Pakistan Bombing Kills At Least 72 People

By Christine Khamis

Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

 

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan –

At least 72 people were killed in a suicide bombing in Lahore, Pakistan on Sunday. Over 300 people were wounded in the blast. The bombing occurred in Gulshan Iqbal Park, a public park, where Christian families had gathered to celebrate Easter.

Officials and rescuers gather at the site of the bombing. (Photo courtesy of CNN)

Jamaat-e-Ahrar, a splinter cell of the Pakistani Taliban, has taken responsibility for the bombing. Spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan released a statement confirming that Christians had been the target of the blast. Pakistani officials deny that Christians were the target of the attack, however, and many of those killed were Muslims. Jamat-e-Ahrar has declared that there are more attacks to come, with a warning that Pakistani media may be the next target.

Mr. Ehsan also said in his statement that the bombing was a message to the government that it cannot deter Jamaat-e-Ahrar even in Lahore, the capital of Punjab province. Lahore is the hometown of Pakistan’s prime minster, Nawaz Sharif. According to BBC, Mr. Ehsan referred to Mr. Sharif in his statement, saying that the war had “reached his doorstep.”

Law enforcement officials and army and intelligence forces in Punjab have begun a formal investigation into the bombing. Over 5,000 people have already been detained and questioned as part of the investigation, and any suspected terrorists have been arrested. 216 suspects remain in custody at this time.

Security forces have also begun raids to seize weapons and ammunition in Lahore and two other cities. Reports say that Pakistan’s military is working to begin a new crackdown in Punjab as well.

There have been two other bombings in Pakistan this month. One attack, a suicide bombing at a court building earlier in the month was also carried out by Jamaat-e-Ahrar. Dozens of other attacks have also occurred during recent years, including a bombing that killed around 80 people in 2013 and a school massacre that killed 134 students in 2014.

 

For more information, please see:

Al Jazeera – Pakistan Conducts Sweeping Raids After Lahore Bombing – 29 March 2016

BBC – Lahore Attack: Pakistan ‘Detains 200’ After Easter Blast – 29 March 2016

CNN – Pakistan Bombing: Suspects, Arms Seized After Attack on Christians Kills 72 – 28 March 2016

The New York Times – Blast at a Crowded Park in Lahore, Pakistan, Kills Dozens – 27 March 2016

 

 

High Level Colombian Military Officials Arrested for False Positives

By Kaitlyn Degnan
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

BOGOTA, Colombia — Colombian authorities have arrested a number of high ranking members of the Colombian military for involvement in the false positive killing scandal, including General Mario Montoya. Montoya is the former commander of the National Army. He is facing accusations of war crimes for his complicity in the “killing and promoting of killing of thousands of civilians.” He faces 40 years of imprisonment.

Colombians march during a 2009 protest against false positive killings. (Photo courtesy of the Guardian)

During his time as commander, the Colombian army is thought to have engaged in a number of extrajudicial killings – killing civilians and then reporting the deaths as paramilitary casualties. Troops were rewarded with bonuses and vacation days for high paramilitary body counts. At least 3,000 – 4,000 civilians are thought to have been killed between 2002 and 2008. Montoya was allegedly aware of the false positive killings, and failed to take any action or report it. 800 members of the Colombian security forces have been convicted of involvement in false positive killings, and hundreds more are still under investigation.

Montoya was detained on March 29 after being called for questioning by prosecutors. Prosecutors announced an intention to detain Montoya following the arrest of General Henry Torres for the deaths of a father and son, Daniel Torres Arciniegas (38) and Roque Julio Torres (16). They were killed in 2007 and reported as guerillas killed in battle in Casanare.  Torres was in charge of the military unit stationed there at the time of the killings.

Around the same time as the arrests, NGO Human Rights Watch released a report warning that the upcoming peace agreement between the Colombian government and FARC could provide impunity and allow perpetrators of false positive killings to escape justice. The cases would fall under the jurisdiction of the special peace tribunals. Under the upcoming peace agreement, those tried by the tribunals who confess will not face jail time and instead face a maximum sentence of eight years of labor.

Jose Miguel Vivanco, the Americas director at Human Rights Watch, has called the agreement “a checkmate against justice.”

 

For more information please see:

Colombia Reports – Colombia general arrested, former army chief called for interrogation over killing civilians – 28 March 2016

Colombia Reports – Colombia justice deal could grant soldiers impunity – 28 March 2016

Guardian – Colombia arrests army general decade after killing of civilians – 28 March 2016

Human Rights Watch – Colombia: FARC Pact Risks Impunity for ‘False-Positives’ – 28 March 2016

Human Rights Watch Analysis – Colombia: Prosecution of False Positive Cases under the Special Jurisdiction for Peace – 28 March 2016

Latin America News Dispatch – Human Rights Watch Warns of Impunity Concerning Colombia’s ‘False Positives’ – 28 March 2016

Voice of America – Colombia Arrests Army General for Extrajudicial Killings – 28 March 2016

Colombia Reports – Why Colombia’s former army chief is facing 40 years in prison – 29 March 2016 

 

Syria Deeply Weekly Update: Meet the Group Enabling Syria’s Female Journalists

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.

Meet the Group Enabling Syria’s Female Journalists

The Syrian Female Journalists’ Network is a non-profit initiative that trains Syrian female journalists and promotes their role in the region’s media. Syria Deeply spoke to co-founder Milia Eidmouni about the network’s work and its plans for women working in Syria’s media.

From Turkey to Europe – Q&A With a Smuggler

Who is behind the smuggling of refugees from Turkey to the Greek islands? How are these potentially deadly trips planned and organized? In the second installment of an ongoing investigation into dangerous routes to safety, Syria Deeply speaks with a people smuggler in Izmir.

Op-Ed: Five Years of Crisis, Five Million Syrian Refugees

The world must stop failing Syria’s refugees, writes Amnesty International’s head researcher on refugee and migrant rights in the lead up to the United Nations Refugee Agency’s March 30 conference centered on sharing responsibility for the refugee crisis globally. Five years of war have pushed nearly five million people to flee the country.

More Recent Stories to Look Out for at Syria Deeply:

#5YearsWeFled: Difficult Choices (Part 3)

My Life Outside Syria: Diary Entry 62

Op-Ed: In Syria, Maybe the Bridge is Best After All

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.