Indian Government Ends Hunger Strike With Tear Gas

Indian Government Ends Hunger Strike With Tear Gas

By Greg Donaldson
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

NEW DELHI, India – Indian police halted a hunger strike late Saturday evening in the capital city. The protest, led by yoga guru Swami Ramdev, only lasted fourteen hours as police moved in to break up the protest just after midnight. Police officers forcibly removed Ramdev and thousands of his supporters by firing tear gas shells. It is estimated that anywhere between thirty and seventy people were injured during the raid.

Supporters of the hunger strike were removed early Sunday morning
Hunger strike supporters were removed early Sunday morning (Photo Courtesy of the Associated Press)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The following day Ramdev appeared on national television stating that “the government wants to kill me.” Ramdev pledged to continue his hunger strikes elsewhere and to not be intimidated by the government. Ramdev has been classified as the “rock star of yoga.” Ramdev’s daily two-hour television show has been the most watched show in India since 2003 reports the Washington Post.

Responding to critics of the government crackdown, Prime Minister Manmohan Signh addressed the issue Monday explaining that the crackdown was “unfortunate but unavoidable.” The Delhi police said they decided to end the event since Ramdev only had a permit to conduct a yoga meditation session with 5,000 people, the crowd had risen to 50,000, and Ramdev was encouraging more people to come.

Sunday evening the Prime Minister continued his defense of the crackdown citing past “non-violent” protests that had later turned violent.  Rajan Bhagat, a police spokesman, explained that the confrontation did not begin until after the police ordered the protestors to go home, and then some protestors begin throwing bricks at officers which in turn led to the release of tear gas.

Kapil Sibal, a senior government official, released a letter that he said was written by Ramdev’s aide which promised to end the fast within twenty-four hours. Ramdev said he was forced to write the letter. Surendra Pai, a chemistry professor participating in the strike, said the government “is full of corrupt liars and they are trying to make Ramdev look bad.”The Supreme Court has asked the government for an explanation about their use of “brutal force” to disperse the Ramdev protest.

Ramdev and his supporters are calling for the Indian government to crackdown on those obtaining money illegally and then depositing it into secret back accounts outside of the country. This issue has haunted the government for the past year as several Indian citizens and government officials have been discovered as holding illegal earnings in foreign bank accounts.

Ramdev continues his protest two-hundred kilometers from the capital city in Haridwar.

For more information, please see:

The Hindu — After midnight swoop, battle line hardens — 6 June, 2011

The Times of India — PM defends crackdown on Ramdev, says there was no alternative — 6 June, 2011

New York Times — After Raid, Indian Guru’s Protest Stirs a Firestorm — 5 June, 2011

Washington Post — Fast led by yoga guru prompts India to weigh move against corruption — 4 June, 2011

Refugee advocates concerned over Australian plan for asylum seekers

By Brianne Yantz
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

CANBERRA, Australia – Human rights advocates are criticizing the Australian government for its proposed refugee “swap” with Malaysia. The plan, announced May 7, provides for 800 of Australia’s asylum seekers to be transferred to Malaysia for processing, and in return for Australia to accept 4,000 individuals from Malaysia whom the United Nations has certified as refugees.

 

Child Refugees in Malaysian Detention Center (Photo Courtesy of the Herald Sun)
Child Refugees in Malaysian Detention Center. (Photo Courtesy of the Herald Sun)

Supporters of the agreement argue that the purpose of the plan is to deter unlawful immigration, as thousands of people illegally enter Australia each year.  According to the New York Times, Australia’s Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, stated the agreement “will be a big blow to those who are involved in the evil trade of people smuggling.”

The two nations have extremely different standards for treatment of asylum seekers and refugees.  Critics of the plan have voiced concerns regarding the welfare of refugees who may be shipped to Malaysia under the agreement.  As a signatory of the 1951 United Nations Refugee Convention, Australia has laws and procedures to protect and ensure civilized treatment of asylum seekers.  Conversely, Malaysia is not a signatory of the Refugee Convention, nor does it have any refugee laws or screening procedures.  Malaysia has also been known to detain asylum seekers under degrading and inhumane conditions.

Bill Frelick, Refugee Program Director at Human Rights Watch, voiced concern that “the Australia-Malaysia deal may encourage governments to shirk their obligations under the Refugee Convention by transferring asylum seekers to countries that have not ratified the convention.”  Appealing to Australia’s legal and ethical obligations, Frelick further stated, “Australia should not unload asylum seekers on a country known to be hostile to refugees.”

