Shia Militias Operate Outside the Law in Iraq

By Max Bartels

Impunity Watch Reporter, The Middle East

 

Baghdad, Iraq 

The predominantly Shia government of Iraq has been accused of giving Shia militant groups impunity to terrorize the Sunni population in response to the attacks by the predominately Sunni forces of ISIS. The government of Iraq has responded that it fairly governs all its citizens, Shia’s and Sunni alike. The Iraqi government has been unable to halt the advance of ISIS as it rolls across Northern Iraq, Amnesty groups have said that it is now mostly Shia militant groups that have been in combat with ISIS forces.

The Shia militia groups are estimated to a combine to be in the tens of thousands. After ISIS seized the Northern Iraqi city of Mosul, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki called for volunteers to reinforce the military, who had suffered several defeats to ISIS forces. The Shia militias answered the call; they have military equipment and operate with impunity across Iraq but do not formally answer to the Iraqi government and are not prosecuted for crimes they commit.

The Shia militias have ben accused of abducting hundreds of Sunni civilians in response to terror attacks by ISIS targeting Shia civilians. There have been stories reported to Amnesty International, telling how even after their families have paid the ransom demanded by the militias the abductees were still killed by the militias. Ransoms have been reported to be as high as $80,000 for Sunni’s that are abducted, in most cases the average Iraqi can’t afford to pay such a high ransom.

Sunni insurgents, mainly ISIS fighters and operatives have targeted Shia neighborhoods in Baghdad and across Iraq with car bombs and other attacks. The Shia militias respond with kidnappings and killings and the cycle continues. The Iraqi government is powerless to combat either group. ISIS has already proven to be too much to handle for the Iraq military, capturing large swaths of Iraqi territory. On the other hand, the government needs the Shia militias for their own protection, they don’t have the power to fight ISIS on their own and rely on the numbers that the militias can bring to combat ISIS. The Iraqi military has had difficulty recruiting soldiers to fight ISIS, the Shia militias are much better at recruiting members to fight ISIS and is one of the main reasons why the militias have taken large responsibilities in the defense of Iraqi territory.

For more information, please see:

BBC News — Iraq: Shia Militias “Killing Sunnis in Reprisal Attacks” — 14 October 2014

ABC News — Rights Groups: Iraq Shiite Militants Killing Sunnis — 14 October 2014

CBC News — Iraq’s Shia Militias Kill Sunni Civillians in Retaliation Against ISIS, Amnesty Says — 14 October 2014

The Independent — Iraq Descends into Anarchy: Shia Militias Abducting and Killing Sunni Civilians in Revenge for ISIS Attacks — 14 October 2014 

Riot at Albania-Serbia Match Fueled by Political Underpinnings

By Kyle Herda

Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

BELGRADE, Serbia – A Euro 2016 qualifying match between Albania and Serbia ended abruptly due to a drone carrying a controversial flag that interrupted the game and sparked a riot.

Serbian player Stefan Mitrovic takes down the “Greater Albania” flag that sparked the riot. (Photo courtesy of RT)

Around 41 minutes into the match, a drone flew over the stadium while carrying a flag depicting the “Greater Albania”, which was shown to include Kosovo. When Serbian player Stefan Mitrovic took down the flag, a brawl quickly erupted. Martin Atkinson, an English referee on the field, tried to take players off the field, but it was too late. A brawl erupted between the two teams, with referees and fans soon finding themselves in the middle of it as well.

Two political figures were also on the flag. The first, Isa Boljetini, was an Albanian nationalist who led uprisings against the Serbs and Ottomans in 1912 and 1913. The second figure was Ismail Qemali, the founder of the modern Albanian state, which gained independence back in 1912.

While some countries recognize Kosovo’s independence, such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, and France, other countries do not. Even after Kosovo’s 2008 declaration of independence, Serbia is among those countries that do not recognize Kosovo as an independent state.

Olsi Rama, brother of Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, was detained by police on suspicion of being the one responsible for the drone. Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic, however, insisted Rama be released and allowed back home.

This was the first match Albania has played in Belgrade since 1967, and given the ethnic war in 1999 and Kosovo’s independence in 2008 that have happened since, tensions were already high going into the match. Away fans were not present, and so once the fighting began, the Albanian team was outnumbered. Serbian captain, Branislav Ivanovic, claims that his team “shielded the Albanian players every step of the way to the tunnel.” Albanian captain, Lorik Cana, reports that his players were “being attacked and hit even inside the tunnel, and even by the stewards.” Furthermore, Albania’s coach, Giovanni de Biazzi, reports that four of his players were injured from the incident.

