Update: Charles Taylor Trial

Update: Charles Taylor Trial

By Laura Hirahara
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

THE HAGUE, The Netherlands- On Monday, a witness (identified in the transcript as DCT-008) answered questions regarding the Small Boys Unit (SBU) of Charles Taylor’s National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL) during Taylor’s trial.  The prosecution claims the children in the SBU were forced into action for the NPFL on the front lines of conflict, made to man checkpoints and assigned as body guards to officers, including Taylor.  The witness denied using children in any military capacity and that the only SBU he knew of consisted of the younger brothers and sisters of adult members of NPFL who would perform household chores for their siblings.  This witness also testified that the NPFL turned over all their weapons to the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) peacekeepers managing the disarmament in Liberia during the mid-90’s.  This witness, who was a radio operator for Taylor’s Special Security Services (SSS), also testified about his duties as a radio operator and the activities he saw at the Executive Mansion when Taylor resided there.  The following day, witness DCT-008 was again questioned by the defense and testified that unbeknownst to Taylor, SSS Director Benjamin Yeaten was friends with Revolutionary United Front (RUF) commander Sam Bockarie, giving him and the RUF aid from Liberia.  Taylor’s defense team has indicated that witness DCT-008 may be the last person they call to testify.

For more information please see;

Charles Taylor Trial- DCT-008 Concludes His Evidence– 8 September, 2010

Charles Taylor Trial- Prosecutors Conclude the Cross-Examination of DCT-008– 7 September, 2010

Charles Taylor Trial- Witness Disagrees that Charles Taylor’s NPFL Had a Small Boys Unit– 6 September, 2010

The Indonesian Government Bans another NGO in West Papua

By Joseph Juhn
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

JAKARTA, Indonesia – The Indonesian government has banned another leading NGO to work in Indonesia’s easternmost region. The West Papua Advocacy Team showed concerns that ordinary Papuans stand to lose considerable benefits.

Cordaid, a Dutch funding agency, has operated in West Papua for over three decades when Jakarta has refused to renew the agreement which expired in April of this year.

Cordaid’s main operation included assisting Papuan NGOs and social and economic development and empowerment for the poor.

In rejecting the extension, the government voiced suspicions regarding Cordaid’s involvement in supporting Papuan separatism, among other things.

Cordaid strongly denies this accusation. The Advocacy Team’s Ed McWilliams says Cordaid’s micro-financing programs have assisted various grassroots organisations in Papua.

“There’s no indcation that the Papuan government had anything to say in this decision. And of course it impacts the people of Papua. So once again, I think it’s an example of decisions being taken in Jakarta without any consultation with Papuan officials or civil society.”

Cordaid sector manager Margriet Nieuwenhuis also strongly denies that Cordaid helped Papua separatists.

“The participants met only with Mindanao community groups and women leaders, not with political actors,”

The government’s decision to ban Cordaid was criticized by prominent human rights lawyer Totdung Mulya Lubis who claimed that the decision was taken “too hastily” and without sufficient evidence.

“It could set a bad precedent and lead outsiders to believe Indonesia is isolating Papua,” he said. Lubis pointed out that the government needed foreign donors to help develop Papua, one of Indonesia’s poorest regions.

This banning of Cordaid from working in Papua parallels the decision to close down International Committee of the Red Cross in 2009. These decisions to shut down the operation of respected humanitarian organizations is consistent with the Jakarta policy to limit international assistance to, and awareness of, Papuans who for decades have suffered from a dearth of basic humanitarian services and respect for human rights.

It is especially noteworthy that closing the operation of these two organizations was exclusively decided by the Indonesian government with no involvement of Papuans.

For more information, please see:

Radio New Zealand – Decision to ban Cordaid from Papua taken exclusively by Jakarta – 9 September 2010

Scoop – Indonesian Government Blocks Humanitarian Group – 7 September 2010

Open Democracy – Indonesia’s Far East: Security and Politics – 18 August 2010

Journalist Claims Rights Violations After Judge Issues International Warrant

By R. Renee Yaworsky
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

William Parra has proclaimed his innocence. (Photo courtesy of Megados)
William Parra has proclaimed his innocence. (Photo courtesy of Megados)

BOGOTA, Colombia—A Colombian judge has issued an international arrest warrant for William Parra, a journalist, alleging that he has links to the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).  Parra and his supporters deny any such involvement and claim that the warrant is an effort to silence journalists who are critical of the Colombian government.

“As the innocent person I am, I have asked and will continue to demand that my fundamental rights be respected,” Parra said.  In a statement, he accused Colombian officials of multiple rights violations, including denial of due process.  He claimed that his attorneys were not granted sufficient access to defend him in court and that he has not been adequately informed about any evidence against him.

