Brazil indigenous population ‘under attack’

By Kaitlyn Degnan
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

BRASILIA, Brazil — The Guarani-Kaiowa indigenous group of Mato Grasso de Sul reported being attacked by a group of men this week. About 30 armed men drove into the group’s territory and began shooting. The Guarani-Kaiowa fled into the woods to hide, and said that the men came back to shoot again in the evening.

Members of the Guarani-Kaiowa protest following the death of Semião Vilhalva in Brasilia. (Photo courtesy of AFP)

 

Tensions between the indigenous group and local ranchers began after about 1,000 members of the Guarani-Kaiowa occupied five ranches on August 22, in an offensive to take back their ancestral lands. A number of hostages were taken, but were later released.

Last week, the ranchers launched their own offensive to take back the land, killing indigenous leader Semião Vilhalva. The offensive pushed the Guarani-Kaiowa out of the ranches and cornered them back into a small area of land. Rancher-hired gunmen are reported to be patrolling the area.

They group has appealed to the Brazilian government for assistance, saying that the gunmen are preventing them from burying Vilhalva on their ancestral land.

Indigenous persons led protests in Brasilia following Vilhalva’s death.

Brazilian Justice Minister Jose Eduardo Cardozo condemned the killing. He has travelled to the region with a high-level delegation. Members include the director-general of the Federal Police and the president of government’s Indian agency. Federal troops have also been sent to the area.

There is a long standing history of fighting between the indigenous populations of the area and the ranchers. According to the Indigenous Missionary Council, there were 138 murders of indigenous persons in 2014 alone.

The ranches were located in an area which had been designated as indigenous territory, but the ranchers recently obtained an injunction suspending the process. The Brazilian Constitution required that all indigenous territory be mapped out and returned by 1993, but that promise has gone largely unfulfilled.

The United Nation’s expert on indigenous populations, Victoria Tauli-Corpez, called for a stop to the violence and for protection for the Guarani-Kaiowa.

For more information, please see:

Intercontinental Cry – Indigenous Brazilian Broadcasts Urgent Plea for Help – 2 September 2015

The Ecologist – Brazil: Guarani man murdered by ranchers’ gunmen – 2 September 2015

Yahoo News – Tensions mount over death of Brazil indigenous leader – 2 September 2015

BBC – Brazil indigenous leader’s killing raises tension – 3 September 2015

BBC – Brazil indigenous group Guarani-Kaiowa ‘attacked’ – 6 September 2015

Press Release: U.S./Belgian Citizen Arrested for his Alleged Participation in the Trade of Blood Diamonds during Sierra Leone’s Civil War

Michel Desaedeleer, American and Belgian citizen, was arrested in Spain this week, pursuant to an European arrest warrant. He is suspected of having participated, with former Liberian President Charles Taylor and the Sierra Leonean rebels of the Revolutionary United Front (RUF), in enslavement as a crime against humanity and pillage of “blood diamonds” as a war crime in the district of Kono in the Eastern part of Sierra Leone between 1999 and 2001.

Several citizens of Sierra Leone, victims of enslavement during the civil war, filed in Brussels in January 2011 a criminal complaint against Mr Desaedeleer who residesin the United States. They are represented by the Belgian lawyer Luc Walleyn. This complaint prompted the Belgian authorities to formally open an investigation, which culminated in the issuance of a European arrest warrant against Mr Desaedeleer in 2015. The Centre for Accountability and Rule of Law (CARL) in Freetown, Sierra Leone, and Civitas Maxima (CM) in Geneva, Switzerland, have been working in partnership for several years on this case to document crimes and assist the victims to obtain justice.

During the civil war in Sierra Leone (1991-2002), the RUF used civilians as slaves in the district of Kono to mine in the diamond pits. The proceeds of the forced labor were brought to Charles Taylor in Monrovia, Liberia, and then sold on the international market.

This is the very first time that a businessman has been arrested for his alleged involvement in the international crimes of both pillage of blood diamonds and enslavement of civilians.

