Satellite Images Reveal Devastation of Palmyra

By Brittani Howell

Impunity Watch Reporter, The Middle East

 

DAMASCUS, Syria – The Syrian army, backed by Russian forces, recently retook the ancient Syrian city of Palmyra from ISIS control. ISIS seized the ancient city in May 2015 and after committing terrible atrocities, including a mass execution, ISIS destroyed the ruins of century old civilizations.

Picture taken on March 31, 2016 of photographer holding picture of the Temple of Bel on March 14, 2014. (Photo courtesy of the Huffington Post)

Initial reports indicated that the damage to the city was not as bad as many feared, but satellite images obtained by DigitalGlobe showed unreported destruction in Palmyra. Monuments that had been in tact in September, as evidenced by DigitalGlobes previous batch of images, have been destroyed. The recent destruction included five more partly destroyed Roman-era tower tombs and a funerary was reduced to rubble.

Only two columns are left standing from the Arch of Triumph as the rest of the arch was brought down by explosives. The Arch of Triumph, dating back to the era of the Roman emperor Severus, by be easily repaired as it had been last restored in the 1930’s. At the entrance of the 2,000 years old Temple of Bell, members of the Islamic State allegedly wrote on the rocks, “The Islamic State. No entry for civilians or brothers [fighters].” The courtyard of the Temple was left standing but the prayer chamber was destroyed.

Allison Cuneo, project manager for the American Schools of Oriental Research (ASOR) Cultural Heritage Initiatives, stated “What’s strange is there hasn’t been any propaganda related to these tower tombs at all.” While she did acknowledge that the towers could have been damaged in combat she stated that the satellite images show signatures of intentional destruction.

Michael Danti, a Boston University archeologist, emphasized that a lot of damage to Palmyra was there prior to ISIS’s arrival. He stated, “That might get lost in translation over time. They were the primary culprit, but not the only culprit.”

Mamoun Abdulkarim, Syria’s antiques director stated that it would most likely take as long as five years to restore the site. He further stated that most of the important works were transported to government held Damascus at the time ISIS captured the town. However, he warned  “there are still large items, like the sarcophagi, which weigh three to four tons and we could not move. Those are what worry me.”

The head of antiques for Palmyra, Khaled al-Assad, was killed after he allegedly hid artifacts and refused to give their location to ISIS. The Syrian army also uncovered a mass grave which contained over 25 bodes, including women and children.

A plan to detonate 4,500 mines that were linked to a telephone network had not been carried out, because the man responsible was killed by Assad loyalists. Russian army experts are starting to remove the mines which would take months.

For more information, please see:

CBS News – Devastation Left Behind by ISIS in Syrian Town of Qaryatain – 4 April 2016

Atlas Obscura – Newly-Released Satellite Images Show Shocking Destruction of Palmyra – 1 April 2016

The Guardian – ISIS Destruction of Palmyra Antiques Revealed in New Pictures – 1 April 2016

The Huffington Post – Palmyra Taken Back From ISIS But Striking Photos Reveal the Full Devastation They Caused – 1 April 2016

Burundi: Strife in Silence

BUJUMBURA, Burundi – Last April President Pierre Nkurunziza announced that he would set aside Burundi’s constitution would seek a third term as the countries president. Three months later Nkurunziza was elected to a third term among claims that the election had been rigged. Since this election the country has suffered in silence as oppositionist to the president’s rule have been killed, fled the country, or disappeared all with very little notice from the outside world.

(Burundian Refugees in Rwanda. Photo Courtesy: BBC)

Before Nkurunziza could take office for a third term opposition parties staged a coup that eventually failed to oust the incumbent president. Following the failed coup were mass protests over the president’s third term and his alleged victory with 70% of the popular vote. Nkurunziza responded to critics violently. Since last April aid agencies have reported around 100 refugees daily cross the border from Burundi into Tanzanian with stories of the horrors they are leaving. This steady flow of refugees has put the number of displaced peoples from Burundi at an estimated 250,000 across the region.

In response to the worsening situation the UN Security Council passed a resolution to deploy security monitors to the region. This resolution has been met with resistance from Burundian government. In response to the resolution Burundi’s foreign affairs minister commented, “We don’t want deployment of hundreds of police officers. The United Nations has to remember that there are AU observers who are on the ground so we just need a few to help stabilize the situation in the country.” He then turned the conversation to reports that Rwanda had taken to training Burundi refugees as militants. If these rumors are true it could lead to more violence in Burundi and perhaps a civil war.

Yesterday there were reports of refugee, turned militant attacks on a town near the border between Burundi and Tanzania. These attacks, believed to be carried out by Nkurunziza oppositionist led by Leonidas Hatungimana left six dead. Hatungimana was a presidential aide to Nkurunziza but was fired after advising the president not to attempt a third term. Should these attacks continue they will likely only give the Nkurunziza regime more reason to be violent and oppressive.

 

For More Information Please See:

ABC News – Burundi: 6 People Killed in Gun Fire Linked to Rebels – 12 April 2016

The Guardian – The world looks away as blood flows in Burundi – 10 April 2016

All Africa – Burundi Rejects Deployment of UN Police, Monitors – 9 April 2016

Deutsche Welle – Burundi: Beneath the ‘peace’ lies fear – 6 April 2016

Arrests Made in Connection to India Fireworks Explosion

By Christine Khamis

Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

 

NEW DELHI, India –

Police in India’s Kerala state have arrested 13 people in connection with the fireworks explosion that killed over 100 people at a temple last week. Nearly 400 people were also injured during the explosion.

