EU Official Warns Ukraine About Politically Motivated Arrests

EU Official Warns Ukraine About Politically Motivated Arrests

By Christina Berger
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

KIEV, Ukraine – A senior European Union official, Stephen Fuele, warned Ukraine on Tuesday not to use criminal law as a tool of political oppression.  This warning appears to be directly related to the pending criminal charges against former prime minister, Yulia Tymoshenko, and other opposition leaders.

“In the 21st century, democratic authority cannot be sustained without an independent judiciary and media.  It is a question of moral leadership,” Fuele, EU enlargement commissioner, said after meeting with various Ukrainian government officials. “I would therefore like to recall the need to ensure that criminal law is not used for political ends and that the principles of a fair, impartial, and independent legal process are fully respected.”

The EU and Ukraine are negotiating an association agreement, including a free-trade zone.  Fuele was in the Ukraine on a fact-finding visit, his fourth in the last ten months, and had lunch with Tymoshenko, one of the leaders of Ukraine’s opposition.

Tymoshenko, who lost an election last year to President Viktor Yanukovich, has been charged with abuse of power or office that entailed serious consequences. She is accused of misusing 380 million euros allocated to Ukraine under the Kyoto Protocol while she was in office from 2004-2009.

Tymoshenko has denied the charges against her.  She claims that they are part of a political witch-hunt aimed at opposition leaders, including former Ukrainian Interior Minister Yuriy Lutsenko, who was arrested Dec. 26, 2010, and former First Deputy Justice Minister Yevhen Korniychuk, who was detained on Dec. 22, 2010 and is still in jail today.

Tymoshenko stated “Look, two leaders of opposition parties in parliament were arrested ahead of the New Year.  Is it a coincidence?  Lutsenko and Korniychuk [were arrested], and I, representing the third political party, am under house arrest.  It’s not a coincidence – it’s fear and confusion by the authorities.”

U.S. officials have also recently warned the current Ukrainian government against politically motivated prosecutions.  “We have raised with the Ukrainian government our concern that while corruption should be pursued, prosecution should not be selective or politically motivated,” the US embassy in Kiev said in a statement.  “In that context, we also raised our concern that when, with few exceptions, the only senior officials being targeted are connected with the previous government, it gives the appearance of selective prosecution of political opponents.”


For more information, please see:

NEWSWEEK – ‘I’m Not Going to Leave My Country’ – 17 Jan. 2011

INTERFAX – Tymoshenko summoned to PGO at 1200 on Monday – 15 Jan. 2011

GLOBAL POST – Yulia Tymoshenko, under fire and fired up – 15 Jan. 2011

INTERFAX – Court leaves former first deputy justice minister Korniychuk in custody – 13 Jan. 2011

NEW YORK TIMES – Ukraine: Government Warned About Political Arrests – 11 Jan. 2011

DEUTSCHE PRESS-AGENTUR – EU official warns Ukraine on political repression, media crackdown – 11 Jan. 2011

UKRAINIAN NEWS – EU Hopes Ukraine Not To Apply Criminal Law For Political Purposes – 11 Jan. 2011

AFP – US alarmed by detention of Ukraine ex-officials: embassy – 30 Dec. 2010

BLOOMBERG – U.S. Concerned Over Ukraine’s Prosecution of Former Officials – 30 Dec. 2010

RFE/RL – Former Ukraine Interior Minister Rejects Charges Against Him – 27 Dec. 2010

As President Flees, Tunisia Descends Into Chaos

By Daniel M. Austin
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

Protesters and Security Forces Battle in Tunisia. (Photo courtesy of Pa Photos).
Protesters and Security Forces Battle in Tunisia. (Photo courtesy of Pa Photos).

TUNIS, Tunisia– By Saturday morning, the ousted President of Tunisia,  Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali had safely landed in the Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah. Even with the President’s departure, violent clashes between government security forces and protesters continue to take place in cities throughout Tunisia.

President Ben Ali had been the ruler of Tunisia for the past 23 years but ceded power after weeks of unrest culminating with an enormous rally in Tunis, the capital of Tunisia. The President was officially removed from power on January 14 and subsequently fled the country. News of President Ben Ali’s departure spread quickly and protesters flooded the streets to celebrate.

