Australia to Reconsider Syrian Refugee Intake

By Samuel Miller
Impunity Watch Reporter, North America and Oceania

CANBERRA, Australia — Prime Minister Tony Abbott has told Parliament the government will announce its response to the Syrian refugee crisis by the end of the day. On Sunday Prime Minister Abbott said the government would consider increasing the number of Syrians and Iraqis it would take as part of the humanitarian resettlement quota, but ruled out an overall increase in numbers.

Syrian Refugees Crossing the Border Between Greece and Macedonia. (Photo Courtesy of The Guardian)

Prime Minister Abbott has said more Syrian asylum seekers would be let into the country, but has stopped short of boosting overall refugee numbers. The increase would not mean Australia’s overall yearly intake of refugees would go up.

“Our focus will be on families and women and children, especially of persecuted minorities, who have sought refuge in camps neighboring Syria and Iraq,” the Prime Minister said.

Currently, Australia has set a quota for accepting refugees from around the world, which stands at 13,750 people. Last financial year, Australia settled more than 4,400 people from Syria and Iraq, Prime Minister Abbott said. The overall refugee intake will increase to 18,750 by 2018.

However, some within the Australian government are urging the Prime Minister and Australia to do more.

On Monday, Assistant Treasurer Josh Frydenberg called for temporary housing of Syrian and Iraqi asylum seekers. Mr. Frydenberg said there was a good case for a Kosovo-type solution that would see Syrian and Iraqi refugees housed in Australia, then returned home once the countries were safe.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said Australia was mostly looking at the plight of those minorities who wanted to flee Syria permanently. However, echoing Mr. Frydenberg, Ms. Bishop said there were a number of people currently fleeing Syria that would want to return home once the conflict was over.

“When the conflict is over people will want to return to Syria and Iraq. But there are some persecuted ethnic and religious minorities who will not want to go home so they are the ones we are focusing on as other countries are as well,” she said.

Ms. Bishop also said the government was still considering its options, including agreeing to an emergency Syrian intake as suggested by Labor yesterday.

“On a per capita basis we take in more refugees than any other country throughout the world,” she said. “When we see the photos, yes our hearts go out to these people, but let’s step back and ask where is the money coming from?”

Prime Minister Abbott has been urged to increase Australia’s refugee intake after photos of a drowned Syrian toddler on a Turkish beach shocked the world and put a human face to the dangers refugees risk trying to reach safety.

For more information, please see:

AU News — Julie Bishop says Australia will decide on upping the Syrian refugee intake in days – 8 September 2015

BBC News — Australia under pressure to boost total refugee intake – 7 September 2015

ABC News — Tony Abbott says Australia will accept more Syria refugees but within current intake, Peter Dutton to travel to Geneva for UN talks on crisis – 6 September 2015

The Guardian — Ministers press Tony Abbott for increase in refugee intake over Syria crisis – 6 September 2015

Voices for Sudan Condemns Arrest & Planned Deportation of El Doud

Voices for Sudan Condemns the Arrest & Planned Deportation of El Doud 
September 7th 2015, Washington DC. Voices for Sudan strongly condemns the arrest and planned deportation of El Doud as a disrespect for, and violation of his fundamental human rights. On 23rd July 2015, a Sudanese journalist Alwaleed El Doud was arrested at his home in Saudi Arabia by Saudi security forces, and later transferred to Ma’aloumat Prison in Dammam, the seat of the judicial and administrative bodies of the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. This transfer was confirmed by Journalists for Human Rights (“JHR”), an international organization that reports on human rights violations. Jimmy Mulla, President & Co-founder of Voices for Sudan, says VFS is deeply concerned about the hardship that El Doud is likely to be subjected to if deported to Sudan (as desired of the Sudanese security agencies). Mr. Mulla states that VFS has taken steps to create public awareness of this issue, and has reached out to the U. S. Department of State, Human Rights Watch & international human rights organizations with the hope that immediate action will be taken to free Alwaleed El Doud. It is believed that the Saudi government plans to deport El Doud to Sudan because of the recent improvement in diplomatic relations between the two countries. This creates great anxiety among El Doud’s family, friends, and public interest groups because a deportation exposes him to the risk of arrest and abuse by the Sudanese government. Prior to his arrest, Alwaleed had received many threats of torture and death from Sudan’s National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS). In a press statement, the JHR asserted that based on its confirmed reports, El Doud is the target of the NISS and is to be arrested for administering the website www.alrakoba.net. Hanadi Elhadi, VFS communications & outreach coordinator spoke with the wife of the Alwaleed El Doud who confirmed that there seems to be no movement as to the fate of her husband. VFS is in contact with family members, relatives and friends of the journalist. While El Doud continues to be held behind bars, he is yet to be charged with any offense. The crime committed? Not stated. His laptop computer and international passport were also said to have been confiscated. El Doud has lived in Saudi Arabia for over 10 years and he confirmed that his immigration status is not in question. Alrakoba, an independent news website administered by Alwaleed Ed Doud, was created as a dialogue forum in 2005. The forum transformed into a news website in 2006 the site exposed various cases of human rights abuses, corruption and bad governance of the government of Sudan. Daring to expose and condemn the ills of the government of Sudan seems to be the “wrong” which has been committed by El Doud. Voices for Sudan further uses this medium to request private individuals, businesses, civil society organizations, and national governments to condemn this continued abuse of state power and gain freedom for Alwaleed El Doud. For any clarification and more information, please contact Voices For Sudan Communications & Outreach Coordinator, Hanadi Elhadi at: ehanadi@voicesforsudan.org

Chinese Journalist Arrested and Forced to Give Televised Confession

By Christine Khamis

Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

 

BEIJING, China —                 

Chinese journalist Wang Xiaolu was arrested in late August for his article about the recent China stock market crisis, which affected the global economy. Mr. Wang was forced to confess on China Central Television, China’s state television network, that he had gathered information for his article using private sources and abnormal means. Mr. Wang also confessed that he had added his own subjective views to the information that he had found and that his article was “sensational” and “irresponsible”. Mr. Wang stated that he hoped for leniency from judicial authorities.

