Ecuador Citizens March for Water, Life, and Dignity

Ecuador Citizens March for Water, Life, and Dignity

by Emilee Gaebler
Impunity Watch Reporter

QUITO, Ecuador – President Rafael Correa recently signed a new mega-mining deal for the Mirador copper project with Chinese company Ecuacorrientes (ECSA).  Public outcry over this has been immediate with many citing the lack of environmental safeguards in the deal.

Some of the marchers clash with police as they enter Quito on March 22. (Photo Courtesy of McGill Daily)

Correa signed the deal and bypassed a number of national mandates regarding environmental protections.  The Mirador project is located in the Amazon province of Zamora Chinchipe, along the Peruvian border.  Correa failed to comply with Article 6 of the Ecuadorian Mining Mandate that regulates an established procedure for mining concessions granted on protected lands.

During the signing of the contract on March 5, Correa indirectly admitted that he was aware of the potential environmental damages the project posed.

“All mines pollute. We need mining. Let’s have responsible mining,” said Correa at the signing; while failing to mention that he was moving the project forwards without having done an Environmental Impact Assessment or obtaining an Environmental License.

Indigenous communities as well as other social activist groups throughout Ecuador came together the day after the signing to implement the March for Water and Life.  On March 22, the fifteen day march through Ecuador ended in Quito, the capital city.  At that point the march had close to 25,000 supporters.

Images of the march show that what started as a protest to the large-scale mining agreement, by the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (CONAIE), grew to include a number of wider issues facing the country.

“I am here in the spirit of solidarity between indigenous peoples and nationalities. Each people, each sector, has their own reason for being here. We, the Sapara Nation, are here to resist oil extraction on our land,” was one protestors comment regarding the growth of the march.

A 19 point charter was submitted to the government by the protest.  It covers a number of issues; including law of water, free admission to universities, equitable distribution of land, restoration of public servants, freedom of expression, and an end to open-pit mining and oil concessions.

The arrival of the march in Quito on March 22 was tense with large numbers of riot police on the streets and helicopters flying overhead.  Some isolated altercations broke out between the protestors and police at the end of the day.

Reports by local media are that President Correa paid people and gave them food and transportation to fill all public park spaces in Quito so that as the march entered the city protestors would have no place to gather.

For more information, please see;

Amazon Watch – Ecuador’s Indigenous People Reach Quito After 600 km March for Water, Life, and Dignity – 23 March 2012

Indigenous Peoples Issues and Resources – Ecuador March for Water and Life Video Report – 23 March 2012

The McGill Daily – Thousands Protest in Ecuador’s Capital for Water, Life, and Dignity of the People – 22 March 2012

FIDH – FIDH Calls for the Suspension of the First Large-Scale Open-Pit Mining Project in the Ecuadorian Amazon – 19 March 2012

Global Voices – Ecuador March for Water and Life Says No to Large Scale Mining – 17 March 2012

Latin America Press – Mega Mining Takes Off – 15 March 2012

Six Activists Detained in UAE

By Carolyn Abdenour
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – On Monday, 9 April, the authorities notified six activists they resided in the United Arab Emirates (“UAE”) illegally and detained them.  The authorities revoked the nationality of these activists for critical statements they made about the country’s leadership last year.

The UAE detained six activists after stripping them of thier nationality. (Photo Courtesy of Al Arabiya News)

The activists’ lawyer Mohammed al-Roken reported the Interior Minister summoned the activists to the capital Abu Dhabi to inform them they resided in the country illegally.  The Minister then instructed them to sign a statement that forced them to obtain a new nationality within two weeks.

Daughter of activist Mohammed Abdel-Razzaq al-Siddiq reported, “My father called us…He refused to sign the declaration as now he is stateless, so he was detained along with the other five men.”  The authorities detained the six in a detention facility that caters to illegal immigrants.

Al-Roken describes the government’s act of stripping the men of their citizenship as unconstitutional.

Al-Siddiq believes the authorities targeted them for advocating for political change as part of the Reform and Social Guidance Association, an Islamic political organization linked to the Muslim Brotherhood.  He sought political reform by signing a petition calling for the UAE leadership to grant more powers to the country’s Federal National Council, an advisory body.