The power to run the government of Tunisia was transferred from Mr. Ben Ali to the Prime Minister Mohammed Ghannouchi. However, Mr. Ghannouchi held the interim presidency for only a couple of days as mob rule set in. Responding to continuing violence, the Constitutional Council dumped Mr. Ghannouchi and installed the speaker of the lower house of parliament, Mr.  Foued Mebazaa as the interim President until elections can be held later this year. The Constitutional Council claims that elections for a new President will be held in six to seven months.

The political unrest that swept President Ben Ali out of power began several weeks ago. The unrest was punctuated by a university graduate, Mohamed Bouazizi, who set himself on fire in front of a government building on December 28, 2010. He was protesting working conditions and high unemployment in Tunisia. Since this incident there have been numerous demonstrations calling for the government to fix the high level of unemployment. The Tunisian government has met these acts of civil disobedience with a mix of political maneuvers, including the sacking of an interior minister along with tighter security measures. In at least one incident, security forces fired on protesters using live ammunition. Clashes between protesters and security forces have left dozens dead or injured.

In response to the worsening political situation, security forces have stepped up patrols and instituted a curfew throughout the country. The strong showing of force is an attempt to rein in the looting and violence that is occurring.   

For more information, please see:

 Al Jazeera — Tunisia situation volatile – 16 January 2011

 BBC Africa — Tunisia: Many dead in jail unrest after Ben Ali exit – 15 January 2011

CNN International – What’s going on in Tunisia? – 16 January 2011

Reuters — Tunisia tries to form coalition, shooting on streets – 15 January 2011

Venezuela Demands Removal Of Colombian Soap Opera With Dog Named “Little Hugo”

By Patrick Vanderpool
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

CARACAS, Venezuela – Venezuela’s government is urging a television station to stop airing a Colombian soap opera featuring a character named “Venezuela” who has a tiny dog named “Little Hugo.”  Venezuela’s National Telecommunications Commission issued a statement Thursday condemning “Chepe Fortuna,” a Colombian soap opera, for its alleged “degrading treatment of Venezuela.”

The Commission is urging the station to “immediately stop airing” the program.  According to the Commissions statement, “[the soap opera] intends to underestimate the intelligence of viewers by presenting two characters identified as sisters, Colombia and Venezuela, where the latter is repeatedly characterized as associated with criminal activities.”

Miguel Angel Baquero, the producer and script writer for the show, said that Venezuelan officials are taking things too seriously. “Here we are not underestimating anybody,” Baquero said. “This is humor. Making comedy is the most difficult thing to do, and to do it in a simple style that can successfully cross borders is even harder.”

The Commission presented clips of the soap opera which show the character named Venezuela calling out for her dog, Little Hugo, and claiming that “without Little Hugo, Venezuela will be free.” The Commission claims that such content “promoted political and racial intolerance, xenophobia and incitement of crime.”

This is not the first time that this particular television station has come under fire. In 2009, it was  ordered to stop showing episodes of the US cartoon Family Guy, over its apparent endorsement of the use of marijuana. In 2008, the channel was forced to broadcast public service films as a punishment after it broadcast episodes of The Simpsons,  a cartoon that the authorities consider inappropriate for children, during a morning time slot.

President Hugo Chavez maintains tight control over the media in Venezuela, causing many opposition groups to accuse him of trying prevent coverage of political discontent.

For more information, please see:

BBC – Venezuela Anger at “Mocking” Colombia Soap Opera – 15 January 2011

CNN – Venezuela Slams Soap Opera Featuring Dog Named “Little Hugo” – 15 January 2011

Colombia Reports – Venezuela Demands Soap Opera to be Taken off the Air because of “Little Hugo” – 15 January 2011

Wall Street Journal – Venezuela Urges Removal of Colombian TV Show for Insults – 14 January 2011

Rising Food Prices Spur Protests in Middle East & Africa

By Eric C. Sigmund
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

AMMAN, Jordan – In what was heralded as “a day of rage,” over 5000 Jordanians staged protests against the government for increases in food prices and unemployment.  While police were successful in containing the protests, the demonstrations highlight the rising levels of resentment against the government blamed for the country’s declining standards of living and economic stagnation.  The protests occurred in five cities and were the latest in a series of demonstrations within the region opposing rising food prices.  The protests remained peaceful and no arrests have been reported. 

