UN Congo Mission To Establish Security Zone in Goma

By Erica Smith
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

KINSHASA, Democratic Republic of the Congo — The UN peacekeeping force in the DRC, or Monusco, issued a stern warning on Tuesday to rebel groups in the city of Goma in eastern DRC; The warning gave rebel groups 48 hours to hand over weapons or face military force. Monusco wishes to set up a security zone that spans from Goma to the nearby city of Sake, about 17 miles in total, where no one but peacekeepers or Congolese army personnel will be allowed to carry weapons. The area is home to more than 1 million people, including 70,000 who have been displaced by the recent renewal in fighting.

Congolese refugees displaced in fighting between rebel groups and the Congolese army ( Photo Courtesy of The New York Times)

The Monusco warning does not specify any one group but it is widely believed to be targeted towards the M23 rebels. Fighting between the army and M23 has resumed since mid- July and the group has been particularly active in the area since last year when it held Goma for ten days in November.  Anyone carrying a weapon after 4 pm local time on Thursday will be considered “an imminent threat of physical violence to civilians and Monusco will take all necessary measures to disarm them, including by the use of force in accordance with its mandate and rules of engagement,”.

Monusco has accused M23 of killing and displacing civilians. “In these attacks … M23 has used indiscriminate and indirect fire, including by heavy weapons, resulting in civilian casualties,” the statement said. “The M23 has also targeted U.N. installations with its fire.”

The new Monusco warning comes after the UN authorized a new “intervention brigade” in March. The intervention brigade is authorized to take all necessary measures to protect civilians from harm. Humanitarian groups worry that adding another militarized group into the conflict will only escalate violence. Oxfam’s humanitarian program coordinator in Congo, Tariq Riebl issued a statement urging the UN to use caution when enforcing their disarmament demands  and not make a “a bad situation much worse.”

Amani Kabasha, a civilian spokesman for M23, told the AP that he did not believe the warning would apply to the M23 because M23 has agreed to peace talks and rebel leaders considered themselves to be partners of the government and welcomed the disarmament plan.“MONUSCO can attack armed groups that spread terror here, indeed it is long overdue,” Kabasha said. “I do not think we are affected by this measure because we are the partners of the Congolese government in making peace.”

 

For further information, please see:

The Gazette — East Congo residents protest UN security zone around Goma, say help needed elsewhere —  2 August 2013

Aljazeera — DRC rebels dismiss UN deadline to disarm — 1 August 2013

The Guardian — UN gears up for DRC offensive as Goma laments escalating violence — 1 August 2013

Euro News — UN sends ultimatum to M23 rebels in DRC to leave Goma or face force — 31 July 2013

The New York Times — U.N. Warns It Will Disarm Congo Rebels — 31 July 2013

BBC News — DR Congo unrest: UN orders Goma to be arms-free — 30 July 2013

Washington Post — UN Congo mission to establish security zone in Goma, says it will use force to disarm rebels — 30 July 2013

The New York Times — U.N. Approves New Force to Pursue Congo’s Rebels — 28 March 2013

The UK Fights Discrimination Claims Regarding Immigration Operations

By Ben Kopp
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

LONDON, United Kingdom – The Home Office, which is responsible for immigration, has been accused of racism and profiling in recent operations used to combat illegal immigration, including checkpoints that led to the arrest of 139 suspected offenders. British officials are divided on whether the operations were discriminatory.

British authorities arrested 139 suspects, described as #immigrationoffenders on the Home Office’s official Twitter page. (Photo courtesy of the Telegraph)

During the week of 29 July 2013, vans in London sported posters telling illegal immigrants to “go home or face arrest”, with a number to text for “free advice, and help with travel documents.” While the Unite union sought legal advice on whether the vans “incited racial hatred”, the Home Office denied that the message was racist and refused to apologize for enforcing the law.

At that time, reports surfaced that the Home Office would force nationals of India, Nigeria, Kenya, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh to pay £3000 before receiving a visitor visa. India demanded confirmation and an explanation, stating that acceptance of the bond would hurt British-Indian relations. Business Secretary Vince Cable assured his counterpart in India that no such policy came before the British Cabinet, and the UK would not consider it.

On 31 July 2013, the official Twitter profile @ukhomeoffice posted pixilated photos of possible #immigrationoffenders being led away from checkpoints by officers. At least three immigrants were Brazilian, Indian, and Ukrainian. Witnesses filled Twitter with protests against operations they claim “targeted ethnic minorities and non-white people.” Others equated the arrests to The Hunger Games, a book and film series about gladiator-style fights on dystopian Earth.

Immigration Minister Mark Harper rejected allegations of racial profiling, and stated that officers were required to have reasonable suspicion that an offense had been committed. Harper said: “We are sending a clear message to employers who choose to use illegal labour. We will find you and you will pay a heavy penalty. Illegal working undercuts legitimate businesses and is often linked to exploitative behaviour such as tax evasion and harmful working conditions.”

