor has dismissed these accounts as untrue.

For more information, please see:

Charles Taylor Trial – Charles taylor Did Not Have Knowledge of Rebel Commander’s Public Calls To Kill Sierra Leoneans – 19 January 2010

Charles Taylor Trial –Charles Taylor Denies Allegations The Liberian Judiciary Was Not Independent Under his Presidency-19 January 2010

Charles Taylor Trial – Charles Taylor Denies Sending Fighters – 20 January 2009

Back to Back Days of Bombings Rock Baghdad

By Bobby Rajabi
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

BAGHDAD, Iraq – On January 25 a series of bombings unleashed minutes apart destroyed landmark Baghdad hotels that cater to foreigners. The triple bombing killed thirty six people and wounded over seventy. Iraqi officials noted that similar attacks took place in August, October and December. The following day a car bomb exploded in central Baghdad. The bombing caused the collapse of a building that belonged to the criminal investigation department of the interior ministry. Eighteen people were killed with another eighty injured.

The January 25 bombings targeted hotels that served foreign journalists and expatriate businessmen. The hotels were to seen house observers of the March 7 parliamentary elections. Iraqi officials suggest that the attack was aimed at affecting international opinion regarding the country’s security. Hazim al-Nuami, a Baghdad-based political analyst, said, “the messages is that Iraq can’t provide security for foreigners.”

The first bomb struck the Ishtar Sheraton at 3:28pm. Three minutes later the second bomb hit the Babylon Hotel. The final bombing took place at 3:37pm and hit the Hamra Hotel. The bombs cut through traffic during rush hour and took off the facade of one hotel. The blasts shook the Iraqi capital and shattered windows miles away from he hotel. Gunfire echoed through the streets as security forces tried to cordon off the bombing scene.

The January 26 bombing claimed the lives of five policemen and thirteen civilians. The attacker was able to evade the tight security that surrounds the central neighborhood of Karrada. Checkpoints are located at all entrances into the neighborhood. Additionally, police conduct regular security searches. Major General Qassim Atta, a spokesman for the Iraqi military in Baghdad, confirmed that the attacker targeted the forensics institute. Atta also said that, “at 10:45am a suicide bomber races his vehicle towards his vehicle towards the institute. The building collapsed soon after the explosion.”

Security officials believe that the bombing was directly related to the execution of Ali Hassan al-Majid, more commonly known as Chemical Ali. Majid was executed the day before the bombing of the forensics institute that played a major role in his prosecution. During his trial, Iraqi courts heard testimony that military assaults ordered by Majid were responsible for the deaths of close to one hundred eighty thousand people.

For more information, please see:

Al Jazeera – Car Bomb Rocks Iraqi Capital – 26 January 2010

BBC News – Iraq Crime Lab Car Bomber Kills Many in Baghdad – 26 January 2010

Guardian – Suicide Car Bomber Strikes Baghdad Police Forensics Office – 26 January 2010

New York Times – Baghdad Blasts Shatter Sense of Security in Capital – 25 January 2010

Suicide Car Bomb Hits Afghan Capital

By Michael E. Sanchez
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia
KABUL, Afghanistan- A suicide bomber blew himself up near a U.S. military base in the Afghan capital on Tuesday, were six civilians were wounded, according to an Afghan security official.

Despite significant increases in foreign troops, violence in Afghanistan last year reached its worst levels since the war began in 2001.  The latest attack occurred a week ago after brazen assaults in Kabul killed five people.  The bomb struck on a road leading from the city center near the main entrance to Camp Phoenix, a base used by U.S. forces.

Abdulghaffar Sayedzadah, a spokesman for Kabul’s criminal investigation unit, said six Afghan civilians and eight American soldiers were wounded.  Mr. Sayedzadah said most of the civilians had been working nearby, but could not confirm if the base was the intended target of the attacker.  U.S. and NATO forces said they investigated the explosion outside of the main gates, and initial reports indicated the cause of the explosion was a car bomb.  NATO’s international security assistance force (ISAF) said “Initial reports indicate the cause of the explosion was a vehicle-borne IED,” referring to an improvised explosive device in a car.

Zabihullah Mujahid, a man claiming to be a Taliban spokesman, said in a text message the attacker was a member of the Islamist group.  He said the target had been a convoy of foreign troops.

The attack comes on the same day Afghan officials said an attack in Kabul on January 18 was carried out by fighters smuggled from Pakistan.  Officials released video footage of a man arrested in connection with the attacks who stated that the Haqqani network, a group of Afghan fighters based in Pakistan, were behind the attacks on civilian and government buildings near the presidential palace.

These attacks, said to be the most co-ordinated offensive on the capital since the U.S.-led invasion in 2001, took place while President Hamid Karzai was swearing in some of his cabinet members.

