After Attack, Russia Urged To Protect Journalists

After Attack, Russia Urged To Protect Journalists

By Christina Berger
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

MOSCOW, Russia — A leading Russian journalist was attacked last weekend and was in critical condition, finally regaining consciousness on Friday. Oleg Kashin, a journalist for the newspaper Kommersant who often wrote politically themed articles, was severely beaten outside of his Moscow home.

Kashin suffered a concussion, a broken jaw, broken fingers, and fractures in both legs. He was put into a medically induced coma as a result. Kashin regained consciousness on Friday, though he remains on a ventilator according to his wife.

A video purportedly showing the brutal assault on Kashin can be viewed on a Russian news site. The video shows two men beating a third over 50 times with something like an iron bar or a similar weapon. Kashin’s editor believes the fact that the attackers mangled Kashin’s hands and broke off part of his pinky indicate the attack is related to Kashin’s writing.

Kashin is the last in a line of a growing trend of attacks against journalists in Russia. The New York Times calls the attacks “common” and convictions of attackers “rare in its deeply flawed judicial system.”

According to statements by President Medvedev, the Kremlin is taking this seriously, vowing to find and punish the attackers. Many people view this as a test for how serious the Kremlin is in cracking down on the intimidation of journalists.

In light of this recent attack, a group of Russian journalists have written an open letter to President Medvedev, calling on him to make protecting journalists a priority. The letter says that eight Russian journalists have been killed this year and 40 have been attacked.

The World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers and the World Editors Forum also called on President Medvedev, urging him to make sure the attacks on journalists are aggressively prosecuted in light of the unsolved attacks and murders against journalists in the past.

In response to the attack on Kashin, Amnesty International released a statement, urging that, while the motivations of the attackers are not known, the possibility that the attacks are connected to the victims’ profession and views be investigated. John Dalhuisen, Amnesty International’s Deputy Director for Europe said, “These fresh assaults should not be left to join a long list of unsolved crimes against journalists and civil society activists. They must be investigated, and those responsible brought to justice, including any people who ordered the attacks.”

Joel Simon, the executive director for the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said in a statement, “By failing to prosecute those who have carried out crimes against journalists in the past — including 19 murders committed in the Putin era — the Russian government has created a climate of impunity.” He added, “Government statements and expressions of sympathy are simply not sufficient. Arrests, prosecutions and convictions are what are urgently needed.”

According to CPJ reports, Russia is one of the world’s most dangerous nations for reporters.

For more information, please see:

NYT — Russia: Brutally Beaten Journalist Regains Consciousness, Wife Says — 12 November 2010

GUARDIAN — Russian journalist attacked with iron bar regains consciousness — 12 November 2010

GUARDIAN — Global newspapers to Russia’s president – start protecting journalists — 10 November 2010

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL — Greater protection for Russian journalists urged — 8 November 2010

NYT — Video of Russian Journalist’s Beating — 8 November 2010

BBC — Russian president vows action after reporters attacked — 8 November 2010

CNN — Russian journalist in critical condition after attack — 7 November 2010

AP — Russian reporter in coma after beating in Moscow — 6 November 2010

NYT — Russian Journalist Beaten in Moscow — 6 November 2010

BBC — Leading Russian reporter Oleg Kashin attacked in Moscow — 6 November 2010

Exposure to Expedition Could be “Like Genocide” for Indigenous Groups

By R. Renee Yaworsky
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

DRY CHACO, Paraguay—An expedition led by conservation scientists from London’s Natural History Museum has become controversial because of the threat it poses to local indigenous peoples.  The expedition would invade remote areas of Paraguay that reach into Argentina, Bolivia and Brazil, called the Dry Chaco.  Experts fear that the expedition may have “fatal consequences” for indigenous groups, including the Ayoreo Indians who avoid contact with outsiders.

The Museum scientists plan to explore the Dry Chaco, a semi-arid lowland, in order to discover and record biodiversity.  Biologists and botanists will search for new plants, insects and animals in the isolated region.  The Museum has stated that it hopes their findings will help “governments and conversation groups better understand how to manage fragile habitats and protect them for future generations.”  The Dry Chaco has been threatened recently by the possibilities of logging and intensive agriculture.

The Museum has assured that they have researched the area and will try to avoid any contact with the indigenous groups.  Professor Richard Lane, head of science at the Museum, said, “[O]ur collaborators have enlisted an Ayoreo elder, who has volunteered to guide our team in the forest.”

