Charles Taylor Appealing Conviction, Sentence

Charles Taylor Appealing Conviction, Sentence

By Tara Pistorese
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

MONROVIA, Liberia—Charles Taylor and his defense team are appealing the April conviction and fifty-year sentence Taylor received from The Hague for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Charles Taylor pictured during a transfer while on trial. (Photo Courtesy of AllAfrica)

Taylor, 64, was arrested in March 2006 and found guilty in April of this year for aiding and abetting what the International Court termed “some of the most heinous crimes in human history.”

Finding Taylor guilty of eleven counts of arming rebels with blood diamonds, the Court determined that Taylor had been paid in diamonds mined in areas under the control of Sierra Leone’s Revolutionary United Front rebels.

The rebels were responsible for murdering, raping, and mutilating their victims, forcing children to fight, and keeping sex slaves during the war with Sierra Leone that claimed approximately 120,000 lives.

Taylor’s sentence was the first to be committed by the International Court since the Nuremberg Nazi trials in 1946.

According to Taylor’s defense team, the former Liberian President will be appealing because the Court made “systematic errors” in evaluating evidence, and relied on “uncorporated” hearsay as the sole basis for specific incriminating findings of fact.

“Charles Taylor respectfully requests that the appeals chamber reverse all the findings of guilty and [the] conviction entered against him and vacate the judgment,” Taylor’s defense counsel announced.

Similarly, the prosecution plans to appeal the Special Court’s decision to acquit Taylor of more serious charges. Prosecutors will also call on the Court to extend Taylor’s sentence to the originally requested eighty-year term.

Two separate bills were recently introduced in the Liberian House of Representatives seeking to establish a war crimes court there. However, Senior Senator and Taylor’s ex-wife Jewell Howard-Taylor has publicly opposed the bills.

“Given the level of sufferings our people faced during the terrible days of wars and even now, I think the best option is not establishing war crimes court, but the creation of employment opportunities where Liberians can [fend] for themselves,” Senator Taylor said.

“My position is clear, I am not supporting the culture of impunity, but war crimes court at this time is not healthy for [our] democracy.”

For further information, please see:

AFP—Liberia’s Taylor Appeals War Crime Conviction—19 July 2012

AllAfrica—Liberia: Sen. Taylor-Rejects War Crimes Court—19 July 2012

Deutsche Welle—Liberia’s Charles Taylor Appeals War Crimes Conviction—19 July 2012

NineMSN—Taylor Appeals War Crimes Conviction—20 July 2012

SNHR and DCHRS Report: Blood Mixes with Bread – Bakery Massacres in the City of Homs

The Syrian regime forces have besieged cities and neighborhoods and cut off supplies like medicine, flour, and bread.  They have also targeted bakeries some of which continue to operate amidst harsh conditions including no electricity, no water, and no means of communication.  In addition, the Syrian regime forces have begun to routinely target the people lining up in queues in front of bakeries by using indiscriminate shelling attacks.  Going even one step further, Assad’s forces are also targeting anyone trying to transport aid to the besieged neighborhoods.

Asheera Bakery massacre: 16 June 2012
Al-Liwaa bakery at the neighbourhood of Asheera was targeted by security forces and pro-regime shabeeha militias who opened gunfire at citizens lining up in queues to buy bread.  As a result, 3 citizens were killed and many others were wounded including a number of children.
**WARNING: VIDEO BELOW CONTAINS GRAPHIC IMAGES**
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQJm2dHO6uI&w=500&h=400

Many citizens were wounded in the attack and are receiving treatment at make shift hospitals.

Farhanya village massacre: 16 June 2012
When village residents lined up in front of the village bakery to receive bread for their families, the Syrian regime army troops deliberately targeted them with mortars.  They killed 5 citizens whose bodies were torn apart and injured more than twenty others.

**PLEASE NOTE: THE VIDEOS PROVIDED DOCUMENTING THIS TRAGEDY WERE TOO GRAPHIC TO BE SHOWN**

Al-Hamedya Bakery Massacre
It is the only bakery that is still working in the neighborhood to provide bread for survivor residents.  This bakery was shelled with rockets that destroyed the building, killed more than 3 citizens, and wounded many others.