At least five were killed and about 38 wounded in the protracted gun battles that followed.

For more information, please see:

Aljazeera.net- Suicide Attack Hits Afghan Capital– 26 January 2010

Reuters- Suicide Car Bomb Near US Base In Kabul Wounds 6– 26 January 2010

Forbes.Com- Blast Near US Military Base In Afghan Capital– 26 January 2010

Palestinian Election Date Passes, Rights Group Alleges Violation of Human Rights

By Meredith Lee-Clark

Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

 

RAMALLAH, West Bank – Failure to hold Palestinian parliamentary elections by the date set in an Egyptian-brokered reconciliation document is a violation of Palestinians’ right to democratic elections, according to the Al-Marsad Center for Human Rights. The human rights organization, based out of the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, issued a statement on January 25, saying that the mandate for the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) had expired, and called upon Hamas to sign the reconciliation agreement and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to set a date for elections in June, the date called for by the reconciliation document.

 

As the expiration date for PLC members’ terms passed, the two major Palestinian parties argued about what the PLC’s next move should be. Hamas declared that their members’ mandate only ends when new parliamentarians have been sworn in, and are therefore allowed to remain in office until new elections are held. Fatah argued that the PLC’s mandate was legally over.

 

The PLC is the main legislative branch of the Palestinian territorial government, and is based in the West Bank. Hamas took control of the PLC in a landslide election in January 2006, replacing Fatah as the dominant party in the PLC. Since the Hamas take-over, however, the PLC has been largely unable to function, as Israel arrested most of the Hamas representatives after Hamas militants led a cross-border raid into Israel and captured an Israeli citizen. Both Hamas and Fatah representatives have been arrested by opposing parties, as long-standing animosity between the factions have grown stronger in the past few years.

 

Al-Marsad said in its statement that the current PLC should be regarded as a “caretaker council with limited powers,” and that “[n]ot holding elections on their legal and constitutional day is a serious violation of the right of the Palestinian citizens to practice their right to political participation through voting.”

 

The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO)’s Central Council met in Ramallah in December 2009 and asked the Palestinian president and legislature to continue in office until elections are held. Hamas has not recognized the Central Council’s decision.

 

For more information, please see:

 

Ha’aretz – Fatah and Hamas No Nearer to Unity as Palestinian Parliament’s Term Ends – 25 January 2010

 

Ma’an News Agency – Rights Org: Failure to Hold Elections Violates Palestinian Rights – 25 January 2010

 

Palestinian News Network – Human Rights Organization: Position Paper on Elections – 25 January 2010

 

Ynet News – Palestinian Parliament’s Term Expires – 24 January 2010

Group Faces 10-15 Years in Prison for Dancing

By M.E. Dodge
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

BANDUNG, Indonesia – Less than one year ago, Indonesia enacted an “anti-pornography” law, which bans public displays of flesh. Over the New Year’s holiday, four woman as well as a manager and an event organizer at a bar in a trendy Indonesian city could be the first to be charged under this new statute.

The arrest on New Year’s Eve at a party held at Belair Coyote Bar and Restaurant in Bandung, Indonesia for “sexy dancing” raises concerns and worries that the law may be the prelude to the imposition of wider restrictions. The law was introduced with the strong backing of the country’s small but influential Islamist political parties. Opponents of the statute said the parties’ real intention was to use the law to spread orthodox Islam in Indonesia by controlling artistic and cultural expression. The law, critics warned, also threatens the country’s rich pre-Islamic cultures, which have long coexisted with Indonesia’s traditionally moderate brand of Islam.

Despite the existence of the 441-page anti-pornography law, there is debate about whether to charge the women with a criminal law or the more severe anti-pornography law. Punishment under the anti-pornography law can be as severe as having to serve up to 10 years in prison for the dancers. Further, under the anti-pornography law, the manager and organizer could face as much as 15 years in prison.

Commenting on the incident, a police spokesperson said the dancers had been wearing skimpy clothing. Under the new law, all bodily movements deemed obscene or a threat to public morality give rise to an action to be prosecuted under the anti pornography statute.

The law has prompted protests across Indonesia amid fears it could threaten local traditions such as Bali temple dances or penis sheaths traditionally worn by the aboriginal Papua tribes.

It is unclear whether the women and bar personnel will be convicted, but authorities are pushing to prosecute.

For More Information, please see:

The Star – Indonesia group condemns case against “sexy” dancers – January 6, 2010

Jakarta Globe – Bandung Sexy Dancers Busted for ‘Stirring Desires’ – January 5, 2010 

The New York Times – Arrests for a Revealing Dance Pit Flesh Against Faith – January 24, 2010