Palestinian Protestors Arrested in Bethlehem on Palm Sunday

Palestinian Protestors Arrested in Bethlehem on Palm Sunday

By Meredith Lee-Clark
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

BETHLEHEM, West Bank – Israeli police detained several Palestinians on Palm Sunday, March 28. The Palestinians were protesting Israeli restrictions on Palestinian Christians, not allowing them to celebrate Holy Week and Easter religious observations in Jerusalem. It is unclear exactly how many Palestinians were arrested, reports range from eleven to fifteen protestors detained. The Palestinian News Network reports that an Associated Press photographer was also arrested.

The protests were held on Palm Sunday, the beginning of the Christian Holy Week, remembering the death of Jesus and ending the following Sunday with the celebration of Easter. While Greek Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Protestant Christians follow different ecclesiastical calendars, this year, the calendars have aligned and all Christians will be observing Holy Week and Easter at the same time.

Between one hundred and two hundred Palestinians began the day’s protests after Sunday prayers and morning services at the Church of the Nativity. The protestors reached Gilo, the checkpoint through which Palestinians may enter Jerusalem only after receiving Israeli permission. The protestors gave speeches, and several of the protestors reportedly made it through the checkpoint without permission. One report said that at this point the border guards began an “unprovoked” attack on the protestors, and arrested several protestors.

Regardless of the exact details, many Palestinian Christians viewed the protest as a remembrance and a witness for Palestinian Christians. The Palestinian Christian population, primarily Greek Orthodox, has steadily dwindled in recent years, as many choose or are forced to emigrate. Approximately 50,000 Palestinian Christians live in the West Bank, Gaza Strip, or East Jerusalem, while there are four million Muslim Palestinians in these same areas. Another 123,000 Palestinian Christians live in Israel, making up about eight percent of the Arab Israeli population.

The protest was the latest in a series of Palestinian protests in opposition to the Israeli government’s plans to allow Israeli construction in East Jerusalem. East Jerusalem is predominantly Palestinian, and Palestinians hope to make East Jerusalem the capital of a future Palestinian state. Israelis insist that Jerusalem is their undivided capital.

For more information, please see:

Palestinian News Network – 15 Arrested During a Non-Violence Demonstration on Palm Sunday – 29 March 2010

The Associated Press – Christian Pilgrims Mark Palm Sunday in Jerusalem – 28 March 2010

Ha’aretz – Christian Pilgrims Flock to Jerusalem to Mark Palm Sunday – 28 March 2010

Ma’an News Agency – Palm Sunday Detainees Still in Israeli Custody – 28 March 2010

Ynet News – Palestinians, Leftists Detained for Entering Israel Illegally During March – 28 March 2010

Estonian Newspapers Protest Legislation Requiring Disclosure of Sources

By David Sophrin
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

TALLINN, Estonia – The leading newspapers of Estonia protested earlier this week the introduction of new national legislation, which would require that all journalists turn over the name of a source if ordered to do so by the government, by leaving the front page of their papers blank.

This legislation, entitled the Press Sources Protection Law, was introduced by the Ministry of Justice.  It requires not only the naming of sources by journalists but also establishes potential fines or imprisonment for those who refuse.  These new potential restrictions on journalists mark a stark shift from the nation’s tradition of strong freedoms of the press.  Reporters Without Borders currently places Estonia as the sixth most open nation in regards to press freedoms.

The editor-in-chief of Postimees, one of the newspapers that participated in the protest, explained the reasoning behind the paper’s actions.  “Estonia’s six major newspapers believe there is no alternative way to make politicians understand the draft legislation is not good.  It significantly inhibits the freedom of the press.”  In addition, the National Newspaper Association and the Journalists Union have announced their disapproval with the legislation.

Some newspapers also noted special concern regarding how this law would be applied when journalists were investigating the government itself, especially on matter of corruption.  If the bill is passed, journalists may be forced to turn over the names of sources to the very government officials who they are investigating for improper actions.

Journalists in Estonia are currently required by the Code of Ethics of the Estonian Press to keep confidential the identities of their confidential sources.

