Taylor trial adjourns until September 27

September 15, 2010

By Polly Johnson
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

On Monday, the Special Court for Sierra Leone judges created a schedule for the closure of the defense case in the trial of Charles Taylor, who has been charged with eleven counts of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and other serious violations of international humanitarian law.

At the conference, Taylor’s defense attorney, Terry Munyard, indicated that the defense was still working on several motions and proposed to the judges that the court take a two-week recess to decide the defense motions. The defense also said that they had likely called their last witness, DCT-008, who concluded his testimony at the end of last week.

Defense witness DCT-008 was the twentieth defense witness, a Liberian national who served as a radio operator in the Special Security Services (SSS) unit of Taylor’s government in Liberia. His testimony focused primarily on radio communications that occurred between Revolutionary United Front (RUF) rebels in Sierra Leone and members of Taylor’s security apparatus in Liberia. Prosecutors contended that the radio communications that took place facilitated arms transfers for use in Sierra Leone’s bloody conflict. Prosecutors also alleged that the radio communications occurred with Taylor’s approval, allegations that Taylor denied, positing that his security forces could have had independent relationships with Sierra Leonean rebels. DCT-008 said that the communications and the diamond and arms trades that took place between Liberia and Sierra Leone were based solely on the friendship between RUF commander Sam Bockarie and SSS Director Benjamin Yeaten.

The court made the following rulings after defense counsel’s request. First, it gave the defense until September 24, 2010 to file any submissions. Second, it said it would hold a status conference on September 27, 2010 to look at the volume of the pending motions and determine a date for another status conference. Third, it set a two-week recess to commence on September 28. Finally, it stated that court would resume on October 12, 2010.

For more information, please see:

Charles Taylor Trial – At Status Conference, Judges Draw Up Schedule For The Conclusion Of Defense Case – 13 September 2010

Charles Taylor Trial – DCT-008 Concludes His Testimony And Could Be The Final Witness In the Charles Taylor Trial – 11 September 2010

Border Crisis: Corruption and Smuggling Unearths 37 Immigrants In California Home

September 14, 2010

The United States border garners thousands of cars per day. Photo Courtesy of New Mexico State University nmsu.edu — The United States border garners thousands of cars per day. Photo Courtesy of New Mexico State University iri.nmsu.edu.

By Erica Laster Impunity Watch Reporter, North America

CALIFORNIA, United States – Immigration, drug and border corruption is virtually ignored on the U.S. side of the Mexican-U.S. border. On Wednesday, government officials rescued some 37 immigrants locked inside one boarded up bedroom in a southern California home. Authorities began searching for the home after receiving a phone call from a relative reporting that smugglers had threatened to kill his family without payment.

These “drop houses” are used by smugglers while waiting for payment for bringing immigrants into the country. The immigrants had been locked inside the room for weeks and had not been fed for several days. Most of those found were men, while three children under the age of three were also discovered in the room. The immigrants were immediately placed in the custody of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials. Among the group were immigrants from Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Mexico, Ecuador and the Dominican Republic.

Their discovery should not come as a surprise as the U.S. and Mexico have been working to deal with smugglers, human trafficking and drug cases at a heightened pace. In late August, a renowned asset named Garnica, known as “La Estrella,” (The Star), was sentenced to 20 years in prison by District Court Judge David Briones. For years, Martha Garnica passed money through car windows, devised secret codes and provided drug and undocumented workers with maps to safely haul their cargo across the border. A veteran law enforcement officer and former employee for U.S. Customs Service, Garnica was paid large sums of money, vacationing in Europe and reside in a spacious house with a built in swimming pool.

The $25 billion industry represents a growing problem for many Americans on the U.S. side of the border and U.S. officials attempting to root out corrupted government employees. “It’s no different from spy agencies. They look for weaknesses. Sex is a biggie. Alcohol, drug abuse, financial woes,” says James Smith, head of the inspector general’s investigative unit in El Paso.

For More Information Please Visit

Washington Post – Officials Rescue 37 Immigrants from California House – 8 September 2010

Washington Post – Woman’s Links to Mexican Drug Cartel a Saga of Corruption on U.S. Side of Border – 12 September 2010

UN Council Reports Widespread Human Rights Abuses

September 14, 2010

By Christina Berger
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

GENEVA, Switzerland – The 15th session of the UN Human Rights Council opened on Monday in Geneva. Navi Pillay, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, noted in her speech to the Council the occurrence of widespread worldwide human rights abuses and increasing attacks against human rights defenders.

Pillay provided updates to the Council on specific world situations and presented reports from the Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights. She noted the harsh conditions for migrants in Mexico and the increasing assaults in countries such as Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Zimbabwe as a result of competition over natural resources. Pillay also raised concerns over Israeli draft laws.

Some of Pillay’s harshest criticism was directed toward France’s Roma expulsion policy. “Such measures can only exacerbate the stigmatization of Roma and the extreme poverty and exclusion in which they live,” she said. “The often stereotyping and discriminatory rhetoric by officials and by the media when referring to the Roma in Europe is also an issue of grave concern.”

Larger countries did not escape Pillay’s criticism. She denounced the US program of targeted killings of suspected terrorists as contravening “international norms set to protect the right to life and the rule of law.” China was the subject of censure, along with Egypt, Libya, Syria, and Tunisia, concerning restrictions on civil society groups and activists. Russia, along with Azerbaijan, was criticized for their failure to seek justice against perpetrators of attacks and murders of human rights defenders.

