Kashmir Floods: India and Pakistan Bonded in Disaster

By Kathryn Maureen Ryan
Impunity Watch Managing Editor

KASHMIR, India/Pakistan – Massive flash flooding in Kashmir, a disputed region in the Himalayans’s administered by India and Pakistan, as well as in adjoining regions in northern and eastern Pakistan have killed more than 450 people so far. Omar Abdullah, chief minister of India’s Jammu and Kashmir state, said the current flooding is the worst to hit Kashmir in decades. “This is an unprecedented situation and we are doing the best we can under the circumstances. Please don’t panic, we will reach you, I promise,” Abdullah said on Twitter. Six days of rain in at the Indian administered region of Kashmir have caused the worst flooding the region has seen in more than 60 years decades.

Indian army soldiers rescue a Kashmiri woman from her flooded home in Srinagar September 10, 2014. (Photo courtesy of Reuters)

Both countries’ militaries have rushed to rescue stranded flood victims. Although rain slackened over the weekend, thousands of people remain trapped in their homes. Many residents of the region expressed anger at the lack of warning and government preparedness for the disaster, even knowing that these massive flood events have become an annual phenomenon. Modi flew to Kashmir on Sunday to survey the region, calling it a “national disaster,” and promised about $200 million for relief efforts and compensation for the flood victims.

The flooding has left hundreds of villages in the region submerged in dangerous floodwaters, displacing thousands of local residents. The natural disaster has promoted the Indian and Pakistani governments to temporarily improve their relations, which have become tenser in recent months following new rounds of border fire and disagreements that led India to pull out of high-level bilateral talks

“It is a matter of great distress that the retreating monsoon rains have played havoc in many parts of our two countries,” Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a letter to his Pakistani counterpart, Nawaz Sharif. “In this hour of need, I offer any assistance that you may need in the relief efforts that will be undertaken by the government of Pakistan. Our resources are at your disposal.” Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry responded saying: “We also feel the pain of the people of Indian Kashmir and are ready to help in whatever way possible to mitigate the suffering of the people affected by the floods.”

Despite these friendly communications, it’s unlikely that either country will do much to collaborate in the relief effort as tensions remain high in the region. India and Pakistan have been bitterly divided over the administration of the Kashmir region since the Line of Control was drawn following the 1947 war between the two states. India and Pakistan have fought reportedly along the de facto boundary separating Indian- and Pakistani-controlled Kashmir which has become one of the most heavily militarized borders in the world.

Violence broke out once again along the Line of Control on Wednesday as about two dozen Indian soldiers fought militants even as flood rescue operations were under way elsewhere in the region. “Three militants were shot dead by the Indian troops in Kashmir after a 10-hour-long gun battle,” Indian Defense Ministry spokesman Sitanshu Kar said.

Environmentalists in New Delhi have expressed concerns that the death toll and devastation in Kashmir was alarming and the government should acknowledged that massive flooding in the region is getting worse as a result of climate change. “The Kashmir floods are a grim reminder that climate change is now hitting India harder,” Chandra Bhusan, head of climate change team at the Centre for Science and Environment said. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies have said that this year’s monsoon rains had killed more than 1,000 people in India alone.

For more information please see:

India Today – LIVE updates on Jammu and Kashmir floods: Over 1,10,000 people rescued so far, many still await help – 11 September 2014

Al Jazeera – Thousands still stranded in flood-hit Kashmir – 10 September 2014

BBC News – Kashmir flood relief operation ‘too slow’ – 10 September 2014

Reuters – Tempers flare as mass flood evacuations begin in Kashmir – 10 September 2014

BBC News – Kashmir flood relief operation a major challenge – 9 September 2014

Bloomberg – Modi’s Kashmir Flood Relief May Earn Him Muslim Goodwill – 9 September 2014

 

Italy’s Good Intentions and Humanitarian Efforts May Ultimately Harm Europe

By Kyle Herda

Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

ROME, Italy – With all of the turmoil and fighting currently widespread throughout the Middle East and Northern Africa, many citizens have flocked from countries like Libya, Syria, Iraq, South Sudan, and elsewhere. In an effort to help these refugees, Italy has opened up its borders for refugees to enter into Europe, particularly in Southern Italy around Sicily.