Even before the protests broke out, the Jordanian government had dedicated over £141m to subsidize the cost of bread.  Some of this money has also been infused into the economy to spur job creation.   While the government’s efforts have proven helpful in cushioning the impact of the current economic situation, those who are worse off have felt little relief.  Poverty and unemployment continue to be difficult challenges for the leadership in Amman, and may be exacerbated by continued economic decline.  Current poverty levels continue to hover around 25 percent in the desert regions of the country and Amman, the country’s capital, continues to be the most expensive city in the Arab world. The country’s budget deficit reach a record high in 2009 standing at $2billion or 9 percent of Jordan’s GDP. 

The protests in Jordan were just one of many in recent weeks which sought to bring attention to the rising price of food in the Middle East and Africa.   Some protests in Tunisia and Algeria turned violent.  The protests in Jordan mark the growing dissatisfaction with the population of the government’s economic policy. The latest figures published by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization reported a 25% increase in the price of many of the most fundamental foodstuffs since last year, including; bread, cereals, cooking oils, meat and dairy products.  One protest banner warned of the effects of a resentful and hungry population reading “Jordan is not one for the rich.  Bread is a red line.  Beware of our starvation and fury.”  While these protests were conducted in a peaceful manner, it may only be a matter of time before the government is faced with a more tumultuous scenario.

For more information, please see:

Guardian – Jordanians Protests against Soaring Food Prices – Jan. 15, 2011

Agence France Presse – Jordanians Protest Living Conditions, Blame Govt – Jan. 14, 2011

Reuters Africa – Hundreds Protest Over High Prices in south Jordan – Jan. 14, 2011

The Press Association – Jordanians Protest at Rising Prices – Jan. 14, 2011

Hungarian Media Law Threatens Freedom of Expression

By Ricardo Zamora
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

BRUSSELS, Belgium – A new Hungarian media law, which would apply to news organizations from other EU nations, is raising concerns among EU member states regarding limitations on the freedom of expression.  Human Rights Watch reports that EU member states are calling on the European Commission to urge Hungary to address these censorship concerns and implement the law consistently with relevant EU values and legislation

Human Rights Watch has reported that the new legislation, which came into effect on January 1, 2011 as Hungary took over the EU presidency, creates a new media authority with the right to impose fines on media outlets for “imbalanced news coverage,” material it considers insulting to “the majority.”  The law also allows the authority to compel journalists to reveal sources on issues related to national security.

According to Human Rights Watch, the law undermines media freedom, is incompatible with Hungary’s human rights obligations and is part of a troubling trend of removing checks and balances, including a November 2010 restriction on the power of the constitutional court to review budget laws.

“As holder of the EU presidency, Hungary should embody the EU’s principles and values,” said Lotte Leicht, EU director at Human Rights Watch.  “But when it comes to human rights, Hungary is moving in the wrong direction,” he added.

Neelie Kroes, Digital Agenda Commissioner and European Commission vice-president, has pledged to ensure that EU law is implemented fully and has assured that the European Commission would not make any compromises with Hungary.  Kroes also voiced her intent to involve Fundamental Rights Commissioner Viviane Reding in respect to Article 7 of the Lisbon treaty if Hungary fails to make the media legislation compatible with EU law.

Kroes also raised concerns over an unprecedented registration regime applying to bloggers and internet media.  Also of concern is that Hungary has opened a new blogging platform which has only been used by officials.

But Kroe remains optimistic.  “I am fully confident that Hungary, being a democratic country, will take all the necessary steps to ensure that the new Media Law is implemented in full respect of the European values on media freedom and relevant EU legislation,” she said.

Hungarian prime minister, Viktor Orban, has agreed to amend the law if the European Commission demands changes.

For more information, please see:

EXPATICA – European Broadcasters Concern Over Hungary Media Law – January 14, 2011

EUBUSINESS – EU Sees ‘Problem’ With Hungary Media Law – January 11, 2011

HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH– Hungary – Media Law Endangers Press Freedom – January 7, 2011