Mass Graves in Kenya Found Empty

Mass Graves in Kenya Found Empty

By Heba Girgis
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

NAIROBI, Kenya—Along Kenya’s southeastern Tana River Delta region, several mass graves have been discovered. This has shed new light on the ethic tribal violence in that region of the country. In the past month, over 100 people have been killed as a result of these tribal conflicts. This death toll was thought to continue to rise as the authorities attempted to identify and count bodies at these graves. However, no bodies were found.

The Mass Graves Were Found Along the Tana River Region, Near the Border of Kenya. (Photo Courtesy of BBC News)

This conflict began earlier this year, in mid-August, between the Pokomo people, who are mostly farmers involved in growing cash crops along the Tana River, and the Orma tribe, a group of semi-nomadic cattle herders. The violence between these two groups has often been attributed to disputes over water and grazing rights.

In the past, the root of many violent conflicts in Kenya stemmed from local tribal animosities. However, the country seemed to be a relatively peaceful and politically stable nation until only a few years ago.

In 2008, tensions over ethnic differences burst into violence after the round of contested 2007 presidential elections. The race stirred up much conflict between the incumbent’s tribe and their opposition. This developed into countrywide conflict and Kenya, as a nation continues to struggle with these types of ethnic and local tensions.

A team of pathologists and gravediggers began working earlier today to exhume the gravesites and look for bodies. At the outset, there was no real sense of what exactly they would find or how many bodies they would find. Police officials noted that any bodies found there are likely to have been buried there by a raiding party that carried off their comrades during an attack. Over 1,000 of paramilitary police have been sent to that region in order to quiet any future attacks.

The results of the search have resulted in only one human foot and no bodies. Aggrey Adoli, the regional police chief, suggested that the site may have been tampered with. He said, “We believed the bodies were removed to hide the identities. Our plan was to take fingerprints of the bodies and that would have led us to their origins.” Without any findings, the police decided to call off the operation.

After the continued violence that flooded the country since the contested elections several years ago, many people now fear a new surge of violence as the country prepares for another set of elections in March 2013.

 

For further information, please see:

BBC News – Kenya Tana River Delta: ‘Mass Graves’ Mystery – 20 September 2012

Capital News – No Bodies Found in Suspected Mass Grave in Kenya – 20 September 2012

The Telegraph – Mass Grave Fuels Kenya Tensions – 20 September 2012

International Business Times – Mass Graves Discovered in Kenya – 18 September 2012

Pussy Riot Supporting Deacon Defrocked

By Madeline Schiesser
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

TAMBOV, Russia – A former deacon in the city of Tambov has been defrocked for his support of the Russian punk bank, Pussy Riot, and their “punk prayer” stunt in Moscow’s main Russian Orthodox cathedral in February.  In an open letter, Sergei Baranov resigned in August in protest of the Russian Orthodox Church’s stance against three members of the band.  His subsequent defrocking will likely become official within weeks.

Baranov resigned as deacon in support of Pussy Riot, and was defrocked. (Photo Courtesy of the Associated Press)

Baranov was the first Russian Orthodox cleric to resign in outrage at how the church dealt with the members of Pussy Riot.

“Everyone prays as they can,” Baranov said, explaining his support of Pussy Riot. “And with their act they exposed the ills and blisters of society. We should have done that a long time ago.”

Baranov feels that the church handled Pussy Riot’s protest heavy handedly.  He feels that the church’s actions show that it cares more for president Putin and the government than the needs of its believers.  Its reaction to the protest demonstrates that the church is overdue for serious reform.

In his open letter, Baranov further explained that the “unlawful sentence to the members of the Pussy Riot band [] was passed with direct influence of the leader of the Russian Orthodox Church and the people who, by some strange accident, call themselves ‘orthodox citizens.”

Tambov regional clergy answered, accusing Baranov of rakish behavior and using the current rocky political climate and the Pussy Riot trial as an excuse to resign.

Unrest has grown in Russia since Vladimir Putin’s re-election to a third presidential term in March.  He received strong support from the conservative Russian Orthodox Church, which characterized Putin as a “miracle of God.”

Pussy Riot’s February “punk prayer” at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow was directed as a protest against President Putin.  Three of its members were arrested, found guilty of hooliganism motivated by religious hatred, and sentenced to two years in a penal colony prison.  Russians are sharply divided over what some see as a government crackdown on dissent.

Other figures in Russia have also spoken out against the harsh treatment the Pussy Riot members.  Prime Minister Dmitri A. Medvedev, while clarifying that he does not approve of their stunt, has called for leniency with respect to the three imprisoned members, arguing that they should be released.

It is possible the church will further purge Baranov by requesting his excommunication.  If this happens, Baranov will no longer be permitted to take any part in the services he has loved since childhood.