According to Colombian prosecutors, Parra’s name appears in some emails that were found on the laptop of a high-ranking FARC member, deputy commander Raul Reyes.

William Parra made a name for himself after joining the Venezuelan television network Telesur in 2006.  Telesur is financed by leftist President Hugo Chavez and has been critical of the Colombian government.  Parra worked for the network until 2008 when he became an independent journalist.

Parra’s attorney, Sandra Gamboa, has stated that the warrant violates international law.  Though a Colombian, Parra has been in exile in Venezuela and was granted refugee status there in March.  Gamboa said that the warrant contains irregularities and violates her client’s defense rights.

Telesur released a statement that read in part, “Any investigation that the Colombian authorities bring against William Parra does not link Telesur in any way.  Telesur rejects this new effort to criminalize its journalistic work.”  The network added that Parra “always acted with integrity and professional quality.”

Reporters Without Borders, a group that defends the freedom of the press, has questioned the motives behind the warrant, pointing out that the Colombian government has harassed Telesur employees in the past.

Parra said he plans to appeal all allegations to international bodies.  All other individuals who have been indicted for “FARC politics” as a result of their names being found on Reyes’ laptop have had their charges dropped because of lack of evidence.

For more information, please see:

Reporters Without Borders-Belated proceedings against former Telesur reporter William Parra-9 September 2010

CNN-Colombia journalist wanted for rebel ties-8 September 2010

Colombia Reports-Judge seeks arrest of journalist accused of FARC links-7 September 2010

Bahrain under fire for human rights abuses after disrupting terror plot

By Eric C. Sigmund
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

MANAMA, Bahrain – 23 Shiite Muslims were arrested Monday in Bahrain for an alleged plot to topple the country’s Sunni Muslim monarchy.   The government claims that the individuals are terrorists attempting to execute a foreign-backed coup d’état.   These accusations come as Bahrain prepares for its upcoming parliamentary elections on October 23.  

23 Shittes Arrested for Suspected Terror Plot (Image courtesy of Telegraph U.K.)
23 Shittes Arrested for Suspected Terror Plot (Image courtesy of Telegraph U.K.)

In anticipation of the October election, the government initiated an intensive security crackdown targeting potential threats to national security.   Bahrain’s Sunni minority maintains power within the country against the backdrop of intense religious and political conflict.  The Sunni monarchy is backed by regional power Saudi Arabia, while predominately Shiite Iran supports Bahrain’s Shiite community.  The religious dynamics in Bahrain remain a constant stressor in social and political relations as each group seeks to solidify their control of the political arena.  Currently, Shiites hold 17 of the 40 parliamentary seats, but Sunnis fear that they could become the political majority after the October election. 

Among the 23 accused Shiites are academics, civil servants and at least eight opposition figures and human rights activists.  The arrests are just the latest in a wider security campaign which has led to the detention of over 250 Shiites.  The detention of Shiites, mostly youths, has fueled social tensions and has spurred riots and street clashes with police.  In response to criticism from numerous human rights organizations, the government articulated its fear that Iran could use members of the Shiite community to operate campaigns of sabotage and espionage during the upcoming elections.

As part of its new domestic security strategy the government also decided to reassert state control over mosques within Bahrain.  Defending this move, Crown Prince Salman said in comments to BNA news agency that “[r]egaining control of the pulpits so they are not hostage to incompetent politicians or clerics who have lost their way…is a starting point for developing a sound religious orientation.”   Prime Minister Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman al-Khalifa notes that the mosques would be run so as to promote “the values of tolerance and moderation.”

Gulf Daily News further reports that authorities have been given strict instructions to deprive those attempting to jeopardize the security of the nation of legal rights and services.  Cabinet Affairs Minister Shaikh Ahmed bin Ateyatala Al-Khalifa stated that “[c]itizens committed to the law and constitution can’t be treated on the same footing with law-breakers seeking to subvert national security and stability.”

Despite extensive criticism from human rights agencies, the business community within Bahrain has come out in staunch support of the government’s tougher security measures.  The Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry commended Prime Minister Al-Khalifa and the Crown Prince for disrupting the plot to destabilize Bahrain.  International rights organizations however, fear that future detentions of Shiites may destabilize the country as social pressures between Sunnis and Shiites rise. 

For more information, please see;

Agence France Presse – Bahrain to Reassert State Control Over Mosques – 6 Sept. 2010

Gulf Daily News – Cabinet Praises Swift Arrests of Terror Plotters – 6 Sept. 2010

Los Angeles Times – Bahrain Arrests Dozens of Shiite Muslims Accused of plotting Coup d’etat – 6 Sept. 2010

Telegraph U.K. – Peers Attack Bahrain Over Human Rights – 6 Sept. 2010

Bahrain News Agency – BCCI Backs Measures to Preserver Bahrain’s Security and Stability – 5 Sept. 2010