Benno Glauser, Director of Iniciativa Amotocodie, a not-for-profit dedicated to the protection and preservation of the Ayoreo, has expressed concern about the expedition’s negative impact on indigenous peoples living in the area, many of whom have never made contact with the outside world.  According to Glauser, “[w]e know of three isolated indigenous groups in the area targeted by the expedition.  They live in completely virgin forest.  It makes them vulnerable to any external intrusion.”

Glauser said that “surprise contact” could arise between the scientists and indigenous peoples because the scientists would be moving “around in a very silent way in order to observe animals.”

Jonathan Mazower, the Advocacy Director for Survival International, a human rights organization that campaigns for the rights of indigenous tribal peoples and uncontacted peoples, maintains that intruders may be seen as hostile by the indigenous groups, and surprise encounters may become violent.  Mazower has suggested that a good compromise could be to go through with the expedition, but move it to another area in the Dry Chaco.

Ayoreo elders who live near the town of Filadelfia have asked Paraguay’s president and the Museum itself to stop the expedition.  They believe that indigenous groups are endangered by the plans and said, “There is too much risk.  It’s like a genocide.”

For more information, please see:

Monga Bay-Chaco expedition working to ‘minimize the risk’ of running into uncontacted natives-11 November 2010

Telegraph-Danger: the world is on its way-10 November 2010

BBC-Conservation expedition ‘poses risk to tribes’-9 November 2010

This is London-Paraguay trip by scientists ‘could wipe out natives’-9 November 2010

Myanmar Elections produce refugees, not hope


Some voters at gunpoint (Photo courtesy of Radio Liberty/AFP)

By Joseph Juhn
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

YANGON, Myanmar – A day after the historic elections held for the first time in twenty years in Myanmar, thousands of new refugees fled into Northern Thailand on Monday. The fighting broke out between the Myanmar Army and ethnic rebels. Although the election was disguised as a movement towards democracy, it has been widely denounced by the international community as fraudulent, with citizens not having the freedom to vote correctly.

The International Organization for Migration and the UNHCR (High Commissioner for Refugees) says that “the fighting between the Myanmar military and an ethnic minority armed group, the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA), following the Myanmar elections on Sunday, resulted in an estimated 12,000 people fleeing into Thailand at the Mae Sot and Three Pagoda Pass border crossing points.”


UNHCR spokesman, Andrej Mahecic, said refugees started to cross the border early Monday on foot and on inner tubes across the Moei River. According to Mahecic, many of the refugees testified that they fled because they were afraid for their lives after their houses were attacked while other said they fled the sound of fighting.


”Many collected their children from school and fled to Thailand with only the clothes on their back, some even barefoot,” said Mahecic. “At first, only women and children were crossing, but later in the day more men arrived. Among the new arrivals are mothers with newborn babies as young as five days and 15 days.”  


A government election has not been held in Myanmar since 1990 when leader of the National League for Democracy Party (NDL), Daw Aung San Suu Kyi won with 60 percent of the popularity vote. However, it didn’t take too long until the military intervened and denied her power and continues to hold her in custody to this day.

Many unsung heroes demanded the return of their civil and political rights, which have been denied by the military-led government for more than 26 years. However, the government often resorted to violent repression to deal with its citizens’ demands for freedom, and it is estimated that more than 10,000 citizens have died in the process.

This led to thousands of refugees fleeing the military junta for survival and personal freedom. One of the countries that has housed these refugees is India. This past week, when US President Barack Obama paid a diplomatic visit to India, he mildly rebuked India for its diplomatic silence on Junta rule.

” When peaceful democratic movements are suppressed, as they have been in Burma (Myanmar), then the democracies of the world cannot remain silent,” President Obama said.

At least 7000 refugees have fled Myanmar in the past 22 years and are now residing in parts of India, where they still face problems. Living conditions are poor but what is worse for refugees is witnessing India’s reluctance to oppose the military Junta back home.

”My heart aches, but my mind accepts the truth,” says Htay, Burmese refugee now living in Janakpuri. So many seek refuge in other countries. Nyuant Mungpi who has settled down in India three years ago says he was disappointed to see the daily grind here.

”Most Burmese in India want the UNHCR to recognise our refugee status. We want to go to the US, Canada or Australia. There is very little recognition for us, unlike the Tibetans.” says Mungpi.

For more information, please see:

VoA News – Thousands of Burmese Flee Following Elections, Fighting – 9 November 2010

The Times of India – They want India to speak up – 12 November 2010

Geneva Lunch – Burma/Myanmar refugees flooding Thailand – 11 November 2010

Pacific.Scoop – Burma’s elections highlight cruel tale of repression by junta – 9 November 2010

Violence Rocks Western Sahara

By Daniel M. Austin
Impunity Watch Reporter,  Africa

Moroccan forces raid protest camp. (Photo courtesy of Momento 24).
Moroccan forces raid protest camp in Western Sahara. (Photo courtesy of Momento 24).