Although the UAE has a generous welfare system and is a lead oil exporter, the leadership has aggressively quashed political dissent to maintain control of their country.  Last year, for example, the authorities detained an economics professor, a well-known blogger, and three other political activists on anti-state charges of endangering national security, inciting protests, and insulting the government.  A judge sentenced the detainees to two to three years in jail.  The president released the activists the following day, but he did not officially drop the charges.

On 5 April, the authorities detained representatives of the National Democratic Institute (“NDI”), a US-sponsored democracy group, when they attempted to depart the country once the authorities closed their UAE office for licensing issues.  After questioning an American employee in detention, the authorities allowed the two Americans to leave the country.  However, the authorities did not permit an employee of Serbian nationality to depart.

Authorities closed the NDI office on 28 March before closing the offices of Konrad Adenauer Foundation, a German pro-democracy group, on 29 March.  Polling group Gallup also recently closed its Abu Dhabi office.

Middle East researcher for Human Rights Watch (“HRW”) Samer Muscati commented, “It seems that the government is still frightened by the events transpiring in the Middle East and are trying to do what it takes to keep the Arab Spring from reaching its shore, regardless of how small that possibility might be.”

For further information, please see:

Al Arabiya News – UAE Detains Islamists Linked to Terror Funding – 10 Apr 2012

Gulf Daily News – UAE Activists Held – 10 Apr 2012

The Chicago Tribune – UAE Detains 6 Islamists Stripped Of Citizenship: Lawyer – 9 Apr 2012

The Kansas City Star – UAE Detains 6 Activists Critical Of Rulers – 9 Apr 2012

CNN – Details Emerge In UAE Closing Of Pro-Democracy Groups – 6 Apr 2012

Banda Sworn in as New Malawi President; Vows Reform

By Zach Waksman
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

LILONGWE, Malawi – Joyce Banda was sworn in as Malawi’s first female president on Saturday, a week after the death of President Bingu wa Mutharika, whose party expelled her after a disagreement over whether his brother Peter could succeed him.  The former vice president takes on the task of rebuilding a crumbling economy and restoring confidence in government.

“The first priority would be to revamp the economy and ensure that there is good governance,” said Banda.  “I know this is a great challenge but I thank all Malawians for having confidence in me.”

She took her first steps in that process on Monday, firing Police Inspector General Peter Mukhito.  Once hailed by Mutharika as the best IG Malawi ever had, Mukhito’s departure came as a surprise to some.  Banda’s administration did not provide an explanation, but his handling of recent events may have been a factor.  The country faced anti-government protests about the economy last July.  In response to the rallies, Malawian police fired into the crowds, killing at least 19 people.

Mukhito garnered fame for his questioning a lecturer about his comparisons between the Arab Spring uprisings and the country’s fuel crisis last year.  The incident escalated to the point that Chancellor College, part of the University of Malawi, was forced to close.  According to the People’s Party (PP) Orange Intellectuals, the youth wing of Banda’s political party, the conflict over academic freedom raged for eight months.  It welcomed the change in leadership.

“This could not have come at a better time,” said National Coordinator Edgar Chipalanjira, a student at the since-reopened Chancellor College.  “Honestly, it was hell under the former IG who was ironically dubbed ‘finest ever’ by the late President.  Those were the days no Malawian would wish to experience again.”

Banda has appointed commissioner Lot Dzonzi to replace Mukhito.

She will face a stiffer challenge on economic issues.  In the year before his death, Mutharika had a falling out with the United Kingdom, who cut off its aid to Malawi.  This has contributed to a shortage of foreign currency, as Mutharika also had poor relations with the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.  Despite these hurdles, and her party’s lack of representation in Parliament, the government does not expect much political wrangling.

“We would like to help the new president to rebuild the country. Malawi at the moment is confronted by several challenges and the new needs support from lawmakers. By working with her, Malawians will benefit from development projects,” said an optimistic Ken Kandodo, the country’s former finance minister.  “We had [a] very smooth transition according to the Constitution. There were some people from the national governing council who wanted to disrupt this smooth process but have failed. We should all celebrate because democracy has triumphed.”

But government alone will not be enough to guarantee a successful turnaround.  Banda has emphasized the need to reestablish relations with foreign exchanges and to build up its own industries once again.

“The economy is on a downward spiral with challenges of availability of foreign exchange, fuel shortages and failure to pay civil servant on time or at all,” Banda said last May.  “The private sector is constrained to take an active role.  The country needs to urgently find alternative sources of foreign exchange.”