Ibrahim Tommy, Executive Director of CARL, said today from Freetown: “This is another significant step forward in our collective efforts at ensuring accountability for the crimes that occurred during the conflict in Sierra Leone. No one should be allowed to get away with participating in serious offenses such as enslaving people and forcing them to mine for diamonds. This case will also help to shed light on the otherwise discreet drivers of the infamous ‘blood diamond’ trade in Sierra Leone”. Alain Werner, the Director of Civitas Maxima added in Geneva: “This is a landmark case, the first of its kind, and it will help to raise awareness of the pivotal role played by financial actors in the trade of mineral resources that fuel armed conflicts in Africa and elsewhere”.

Contact:

Ibrahim Tommy in Freetown
info@carl-sl.org
ibrahim.tommy@gmail.com
+232 76 365 499

Alain Werner in Geneva
alain.werner@civitas-maxima.org
+41 79 194 5957

Druze Cleric Killed and Riots Erupt in Southern Syria

By Brittani Howell

Impunity Watch Reporter, The Middle East

 DAMASCUS, Syria – Violence erupted on Saturday in a Southern Syrian province, in response to a double-car bombing that occurred Friday. The car-bombing killed 28 people, including Druze cleric Sheikh Wahid al-Balous.

Lebanon Druze leader, Walid Jumblatt, stands with other cleric leaders in Beirut on June 12, 2015. (Photo courtesy The World Post)

Druze cleric Sheikh Wahid al-Balous led the group Sheikhs of Dignity. The Sheikhs of Dignity called the re-election of President Bashar al-Assad a “void election”. Two weak and relatively unknown candidates ran against the President during the elections held in July 2014. In addition, rebel-held territories were not allowed to vote.

The group also protested the lack of adequate water and electricity. Sheikh Wahid al-Balous was a critic of President Bashar al-Assad and urged the youth of Sweida to refuse military service. A movement in the Druze community urges the youth to serve in the local National Defense forces, a pro-government military to defend Sweida.

The two explosions occurred in and around the city of Sweida. One bomb hit Sheikh Wahid al-Balous’s convoy. The second bomb struck the hospital where the victims of the first explosion were taken. As a result, 28 people were killed.

Nine more individuals were killed during the riots outside government building of Swedia. Six security personnel were killed by Druze gunman.

The statute of former President Hafez al-Assad was destroyed by protestors. Walid Jumblatt, Druze political leader in Lebanon, told Syrian Orient TV, “It is time for the honorable citizens [of Sweida] to rise up in the face of the Syrian regime that wants repression and to spread sedition”.

The Syrian Government blamed “terrorists” for the explosions. Syria’s state new media neglected to report the cleric’s death as well as the deaths of the security forces.

The Druze sect is an off shoot of Shi’ite Islam and is related to Islam, Christianity, and Judaism. The Druze faith is practiced by 1.5 million people, mostly residing in Syria, Lebanon, and Israel.

For more information, please see:

Reuters – Druze Gunman Kill Six Syrian Security Personnel After Bomb Blasts Kill Dozens – 5 September 2015

The New York Times – Unrests Mounts in Southern Syria After Druse Cleric Dies in Blast – 5 September 2015

The Wall Street Journal – Violence Erupts in Syrian City After Druse Cleric Killed – 5 September 2015

The World Post – Syrian Druze City Turns on Assad After Top Cleric Killed by Car Bomb – 5 September 2015

Violent Protests at Ukraine’s Parliament Leads to Deaths, Injuries

by Shelby Vcelka

Impunity Watch Desk Reporter, Europe

KIEV, Ukraine–

Protests and violence broke out on August 31st, as the Ukrainian Parliament approved a measure to give more autonomy to local governments in Eastern Ukraine. Although the measures approved constitutional changes to curb violence and add stability in the war torn regions of Ukraine, protesters saw the legislation as “anti-Ukraine” and “pro-Russian,” and believed it would give Russia concessions in exchange for peace.

Protestors and guards clash as the Ukrainian Parliament approves measures to give more autonomy to local governments in war torn regions of the country. (Photo courtesy of Newsweek)

A yet-unnamed man, who was later identified to be a member of a far-right nationalist party, threw grenades at police lines, immediately killing one member of the National Guard. Two other officers later died while hospitalized for their injuries. 130 other officers were injured in the attack, along with 10 protestors who were standing nearby. 11 of those injured are in critical condition.