For more information, please see:

CNN – Serbia and Albania game abandoned after drone invasion sparks brawl – 15 October 2014

Reuters – Serbia-Albania match abandoned following drone stunt, brawl – 15 October 2014

The Guardian – Albania and Serbia face heavy Uefa sanctions after abandoned game – 15 October 2014

The Telegraph – Serbia accuses Albania of ‘terrorist action’ with drone carrying flag as both countries charge by Uefa for violence – 15 October 2014

The Washington Post – UPDATED: Drone toting pro-Albanian flag causes riots that end Albania vs. Serbia Euro 2016 qualifier early – 14 October 2014

Hong Kong Protesters Re-gather after Talks Collapse

By Hojin Choi

Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

HONG KONG, China – “The Umbrella Revolution” has not ended. The number of pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong, which once dropped down to few hundreds, is re-growing as the meeting between the government and the protest leaders has been cancelled. Reportedly, the number is now estimated at tens of thousands, and tension is elevating with worry that violent clashes will soon ensue.

The Hong Kong Chief Secretary announced on Saturday that the government cancelled the meeting scheduled for Sunday. He said the government would not have any conversation unless the students accept the legal framework of the 2017 election announced by Beijing. There seems to be no way to reach an agreement between the two groups, the government and the student-led protesters, because Beijing’s decision on the 2017 election was the main trigger of the mass protest. The student leaders made it clear that they cannot disperse unless the Hong Kong government at least agrees to represent their views to Beijing.

Protesters wearing masks and goggles (Bloomberg)

Hong Kong’s Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying, who has been pressured by the protesters to resign, said the protesters are making “impossible” demands. This is because, according to Leung, there is “almost zero chance” that Beijing will revoke its earlier decision about the 2017 election. A Chinese state-run newspaper editorial described the protesters demand as “arrogant and ignorant.”

Beijing wants to nominate pro-Beijing candidates chosen by the Communist Party, but the Hong Kong people want an open and democratic nomination by the public. Leung also added that the police might have to use the least level of force since the protests have “spun out of control.” The current Chief Executive of Hong Kong, Leung, was elected by a small number of voters, about 1,200 who were mostly pro-Beijing.

The current situation in Hong Kong is becoming acute. Once, the protest seemed to be over when the protesters let government officials return back to their work places. This was to partially accept the government’s request. A few hundred students remained to continue the protest while police forces kept a distance not to provoke them. However, after the meeting was canceled, the number of protesters rose back to tens of thousands. According to Bloomberg and CNN, the police moved barricades out of the street. This was understood to be a gesture signaling to protesters that the police would be ready to take any immediate action as needed.

Hong Kong Police removing barricades and watching protesters’ reaction (Bloomberg)

Conflicts between pro-democracy and pro-Beijing protesters have been alleviated to a degree. Accordingly, the pro-Beijing group gathered at several places opposite the “Occupy Central” movement. CNN reported on Monday that police had to stand between the two groups as they clashed when the pro-Beijing group attempted to remove barricades reinstated by the pro-democratic protesters. The pro-Beijing groups gave a deadline to clear the streets, the end of Tuesday, to both the students and the police, or they will clear the area by themselves.

For more information please see:

CNN – Scuffles as protest opponents try to tear down Hong Kong barricades – 13 October 2014

The Washington Post – Hong Kong chief says protesters are making ‘impossible’ demands – 12 October 2014

Bloomberg – Hong Kong Police Remove Some Barricades to Shrink Protest Site – 12 October 2014

The New York Times – Police Move on Barricades; Hong Kong Leader Rejects Protesters’ Appeal – 12 October 2014

Syrian Lawmaker Reportedly assassinated as more Barrel Bombs dropped over Hama

By Kathryn Maureen Ryan
Managing Editor, Impunity Watch

Damascus, Syria – Syrian State-run media outlet, the Syrian Arab News Agency, (SANA) reported that gunmen allegedly opened fire on a Syrian Member of Parlmement while he was in his car outside of the city of  Hama in the west of the country on Wednesday. SANA reported that the attack killed the lawmaker and another civilian. The Lawmaker was named as Waris al-Younes was a Member of the People’s Assembly representing the central province of Hama. According to SANA a sources within the Hama Police Command told the agency that that terrorists opened fire on al-Younes’ car near Um al-Twaikiye crossroads on Tuesday midnight while he was heading from Hama city to al-Salamiya city.