Much of Pillay’s speech focused on restrictions, harassment, and attacks against human rights advocates, lawyers, journalists, and organizers through various countries. “I urge the Human Rights Council and the international community to support squarely and vocally human rights defenders. In this context, I would also like to bring to the attention of the Council the vital need to ensure the safety and protection of defenders and other witnesses who cooperate with UN-mandated fact-finding and investigative initiatives. Such protection must span the whole cycle of these missions’ activities and beyond.”

For more information, please see:

NEW YORK TIMES – UN Human Rights Chief Criticizes Big Powers – 13 September 2010

REUTERS AFRICA – UN rights chief hits Russia on murders of activists – 13 September 2010

UN HUMAN RIGHTS NEWS – Human Rights Council opens fifteenth regular session – 13 September 2010

UN NEWS CENTRE – UN Human rights chief voices concern over deportation of Roma from France – 13 September 2010

VOICE OF AMERICA – Widespread Human Rights Abuses Reported Worldwide as UN Council Opens – 13 September 2010

Venezuelan Engineer Arrested For Alleged Twitter Assassination Attempt

September 14, 2010

By Patrick Vanderpool
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

Jesus Enrique Majano Rodriguez (photo courtesy of Latin American Herald Tribune)

CARACAS, Venezuela – Jesus Enrique Majano Rodriguez, an engineer working for the state-owned utility company Corpoelec, was arrested for attempting to “incite his followers against the figure of the president of the republic,” via the social networking site Twitter. Majano Rodriquez allegedly posted photos of President Chavez with wounds on his face and purportedly described how the assassination could be successfully carried out.

This is not the first time that the Venezuelan Government has arrested citizens for making comments on Twitter. In July, two individuals were arrested for starting false rumors and criticizing the Venezuelan banking system.

While assassination attempts have long been speculated against the Venezuelan President, Chavez himself generally denounces them, pointing the finger at foreign and domestic political rivals rather than at the Venezuelan citizens themselves. President Chavez’s political foes have steadfastly denied any assassination attempt, and say the accusations are a way for the Venezuelan leader to divert attention away from his own government’s shortcomings.

No charges have been officially filed against Majano Rodriquez to this point, and he was released from jail on parole shortly after being detained. Rodriguez is; however, obligated to appear in court every 15 days as the case moves forward. Time will tell if the Government’s assertions are legitimate.

The alleged assassination plot comes only a few months after a 29-year old man was arrested in April for allegedly plotting a separate plan to harm President Chavez. Public unrest continues to grow as Venezuela experiences a shortfall in basic goods, including food, and a seemingly ever-increasing crime rate.

The recent explosion of social networking websites creates a problem for a country that appears to keep a firm grasp on its media. Social media outlets, such as Facebook and Twitter, may pose a threat to the Venezuelan Government’s ability to control the information that reaches the masses.

For more information, please see:

Wire Update – Venezuelan engineer released after being arrested for alleged twitter death threats against President Chavez – 11 September 2010

Caribbean 360 – Venezuelan Twitters President Assassination Plot – 10 September 2010

ABC News – Man Used Twitter to Try to Kill Chavez – 9 September 2010

Latin American Herald Tribune – Venezuelan Charged with Chavez Assassination on Twitter – 9 September 2010

Homosexual Saudi Diplomat Seeks Asylum in U.S.

September 13, 2010

By Eric C. Sigmund
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

WASHINGTON, United States – Ali Ahmad Asseri, a Saudi diplomat is seeking asylum in the United States after disclosing that his life is in danger for being a homosexual and for befriending a Jewish women. Mr. Asseri reported his fears to U.S. federal officials after being informed that the Saudi government refused to renew his diplomatic passport and had terminated his status as the first Secretary of the Saudi consulate in Los Angeles. Saudi officials stated that Mr. Asseri’s termination was the result of him being gay and now demand his return to Saudi Arabia.

In an email to NBC, Mr. Asseri expressed his fear of returning to Saudi Arabia stating “[m]y life is in danger here and if I go back to Saudi Arabia, they will kill me openly in broad daylight.” Mr. Asseri was questioned by the Department of Homeland Security after filing his request for asylum, contending that he is a member of a “particular social group” which faces prosecution and possibly death in Saudi Arabia. It is believed that consulate employees informed Saudi officials that Mr. Asseri was gay after following him to gay bars. After this discovery, Mr. Asseri was subjected to harassment by consulate officials who also continually monitored his private life.

In response to his firing, Mr. Asseri posted messages on a Saudi website criticizing the government for its “backwardness” and for “defac[ing] the tolerance of Islam.” In a warning to Saudi officials, Asseri further commented that he would release politically embarrassing information about the royal family if the government prosecutes him.

This is not the first time that a Saudi diplomat has sought asylum in the United States. In 1994, Mohammad al-Khilewi, a representative of Saudi Arabia’s delegation to the United Nations, sought protection in the United States after criticizing his government for human rights violations.

Although the Obama administration has not made any formal decisions regarding Mr. Asseri’s application, the government has recognized that homosexuals are often punished by death or flogging under Sharia law. In the latest State Department human rights report, the government acknowledged that the Saudis continue to deny political and religious rights to minorities and enforce the strictest punishments for what it considers sexual misconduct. The reported describes one instance where two Saudi men were publicly whipped 7000 times for their sexual preferences. Mr. Asseri fears that he will suffer a similar fate if forced to return to Saudi Arabia.

For more information, please see:

The Australian – Gay Consul Asylum Bid – 13 Sept. 2010

IndyPosted – Gay Saudi Diplomat Seeks Asylum in US – 12 Sept. 2010

Agence France Presse – Saudi Diplomat Seeks US Asylum – 11 Sept. 2010

MSNBC.com – Saudi Diplomat Seeks US Asylum: ‘My Life is in Danger’ – 11 Sept. 2010