EGYPTIANS RIOT IN SUEZ

EGYPTIANS RIOT IN SUEZ

by Adom M. Cooper
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

SUEZ, Egypt–After a court upheld the release on bail of policemen accused of killing 17 people during an uprising, hundreds of family members of the victims displayed their own disapproval with the outcome. They attacked police cars and flung stones at the court building.

Protesters in Suez throwing stones at the court building and attacking police cars. (Photo Courtesy of BBC)
Protesters in Suez throwing stones at the court building and attacking police cars. (Photo Courtesy of BBC)

On July 4, 2011, the same sort of displeasure was festering in Cairo when the seven officers were originally granted bail. The snowball effect has been in full swing in Egypt as anger has been mounting about the slow pace of the trials for officials and security forces of former President Hosni Mubarak.

These seven officers are part of a group of 14 facing trial over the murder of 17 protesters and the wounding of 300 others. The other seven decided to flee and are currently being tried in absentia.

Activists have called for a demonstration this coming Friday, July 8, 2011, in Cairo’s Tahrir Square, hoping to muster more then a million protesters. Tahrir Square is the nerve center for the protests that forced former President Hosni Mubarak to resign on February 11th of this year.

Since that time, only one single policeman has been convicted in more than a dozen court cases over the death of approximately 850 people in the government-wide crackdown on protesters.

The case of these police officers is just a microcosm of the increased tensions in Egypt. The management of legal proceedings against security forces who used deadly force in the uprising, killing approximately 846 civilians and wounding thousands, has only further angered the protesters desiring change.

Egypt’s opposition movement, the Muslim Brotherhood, has decided to support Friday’s planned protest. Ayman Mohyeldin, an Al-Jazeera correspondent, shared these sentiments while reporting from Egypt on the developing situation:

“Military police are here on the scene, they are trying to control the situation, but so far they have been unsuccessful in pushing the crowd back. They have been able to secure the entrance to the building in order to secure the people from going in, but the situation outside remains very tense. This situation highlights the frustration Egyptians have toward the process of justice that is unfolding.”

At the other end of the spectrum, approximately 10,000 civilians face military trials for their participation in the protests. These trials have further spit fuel onto the fire of pro-democracy activists calling for the end of the oppressive methods of Mubarak’s regime.

For more information, please see:

NYT-Acquittals of Ex-officials Feed Anger Across Egypt-05 July 2011

Al-Jazeera-Riots outside Suez security building-06 July 2011

BBC-Egyptians riot in Suez over police trials-06 July 2011

Wall Street Journal-Rage at Police Fuels Egypt Rioting-30 June 2011

Several Dead in Kabul Hotel Raid

By Greg Donaldson
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

KABUL, Afghanistan— Approximately nine Taliban suicide bombers stormed the prestigious hilltop Inter-Continental Hotel in the capital city late Tuesday night, killing up to twenty-one people in the raid. Armed with rocket-propelled grenades and other weapons, the attackers entered the heavily guarded hotel where foreigners and authorities generally stay. An Afghan security official said that three of the suicide bombers detonated their explosives, one in front of the main gate, one on the second floor and one behind the hotel, reports the Khaama Press.

The Inter-Continental Hotel after the attack (Photo courtesy of Ahmad Masood / Reuters)
The Inter-Continental Hotel after the attack (Photo courtesy of Ahmad Masood / Reuters)

It is unclear whether the attack was in response to a local governor’s meeting or the upcoming transfer of police power. Regardless, the attack comes at a critical time as the United States plans to transfer security responsibilities to the national intelligence police in Kabul on the fourteenth. Afghan president Hamid Karzai has stated for months that his security forces are competent enough to handle Taliban attacks. President Obama has also announced the withdrawal of 33,000 American troops by the end of next year.

In response to the various Taliban attacks that preceded and followed the hotel bombing, President Karzai has spoken with Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari about doing more to prevent Taliban activities. Both sides point fingers at the other when discussing the Taliban’s actions in their countries, but Afghan and US officials have pushed Pakistan to do more on the Pakistani side of the border to prevent future attacks reports Dawn.