Poisoning Bread at Qalaat Al-Hisn
Regime forces cut off supplies of flour to Tal Kalakh bakeries for two months, as well as expropriating and hindering any shipments or attempts made to bring flour to the town.  The fuel tanks carrying oil to the bakeries were also targeted via shelling attacks.  Citizens, having no other choice, returned to buying bread provided by the regime.  The Assad regime bought bread caused more than 45 poisoning cases and caused the death of two citizens.

In their report, local doctors stated the poisoning symptoms exhibited were: nausea, stomach-ache, corestenoma and slowed heartrates.  In the light of the deteriorating medical situation and pro-regime shabeeha militias’ occupation of hospitals, the wounded have been treated with simple medical necessities in makeshift hospitals.

Children at a makeshift hospital are treated with basic charcoal and milk of magnesia remedies.

 

All information and media contained in this report provided by:

Syrian Network for Human Rights

Damascus Center for Human Rights Studies

Mexican Protesters Decry Election Results as Fraudulent

By: Stuart Smith
Impunity Watch, North America Deck

MEXICO CITY, Mexico – On July 22, 2012, thousands of protesters marched through the center of Mexico City to protest the official result of the country’s recent presidential election, which declared Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) candidate Enrique Pena Nieto Mexico’s presumptive President-elect.

Protesters in Reforma Avenue, Mexico City. (Photo Courtesy of BBC News)

According to Xinhua News, protesters, organized by “Yo soy 132” (I am 132), a student movement, and supported by runner-up Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, took to the streets Sunday expressing their outrage at the result of the July 1 election with banners decrying the “imposition” of the PRI’s Nieto on Mexico and chanting slogans such as “Pena Out” and “Fraud, Fraud.”

The protest began when thousands of demonstrators rallied outside Los Pinos, Mexican President’s official residence and office, who then marched down the capital’s main avenue, Paseo de la Reforma, to the city’s square. Reuters reported that Mexican officials estimated as many as 30,000 protesters took part in the rally. Yet, despite the large crowd, authorities said the protest was peaceful.

Nieto and the PRI are accused of buying votes and arranging favorable media coverage from Televisa, one of Mexico’s main television networks, reported BBC News. In an interview with Reuters, Luis Martinez, a 25-year-old engineering student from Mexico City, said, “the people have woken up. The people realize that the PRI violated the elections.” Echoing similar sentiment, marcher Marlem Munoz told Fox News, “Mexico didn’t vote for fraud. Mexico wants a country that is honest and democratic. What happened in the elections was a total mockery directed at the Mexican people.”

However, the PRI denied the charges, countering that Lopez Obrador is attempting to “disqualify the entire electoral process with lies.” Televisa, also, denied accepting money in exchange for positive coverage.

Yet, despite these denials, the PRI has a history of employing fraud to win elections. The PRI’s 71-year rule, reported Reuters, which ended in 2000, was marred by allegations of corruption, vote-rigging, and violent repression of dissent.

Lopez Obrador is currently seeking to nullify the election result at the federal election tribunal. Last week, Obrador and opposition parties presented to the tribunal evidence which, they claim, shows that the PRI purchased votes with money earned from drug trafficking activities.

The election tribunal has until September 6, when the final vote count must be certified and an official President-elect must be declared, to rule on the challenge. The President will then be sworn in on December 1.

For further information, please see:

Xinhua News – Thousands march in Mexico City to protest election results – 23 July 2012

Reuters UK – Thousands march in Mexico to protest Pena Nieto win – 23 July 2012

BBC News – Mexicans in new protest at Pena Nieto election victory – 22 July 2012

Fox News – Thousands turn out to march against election results in Mexico – 22 July 2012

 

Story of Anas At-Tarshah: Protester, Videographer, and Media Activist

Anas, born in 1993, was a first-year business administration student at Al-Qalamoun Univeristy.  He grew up in Homs and lived in the Al-Hamra neighborhood.

A picture of Anas At-Tarshah.

He was one of the most prominent film activists in the city of Homs; filming hours of footage and also making sure to take care of the live broadcasting device so that the independent footage could be released.

Anas was a participant and filmed the protests at Al-Qalamoun University which placed him on the wanted list of the Syrian regime.  He was arrested at his university dorm room by Air Force Intelligence in Damascus on 16 November 2012.  He was brutally beaten and tortured by them.  Upon his release, he became even more persistent and determined in his calls for freedom.