SANA Reports that Member of the People’s Assembly Waris al-Younes was killed when gunmen opened fire on his car on the road between Hama and al-Salamiya.

There have been several attacks targeting Syrian lawmakers and other government officials since the start of the Syrian Civil war in 2011. In 2012, a suicide bomber killed three of top military officials in Damascus and last April the prime minister survived an attack on his convoy in Damascus, which killed six. An estimated 200,000 people of a population of nearly 25 million have been killed over the course of the ongoing civil war in Syria.

The People’s Assembly condemned the attack, SANA said. Following the attack the Assembly put out a statement saying calling for those who carried out the attack to be punished. The statement said, “We tell those who were behind this crime that your terrorism will not intimidate us, but it will increase our commitment to confront takfiri mentality along with the Syrian Arab Army,” the Syrian Arab News Agency reported on Wednesday.

The Assad Regime has been accused of carrying out collective punishment of civilian populations living in areas seen as loyal to anti-regime forces. One method of collective punishment used by the Assad Regime has been the use of Barrel Bombs, which are highly indiscriminate weapons made of explosives and shrapnel packed into large barrels, and heavy bombardments of civilian neighborhoods in many of Syria’s major cities including the city of Hama, the regime allegedly ramped up barrel bomb attacks in Hama over the past several weeks.

On Wednesday Syrian warplanes carried out raids on the countryside in area east of Hama province. Destructive and indiscriminate barrel bombs were dropped in the north, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights which tracks the conflict. On the ground, pro-regime forces fought with Nusra Front and Islamist battalions in the north, the Observatory reported.

For more information please see:

Detroit Free Press – Syrian Lawmaker Killed As Kurds Fight Islamic State – 15 October 2014

Reuters – Gunmen Kill Syrian MP in Western Province: Agency– 15 October 2014

Syrian Arab News Agency (State-Run Media) – MP Waris Al-Younes and another Civilian Killed In Terrorist Attack in Hama… People’s Assembly Condemns Crime – 15 October 2014

Reuters – Assad Steps Up Bombing As West Strikes Militants in Syria – 26 September 2014

Protests Continue in Ferguson, Missouri After Another Fatal Police Shooting

By Lyndsey Kelly
Impunity Watch Reporter, North America

 WASHINGTON, D.C., United States of America – Last weekend thousands of citizens staged protests, consisting of marches, vigils, and other demonstrations in St. Louis, Missouri. The demonstrations were sparked by a national campaign being called, Ferguson October. The campaign consists of four days of events, which started Friday afternoon outside the St. Louis County prosecutor’s office in Clayton.

Protests continue in Ferguson, Missouri (Photo Courtesy of Reuters).

The St. Louis area has seen an increasing number of protests since the fatal shooting of an African American teenager in August. A grand jury is currently reviewing the case, and the Justice Department has opened a civil rights investigation. Since August, three other fatal police shootings of black males have occurred in the St. Louis area of Missouri. The most recent fatality occurred on Wednesday when an off-duty officer working for security patrol shot and killed 18-year-old Vonderrrit D. Myers. The officer has alleged that the teen opened fire and only then did the officer respond by firing 17 rounds.

This months protest campaign started with a ½ mile march through downtown St. Louis. Organizations such as Hands Up Unite led the demonstration. The crowd started by gathering around a memorial where Michael Brown was fatally shot in August. The protests continued onto Saturday night when more than 30 demonstrators gathered outside the Bush Stadium, where the St. Louis Cardinals were playing the San Francisco Giants in the fist game of the National League Championship Series.

It was not until Sunday, 12 October 2014, that the protests turned violent. A video transmitted by a witness showed a small protest in Shaw, Missouri. The video depicted dozens of individuals sitting on the ground outside a convenience store. Police dressed in riot-gear then arrested at least 17 demonstrators after they refused to disperse from the sit-in. Some witnesses stated that the protestors were hit with pepper spray and tear gas, but these allegations have not been confirmed.

 

For more information, please see:

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE – Thousands March In St. Louis To Protest Police Violence – 11 Oct. 2014.

FOX NEWS –  Thousands in St. Louis To Protest Fatal Police Shooting – 11 Oct. 2014

REUTERS – Thousands March In St. Louis To Protest Police Violence – 11 Oct. 2014.

REUTERS – St. Louis Area Police Arrest At Least 17 During Weekend Of Protests – 11 Oct. 2014.