Mehdi Nemmouche, the shooter in the Brussels Jewish Museum murders, stands with his ak-47 during the attack. (Photo courtesy of Breitbart)

Italy’s new immigrant policy, dubbed “Mare Nostrum”, or “Our Sea”, came last year after Pope Francis flew to the scene of a sunken migrant vessel off the coast that went down unaided. Pope Francis asked, “Who has wept for the people who were on the boat?” Italy took this as inspiration to help refugees who make it across the Mediterranean Sea. Now, Italy takes in refugees, offers them medical treatment, food, water, and temporary shelter. Further, Italy has decriminalized migrants, and also adopted a de facto “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy where refugees may stay a few nights and then move onwards to other European nations, such as Germany and Sweden, that often grant asylum.

While this initially seems great, and for many it is a wonderful thing, there also comes skepticism. Italy is taking in nearly 1,000 migrants per day, and has already taken in 119,939 migrants since January, far more than the 42,000 from all of 2013. The problem lies in that the nearly 120,000 migrants have entered into Europe with relative ease as far as security checks goes, and now may be moving fairly undetected and unaccounted for throughout Europe. With a particular eye on some of the nations where the refugees are coming from, countries where ISIS is growing and expanding at a scary rate, this creates a serious security concern for Europe.

One of the countries with many emigrants to Italy is Libya, a nation that France calls a ‘terrorist hub’. And while it may be unclear exactly if or how many dangerous migrants may have snuck through already, one thing is clear: there has already been at least six serious attacks planned against member states of the European Union. British Prime Minister David Cameron warned the British people, “be in no doubt about the threat that so-called Islamic State poses to us.” Cameron went on to cite the deadly attack in a Brussels Jewish museum as a successful ISIS attack on European soil.

Even without new ISIS members coming into Europe, there already exists a serious problem throughout Europe as Europeans continue to be recruited into ISIS. Two Austrian girls of 15 and 16 years in age, Samra Kesinovic and Sabina Selimovic, have recently been recruited by ISIS and have already led at least two additional girls, ages 16 and 14, to try and follow to Syria to convert.

It is quite clear that the ISIS problem in Europe is a present problem and very likely to get much worse as ISIS’s presence and influence continues to spread. ISIS is already in Europe and influence is spreading throughout Europe in the form of recruiting, and increasing via immigration through open borders like Italy. While Italy is helping many who are in dire need of help, it must be careful to prevent the same people from coming over who caused the massive flocks to begin with.

For more information, please see:

New York Post – Gun-wielding teen girls from Europe join ISIS – 10 September 2014

RT – France calls for new Libya intervention, calls it ‘terrorist hub’ on Europe’s doorstep – 10 September 2014

The Washington Post – Amid flood of refugees to Europe, Italy opens a back door – 9 September 2014

Breitbart – Prime Minister: Six ISIS Attempted Attempts Against European Nations Already – 9 September 2014

Despite Announcement of Future Releas, Fate of 45 Detained UN Peacekeepers Remains Unclear

By Kathryn Ryan
Impunity Watch Managing Editor

DAMASCUS, Syria – On Wednesday the Fijian military announced 45 UN peacekeepers who were captured in Syria’s Golan Heights in August will be released this week “without preconditions.” At a Wednesday morning news conference in Suva, Fiji’s military chief said the Fijian government had been told by U.N. headquarters in New York that the Nusra Front had agreed to release the peacekeepers later this week. However, the fate of the detained soldiers remains unclear.

This undated file image of the detained Fijian peacekeepers was attached to a statement released Aug. 30 on a militant website. the peacekeepers were captured by the al-Nusra Front on Aug. 28 (Photo courtesy of The Wall Street Journal)

The Peacekeepers were seized by rebels loyal to the al-Nusra Front, an al-Qaeda-affiliated rebel group. The Fijian peacekeepers had been stationed in the Golan Heights between Syria and Israel where there had been heavy fighting since Syrian rebels captured a border crossing near the village of Quneitra last month. The al-Nusra Front had initially issued several demands as a precondition for the release of the Fijian soldiers, including dropping the group from the United Nation’s list of terrorist organizations. The group claimed the captured the UN peacekeepers because the United Nation’s was “ignoring the daily shedding of Muslims’ blood in Syria” and co-operating with government forces to “facilitate its movement to strike the vulnerable Muslims” in the demilitarized zone.

Shortly after Fiji’s military chief first announced that 45 peacekeepers would be released the government later tried to retract the comments, which had already been reported around the world. Fijian brigadier general Mosese Tikoitoga said three senior Fijian military officers would arrive in the Golan Heights soon to receive the peacekeepers once they were freed. The Fijian government also announced the news on social media.