Mr. Wang during his televised confession. (Photo courtesy of the Independent)

Mr. Wang, a reporter for business magazine Caijing, was arrested at his home and taken into police custody last Tuesday. His televised confession occurred before any formal court proceedings.

Mr. Wang’s article in Caijing about the stock market crisis indicated that China’s Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) planned to withdraw money from the already struggling stock market. The CSRC denied the story, but Chinese authorities believe that Mr. Wang’s article contributed to the stock market plunge in July 2015. According to Xinhua, China’s official press agency, Mr. Wangs’s article caused “abnormal fluctuations” in the stock market.

Mr. Wang has been accused of “ colluding with others and fabricating and spreading false information concerning securities and futures trading”, according to Xinhua. He has been placed under “criminal compulsory measures”, which could lead to jail, house arrest, residential surveillance, or other punishments.

It has been a surprise to many that the Chinese government has targeted Caijing. While the financial magazine has a reputation for pushing the boundaries of what the Chinese government deems admissible, Caijing has avoided covering topics prohibited by the government.

Mr. Wang’s arrest occurred in the midst of a government crackdown on the spread of rumors online. The Chinese Ministry of Public Security has charged nearly 200 people for “spreading rumors online”.

According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, major news sources in China have been instructed to delete articles about Beijing’s response to the stock market crisis.

Human rights groups and the Committee to Protect Journalists have called for the release of Mr. Wang. The Committee has stated that Chinese authorities’ sensitivity to changes in the financial markets is no reason to intimidate and jail a journalist.

Orville Schell, director of the Center on U.S.-China Relations at the Asia Society, believes that the punishment of Mr. Wang signifies a tightening of government control in China. In recent years, Chinese authorities have increased their use of televised confessions to use detainees’ cases as warnings to others. Authorities have employed the tactic with journalists, human rights activists, and lawyers.

 

For more information, please see:

New York Times – Caijing Journalist’s Shaming Signals China’s Growing Control Over News Media – 6 September 2015

Committee to Protect Journalists– Chinese State TV Airs Footage of Journalist Saying He Regrets Writing Stock Market Story – 31 August 2015

The Guardian – Chinese Reporter Makes On-Air ‘Confession’ After Market Chaos – 31 August 2015

The Independent – A Chinese Journalist Has Appeared on State Television ‘Confessing’ to Causing the Stock Market Chaos – 31 August 2015

New York Times – China Punishes Nearly 200 Over ‘Rumors’ About Stocks, Blasts and Parade – 31 August 2015

Al Jazeera – Chinese Journalist Jailed After Stock Market Crash Coverage – 27 August 2015

 

 

 

 

Germany Welcomes Thousands of Migrants from Austria, Hungary After Long Journey

by Shelby Vcelka

Impunity Watch Desk Reporter, Europe

BERLIN, Germany–

After ten long days of travel, the first wave of migrants traveling from Austria and Hungary reached Germany, with a second wave to follow shortly. Some 6,000 refugees had reached Munich by Saturday night, with another 1,800 expected to arrive by Sunday morning. Germans waived welcome signs and flags, and offered hot tea and food to those traveling, which was a change from the welcome they received in Hungary.

A refugee holds a picture of German Chancellor Angela Merkel as he enters the country. (Photo courtesy of NYT)

Earlier this week, violence and chaos broke out in Budapest, Hungary, as the Hungarian government refused to let the refugees pass through the country. However, many migrants refused to allow themselves to be registered as asylum seekers in Hungary, and wished to travel onwards to Germany, as the German government announced it would accept a significant number of refugees. Hundreds broke through security barriers and began walking towards the Hungarian border towards Austria, many of those with small children. Under international pressure, Hungary finally opened its borders and started providing shuttle service to the Austrian border. As many as 10,000 people are expected to cross the border over the weekend.

Hungary’s ultra-right wing government is in the process of erecting a barbed wire fence along its Serbian border to prevent illegal migration into the country. On Friday, lawmakers passed legislation to increase border security, and will vote on harsher legislation later in the month. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said Hungary’s borders must be kept, or “tens of millions” will enter the country. “The supply of immigrants is inexhaustible,” Orban said Saturday. “If we let everyone in, we will destroy Europe.”

Austria has stated that they will not limit the number of refugees crossing the border, but will likely attempt to limit the number of asylum seekers who wish to stay in the country.

Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor, has announced that Germany has the capacity to deal with a large influx of refugees without raising taxes or jeopardizing its budget. Many refugees are seeking asylum in Germany for this reason.

In typical cases, the “Dublin Rules” would apply to asylum seekers. This EU rule states that asylum seekers must apply for asylum in the first country they reach. However, due to the nature of the crisis, Germany and Hungary have both agreed that the decision to open the borders was made for humanitarian reasons.

For more information, please see–

BBC–Migrants reach Austria and Germany after long ordeal— 5 September 2015

CNN–Thousands of jubilant migrants arrive in Austria from Hungary— 5 September 2015

Expatica–More migrants on march as refugees stream into Austria— 5 September 2015

New York Times– Germans Welcome Migrants After Long Journey Through Hungary and Austria— 5 September 2015

PBS–Photos: Thousands of migrants reach Austria as European officials call for comprehensive plan— 5 September 2015