UAE Indian Death-Row Inmates Offered Legal Help

UAE Indian Death-Row Inmates Offered Legal Help

By Ahmad Shihadah
Impunity Watch, Middle East Desk

 

SHARJAH, UAE – Seventeen Indians were sentenced to death on March 29 by a Sharjah shariah court for allegedly killing a Pakistani and injuring three others in an attack last year. There is a deadline of two weeks after the pronouncement of judgment within which an appeal has be filed, officials said.

 

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said that the Indian consulate officials had visited the 17 Indian men sentenced to death by a court in Sharjah, the United Arab Emirates, and offered to help them with legal formalities involved in appealing against their sentences.

In a communication to Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, the prime minister said he had also instructed the external affairs minister and the overseas Indian affairs minister to take all possible steps in the matter to ensure a positive outcome.

An appeal is likely to be filed tomorrow in UAE on behalf of 17 Indians facing death sentence there for killing a Pakistani. “We have engaged Mhd Salman as the lawyer for these Indians. And an appeal is likely to be filed tomorrow in the case,” officials said.

The UAE government has already made it clear that its legal system guarantees a fair trial and the death sentence is subject to appeal and annulment by the rule of law without any interference from the parties concerned.

“We fully trust our legal system and its procedures and we are sure that it will provide and guarantee a fair trial to the convicted,” the UAE embassy in New Delhi had said in a statement yesterday. There is deep concern over the fate of these Indians, mostly from lower middle class farming families in Punjab and Haryana.

A UAE website claims, “The UAE’s tolerant, cosmopolitan atmosphere – which is most notable in the emirate of Dubai – gives resident non-Emiris opportunities to enjoy their own cultural and religious organizations.”

For more information, please see:

 

Hindustan Times – Death Row Indians In UAE Offered Legal Help: PM – 6 April 2010

The Times of India – Appeal Likely Tomorrow In UAE Against Death Of 17 Indians – 6 April 2010

SIKH Times – UAE Death Sentence Hanging Over 17 Indians – 6 April 2010

Indian Express – Govt Set To Appeal UAE Court Verdict – 6 April 2010

Karadzic Seeks Stay in ITCY Trial

By Kenneth F. Hunt
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

THE HAGUE, Netherlands – Former Bosnian Serb leader, Radovan Kardzic, currently on trial for war crimes, has filed a motion asking the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ITCY) to “stay the proceedings in his trial due to resume next week on April 13.

Specifically, Mr. Karadzic claims that the trial is tainted because of “the admission of the unprecedented number of prior statements and testimonies” the “taking of judicial notice of an unprecedented number of adjudicated facts.”

Karadzic’s American attorney, Peter Robinson, contests that if the trial proceeds, it will “violate the fundamental tenets of fair criminal trials” and deprive Mr. Karadzic of the opportunity to defend himself.

The motion indicates that the ITCY Trial Chamber accepted some 1,500 facts found in previous Bosnian war crimes cases with different defendants. Moreover, written affidavits of 141 prosecution witnesses have been admitted in court, allegedly without adequate opportunity for cross examination. Without the ability to question these facts and witnesses, Mr. Karadzic says that he will not be afforded a fair trial.

This stay is another potential delay in bringing Mr. Karadzic to justice for 11 charges of crimes against humanity, genocide, and violations of the laws of war. The charges stem from when Mr. Karadzic served as the leader of Bosnian Serbs and allegedly ordering the massacre of 8,000 Muslims in Srebrenica during the 1992-1995 Bosnian War.

Since being arrested in 2008, Mr. Karadzic has consistently attempted to delay proceedings. For example, in October 2009, Karadzic boycotted the prosecution’s opening statements.

Also, just last week, Mr. Karadzic filed a motion to postpone the trial to allow him more time to prepare the defense. However, the ITCY Appellate Chamber refused to grant the motion and delay the trial past April 13, the day which the prosecution will call its first witness to testify.