Kamel Khan, a businessman, was visiting the hotel when the raid began. Khan heard gunfire and saw a man carrying a machine gun, with an ammunition belt across his chest, and a backpack. Khan stated “He stared at all of the guests like he wanted to kill us, and he had enough bullets to do it, but for some reason he just turned and kept going.”

Another hotel visitor, Maulvi Mohammed Orsaji, the head of the Takhar Provincial Council, was having dinner with a judge in the hotel’s formal dining room when several gunmen entered the room and killed the judge and Orsaji’s guard. Orsaji related that he had previous military experience, but he had never seen such a wild attack in his life. Some of the bombers carried tape recorders playing Taliban war songs and shot at anyone they saw, reports MSNBC.

When Afghan security forces entered the building, some of the attackers blew themselves up. A NATO helicopter then killed the remaining insurgents in a rooftop battle reports MSNBC. In a statement claiming responsibility for the attack, Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said he received a phone call from one of his fighters during the raid. The fighter stated that the attackers killed the guards at one of the entrances to the hotel, and the assault was going as planned reports MSNBC.

Lutfullah Mashal, spokesman for the national intelligence police, continued to proclaim that the local police have the ability to protect residents from terrorist attacks in a news conference following the hotel siege. However, police officials were unable to explain how the attackers were able to enter the heavily guarded hotel with such a large arsenal of weapons.

For more information, please see:

Dawn– Karzai raises concerns with Pakistan over attacks — 5 July 2011

Khaama Press — Group of Suicide Bombers Stormed Kabul Intercontinental Hotel – 30 June 2011

Miami Herald — US-led coalition: Pakistan group behind Kabul hotel attack – 30 June 2011

Khaleej Times — 21 dead as Taleban storm Kabul hotel – 29 June 2011

MSNBC – ‘Everybody was shooting’: 18 die in Kabul hotel attack – 29 June 2011

Washington Post — Kabul hotel siege leaves at least 11 civilians dead – 29 June 2011

Appeals court finds Dutch responsible for Srebrenica massacre victims

By Polly Johnson
Senior Desk Officer, Europe

THE HAGUE, Netherlands – In a landmark ruling, a Dutch appeals court in The Hague ruled on Tuesday that the Dutch state was responsible for the deaths of three Bosnian Muslim men in the infamous 1995 Srebrenica massacre.

An appeals court ruling could have far-reaching implications for victims of the Srebrenica massacre who wish to bring suit against the Dutch government (1995 File Photo Courtesy of Voice of America).
An appeals court ruling could have far-reaching implications for victims of the Srebrenica massacre who wish to bring suit against the Dutch government (1995 File Photo Courtesy of Voice of America).

Analysts have called the ruling historic and a possible floodgate for future compensation claims for victims of the Srebrenica massacre. The court ordered the Dutch government to pay compensation to the dead men’s relatives.

The three Bosnian Muslims became members of the Dutch peacekeeping group known as “Dutchbat” in July 1995 and took shelter in the Dutchbat-run United Nations “safe” compound on July 11, 1995.  When Bosnian Serbian troops under the command of General Ratko Mladic invaded the compound, Dutch peacekeepers turned the three Bosnian Muslim men over to Mladic’s troops. They, along with more than eight thousand Bosnian Muslim men and boys, were subsequently rounded up and shot, marking the deadliest European massacre since World War II.

The appeals court has now ruled that the Dutch peacekeepers were wrong to turn the three men over to Mladic’s forces, and more, that the Dutch state bore responsibility for their deaths. Now, the court ruled, the government must pay damages to the victims’ next-of-kin.

The ruling renewed an age-old debate regarding the Dutch role in the Srebrenica slaughter and to what extent the Dutch peacekeepers could have prevented the massacre. The discussion has been amplified since the capture and arrest of General Mladic, who is currently awaiting trial at The Hague on charges of crimes against humanity and genocide related to his role at Srebrenica.