The site of the fireworks explosion. (Photo courtesy of BBC News)

Five of the detainees are officials at the Puttingal temple, where the explosion occurred during a celebration of the Hindu new year. A spark from one of the fireworks ignited the rest of the fireworks that the temple had obtained. Many temple-goers were trapped inside the temple as the explosion caused the temple to catch on fire and collapse.

Many of the deaths occurred when the temple collapsed. Chunks of concrete falling from above crushed a number of people, and many more were trapped in the debris. Some people were also injured in a stampede following the blast. Rescue efforts were slowed by emergency workers’ late arrival and a power outage in the area.

Authorities had previously denied the temple permission to host the display. The temple decided to go ahead with the display after being pressured by the crowds gathered to celebrate the new year.

Formal judicial and criminal investigations are ongoing. Several of the temple’s officials turned themselves in to police and are being investigated for violations including culpable homicide, illegal storage of fireworks, and violation of an authority’s orders. They are expected to be formally charged in court later this week. Several other individuals, including contractors in charge of the fireworks display, are also being questioned in connection with the explosion.

The High Court of Kerala has issued an order banning noise-generating fireworks at places of worship during the nighttime hours and banning heavy-duty explosives in fireworks displays altogether.

Following the explosion, Kerala’s Home Minister, Ramesh Chennithala, stated that the government will compensate families of those killed or injured in the blast. Prime Minister Narendra Modi then announced a compensation package for the families of the dead and injured, which will be covered by the government’s Disaster Management Fund.

 

For more information, please see:

The Indian Express – Kollam Temple Fire: From the Initial Spark to the Arrests – How It All Unfolded – 12 April 2016

The New York Times – 13 Arrested in Connection With Fireworks Explosion at Temple in India – 12 April 2016

Time – Five Surrender to Police Over Indian Temple Fire – 12 April 2016

BBC News – Puttingal Temple: Five Detained Over India Fireworks Blast – 11 April 2016.

The Guardian – Five Arrests Over Deadly Fireworks Explosion at Indian Temple – 11 April 2016

 

 

 

Myanmar Releases Student Activists From Prison

By Christine Khamis

Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

 

NAYPYIDAW, Myanmar –

Myanmar has released 69 student activists from prison. A town court dropped all charges against the activists, who were detained for over a year after protesting educational reforms last March. An additional 30 students are still being held on bail for similar charges.

A few of the newly released student activists. (Photo courtesy of BBC News)

The student activists had gathered in Letpadan, a town in central Myanmar, to protest against a law restricting academic freedom. Police used violent force to break up the protests, and many of the students were charged with unlawful assembly and rioting.

The students’ release came soon after Myanmar’s de facto leader, Aung San Suu Kii, promised to release all political prisoners in the country. Ms. Suu Kyi has taken on a parliament-created role of state adviser within Myanmar’s government, which will give her a great deal of influence over the country’s affairs. Her first statement as state adviser highlighted her pledge to release all political prisoners, many of whom were arrested prior to Myanmar’s democratic elections late last year.

Around 400 political prisoners remain in prison at this time, and Ms. Suu Kyi has stated that the release of those prisoners has been delayed by necessary legal processes. The remaining political prisoners are set to be released after the Burmese New Year holiday, which ends next week.

Amnesty International has called for Myanmar to release all remaining prisoners of conscience and to ensure reform of laws that violate civil rights including freedom of expression and freedom of peaceful assembly.

In late March, Amnesty published a report on Myanmar emphasizing authorities’ use of laws to silent dissent and to imprison human rights activists. It described such laws and their enforcement as “creating a climate of fear among human rights defenders and other activists in the country.”

Myanmar’s previous government, which was military-run, routinely jailed dissidents. Ms. Suu Kyi herself spent 15 years under house arrest, and several members in her new government are also former political prisoners.

 

For more information, please see:

Al Jazeera – Myanmar: New Suu Kyi Government Releases 69 Prisoners – 8 April 2016

Amnesty International – Release of Student Leader in Myanmar Must Lead to More Reform – 8 April 2016

BBC News – Myanmar Court Frees Dozens of Student Activists – 8 April 2016

The New York Times – Myanmar Releases Dozens of Student Activists From Jail – 8 April 2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Syria Deeply Weekly Update: Finding Alternative Routes to Europe

Dear Readers,

Welcome to the weekly Syria Deeply newsletter. We’ve rounded up the most important stories and developments about Syria and the Syrians in order to bring you valuable news and analysis.

Finding Alternative Routes to Europe

Following the plan by the E.U. and Turkey to turn back refugees, many are looking for alternative ways to reach Europe. Syria Deeply explores a new path to the continent that starts on the other side of the Atlantic – in South America.

The Working Children of Eastern Ghouta

Violence, poverty and displacement have affected millions of Syrian children, sometimes forcing them to become the sole providers for their households. In the besieged Damascus suburb of Eastern Ghouta, many are forgoing their education and turning to the streets to help support their families.

My Life Outside Syria: Diary Entry 63

Marah, a teenage girl from one of Syria’s besieged cities, has been sharing her stories of life in the war. With her mother and siblings, she left Syria, stopping off in Turkey before making the precarious crossing to Greece by boat. Now in Switzerland, she is newly married and now pregnant, all while attempting to come to terms with a life turned upside down.

More Recent Stories to Look Out for at Syria Deeply:

#5YearsWeFled: Difficult Choices (Part 4)

Meet the Group Enabling Syria’s Female Journalists

Assad in Complete Defiance of Peace in Syria

Find our new reporting and analysis every weekday at www.syriadeeply.org.
You can reach our team with any comments or suggestions at info@newsdeeply.org.