He loved videography and used it to document crimes perpetrated by the regime.  He took to filming protests in all the dangerous places.  In addition, he made sure to film many important crimes like mortar and artillery shellings that took place.  Anas also filmed special operations led by the Free Syrian Army who trusted Anas for his courage, patience and chivalry.

On 24 February 2012, Anas visited a friend with satellite internet in Juret Al-Shyah in Homs.  He went to upload on YouTube videos of a protest he filmed in Al-Mal’ab neighbourhood of Homs on the Friday before.  On his way home, he was hit by a mortar that ripped apart his body.  Anas lost his lower body parts due to this shell fired by the Syrian regime forces.

**WARNING: VIDEO BELOW CONTAINS GRAPHIC IMAGES**

The body of Anas after the attacks.

He was then transported to Al-Amal Hospital where there was hope that his life could be saved.  However, just as they had stopped the bleeding from his legs, Syrian regime forces raided the hospital and abducted many injured victims.  In the chaos, Anas’ comrades, members of the Free Syrian Army, were able to transport him to a make-shift hospital.  On their way to the make-shift hospital, regime snipers targeted them.  Anas died upon arrival at a make-shift hospital.

The public gathers in mass for the funeral procession of Anas.

 

All information and media contained in this report provided by:

Syrian Network for Human Rights

Damascus Center for Huma Right Studies in Syria

Syria Threatens Use of Chemical Weapons against Foreign Aggression

By Ali Al-Bassam
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East 

DAMASCUS, Syria — Syrian foreign ministry officials stressed on Monday that they will not use chemical weapons against its own people, emphasizing Damascus’s commitment to UN special envoy Kofi Annan.

Syrian foreign ministry spokesman Jihad Maqdissi stated on Monday that chemical weapons would only be used against foreign aggressors. (Photo Courtesy of Al-Manar)

In a statement read by spokesman Jihad Makdissi, the chaotic Middle Eastern country said that such weapons stocks are secured and directly monitored by the Syrian Armed Forces and would only be used in cases of external aggression on the country.  He added that “Syria will never use [chemical weapons] against Syrians no matter what.”

“Any chemical or biological weapons will never be used, I repeat, will never be used in the Syrian crisis, no matter what the internal developments in this crisis are,” Makdissi said at a news conference broadcast on Syrian state TV.

Syria has never confirmed its possession of chemical weapons. It is also not a signatory of the Chemical Weapons Convention, which outlaws their production.

Israel and the West are concerned that Syria might use its chemical weapons stock against neighboring Lebanon.  On July 16, the most senior Syrian politician to defect told the BBC that it would not hesitate to use chemical weapons if cornered.  Nawaf Al-Fares, Syria’s former ambassador to Iraq, said unconfirmed reports indicated that such weapons might have already been used.  Despite this claim, Syrian rebels have not reported any use of chemical weapons.

The Arab League has previously called on Syrian President Basher Al-Assad to step down, offering him a “safe exit” from the country.  Secretary-General Nabil Elaraby requested that Assad resign immediately, and offered his family safe passage out of Syria.  Elaraby did not give any further details on his proposal at an Arab League foreign ministers’ meeting in Doha, Qatar, on Monday morning. Syria rejected the offer

“[W]e are sorry that the Arab League has descended to this level concerning a member state of this institution,” said Makdissi.  “This decision only concerns the Syrian people, who are the sole masters of fate of their governments.”

In February, Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki offered Assad asylum if it would end the conflict.  The Syrian leader has not shown any willingness to step down.  In his first public statement since a devastating rebel bombing wiped out his top security officers, Assad told his new army chief of staff last Sunday to “continue that armed forces’ pursuit of terrorists.”

Meanwhile, the British Foreign Secretary, William Hague, and his French counterpart called for a boost in European Union aid to tens of thousands of Syrian refugees.  “We have to step up humanitarian assistance for the people fleeing,” said the Foreign Secretary as French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius added: “We must help neighboring countries.”

For further information, please see:

Al Jazeera — Syria Hints at use of Chemical Weapons — 23 July 2012

Al Manar — Syria Chemical Weapons Would be Used Only in Case of Foreign Attack — 23 July 2012

BBC — Syria ‘will not use’ Chemical Weapons on its own People — 23 July 2o12

SANA — Foreign Ministry: Chemical and Biological Weapons are Secured and Would Only be Used in the Case of External Aggression

The Telegraph — William Hague: Syrian Chemical Weapons Threat ‘Unacceptable’ — 23 July 2012