For more information, please see:

BBC — Malawi’s New President Sacks Police Chief Mukhito — 9 April 2012

Daily Times (Malawi) — Banda Tipped on Priorities — 9 April 2012

Daily Times (Malawi) — Industry Hopeful with New Regime — 9 April 2012

Nyasa Times — PP “Intellectuals” Hail Appointment of New Police Chief — 9 April 2012

Malawi Voice — Inspector of Police Mukhito Fired; Dzonzi Takes Over — 8 April 2012

New York Times — In Mourning, Malawi Swears in a New President — 7 April 2012

Child Torture Revelations in Syrian Conflict

By Tyler Yates
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

DAMASCUS, Syria — In a twisted development to an already aberrant conflict, there is news that Syrian authorities have been detaining and torturing children.  This is coupled with previous reports that the Syrian military has routinely raped women, tortured detainees, shot unarmed civilians, and encouraged looting of houses they storm.  There have been (unconfirmed, as of yet) stories of the Syrian opposition army employing child soldiers.

The individual stories of child torture are shocking.

13 Year Old Hossam is one of many children that has been tortured by the Syrian army (Photo courtesy of Salon).

Hossam, a 13 year-old boy, talks of the “ultimate pain” of his torture when a “terrifying person” with a “huge body” drove a screwdriver up into his big toe nail before ripping it out with pliers.  The man screamed, “’You want freedom? You want to topple the regime?’” as he beat the boy.

Mohammed, a 16-year old from Duma, was tortured with electricity after being arrested, and telling his captors that he supported a Syria that benefits all Syrians.  He was beaten with a cable two or three times a day, and electrocuted on his chest, hands, legs, neck, and on his stomach, close to his genitals.

Pure physical torture of children does not cover the extent of the stories coming out of Syria.

Ayman Karnebo, a dissident who was arrested last May when the uprising against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad began, witnessed the Syrian security forces torturing a pregnant mother, her husband, and her husband’s mother in front of the couple’s infant sons.  Karnebo was sharing a cell with them at the time.

He recalls that the family was of Somali origin; having been rounded up after the revolt took hold.  All foreigners were viewed with suspicion by the Assad government, leading many, like this family, to be detained and questioned.

Karnebo describes all three adults as being tortured with electric shocks to the elbows, hands and toes in front of their terrified children.  After this round of torture the family was moved to another jail.  Their fate remains unknown.

The Assad regime has long been known for its systematic and widespread use of torture, but these new revelations have still come as a surprise.

Amnesty International recently identified 31 methods of torture being employed by Syrian authorities. Some methods have been in use for decades, include the “tire,” where the victim is forced into a large tire and beaten on the feet. There is also the “flying carpet,” where the prisoner is strapped face-up on a wooden board that is bent to stretch the spine.

There are relatively unknown apparently new and even more disturbing techniques, including using pincers to rip out flesh, anal rape with sharp objects and a form of crucifixion where the prisoner is hung from a wall by their wrists.

“The biggest lie of the regime is that there are no orders to torture,” a defected former member of Syrian Air force Intelligence told GlobalPost. “It’s a program, a routine. I saw an old man with a 6-year-old girl brought to the interrogation department. Just five minutes of what she saw there, the screams she heard will surely traumatize her for the rest of her life.”

Navi Pillay, the United Nations’ human rights chief believes that the UN Security Council has enough reliable information to refer Syria’s actions to the International Criminal Court (“ICC”).

“They’ve gone for the children — for whatever purposes — in large numbers,” the BBC quoted her as saying. “Hundreds detained and tortured… it’s just horrendous…Children shot in the knees, held together with adults in really inhumane conditions, denied medical treatment for their injuries, either held as hostages or as sources of information…I feel that investigation and prosecution is a crucial element to deter and call a stop to these violations.”

Syria is not a party to the ICC, so unless Damascus refers itself to the court’s jurisdiction, the only other way for ICC jurisdiction to be created is by a UN Security Council vote.  Given the previous vetoes by Russia and China on resolutions concerning Assad’s violent crackdown such actions are unlikely.

The United States, for its part, is urging the Syrian opposition to unite and pledge to respect minority rights should they eventually push Assad out of power.