For more information, please see:

BALKAN INSIGHT – Karadzic Files for ‘Stay of Proceedings’ in ITCY – 6 April 2010

CTV – Ex-Bosnian Serb leader Karadzic asks UN to halt trial – 6 April 2010

ETAIWANNEWS – Karadzic says trial is unfair, asks court for halt – 6 April 2010

New Zealand Judge, Family Receive Death Threats in Vanuatu

By Eileen Gould
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

PORT VILA, Vanuatu – A New Zealand judge, who recently reported on the violent nature of Vanuatu’s police force, and his family have received death threats.

The Vanuatu Mobile Force (VMF), Vanuatu’s paramilitary force, has threatened the Justice Nevin Dawson, who came to the island in 2008 as part of New Zealand’s effort to provide assistance.

The judge and his family have left the island but according to spokesman Foreign Minister Murray McCully, it was for a vacation.

Although Vanuatu’s Deputy Prime Minister, Sato Kilman, told reporters several weeks ago that they did not think the judge was in danger, the government has attempted to increase the security as his residence.

As a result of the threats, a security-guard has been assigned to guard the judge’s home, throughout the day and including overnight protection.  Dawson and his family have changed their daily routines, stopped using public transportation, and even stopped dining out for fear that they would be poisoned.  This is a “favourite way of getting rid of problems” according to one observer.

Last year, a man was recaptured and beaten to death after escaping from prison, during an interrogation by the VMF.  Justice Dawson issued a report on his death, which revealed that members of Vanuatu’s police force were in serious violation of human rights and the rule of law.  The report caused many to question the role of the paramilitary force, which could also have a potentially damaging effect on Vanuatu’s political stability.

In addition, Dawson reported that the VMF had attempted to prevent him from revealing any further information through intimidation and death threats.  For instance, one VMF officer stalked Dawson at his home.

Dawson is nearing the end of his two year term on the island.  During the first threat to his safety, which occurred at the end of last year, he was offered the opportunity to leave the island, but chose to stay.

A representative from New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said that the threats to Judge Dawson’s life were taken with “utmost seriousness”.

“There have been threats made against him and his family and we have had concerns about their safety for some time.”

The Vanuatu government finally responded to the report that initiated these events earlier this week.  Mr. Kilman said that it had respected the rule of law and that the police force had a responsibility to recapture the prison escapee, who was causing fear in the community.  He did not, however, respond to Dawson’s allegations that the senior members of the VMF committed perjury during the inquiry.

That incident is still being discussed within the Vanuatu government.

In the meantime, officials will also discuss whether the current security for the judge and his family is adequate.

For more information please see:
Radio New Zealand International – Vanuatu coroner leaves country after threats – 06 April 2010

Stuff – NZ judge leaves Vanuatu amid death threats – 06 April 2010

Sunday Star Times – New death threats to NZ judge, family – 06 April 2010

Racial Tensions Rise in South Africa

By Kylie M Tsudama

Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

VENTERSDORP, South Africa – Racial tensions mounted on Tuesday in front of the Ventersdorp courthouse where two men accused of killing a white supremacist were scheduled to appear.

Eugene Terreblanche was beaten to death on Saturday night in bed.  A 15-year-old and his 28-year-old coworker are suspected of killing Terreblanche because he hadn’t paid them in months.

Eugene Terreblanche Killed (Source:CNN)

The proceedings will not be made public and the police have not released either suspect’s name because the younger of the two is a minor.

Nearly 2,000 people faced off outside the courthouse located nearly 100 miles west of Pretoria.  The groups, split along racial lines, were there in support, the white group supporting Terreblanche’s family and the black group supporting the suspects’ families.

The situation escalated into a confrontation when a middle-aged white woman sprayed a drink on the group of black people who were singing the Zulu choruses of the country’s national anthem.  Just before the confrontation, a group of white militants sang “a rendition of the apartheid-era anthem” in Afrikaans and “waved old flags signifying white rule.”

Police rushed in and used coils of razor wire to separate the groups.

After the groups were pacified, Pieter Steyn, AWB provincial leader, apologized for the woman’s actions, explaining that AWB condemns violence and pulling away from threats that the militants would “avenge Terreblanche’s death.”

According to Steyn, threats were made “in the heat to the moment.  We have spoken to every one of them and told them to be calm.”

The AWB blames the African National Congress Youth League leader Julius Malema, saying that his “public performances of an anti-apartheid song that includes lines about killing white farmers” was the cause of Terreblanche’s death.  Malema maintains that the song is “part of its heritage.”