The government, however, has argued that the application of this bill would be narrow and not interfere with the broader rights of the press.  According to Finance Minister Jurgen Ligi, the legislation “is not about the freedom of word.  It is so that the court could acquire information from the press in case of a difficult crime.”

The final vote by the national parliament on the journalism source legislation is scheduled for April 7.

For more information, please see:

DAILY GEORGIAN TIMES – Estonian Newspapers Protest against Bill on ‘Defence of Source’ – 24 March 2010

BALTIC TIMES – Top Estonian papers leave front page blank in protest – 21 March 2010

BALTIC COURSE – Protest: Estonian newspapers publish blank pages – 18 March 2010

RIANOVOSTI – Estonian newspapers protest ‘loss of press freedoms’ – 18 March 2010

BBN – Estonian journalists fear for their sources – 16 March 2010

Taiwan Pledges Support to Climate Refugees from Kiribati and Tuvalu


By Eileen Gould
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

TARAWA, Kiribati – With rising sea levels in the South Pacific, the tiny nation of Kiribati may be forced to evacuate to neighboring countries, such as Taiwan.

The President of Taiwan visited Kiribati last week to meet with President Anote Tong and pledged his nation’s assistance should sea levels continue to rise.  Mr. Ma Ying-jeou, who is concerned about the impacts of climate change, is touring nations in the Pacific with which it maintains diplomatic relations – Kiribati, Tuvalu, Nauru, the Marshall Islands, Palau, and the Solomon Islands.

Climate change is a central focus of President Ma’s tour.  In Kiribati and Tuvalu, climate change, according to some scientists, could cause islands, such as Kiribati and Tuvalu, to be completely submerged, thus posing a life-threatening situation.

In his meeting with Kiribati’s president, Mr. Ma said that Taiwan would “help seek possible solutions to the global warming that is causing rising sea levels that could eventually submerge Kiribati.”

The issue of climate refugees has been a big issue recently, particularly as a result of the destruction and deaths of many following several natural disasters.   Last August, a typhoon which ripped through parts of southern Taiwan raised concerns about climate refugees.

A documentary, called “Plus or Minus Two Degrees Celsius”, was produced in Taiwan and called attention to this new phenomenon.  The film predicts that if the environmental situation worsens, the people of Taiwan will be among the first to migrate as a result.

The Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) states that ten percent of the global population may be subjected to displacement as a result of climate change.

Many people living in Kiribati and other South Pacific Islands have ancestors who emigrated from Taiwan, thousands of years ago.  President Tong of Kiribati said that these people “would probably return to Taiwan someday”.

Should their worst fears be realized, Kiribati’s government has a plan to relocate its entire population of 100,000 to other lands or an island under the control of other countries. It has also tried to lobby other countries for support in fighting climate change.

Some suggest that Taiwan help by allowing workers from Kiribati to enter the country.  If the Kiribati government agrees to provide low-interest loans to Kiribati workers who wish to relocate to Taiwan, the proposed relocation plan will likely be implemented.

On the other hand, Tuvalu shares climate change concerns but is not as willing to implement a national relocation plan, because it may cause its people to panic.

Nations, such as Australia and New Zealand, currently allow immigrants from Kiribati.  New Zealand’s immigration policy provides that a limited number of people from Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu and Kiribati may enter New Zealand to obtain residency.

For more information please see:
Focus Taiwan – Climate refugees an issue for Taiwan – 25 March 2010

Radio New Zealand International – Tuvalu says Taiwan shares its climate change concerns – 24 March 2010

New York Times – Taiwan: Help for a Tiny Nation Facing Rising Waters – 23 March 2010

Secretary General Concerned About Hezbollah Arms

By Brandon Kaufman
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

BEIRUT, Lebanon– In remarks issued on Friday, U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon said that the continued presence of Hezbollah’s weapons in Lebanon threatens to undermine any progress made by Israel and Lebanon in the implementation of Security Council Resolution 1701.  Ban told reporters “I am worried about Hezbollah’s possession of arms.  I hope this will be resolved.”