“They must be able to clearly demonstrate a commitment to including all Syrians and protecting the rights of all Syrians,” US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said.

More than 9,000 people have been killed in the yearlong Syrian uprising.  Both the opposition and the Syrian government have been accused of human rights abuses during the conflict, drawing international flack from NGOs and other countries alike.

A supposed cease-fire between the opposition and the Syrian government, brokered by the United Nations, is scheduled to start on April 14, but its already shaky future is now further in doubt as the Syrian government is now claiming its conditions were misunderstood.

 For more information, please see:

Miami Herald — Syria puts new conditions on cease-fire — 08 April 2012

Business Mirror — Torture of children, rape by Syrian army ‘routine,’ ex-soldiers say — 07 April 2012

Independent — Syrians tortured parents in front of terrified children — 07 April 2012

Salon — Syria’s tortured children — 04 April 2012

Kansas City Star — Torture of children, rape by Syrian army ‘routine,’ ex-soldiers say — 02 April 2012

The Independent — Assad’s forces target children, says UN envoy — 29 Mar. 2012

MSNBC — Syria is torturing children, UN human rights chief says — 28 Mar. 2012

 

 

Bahrain’s Hunger Striker Moved To Hospital Rather Than Released

By Carolyn Abdenour
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

MANAMA, Bahrain – On Friday, 6 April, Bahraini and Danish citizen Abdulhadi al-Khawaja began receiving intravenous fluids to combat his 58-day hunger strike when authorities moved him to the Bahrain Defence Force Hospital.  Mr. Khawaja began his hunger strike to protest the life sentence he received by a special military court for engaging in anti-government protests last year.  The court convicted him of attempting to overthrow the royal family.

Abdulhadi al-Khawaja in his hospital bed on Saturday. (Photo Courtesy of Al Jazeera).
Abdulhadi al-Khawaja in his hospital bed on Saturday. (Photo Courtesy of Al Jazeera).

Mr. Khawaja’s lawyer Mohammed al-Jishi reported his client’s health is deteriorating, and the authorities moved him to the hospital after he dropped twenty-two pounds.  Mr. Jishi stated, “His condition has worsened…his blood pressure is down, and he is getting an IV (intravenous) drip.”  He added the IV drip only contained saline and glucose, and “The doctors said this won’t be enough to keep him alive.  He is in a critical phase and he still needs to take food.”

His family fears he will die from an impending cardiac arrest and urges the government to take action to save his life.  Furthermore, Khadija Almouosawi, Mr. Khawaja’s wife, asserts the nurses and guards mistreated her husband in the military hospital.

Human rights groups are also advocating for Mr. Khawaja’s release.  Mr. Khawaja is a Danish citizen, and Denmark has requested Bahrain to transfer Mr. Khawaja into its custody for medical treatment.

Moreover, authorities detained Mr. Khawaja’s daughter Zainab on Thursday for protesting her father’s “illegal treatment”.  On Friday, the authorities transferred Zainab to a prison before releasing her on Saturday.

Furthermore, thousands of protesters calling for Mr. Khawaja’s release endured the teargas and water cannons security forces fired upon them on Friday.  These protesters have held daily rallies, and they have planned mass demonstrations supporting their fellow protester’s release.

The authorities arrested Mr. Khawaja last April after a protest at Pearl Roundabout in Manama, Bahrain’s capital.  Protests occurred in Bahrain when police and security forces confronted people peacefully occupying the roundabout.

Amnesty International asserts the court convicted Mr. Khawaja in June with a confession obtained under duress and without proper evidence demonstrating he relied on violence during the protests.  Mr. Khawaja was one of eight protestors who received life sentences for their charged crimes.  Mr. Khawaja also reported to the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry he endured tortious acts throughout his detention.

After her release, Zainab tweeted, “My father just called, he can hardly speak, and he can hardly breath(e).”

For further information, please see:

Al Jazeera – Bahrain Mulls Denmark Plan For Hunger Striker – 7 Apr 2012

Channel 4 News – Calls To Drop F1 Grow as Bahrain Hunger Striker Hotpialised – 7 Apr 2012

BBC – Bahrain Hunger-Striker al-Khawaja Moved to Hospital – 6 April 2012

Tehran Times – Bahrain Hunger Striker’s Daughter Jailed – 6 Apr 2012