UN’s Nuclear Watchdog Worried about Iran

UN’s Nuclear Watchdog Worried about Iran

By Bobby Rajabi
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

VIENNA, Austria – On February 18 the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the nuclear watchdog of the United Nations, announced that they were concerned that Iran was working on a nuclear warhead. The IAEA, based in Vienna, has been investigating for a number of years reports claiming that the Islamic Republic was involved in weapons research. Based on the UN’s announcement, the United States has voiced renewed concern in Iran’s nuclear program.
The report was prepared by the thirty five members of the IAEA. The chief of the agency, Yukiya Amano, explained that “the information available to the agency…raises concerns about the possible existence in Iran of past or current undisclosed activities related to the development of a nuclear payload for a missile.” The report differs greatly from a US report that said that Iran had suspended such activities in 2003.
Iran continues to deny any interest in developing nuclear weapons. However, the report suggests that Iran’s continual attempts to avoid agency probes for signs of a cover-up “give rise to concerns about possible military dimensions to Iran’s nuclear program.” Additionally, the report suggest that intelligence supplied by the United States and other IAEA member states on Iran’s attempts to mask their activity under the guise of a civilian program in order to move towards a weapons program was compelling.
The report was the first by Yukiya Amano and appears to be more directly critical than those prepared by his predecessor, Mohammed El Baradei. It will be put forth to the governing body at a March 15. The report also reiterated evidence that Iran appeared to have tested ways of detonating weapons. It also described the escalating steps taken by Iran, including enrichment to twenty percent, its acknowledgement of an enrichment plant in Qom, its effort to metalize uranium and Iran’s rejection of a plan to enrich uranium outside the country.
The IAEA report calls for Iran to cooperate with IAEA investigators “without further delay.” Iran’s resistance has added to concerns “about possible military dimensions” in the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program.
For more information, please see:
 
BBC – Iran Nuclear Missile Fear Raised by UN Report – 18 February 2010
New York Times – IAEA Suspects Iranian Weapons Nuclear Weapons Activity – 18 February 2010

U.N.: Israeli Blockade on Gaza Tightening

By Meredith Lee-Clark
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

GAZA CITY, Gaza – The United Nations released a report on February 17 saying that Israel has tightened its blockade on the Gaza Strip, and reiterated its call for Israel to immediately open the territory to allow much-needed humanitarian supplies into Gaza.  The U.N. document was the latest in a string of calls from humanitarian groups both in and outside of Gaza, claiming that conditions in the Gaza Strip are worsening as the cost of shipping supplies into Gaza has skyrocketed.

Israel began its blockade on Gaza three years ago, after the Islamist party Hamas was voted into office in the Gaza legislature, ousting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah Party.  Israel has refused to recognize the Hamas government or any official contact with the government in Gaza.  The blockade became noticeably tighter after the Israeli military’s Operation Cast Lead during the winter of 2008-2009.  Since the end of open hostilities in January 2009, Israel has allowed minimal shipments into Gaza for food, medicines, and other basic necessities. 

But critics have claimed that the trickle of supplies is insufficient to meet the needs of those living in Gaza.  Operation Cast Lead destroyed or damaged fifteen of Gaza’s twenty-seven hospitals, as well as forty-three of Gaza’s one hundred-ten health-care facilities.  The offensive flattened much of the Gaza infrastructure, and Gazans have been unable to get construction supplies through the blockade.  The blockade also extends out to sea, as Gazan fishermen have been limited to only a few square miles of their once-expansive fishing grounds, leaving that portion of the Mediterranean Sea almost completely empty of fish.

Additionally, the Gaza Energy Authority, the sole energy supplier in Gaza, announced on February 13 that it was unable to get ample fuel through the blockade and was uncertain whether it would be able to continue supplying energy for more than the next twenty-four hours.  As it released its statement, it had already shut down a generator and its output was at fifty percent.

Gazan health organizations also reported that 386 Gazans have died as a result of the blockade so far.  The assembly of health unions in Gaza told journalists on February 18 that several Palestinian children have died of suffocation because of malfunctioning power generators.

For more information, please see:

Al-Jazeerah – Health Unions Warn of Israeli Blockade Impacts on Lives of Gaza Patients – 18 February 2010

Zee News – Israel Blocks Gaza Strip Further:  United Nations – 18 February 2010

UN News Centre – Israel Tightens Vice on Gaza Strip, UN Reports – 17 February 2010

Digital Journal – Gaza Pleads for an End to the Israeli Blockade of Fuel Supplies – 13 February 2010

Polish Government Withdraws Internet Censorship Legislation

By David Sophrin
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

WARSAW, Poland – Facing growing public outcry, Poland’s Prime Minister announced on Thursday that he would be withdrawing the internship censorship legislation currently before the parliament.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s decision came amidst growing doubt regarding the constitutionality of the proposed internet restriction ban.  The legislation had already been sent to Poland’s Constitutional Tribunal, a court designed to resolve issues of constitutionality.  Prior to the decision to withdrawal the legislation, the Prime Minister held had an online discussion with some of the leaders of the legislation’s opposition.