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) plans to look into the Home Office’s operations. In a letter to the Home Office, the EHRC will “ask questions about the extent to which the Home Office complied with its public sector equality duty when planning the recent advertising campaign targeted at illegal migration.”

Member of Parliament (MP) Barry Gardiner demanded Home Secretary Theresa May investigate the campaign, writing, “[w]e do not yet live in a society where the police or any other officers of the law are entitled to detain people without reasonable justification and demand their papers. The actions of your department would however appear to be hastening us in that direction.”

In Southern Europe and the Caribbean, “cash-strapped” countries are in bidding wars to attract wealthy Chinese immigrants.

In Germany, where Chancellor Merkel ten years ago ran on a “Children Instead of Indians” campaign, employee shortages have led university and job recruiters to welcome immigrants.

In the UK, perceived racism and hostility will risk long-term damages to international relations, and immigration could be down when the UK needs it most.

For further information, please see:

Al Jazeera – UK Crackdown on Immigrants Branded Racist – August 2, 2013

BBC News – Home Office Vans: Unite Union in ‘Race Hatred’ Query – August 2, 2013

The Independent – Home Office Anti-Immigration Twitter Campaign Branded Start of ‘the UK Hunger Games’ – August 2, 2013

Sky News – Home Office Immigration Tactics Investigated – August 2, 2013

The Telegraph – Nigel Farage Attacks Home Office Immigrant Spot Checks as ‘Un-British’ – August 2, 2013

Guardian – Home Office Tactics in Illegal Immigration Crackdown Prompt Twitter Storm – August 1, 2013

The Times of India – UK’s Move for £3,000 Visa Bond ‘Retrograde Measure’: Anand Sharma – July 31, 2013

The Wall Street Journal – Cash-Strapped Nations Race to Attract Chinese Immigrants – July 30, 2013

Guardian – ‘Go Home’ Campaign against Illegal Immigrants Could Go Nationwide – July 29, 2013

Reuters – Germany Learning to Open Arms to Immigrants – July 21, 2013

Egypt Protesters Fortify Camps After Cabinet Threatens Dispersal

By Thomas Murphy
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

CAIRO, Egypt – Thousands of pro-Morsi supporters are defying warnings by the military-backed cabinet to cease protests across Cairo.  The government has authorized police to take “gradual steps” to remove the protesters but thus far no removal has occurred and does not appear imminent.

Protesters gathered in Rabaa al-Adawiya Square. (Photo Courtesy of Reuters)

“The continuation of the dangerous situation in Rabaa al-Adawiya and Nahda squares, and consequent terrorism and road blockages are no longer acceptable given the threat to national security,” a statement from the interim government said on Wednesday, adding that it has told police to take “all necessary measures” to disperse crowds.

The protesters have employed barricades and sand bags to fortify significant sit-in locations in Rabaa al-Adawiya and Nahda squares in Cairo.  Additionally, thirty-three marches were planned around the city in support of ousted president Morsi.

On Friday, state television said that protesters would be allowed to leave safely, but that within forty-eight hours security forces would begin a “siege” at the camps in Rabaa al-Adawiya and Nahda squares.  Essentially, authorities will begin preventing people from entering the squares, which is one step from beginning removal of the protesters.  Given the security forces history of excessive force, human rights groups are concerned that the situation could result in further violence.

International human rights groups, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have called on the Egyptian government to refrain from using force against the protesters and allow for the peaceful demonstrations to continue.

“Given the Egyptian security forces’ record of policing demonstrations with the routine use of excessive and unwarranted lethal force, this latest announcement gives a seal of approval to further abuse,” said Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui, deputy director for the Middle East and North Africa at Amnesty.

“The authorities as well as the security forces should start with an approach that avoids the use of force and is based on ‘methods of persuasion, negotiation and mediation’, as recommended by international standards,” she added.

“To avoid another bloodbath, Egypt’s civilian rulers need to ensure the ongoing right of protesters to assemble peacefully, and seek alternatives to a forcible dispersal of the crowds,” said Nadim Houry, deputy Middle East director at Human Rights Watch. “The police’s persistent record of excessive use of force, leading to dozens of deaths this month, and the density of the sit-ins mean that hundreds of lives could be lost if the sit-in is forcibly dispersed.”

According to Human Rights Watch at least 137 people have been killed by Egyptian security forces in the last month alone.  Other reports claim that at least 250 people have killed since Morsi was removed from power on July 3.

For further information, please see:

Al Jazeera – Morsi backers stage defiant rallies in Egypt – 2 August 2013

Human Rights Watch – Egypt: Do Not Forcibly Disperse Sit-Ins – 2 August 2013

Al Jazeera – Egypt police told to break up rallies – 1 August 2013

BBC – Egypt protesters defy cabinet threat to end sit-ins – 1 August 2013

Chong, Detained by DEA, Settles Case With US for $4.1 Million

By Brandon Cottrell
Impunity Watch Reporter, North America

WASHINGTON, D.C., United States – Daniel Chong, who was abandoned in his San Diego, California holding cell for four days, reached a $4.1 million settlement with the United States government on Tuesday.