Relatives of the victims praised the court’s decision, which overturned a previous decision by the Netherlands ruling that the state was not responsible for the deaths because the Dutchbat was operating under a UN mandate.

“This ruling is a very good thing. It certainly paves the way that the Dutch state be also proclaimed responsible for what has happened in Srebrenica, for other victims also,” said Sabaheta Fejzic, whose husband and son were killed at Srebrenica and who is a part of the Mothers of Srebrenica association.

“The fact that the state is finally held responsible for this act of cowardice is some little relief,” Fejzic said.

The case was brought by relatives of Rizo Mustafic, who worked as an electrician for the Dutchbat, and by Hasan Nuhanovic, an intepreter who lost his father and brother at Srebrenica.

For more information, please see:

ABC News – Dutch found responsible for Srebrenica deaths – 5 July 2011

BBC – Dutch state ‘responsible for three Srebrenica deaths’ – 5 July 2011

Independent – Dutch state admits responsibility over Srebrenica deaths – 5 July 2011

Irish Times – Netherlands ruled at fault over three Srebrenica deaths – 5 July 2011

Dutch Parliament Votes 150 to 0 to Sanction the Russian Officials Who Killed Sergei Magnitsky

Hermitage Capital Press Release

Originally Published 4 July 2011


The Dutch parliament, by a vote of 150 to 0 has passed a resolution demanding that the Dutch government impose visa and economic sanctions on the Russian officials who were responsible for the false arrest, torture and death of 37-year old anti-corruption lawyer Sergei Magnitsky.

Eighteen months have passed since Sergei Magnitsky died in Interior Ministry custody after testifying against corrupt state officials in Russia.  Despite President Medvedev calling for an investigation, not a single person has been charged.  Instead, the senior officials responsible for Magnitsky’s torture and death have been promoted and in some cases have received state honors. Despite worldwide calls for prosecution, these officials enjoy absolute impunity in Russia.

On December 16 last year, the European Parliament called on all EU member states to impose visa and economic sanctions on the Russian officials behind the Magnitsky case. In May 2011, the US Senate submitted legislation entitled “The Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act”, that will give these sanctions the force of a law in the United States.

The motion in the Dutch parliament, entitled “Over de dood van Sergei Magnitsky,” was passed unanimously by the lower House of Parliament.  It reads:

“The Chamber, hearing the proceedings, noting that the Russian lawyer Sergei Magnitsky died under suspicious circumstances in a Russian prison, after a major corruption scandal was uncovered in Russia … noting that among other things, the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives have put measures to restrict visas and freezing assets of Russian officials who
were involved in the death of Magnitsky, calls on the Government to take steps in a European context, in line with the initiatives of the U.S. Senate and the European Parliament, so that those responsible for the death of Sergei Magnitsky be held to account.”

Commenting on the vote, one of the initiators of the resolution, Kathleen Ferrier MP (Christian Democrats), said, “The fact that this resolution was adopted unanimously by all 150 members of the House of Representatives shows the strong commitment of Dutch parliament with the case of Sergei Magnitsky. For me, impunity is unacceptable. That is why I am satisfied with this result. But I also realise that, though this is a very important step, there are many more steps to come. We will continue to fight for justice for Sergei Magnitsky.”

Sergei Magnitsky represented the Hermitage Fund, once the largest foreign portfolio investor in Russia. He was arrested by the Russian Interior Ministry after he exposed how Russian officials stole $230 million of public funds. He was detained by the same officials he had named in his testimony and tortured for one year in custody to withdraw his testimony. After he refused and filed numerous complaints, he was found dead in an isolation cell in a  pre-trial detention center. While in custody, despite his extreme illness and more than twenty official requests for medical attention, he was refused medical care.