The proposed internet censorship legislation was part of the government’s larger anti-gambling campaign.  Under the proposed legislation, every internet provider in Poland would have been required to block certain websites selected by the government.  The Office of Electronic Communication and the Office of the Finance Ministry, as well as a number of the nation’s law enforcement agencies, were to be in charge of regulating the website ‘blacklist’.

Public protests to the internet legislation were almost immediate.  A petition of 77,000 signatures was submitted to Polish President Lech Kaczynski, requesting that he veto the legislation.  Some in the opposition have been fearful that giving the government the authority to ban gambling websites may lead in the future to the banning of other websites that the government disagrees with.  “Government [censorship] can be compared to gagging citizens even before they start to speak.  It’s  something that even George Orwell could not predict in his famous novel, 1984.”

For more information, please see:

WALL STREET JOURNAL – Poland Abandons Internet Censorship Plans – 18 February 2010

POLSKIE RADIO – Government abandons internet “black list” idea – 17 February 2010

WALL STREET JOURNAL – Polish PM Takes Censorship Debate Offline – 5 February 2010

POLSKIE RADIO – Protest against internet censorship in Poland grows – 29 January 2010

Whipping as Punishment for Crimes in Tonga is Criticized as Inhumane

By Cindy Trinh
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

NUKU’ALOFA, Tonga – Two teenagers from Tonga have appealed a court ruling ordering them to be whipped. Supporters are calling the punishment inhumane and a form of torture.

The two teenagers had long records of petty criminal offenses. They escaped from prison and stole food and other goods while they were fugitives. The Supreme Court judge Robert Shuster sentenced each boy to 13 years in prison and six lashes from a “cat-o-nine-tails” whip.

The “cat-o-nine-tails” whip is a knotted whip with nine strands that are soaked in water overnight. The prisoner is then held down by guards and whipped across the buttocks with great force.

The ruling has prompted protests from Tonga’s Law Society and others who contend that the punishment is brutal and “archaic.” They stated that this form of punishment has not been used in decades.

The President of the Tonga Law Society, Laki Niu, said that whipping is “barbaric,” even if it is a deterrent.

He further stated in an interview with New Zealand’s TVOne News: “I think it is inhumane. I think it is a form of torture.”

Niu warns that the punishment is so intense that it is often hard for the prisoner to remain conscious.

Former Tongan police officer, Kei Iongi, admitted to whipping men in the past. He revealed that the prisoners suffered greatly during the whippings, but he believes that it is an effective punishment.

During his interview with TVOne, Iongi stated: “I think it’s good for the punishment of the Tongan men.”

Former Tongan police minister and current MP, Clive Edwards, says that the sentence imposed on the two young teenagers is cruel and that the law needs to be repealed.

Edwards says that while whipping appears to have been used as a deterrent, it is inhumane on top of a 13 year sentence for escaping from jail and stealing while on the run.

He stated: “I do not support or believe that our young people like that who are over 21 years of age should be whipped while serving a very severe sentence. I think it’s a bit cruel.”

Edwards further stated that he would support legislative change to eliminate whipping plus the death sentence in Tonga.

Under Tongan law, the South Pacific nation’s Cabinet has to approve a whipping sentence, which would then be carried out by the police. Prime Minister Feleti Sevele said he would not discuss the case because it was still before the court.

For more information, please see:
ABC News International – Tongan Teens Appeal Against Court-Ordered Flogging – 18 February 2010

The Associated Press – Tongan Teens appeal against court-ordered flogging – 18 February 2010

Radio New Zealand International – Whipping as punishment for crimes in Tonga should be wiped – 18 February 2010

The New York Times – Tongan Teens Appeal Against Court-Ordered Flogging – 18 February 2010

Yemeni Release Saudi Captive

By Ahmad Shihadah

Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

SA’NA, Yemen – Northern rebels in Yemen handed over a captured Saudi soldier captured to Yemeni government mediators, the latest sign that a six-year-old conflict is calming down.

The Saudi Press Agency quoted Saudi ambassador to Yemen Ali al-Hamdan as saying the soldier was brought from the northern province of Sa’ada, the rebel stronghold, to the embassy in Sa’na by helicopter. He will be sent back to Saudi Arabia later, the ambassador said.

A Yemeni official said the soldier was handed over to a committee, which supervises a cease-fire reached last week between Yemeni government and the Shi’ite rebels, known as Houthis. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the media.

Last month, Yemen’s Shi’ite rebels offered Saudi Arabia, the world’s top oil exporter, a truce and said they had left the kingdom’s territory. Riyadh later declared victory over the rebels.

In addition to fighting the rebels, Yemen is battling southern separatists and al Qaeda, which has made the country its regional base. The Nigerian accused of trying to blow up a U.S. passenger plane in December had links to Yemen.

Riyadh and Western powers fear impoverished Yemen may become a failed state and that al Qaeda could exploit the chaos to use the country as a base for attacks in the region and beyond.

For More Information, Please See:

 

Al-Jazeera – Yemen Houthis Free Saudi Captive – 15 February 2010

 

AP – Yemeni Rebels Release Saudi Soldier – 15 February 2010


The Washington Post – Yemen Rebels Hand Over One Saudi Soldier: Al Jazeera – 15 February 2010


BCC – Yemen Rebels Begin Handover of Saudi Arabian Soldiers – February 2010