Daniel Chong. (Photo Courtesy of BBC)

In April 2012, the Drug Enforcement Administration took Chong, a then 23-year-old college student, into custody as a result of a drug raid.  The DEA raided the residence of one of Chong’s friends and seized ecstasy, marijuana, hallucinogenic mushrooms, and other prescription medication.

After questioning, the Drug Enforcement Administration determined that no charges would be pressed against Chong.  As Chong sat in handcuffs, waiting to be released from his windowless, five by ten foot cell, he was forgotten about.  While it is uncertain as to how Chong was forgotten about, it took the DEA four and a half days to discover Chong.

Chong meanwhile, waited without food or water.  Over those four days, Chong attempted to draw attention to his cell by screaming and kicking.  Chong even slid his shoelaces under the door and attempted to set off the fire sprinkler in his cell.  After the third day, Chong began to hallucinate and, with the possibility of death looming, attempted to carve a farewell message to his mother in his arm.  Furthermore, confronting dehydration, Chong drank his own urine off a metal bench in his cell.

After being found, Chong had to be hospitalized for five days for dehydration, kidney failure, cramps and a perforated esophagus. He lost 15 pounds (6.8 kilograms) in the ordeal.

While the DEA has yet to discipline any employees, it did issue a public apology.  Meanwhile, United States Senator Charles Grassley of the Judiciary Committee, called on the DEA to explain the incident.

Specifically, Grassley asked, “How did this incident happen? Has there been any disciplinary action against the responsible employees? And has the agency taken major steps to prevent an incident like this from happening again?”

Some of those questions remain unanswered, but the DEA has since introduced new national detention standards, such as daily inspections and camera monitoring of cells, in an effort to ensure that a similar incident will never occur again.

 

For further information, please see:

BBC  – US man ‘abandoned’ in US jail gets $4m in compensation  –  31 July 2013

Huffington Post – Daniel Chong, Student Left In DEA Cell, To Get $4 Million From US In Settlement  –  30 July 2013

Wall Street Journal – Daniel Chong, Abandoned in Cell, to Get $4 Million  –  30 July 2013

BBC – US man left in cell for five days ‘drank own urine’  –  2 May 2012

Snowden Obtains Temporary Asylum in Russia

By Michael Yoakum
Impunity Watch Reporter, North America

MOSCOW, Russia – After spending more than a month in Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport, former NSA contractor Edward Snowden was allowed to leave the airport on a temporary asylum. Reuters reports that a representative from the airport saw Snowden cross through immigration services and leave the airport.

Lawyer to Snowden, Anatoly Kucherena, holding a document granting Snowden temporary asylum in Russia. (Photo courtesy of The Guardian and AP)

Snowden, who made headlines back in June by exposing details of an NSA surveillance system intended to gather phone metadata from American citizens, applied for asylum in numerous South American and European countries before finally receiving temporary asylum in Russia.

When leaving the Moscow airport, the LA Times reported that Snowden could be seen getting into a taxi with Sarah Harrison, a legal advisor for the WikiLeaks organization. WikiLeaks has been a vocal supporter of Snowden throughout his flight from the United States and his search for asylum.

Under the terms of Snowden’s temporary asylum, he may live and travel wherever he chooses within Russia for a period of one year. NBC news reported Anatoly Kucherena as saying, “I put him in a taxi . . . and gave him his certificate on getting refugee status in the Russian Federation.” Snowden will likely file for refuge status within Russia before the year’s end.

Snowden’s success in avoiding extradition while obtaining temporary asylum caused some to question Kucherena’s connection to the Russian government. The South China Morning Post, a Hong Kong news outlet, said in an article Monday that Kucherena has possible ties to the Kremlin.

Kucherena sits on the board of the Federal Secret Service, or FBS, a combination police force and intelligence agency within Russia. Kucherena is also a political supporter of Russian President Vladamir Putin, leading to accusations by the Hong Kong news outlet that Snowden’s success in avoiding extradition and obtaining asylum were the result of a fabrication by the Kremlin.

For further information, please see:

CBS News – Edward Snowden leaves airport after Russia grants asylum, says “the law is winning” – 1 August 2013

Fox News – Edward Snowden had papers that allow him to enter Russia, his lawyer says – 1 August 2013

LA Times – Edward Snowden granted asylum, leaves Moscow airport in taxi – 1 August 2013

The Guardian – Edward Snowden’s father says FBI asked him to fly to Moscow – 31 July 2013

South China Morning Post – Snowden lawyer Anatoly Kucherena suspected of links to Kremlin – 29 July 2013