 RABAT, Morocco – Violence erupted this past Monday, November 8th when Moroccan security forces raided an opposition group’s protest camp in Western Sahara.  The camp called Gadaym Izik was home to more than 12,000 Polisario Front protesters before the attack. The Polisario Front consists of Saharawis, a nomadic native people that have resisted the Moroccan government for several decades.

There are conflicting reports on the number of people injured and killed in the attack. According to the Polisario Front, 19 people were killed in the fighting, 723 were wounded, and 159 people are still unaccounted for. Alternatively, the Moroccan government claims eight members of its security force were killed but not a single civilian was harmed in the fighting.

The Gadaym Izik camp was established about a month ago to protest both a lack of jobs and discrimination of the Saharawis at the hands of the Moroccan government. The Polisario Front established this protest camp on the outskirts of Laayoune, the capital city in Western Sahara. In response, Moroccan security officials swept in and forcefully shut down the camp. The security forces are accused of using live ammunition, tear gas, and water cannons.

This most recent clash comes at a time when the Moroccan government and the Polisario Front are meeting in New York City to negotiate a peace deal. The third round of United Nations (U.N.) backed talks continued despite the violence. After the talks concluded on Tuesday, U.N. special envoy Christopher Ross explained the two sides had rejected each other’s proposal on how the negotiations process should continue. However, both sides did agree to continue peace plan discussions in December or early next year.

The Moroccan government has outlined a proposal that would keep the territory under its control but grant the region autonomy, thus allowing  the Polisario Front to control administration of  the local government. On the other hand, the Polisario Front is seeking full independence. Specifically, the Polisario Front has offered a proposal for a popular referendum to take place that will determine if Western Sahara should become an independent state or remain under the government’s control. The Polisario Front has been seeking independence from the Moroccan government since the 1970s.

 For more information, please see:

BBC Africa – Morocco ‘raided Western Sahara camp to sabotage talks’—11 November  2010 

Canadian Press – Calm returning to Western Sahara after 2 days of unrest – 11 November 2010

CNN International — Deadly clashes reported in disputed Western Sahara – 10 November 2010  

UPI – Western-Sahara-erupts-into-violence – 10 November 2010

Pastor Challenges Same-Sex Marriage Ban; Receives Hate Messages

By Ricardo Zamora
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

LONDON, England – Sharon Ferguson, ordained Christian minister and chief executive of the Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement, is one of the latest homosexual individuals opposing a UK law banning same-sex marriages.  Her case has drawn heavy criticism, producing several hate messages, likely because of her position in the community.

Last week, the Reverend and her partner, Franka Strietzel, applied for a civil license marriage, the first of four such applications comprising the new “Equal Love” campaign.  The couple’s request for a civil marriage license for Greenwich Town Hall in South-East London was refused.

The BBC quoted Reverend Ferguson as saying “my whole life is about campaigning for equality and justice as a pastor in a parish that is known for its social justice work.”  “It’s part of my daily life to challenge discrimination, but with this campaign what is really nice is that it’s about love.”

The couple is now looking to the courts for the right to obtain a marriage license, arguing that the restriction violates Articles 8 (the right to respect for family life), 12 (the right to marry), and 14 (protection against discrimination) of the Human Rights Act.  Seven other couples are planning similar actions.

The couple remains in high spirits amidst the hostile messages.  Reverend Ferguson said that while the messages were mostly from unhappy Christians, the general public opinion is supportive of ‘Equal Love.’  The ‘Equal Love’ campaign, through these eight couples – four homosexual and four heterosexual – is seeking to overturn the twin bans on gay marriages and heterosexual civil partnerships.

Peter Tatchell, Human rights campaigner and coordinator of “Equal Love,” said: “We are guardedly optimistic that we will win in the courts.  We’re absolutely convinced we will have same-sex marriage within five years.  Boris Johnson has already come out in support of marriage equality.  We believe we have a pretty strong case.”

The London Evening Standard reports that the eight couples will likely launch a challenge in the High Court if their requests are refused at the register offices by the end of the year.

For more information, please see:

HERALD SCOTLAND – Lesbian couple to challenge ban on gay marriage – 3 November, 2010

BBC – Gay Couple Plan Legal Action To Challenge Marriage Ban – November 2, 2010

LONDON EVENING STANDARD – Abusive Emails Sent to Lesbian Pastor Fighting for Same-Sex Marriages – November 4, 2010