Opposition to the plan has grown stronger since it was announced that an undetermined number of unaccompanied children would be among the 800 sent to Malaysia.  Critics contend that sending children to a country that is known to aggressively mistreat refugees goes against the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, under which Australia is obliged to act in a child asylum seekers’ best interests.

Concerns run deep for the future safety of these children, particularly the young girls.  In Malaysia there is extensive documentation that unaccompanied females become victims of sexual violence and harassment.  Critics believe the proposed plan will likely subject women seeking asylum in Malaysia to such dangers.

Although the grievances aired have not yet halted negotiations, the United Nations has been highly critical of the proposed agreement and the Australian Senate recently passed a motion calling on the government to abandon the plan.

For more information, please see:

The Australian – Refugees live in a world of fear – June 4, 2011

AP – Australia criticized over child asylum seeker plan – June 2, 2011

BBC News – Australia will send children to Malaysia in asylum deal – June 2, 2011

New York Times – Asian Refugees’ Advocates Worry About Migrant Deal – June 2, 2011

Human Rights Watch – Australia: End Threat of Tawdry Refugee Trade – May 26, 2011

Protest Violence continues in Uganda

By Reta Raymond
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

Unarmed protesters on April 14 dodge bullets fired in Kasangati, just outside of Kampala. Photo courtesy of msnbc.com
Walk to Work Protesters near Kampala in April (Photo Courtesy of MSNBC)

NEBBI, Uganda- Protests were staged on Wednesday, June 1 during the swearing in of newly elected district chairperson Robert Okumu of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) in Nebbi, northwest of Kampala. Protesters in support of candidate Estom William Alenyo lit tires to block the Nebbi-Kampala road to interfere with the procession. Police dispelled crowds using tear gas and live ammunition, and the protesters fought back using stones. Protesters complain  that Okumu’s swearing in is premature because of an unresolved election petition of the recount results in the High Court. A protester told New Vision that “we cannot allow this, Okumu wants to use illegal means to lead us when he is not our choice.” Eighteen protesters were arrested and have been remanded to prison after having been denied bail. Two were injured during the protest.

Estom William Alenyo (Ind) was declared the winner of the election earlier this year, but after  Okumu sued Alenyo and the Electoral Commission, a recount was ordered and Okumu was declared the winner on May 30.

This protest is the most recent in a string of police brutality incidents related to civil unrest in Uganda since April. In the capital city of Kampala, the activist group, Activists for Change (A4C), organized the “Walk to Work” campaign.  Protesters walked from their homes to their offices to call attention to the high fuel and commodity prices. Security forces used tear gas, live ammunition and rubber bullets to disperse crowds of protesters.

One of the prominent faces of A4C’s campaign, Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) president Dr. Kizza Besigye, was arrested numerous times, was shot in the hand, and tear gassed at point blank,which blinded him temporarily. Besigye was confined to his home for most of May, except to leave the country to receive medical treatment for his injuries.  He told reporters “I have no idea what the conditions of my house arrest are… they didn’t say for how long.” The force’s use of live ammunition and other measures were used against bystanders and protesters alike, injuring three hundred and killing at least nine, including two children.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) called for a probe into human rights violations which took place during the Walk to Work campaign, citing nine indiscriminate killings and other gross violations. Additionally, on Wednesday the East African Law Society (EALS) filed a lawsuit against Uganda in the East African Court (EAC) of Justice in Tanzania for the human rights violations. Vice President of the EALS, Mr. Aggrey Mwamu, told reporters that “as the atrocities were committed in Uganda, neither the EAC secretary general nor any of the five members of the Community raised concern. They all kept quiet… this is against the EAC Treaty.”

For more information, please see;

Daily Monitor – Live Bullets, Teargas as police battle Nebbi protesters – 2 June, 2011

The New Vision – Nebbi LC5 sworn in amidst demo – 2 June 2011

All Africa – Uganda: Nebbi Court Remands 18 Youth Over Protest – 3 June 2011

BBC – Uganda’s Kizza Besigye ‘put under house arrest’ – 19 May 2011

Human Rights Watch – Uganda: Launch Independent Inquiry into Killings – 8 May 2011

Twelve Dead after Israeli Troops Fire on Border Protesters

by Zach Waksman
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

Protesters gather near the Golan Heights checkpoint to commemorate Naksa Day
Pro-Palestinian protesters gather near the Golan Heights checkpoint to commemorate "Naksa Day" (Photo Courtesy of Al Jazeera)

MAJDAL SHAMS, Golan Heights, Israel — This morning’s protest rally along the fence that marks the border between Syria and Israel became a battlefield when Israeli forces assembled along the fence shot at the assembled protesters.