“When the media furor dies down, they will simply excommunicate me from Church,” Baranov said. “Once this happens, I won’t have the right to enter a church, I will lose the right to communion.”  Even so, Baranov says he does not regret his resignation.

For further information, please see:

BBC News – Pussy Riot Supporter Priest to be Defrocked – 19 September 2012

Huffington Post – Sergei Baranov, Orthodox Russian Deacon, Stands Up For Pussy Riot – 18 September 2012

International Herald Tribune – Medvedev Says Rockers Have Served Enough Jail Time for Cathedral Performance – 12 September 2012

Impunity Watch – Two Members of Pussy Riot Flee Russia to Avoid Prosecution – 27 August 2012

Russia Today (RT) – Russian Church Denies Claims it Held own Pussy Riot Trial – 20 August 2012

Impunity Watch – Members of Punk Band to Continue Their Protest While Awaiting Band Mates’ Verdict – 14 August 2012

Deported Sri Lankan Refugees Fear Torture at Home

By Irving Feng
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

The UK denied asylum for Sri Lankan refugees and deported them back to their potentially dangerous homeland where the refugees fear violence and torture.

UK Tamil population protests deportations. (Photo courtesy of BBC)

The Sri Lankan refugees who have been denied asylum belong to the Tamil ethnic group.  Many of these refugees had been involved with, or supported, the separatist group, the Tamil Tigers, that fought in a civil war for self-rule for twenty six years in Sri Lanka.  The civil war drew to a conclusion in 2009 after producing roughly 100,000 casualties.

Human rights groups and the refugees themselves have alleged mistreatment for those returning back to post-civil war Sri Lanka.  There have been reports of detainment, physical abuse and torture for any returning Tamils that were known associates or loose affiliates of the separatist group, the Tamil Tigers.

Sri Lankan presidential adviser, Rajiva Wijesinha, reminds the public, however, that the UK itself has quelled these public fears and the returning refugees would not be subject to torture or mistreatment of any kind.  The UK alleges that only high level activists within the Tamil Tiger organization returning to Sri Lanka may be targeted by the government.  Other returning refugees are in no such danger.

However, conflicting reports from human rights groups have alleged that any refugees associated with the separatist group, no matter their level of involvement, would be at risk for mistreatment.  One Tamil man’s reaction was that he would rather commit suicide in the UK after being denied asylum rather than returning to Sri Lanka and be subject to torture.

Malar Rajendran may be a living example of the Sri Lankan government mistreating returning Tamil refugees.  Rajendran’s husband was a low ranking member of the Tamil Tiger organization.  When Rajendran’s initial asylum application had been denied, she was deported back to Sri Lanka in 2009.  The 49 year old woman was immediately detained upon her return, and she experienced brutal physical punishment including being kicked, punched and beaten with an iron rod.  Rajendran was also sexually assaulted and raped multiple times by her detainers.

Rajendran’s horrific experience pushed her to escape Sri Lanka and seek asylum for a second time in the UK.  The tragic evidence left on Rajendran’s body due to the physical and sexual abuse she experienced after her first deportation persuaded officials in the UK to grant her application for asylum.

Despite human rights groups’ reports of mistreatment and examples like Rajendran’s firsthand experience with brutal physical and sexual mistreatment, asylum applications continue to be denied by UK officials and the deportations continue.  The UK continues to deport asylum seekers who they believe no longer require the protection of their borders.

 

For further information, please see:

BBC – Deported Sri Lankans arrive home from UK amid torture fears – 20 September 2012

The Indian Express – UK to evict Lankan asylum seekers despite ‘Tamil allegations of torture’ – 19 September 2012

The Guardian – Britain is returning Tamil refugees to be tortured in Sri Lanka – 19 September 2012

Al Jazeera – Tamil asylum seeker in UK voices torture fear – 18 September 2012

European Parliament Takes First Significant Step in Implementing EU Wide Visa and Financial Sanctions Against Magnitsky’s Killers

Press Release 
Hermitage Capital

20  September  2012 –  Today,  the foreign affairs committee of the European Parliament voted  62-2  (with  1  abstention)  in favor of a resolution to recommend  to  the  European Council of Ministers to “establish a common EU list  of  officials  responsible for the death of Sergei Magnitsky, for the subsequent  judicial  cover-up and for the ongoing and sustained harassment of  his mother and widow” and, “impose and implement an EU-wide visa ban on these  officials and to freeze any financial assets they or their immediate family may hold inside the European Union”

The  EU  Council  of  Ministers  is the key decision making body of foreign ministers from the 27 EU member states and is empowered to implement a visa ban  and asset freeze. Although many national EU parliaments have called on their  governments  to  impose  national  Magnitsky  sanctions  against the Russian   officials   who  killed  Magnitsky  in  the  past,  the  national governments  have been reluctant to do so in fear of retaliation by Russia.