Resolution 1701 was drafted in 2006 shortly after Israel’s July-August war against Lebanon.  The resolution stipulates that there are to be no arms within Lebanon outside of state control.  Despite the resolution, the U.N. has repeatedly stated that Hezbollah’s arsenal of rockets constitutes a serious violation of international law.

In a recent report on the implementation of the 1701 Resolution, Ban said that greater enforcement action was necessary to curb the flow of arms into Lebanon across its porous borders with Syria.  In his Friday interview, Ban stressed the importance of strict border enforcement by saying that “There is arms smuggling into the Lebanese territories and this should be stopped through patrolling the Syrian-Lebanese borders.  I have called on the Lebanese and Syrian authorities to resolve this issue through appointing a committee tasked with monitoring the borders.  I know borders are being breached and they should be watched.”

During his remarks, Ban also addressed Israeli violations of the resolution, including repeated incursions by Israeli forces into Lebanese territory.  Ban added, “There is another issue, having to do with continuous Israeli flights in Lebanese airspace, which hinders the work of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) in addition to violating Lebanon’s sovereignty.”

The National News Agency in Lebanon reported on Thursday that a team of Israeli soldiers crossed a fence between Israel and Lebanon and planted espionage devices in the vicinity of Wazzani, a move that prompted the UNIFIL to be put on high alert.  In a statement released by the Presidential Palace in Baabda, a presidential spokesperson commented that “The crossing by Israeli enemy forces of the technical fence represents new, flagrant evidence of Israel’s continuing violation of Resolution 1701 and reveals its aggressive intentions in direct fashion, frustrating the orientations of the international community.”

For more information, please see:

The Daily Star- Ban Worried Over Hezbollah Arms, Sleiman Raps Israeli Breaches– 27 March 2010

NOW Lebanon- National Dialogue Will Consider Resistance’s Arms a Guarantee for Lebanon– 27 March 2010

United Press International- Hezbollah Arms a Deterrent, Officials Say– 23 March 2010

North Korea to Put American on Trial

By Hyo-Jin Paik
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

SEOUL, South Korea – An American from Boston is to go on trial for illegally entering North Korea.

Aijalon Mahli Gomes, 30, had been teaching English in South Korea for several years. Acquaintances described him as a devout Christian who was dedicated to his students.

His family spokeswoman said that it is unclear why Gomes went to North Korea. 
However, activists in South Korea did comment that Gomes was an acquaintance of Robert Park, another American missionary who was detained and then released by North Korea last month.

Days after Park’s arrest, Gomes attended rallies calling for Park’s release where a Seoul-based activist said he saw Gomes weep.  Jo Sung-rae, a South Korean activist, said that Gomes contacted Jo about working in his rights group and met Park in Seoul last summer.

Jo said, “I felt [that] he may have gone to North Korea after being inspired by Robert Park.”

Although a trial date has not been set, Gomes is believed to be the fourth American North Korea said it detained back in January.  In addition to Gomes and Park, two American journalists, Laura Ling and Euna Lee, were arrested a year ago and sentenced to twelve years of hard labor.  However, the two journalists were freed after former U.S. President Bill Clinton made a high-profile humanitarian visit to North Korea and negotiated their release.

U.S. State Department Spokesman P.J. Crowley said on Tuesday that the United States had not been formally notified regarding charges against Gomes.  However, Crowley did say that Swedish diplomats have been in contact with Gomes.

North Korea’s announcement that Gomes is to go on trial also comes at a time when Pyongyang’s neighbors have been pressuring North Korea to rejoin international talks concerning dismantling of its nuclear weapons program.

Gomes’ family spokeswoman Thaleia Schlesinger said, “The family is praying for him and for his speedy return home.”
For more information, please see:

AP – US man held in NKorea rallied against Pyongyang – 25 March 2010

Guardian – North Korea to put US citizen on trial for illegal entry – 22 March 2010

USA Today – North Korea to try American on trespassing charge – 22 March 2010