Coskun Çörüz, the head of the Dutch delegation to OSCE and Dutch MP, who was the sponsor of the Sergei Magnitsky Motion in the Dutch parliament, said:

“As a member of Dutch Parliament and a lawyer, I am pleased that the Dutch Parliament unanimously adopted my motion about the case of Sergei Magnitsky. This is a strong signal from the Dutch Parliament to the Dutch Government. I believe that human rights are for everybody, everywhere and any time. I believe the Dutch government, which is known as advocate of human rights, will act in the spirit of this resolution.”

The Sergei Magnitsky motion in the Dutch parliament was supported by deputies from both ruling and opposition parties. In addition to Mr Çörüz (Christian Democrats), the motion was co-sponsored by Mr Joël Voordewind (Christian Union), Mr Han Ten Broeke (Liberal Party), and Mr Kees van der Staaij  (Dutch Reformed Party). Senior Dutch lawmaker Frans Timmermans also voted for the resolution.

The co-sponsor of the Sergei Magnitsky motion, Joël Voordewind MP, said:

“I sincerely regret the death of Mr. Magnitsky … Now is the time to raise the pressure on Russia to bring to justice those responsible for this cowardly act. Unfortunately the death of Mr. Magnitsky is not a isolated incident but part of a much larger problem of the lack of human rights in Russia. Freezing assets and banning visa’s is therefore a clear signal to the Russian authorities that this is unacceptable.”

“The Sergei Magnitsky story touches every person who hears it, which is why the Dutch parliament responded so robustly to his tragedy and what it symbolizes for human rights and the rule of law in Russia,” said William Browder, CEO of Hermitage Capital.

Hermitage Capital
+44 207 440 17 77
info@lawandorderinrussia.org
http://lawandorderinrussia.org
Facebook: http://on.fb.me/ieAYdP

See the reference to the Sergei Magnitsky Motion 32 735, nr. 14 on the
Dutch Parliament website:

http://www.tweedekamer.nl/images/30-06-2011_tcm118-222571.pdf (р. 11)

Agencies “Cover” Officials Involved In Magnitsky Case – Rights Activist

Originally published by Interfax News, The Russia And CIS Business And Financial News Wire
July 1st, 2011

MOSCOW. July 1 (Interfax) – Human rights activists intend to name the officials who may be involved in Hermitage Capital lawyer Sergei Magnitsky’s case, who died in a Moscow detention facility.

The names will be mentioned in the interim report on the Magnitsky case, which the presidential Human Rights Council plans to pass to President Dmitry Medvedev on July 5, Kirill Kabanov, the head of the public organization National Anti-Corruption Committee, told Interfax on Friday.

“We will raise questions about the names of the people who may be interested in the Magnitsky case,” Kabanov said.

The working group of the presidential Human Rights Council is actively working with the Russian Investigations Committee, which is investigating Magnitsky’s death.

“We have come to the following interim conclusion: Unfortunately, it may be impossible to subject all participants in this trial to criminal liability. Agencies are covering them. Courts have made many illegal decisions. Dealing with courts is a big problem,” Kabanov said.

The interim report will not state the final conclusion on the cause of Magnitsky’s death, Lyudmila Alekseyeva, a member of the presidential human rights council, a member of the Council’s working group on the Magnitsky case, and head of the Moscow Helsinki Group, said.

Magnitsky, a lawyer for the investment foundation Hermitage Capital, died in the Matrosskaya Tishina detention facility on November 16, 2009, at the age of 37. He was charged with tax evasion.

Magnitsky’s death drew a broad public response. The Investigations Committee opened a criminal case on charges of failure to provide assistance to a patient and negligence.

According to two forensic evaluations, Magnitsky died of acute heart insufficiency. The experts confirmed that Magnitsky was suffering from the illnesses he was diagnosed with earlier, but said those illnesses were not at an acute stage.

Despite the dismissals in the Federal Service for the Enforcement of Punishments, human rights activists believe no real investigation into the causes of Magnitsky’s death was conducted.