By  having  the  visa ban proposal initiated by the European Parliament, it bypasses  any  individual  country  risking a confrontation with Russia and allows for a common EU approach towards the problem. This same approach was taken  by  the  European  Commission  in relation to anti trust issues with Gazprom.

This  step  by the European Parliament follows two previous resolutions: in December 2010 (http://russian-untouchables.com/rus/docs/D405.pdf),  and in December 2011 calling for sanctions in the Magnitsky matter in case of “further inaction by the Russian authorities for the Council to take  into consideration actions such as an EU‐wide travel ban and a freeze on  the  financial assets of those found guilty of the torture and death of Sergei Magnitsky as well as covering up the case.” (http://russian-untouchables.com/rus/docs/D406.pdf)

Since it has been nearly three years since the case was first raised at the European  Parliament,  the Foreign Affairs Committee has now concluded that no  progress  has  been  made  and  are  swiftly  moving  forward  with the implementation of sanctions in this case.

The  resolution  was  put forward by Kristiina Ojuland MEP (Estonia) who is ALDE  Spokesperson on Russia and was appointed Rapporteur on the ‘Magnitsky Report’  for  the European Parliament. In that capacity she was responsible for  drafting  a recommendation to the European Parliament on how to impose EU  sanctions  on the Russian officials responsible for the death of Sergei Magnitsky.

In response to today’s vote, she said:

“The adoption of the report by the Foreign Affairs Committee in the European Parliament today is a crucial step in getting the visa restrictions and asset freezes in place against the people who were involved in the death of Sergei Magnitsky. These targeted sanctions proposed in the Magnitsky report put real pressure on Russian authorities to start taking criticism on human rights seriously. These sanctions are not directed against the Russian people, but area against corruption and human rights violators.”

The next step in the process is for the full European Parliament to vote on the  resolution at the plenary session of the Parliament which is scheduled to take place in October.

Link to the draft Report:
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//NONSGML+COMPARL+PE-492.835+01+DOC+PDF+V0//EN&language=EN

For further information please contact:
Hermitage Capital
Phone:              +44 207 440 17 77
E-mail:             info@lawandorderinrussia.org
Website:           http://lawandorderinrussia.org
Facebook:         http://on.fb.me/hvIuVI
Twitter:            @KatieFisher__
Livejournal:      http://hermitagecap.livejournal.com/

Sanctions Against Burma Ease Up After It Releases More Prisoners

By Karen Diep
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

NAYPYIDAW, Myanmar – Yesterday, Myanmar released about 60 political prisoners in new amnesty a day after the Myanmar government claimed it would pardon hundreds of inmates.  According to BBC News, Myanmar has released more than 500 prisoners, including a number of political detainees and foreigners.

Two recently released political prisoners. (Photo Courtesy of Time)

“We’re optimistic that these are the remaining political prisoners,” said Naing Naing, a member of Aung San Suu Kyi’s opposition National League of for Democracy (NLD).  However, human rights advocates are skeptical and cautioned that the exact number of political prisoners is unknown.

“While another prisoner amnesty is welcome in principle, like everyone else we’re left waiting to see the list before we assess how many political prisoners are included, what it means and how significant it is,” shared Phil Robertson, Human Rights Watch’s Deputy Director for the Asia Division.

“The problem is there is a lack of transparency from the Burma government about who is a political prisoner, where they are, and how many are left,” continued Mr. Robertson.

According to France 24, the exact number of political detainees still imprisoned varies but opposition groups have estimated 300 activists.

This act by the Myanmar government seems to be an attempt for the United States (U.S.) to further alleviate sanctions ahead of President Thein Sein’s visit to the United Nations (U.N.) General Assembly in New York City this September.

“I think political prisoners are bargaining chips for Thein Sein’s policies,” said Bo Kyi, the Joint Secretary of the Thailand-based Assistance Association for Political Prisoners.

According to Boston News, after fifty years of military rule, the Myanmar government’s linchpin in policy reform is political prisoners’ freedom.

On Monday, the European Union (EU) advised preferential trade status for Myanmar.  According to the Wall Street Journal, Myanmar authorities are optimistic the U.S. will continue to ease its sanctions when President Thein Sein visits New York City.  Moreover, U.S. officials are currently contemplating how and when to ease a ban on Myanmar made-products.

For further information, please see:

Boston News – Myanmar is called insincere on political prisoners – 18 September 2012

France News – Burma releases political prisoners in new amnesty – 18 September 2012

BBC News – Burma releases 500 prisoners in amnesty – 17 September 2012

Wall Street Journal – Myanmar Releases Prisoners as Suu Kyi Visits U.S. – 17 September 2012