Monday’s vote was the first step in changing the status of the Eastern regions from a troubled region to one of stability. Russian President Vladimir Putin insisted upon these changes during peace talks in Minsk, Belarus last winter. Many Ukrainian nationalists oppose the measures because the Russian government, which is seen as the impetus behind the civil war that has claimed the lives of at least 6,500 lives, stipulated them.

The terms, in order to go into effect, involves a constitutional amendment, which requires a supermajority of 300 out of a possible 450 votes. The first reading of the measure passed with 265 votes, which will allow additional changes to be made to the legislation before a final vote is cast.

Ukrainian President Petro O. Poroshenko had previously approved the constitutional change, as was required in the Minsk agreement made last winter. This concession, however, came at a steep price, as Russian-backed rebel soldiers surrounded thousands of Ukrainian soldiers in the East. Opinion polls show that most Ukrainians disagree with this decision, but have no desire to continue on with the war. The three coalition parties that typically side with Mr. Poroshenko oppose the constitutional changes, and it is unclear whether he will ultimately win the approval he needs to implement the legislation.

For more information, please see–

BBC– Ukraine crisis: Deadly anti-autonomy protest outside parliament— 31 August 2015

International Business Times– Ukraine crisis: National guard killed with 90 injured in deadly protests outside parliament— 31 August 2015

Newsweek–Photos: Violence and Protests at Ukraine’s Parliament in Kiev— 31 August 2015

New York Times– 2 More Officers Die in Violent Protest Over Autonomy for East Ukraine— 31 August 2015

Reuters–Ukraine guardsman killed in nationalist protest outside parliament-– 31 August 2015

Zuwara, Libya’s Deadly Refugee Port

By Tyler Campbell

Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

TRIPOLI, Libya – Two Hundred people are feared dead off the coast of Libya this week after a refugee boat sank while taking the perilous journey across the Mediterranean Sea toward Italy. This was the second refugee boat to sink this last week. Another boat, also full of refugees had gone down the day before.  This is one of the most heavily traveled refugee routes out of Africa toward Europe and it has seen an increase in the number of refugees that never make it when compared to last year. According to the International Organization for Migration approximately 2,373 people have died trying to reach Europe this year. This is compared to the 3,281 people that died all of last year trying to make the same trip.

Location of Zuwara in relation to Sicily (Photo Curtsey BBC)

The first boat that capsized was a smaller fishing vessel believed to be carrying 100 people. The second larger boat was said to be carrying nearly 400 passengers when it sank the next day. Some sources reported that people were trapped in the cargo hold of the larger vessel when it went down on Thursday.

As of August 29th, 105 people had been declared dead with hundreds of others still missing. Rescue efforts have been working since the boats went down and have successfully recovered 200 people.  Heading the rescue efforts is Libya’s Red Crescent Society, a disaster relief group in Zuwara. The LRCS is an organization that relies primarily on volunteers for its mission. Many of these volunteers are not trained or prepared to handle human remains. However, with little to no involvement from the Liberian government they have had to head the continuing rescue mission of saving these refugees.

The city of Zuwara is a popular port for refugee boats to begin the trip toward Italy. It is one of Libya’s most northern cities and lies just over 300 miles away from the tip of Italy. Separating these two is the unpredictable Mediterranean Sea. The unseaworthy and overcrowded boats along with this dangerous section of the Sea make it an extremely perilous journey for refugees.

Even though it is a dangerous trip the number of people willing to take it has continued to climb. In the first nine months of this year 300,000 people had attempted to cross the Mediterranean into Europe. The total number of people who attempted to cross in 2014 was only 219,000.

The reason for the increasing number of refugees is long and growing. The main drivers are the escape from war, persecution and poverty. The three nations with ties to the greatest number of refugees fleeing to this section of the Mediterranean are Syria, Nigeria, and Eritrea.

 

For More Information, Please See:

Al Jazeera – About 200 feared dead in Libya refugee boat disaster – 29 August 2015

CNN – Dozens of Migrants die as boat capsize off Libya – 29 August 2015

BBC News – Migrant crisis: Libya boats sink off Zuwara carrying hundreds – 28 August 2015

CNN – Tide of Death: Migrants’ bodies wash ashore in Libya – 27 August 2015