The protest was scheduled to mark the 44th anniversary of the Arab world’s defeat in the Six-Day War of 1967 against Israel, known as “Naksa Day” or the “Day of Defeat.”  In preparation for the protest, the Israeli military dug trenches and erected barbed wire at the border in an effort to stymie efforts to breach the borders.  Despite these efforts, troops opened fire when protesters attempted to breach the fences, despite several warnings to stop. Syrian state television reported that as many as twelve people were killed, with dozens more injured.

One of the injured, 16-year-old Mohammed Hasan, said, “We want on this occasion to remind America and the whole world that we have a right to return to our country.”  In commemorating the war, the rally was meant to bring the world’s eyes to the situation of an estimated half-million Palestinian refugees who lost their homes during Israel’s war of independence.  Also among the injured was Palestinian politician Mustafa Bargouthi, who told Al-Jazeera that the he was one of several people who were beaten by Israeli soldiers as the protesters peacefully approached the Golan Heights checkpoint.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu disagreed with Bargouthi’s assessment.  After last month’s protests resulted in hundreds of people breaking through a border fence and fighting with Israeli troop, he deployed thousands of troops to the borders as a deterrent. Netanyahu also instructed his troops to use restraint and decisiveness in facing down the protesters today. “Unfortunately, extremist forces around us are trying today to breach our borders and threaten our communities and our citizens.  We will not let them do that,” he said.

Since the shootings, the Israeli military has said that the Syrian government was behind today’s incident in an effort to distract the world from its own unrest.  Avital Leibovich, spokesman for the Israeli army, called the incident “an attempt to divert international attention from the bloodbath going on in Syria.”

Casualty counts are still unfinished.

For more information, please see:

Al Jazeera — Israeli forces fire at ‘Naksa’ Protesters — 5 June 2011

Arutz Sheva — IDF Digs Trenches to Stop Border Assaults — 5 June 2011

Atlanta Journal-Constitution — 12 dead as Israeli troops fire along Syrian border – 5 June 2011

Jerusalem Post — PM: We will protect borders with determination, restraint — 2 June 2011

Pakistani Intelligence Agency Suspected in Death of Journalist

By: Jessica Ties Impunity Watch, Asia ISLAMABAD, Pakistan – Pakistani journalist Sayed Saleem Shahzad was abducted in Islamabad Sunday night while driving from his home to a television station. On Tuesday, his body was discovered 155 miles outside of Islamabad and showed indications of torture.

Sayed Saleem Shahzad (photo courtsey of MSNBC)
Sayed Saleem Shahzad (Photo Courtesy of MSNBC)

A colleague of Shahzad, Zafar Mehmud Sheikh, described Shahzad as “an extremely critical writer” and stated that “his writings in Asia Times were not liked by many circles…he was always getting threats, direct life threats not from one side, from all sides.” Amnesty International is demanding that an investigation into the death of Shahzad include Pakistan’s security and intelligence agencies. Pakistan’s main intelligence agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), has issued a statement denying its involvement in the killing of Shahzad. The ISI is known for its support of Islamist militants and has been accused of detaining political activists for months or years without formally charging them. Speculation of the ISI’s involvement in the killing of Shahzad arises partially from an article in the Asia Times in which Shahzad wrote that Pakistan had freed a detained Afghan Taliban commander. According to an email sent by Shahzad to Human Rights Watch researcher Ali Dayan Hasan, he was summoned to the ISI office shortly after the article was published and was pressured to reveal his sources or retract his story. Shahzad refused to do either. In an email sent to a friend following the meeting at ISI headquarters, Shahzad stated that he was told by an official that a hit-list had been recovered from a recently arrested terrorist. The official then stated, “If I find your name in the list, I will certainly let you know.” While Shahzad interpreted the statement as a threat, the ISI maintains that the meeting “had nothing sinister about it” and that “it is part of the Wing’s mandate to remain in touch with the journalistic community…ISI also makes it a point to notify institutions and individuals alike of any threat warning received about them.” The ISI had reportedly delivered several warnings to Shahzad regarding his writings however, it is also possible that his death was the result of his writings provoking one of the various militant groups he was in contact with who felt that Shahzad had gained too much information. For more information, please see: Amnesty International –Pakistan must probe intelligence agencies as body of journalist is found – 31 May 2011 Associated Press of Pakistan – Salim Shahzad death source of concern for entire nation: ISI official – 1 June 2011 CNN – A Pakistani journalist is killed and many questions remain unanswered – 1 June 2011 MSNBC – Pakistan spy agency denies role in killing – 1 June 2011