Within hours of issuing the statement the messages had been deleted from the government’s social media pages and replaced with a vague statement: “All efforts to release the Fijian peacekeepers are continuing.” Fijian military officials also contacted local media outlets acting them to retract their earlier stories on the release of the Fijian Peacekeepers

Exactly what caused the Fijian government to back away from its initial statement was initially unclear. However, it is unlikely that the Fijian government was given the green light to issue any specific statement on the situation in Syria because the United Nations typically doesn’t comment on sensitive captive situations until they are resolved. Stéphane Dujarric, a spokesman for the United Nations secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, said he had no information about the Fijian government’s statement. The al-Nusra, which typically communicates through its Twitter page, did not issue any statements on the situation on any of its social media pages.

For more information please see:

ABC News – Fiji May Have Jumped Gun on Fate of Its UN Troops – 10 September 2014

The Wall Street Journal – Fiji Says Syria Militants to Free Peacekeepers, Then Backs Off Comments – 10 September 2014

BBC News – Syria conflict: Fiji’s mixed messages over UN peacekeepers – 9 September 2014

The New York Times – Fiji Government Says Its Golan Heights Peacekeepers Will Be Released Soon – 9 September 2014

War Crimes Prosecution Watch Volume 9 – Issue 12 September 08, 2014

Bomb Blast in Chile Train Station Speculated as an Act of Terrorism

By Delisa Morris

Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

SANTIAGO, Chile – On Monday Afternoon, a bomb exploded next to an underground train station in the Chilean capital of Santiago at least ten people were wounded.

Aftermath of train station bomb explosion in Chile. Photo courtesy of Reuters

The blast occurred during lunchtime at a fast-food restaurant in a small shopping and eating plaza next to the Escuela Military metro station.  The area, Las Condes, is known as an affluent residential and shopping neighborhood.

Some Chilean officials believe that this was an act of terrorism.  Currently, no group has claimed responsibility, and the police said the attack was being investigated.

“This is an act that has all the hallmarks of a terrorist deed,” Alvaro Elizalde, the government’s chief spokesman said in remarks made to journalists outside La Moneda presidential place.  “There is no doubt.  And it has been carried out with the intention of hurting innocent people.”

He added that the government will invoke anti-terrorism laws.  Apparently, anti-terrorism laws give prosecutors additional powers to allow for harsher sentencing for persons guilty of terrorism.

“It was an abominable act, and we will apply the full weight of the law, including antiterrorist laws,” said President Michelle Bachelet.  “What happened today was horrible, but Chile is and will remain a stable nation.”

Chile has not suffered an attack of this magnitude for at least 20 years.  The country, which returned to democracy in 1990 after a 17-year dictatorship under Augusto Pinochet, is normally one of Latin America’s most stable countries.

However, there have been a few low-level attacks by anarchist groups in recent years, including one this past July.  Monday’s blast may put pressure on Bachelet to respond at a time when her popularity is drooping.  Currently her plate if full with a reform drive and Chile’s ever worsening economy.

“At 2pm local time an explosive device was detonated in the centre by the metro station, and at the moment investigations are being carried out to determine the origin,” said Mario Rozas, head of police communications.

Interior Minister Mahmud Aleuy said review of security cameras near the bomb cite revealed two suspects planting the device in a metal container, possible a trash can, outside the fast-food restaurant and escaping in a car.

Luckily, none of the injuries were fatal.  A Venezuelan man in his 30s suffered trauma to his leg and a woman had at least one of her fingers amputated.  A few other people suffered from hearing loss.

By coincidence, this week Chile commemorates the 41st anniversary of the 1973 military coup that removed socialist President Salvador Allende from power.  The events of the coup still divide the country.  Traditionally, the anniversary is a time of protests that often turn violent.

The metro was operating normally on Monday evening.

For more information, please see:

the guardian – Chile: bomb explodes in Santiago metro station – 8 Sept. 2014

The Wall Street Journal – Chile Subway-Station Blast Injures at Least Seven – 8 Sept. 2014

LA Times – Chile official says subway blast apparently a ‘terrorist act’ – 9 Sept. 2014

TIME – Suspected Anarchist Bombing Wounds at Least 10 People in Santiago – 8 Sept. 2014