Regional Director of the South African National Civic Organization Bomber Matinyane called Malema’s song the equivalent of the display of old flags, and said both contributed to escalated racial tensions.

Terreblanche was a white supremacist and the founding militant leader of the Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging movement (AWB), which fought against abolition of apartheid.

He was once convicted of beating Paul Motshabi, a former security guard, so badly that he was left brain damaged, paralyzed, and unable to speak for months.  He was sentenced to six years in jail, but was released after serving three.

Brenda Abrams, a black businesswoman outside the courthouse Tuesday, noted the “big fuss” over Terreblanche’s death.

“But nobody says anything when black farmworkers are killed,” she said.

For more information, please see:

AFP – White Supremacists Rally at S.Africa Court – 06 April 2010

AP – Tensions Rise in SAfrican White Supremacist Case – 06 April 2010

CNN – S. Africa Murder Suspects to Face Court – 06 April 2010

Guardian – Terre’Blanche Murder Suspects to Face Charges as Tensions Rise Outside Court – 06 April 2010

Humanitarian Situation Worsening in Niger

By Kylie M Tsudama

Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

NIAMEY, Niger – Niger is in need of at least $190 million in international assistance in order to meet the food needs of its people.  In a matter of weeks that number has risen more than $65 million.

Poor harvests have left the people of Niger in desperate need of food.  Half of Niger’s population are already vulnerable to food shortages and that number only increases as food shortages increase.  Children and pregnant women are especially vulnerable and more likely to succumb to malnutrition.  Relief officials scrambled to prepare an emergency action plan.

These severe food shortages are also causing children to stop going to school.

“Because of the food insecurity that prevails in our country, cases of mass abandonment have been registered in some schools,” said a government statement.

Abandonments came specifically in the central southern Zinder region.  The government has called this a “very worrying” situation, adding that “the departures are the consequence of the exodus of families” facing this crisis.  The food crisis has had the worst impact on the Zinder region this year.

According to Oxfam International, almost 10 million people can be affected by this crisis.

Today, UN aid agencies and organizations in Niger appealed for $132 million to support West African humanitarian programs.  The total amount of aid needed is $190.7 million.  $57.8 million has already been secured, leaving a shortage of $132.9 million.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) released a revised emergency humanitarian action plan that estimates 4.7 million people so far have fallen victim to malnutrition.

Later this month, OCHA will conduct a comprehensive humanitarian survey, which could cause funding requirements to increase depending on the findings.

The humanitarian team in Niger has aligned its priorities with those of the government, prioritizing “food security and nutritional aid, and support in health, water, sanitation, hygiene, and logistics.”

Food shortages also fuel the country’s political instability.  Niger’s military rulers, who staged a coup and took charge in February, understand the risk of famine and are afraid that famine may disrupt future plans for elections.  The military government has appealed for international assistance.

While Lo N’Diaye and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon both acknowledge the importance and necessity of resolving the government’s political crisis, they agree that the food shortage crisis is a top priority.

“The main focus for the UN is to save lives in Niger… this support would go directly to the population and allow them to participate fully in the democratization process,” said Lo N’Diaye.

Executive Director of the UN World Food Program (WFP), Josette Sheeran, called the food crisis a “major humanitarian challenge.”

The WFP has already increased its food aid to more than double.

For more information, please see:

UN News Centre – UN Appeals for More Funds to Assist People Facing Food Crisis in Niger – 05 April 2010

AFP – Famine Closes Schools in Southern Niger – 02 April 2010

ReliefWeb – Niger Emergency Humanitarian Action Plan: Food Crisis – 02 April 2010

VOA – Humanitarian Need in Niger Growing – 31 March 2010

ReliefWeb – Press Conference by Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator on Situation in Niger – 30 March 2010

UN Dispatch – Niger: Can Political Changes Help Alleviate Food Crisis? – 26 March 2010

VOA – People in Niger Heading Toward Capital in Search of Food – 26 March 2010

Oxfam – Failed Rains Put 10 Million People at Risk of a Food Crisis Across West Africa – 17 March 2010