Brazil Votes to Impeach President Dilma Rousseff

By Cintia Garcia

Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

BRASÍLIA, BRAZIL—The Brazilian Senate voted 61 to 20 to impeach Dilma Rousseff from her term as president. After a long impeachment trial, Dilma Rousseff was found guilty of manipulating the federal budget.

The Senate rejoices after the vote to impeach Dilma Rousseff. (Photo Courtesy of The Washington Post)

In order to impeach Dilma Rousseff, two-thirds of senators—54 out of 81—was needed to make her impeachment final. Also held was a vote to strip Dilma Rousseff of her rights to run for office. The second vote did not pass, the senate opposed with 42 in favor, 36 opposed and 3 abstentions—she will be allowed to run for office in the future. Although she was removed from office in May, the impeachment process began eight months ago. The vice president, Michel Temer, became interim president after her removal. He was sworn in as president following the vote on Wednesday afternoon for the remainder of her term, which ends in 2018. The end of Dilma Rousseff’s term also marks the end of the 13-year reign of the Leftist Workers’ Party. Under President Temer, the Brazilian Democratic Movement Party will take over and shift the government to the right.

Dilma Rousseff continues to claim her innocence, stating, “When Brazil or when a president is impeached for a crime that they have not committed, the name we have for this in democracy—its not an impeachment, it is a coup.”

She was first elected to the presidency in 2011 and was reelected in 2014. Her approval ratings during her second term dropped due to an economic downturn when inflation and unemployment rates began to surge upward.

President Michel Temer enters his term with low approval rates and scandal. Most recently, Temer appointed an all male cabinet and no Afro-Brazilian ministers, causing an uproar in Brazil since 51 percent of Brazilians identify themselves as black or mixed race. Furthermore, President Temer has appointed new cabinet members and office holders that have resigned due to anti-corruption accusations—including attempts to intervene in the investigation of the oil company Petrobras.

For more information, please see:

CNN—Brazil’s Senate Ousts Dilma Rousseff in Impeachment Vote—31 August 2016.

New York Times—Dilma Rousseff is Ousted as Brazil’s President in Impeachment Vote—31 August 2016.

The Washington Post—Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff Ousted in Impeachment Vote—31 August 2016.

Egyptian Lawyer Set Free Following Delayed Release

by Yesim Usluca
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

CAIRO, Egypt — Malek Adly, an Egyptian human rights lawyer, was released from prison on Sunday after he was arrested in May 2016 over protests against President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s decision to hand over two Red Sea islands to Saudi Arabia.

Egyptian human rights lawyer Malek Adly (Photo Courtesy of Daily News Egypt)

In April 2016, President Sisi handed over the two islands, Sanafir and Tiran, to Saudi Arabia on the grounds that they had always belonged to the country and were only leased to Egypt. This act was criticized by Egyptians as unconstitutional, leading to widespread protests throughout Egypt. Mr. Adly argued that the islands belonged to Egypt, and joined a group of journalists supporting the protests. Following the rallies, the Egyptian government arrested over 100 people for either participating in peaceful protests or spreading false information.

Mr. Adly was arrested in May 2016 on accusations of plotting a coup and spreading false information. His spouse and lawyers stated that he was placed in solitary confinement, denied visits for two weeks, and assaulted by guards. Following Mr. Adly’s arrest, in May 2016, reporters for the United Nations issued a statement expressing concern over the “worsening crackdown on peaceful protests” in Egypt. These reporters further urged the government to bring an end to “disproportionate reactions.”

On Thursday, August 25th, a Cairo court accepted Mr. Adly’s petition against his detention, and granted a release. The prosecution, however, filed an appeal against this decision to extend his detention. On Saturday, August 27th, the Egyptian courts rejected this appeal, and ordered his release. Despite issuance of this order, Mr. Adly had not been set free as of the morning of Sunday, August 28th. Rights groups and activists criticized the delayed process. A statement signed by sixteen entities, including political parties and NGOs, indicated that delays such as this were “common.” The statement further provided that the practice is considered unlawful detention as the aim in the delay is to obstruct the releasing procedures.

Mr. Adly was eventually released from prison on Sunday, August 28th. His lawyer, Mr. Mahmoud Belal, however, stated that he does not know what will happen next as the Egyptian government could try to detain him once again.

For more information, please see:

Associated Press — Egypt Court Releases Lawyer Who Defied President — 28 August 2016

BBC News — Egypt crackdown widens with arrest of leading rights lawyer — 6 May 2016

Daily News Egypt — Condemnations pour after Malek Adly’s delayed release — 28 August 2016

Human Rights Watch — Egypt: Scores of Protesters Jailed Unjustly — 25 May 2016

Migrants Aid in Rescue Efforts in Wake of Italian Earthquake

By Sarah Lafen

Impunity Watch Desk Reporter, Europe

ROME, Italy — In the wake of Wednesday’s earthquake in Italy, thousands of migrant refugees currently hoping to gain asylum in Italy flocked to the sites most affected by the quake to aid in rescue efforts.  These refugees hail from multiple countries, including Senegal, Niger, and Burkina Fasso, and arrived in Italy via boats run by human traffickers.   In Calabria, a group of over 70 refugee asylum seekers pooled their daily allowance money of two euros ($2.30) to donate to earthquake survivors.

A volunteer prepares food after the earthquake in Amatrice, Italy (Photo Courtesy of Reuters)

In the Italian town Arquata del Tronto, one West African migrant named Abdullai told reporters that while he was scared of the earthquake at first, he soon realized that the survivors of the quake needed his help as much as possible.  Abdullai and 16 other migrant workers spent a day weeding, cleaning, and preparing an area to be used as an emergency operations center.  Another group of 20 Muslim migrants used gardening tools to prepare the grounds for tents to be set up, and cleared a field for a helicopter landing space.  While taking a break from their physical labor, the migrants all knelt and prayed together.

According to Letizia Bellabarba, a coordinator of a charity that hosts asylum seekers, the refugees came up with the idea to aid in rescue efforts themselves.  Bellabarba says that the refugees “said that Italy welcomed and helped them, and it was now their turn to help Italians.”  Approximately 50 asylum seekers associated with the charity came forward to help, were split up into groups of 15-20 per day, and were given assignments through Italy’s Civil Protection Department.

The outreach and assistance of these asylum seekers does not quash the anti-immigration movement in Europe, however.  Amidst the tragedy surrounding the earthquake, a priest in Boissano, Father Cesare Donati, expressed his anti-immigration stance through a Facebook post saying “it is now time to put the victims into housing and send the migrants to the tents…”  A lumberjack who was left homeless by the earthquake said that while he is grateful for the help of the migrants, he is worried they are using up resources that should be going to the victims of the quake instead.

For more information, please see:

The Huffington Post — The Refugees Who Helped Survivors of Italy’s Earthquake Know What it Means to Suffer — 28 August 2016

NPR — Migrants Help in Relief Effort After Deadly Earthquake in Italy — 28 August 2016

The Huffington Post — Refugees in Italy Donate Money and Help Clean up After Earthquake — 26 August 2016

Reuters — African Migrants go to Italian Quake Zone to Help Survivors — 26 August 2016

United Nations Foreign Aid Workers Gang Raped by South Sudanese Soldiers

By Samantha Netzband 

Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa 

JUBA, South Sudan– Foreign aid workers were gang raped by South Sudanese soldiers in the bathroom of a hotel in Juba.  The attack that happened on July 11th is being called a turning point for foreign aid workers in the country that was considered safe until the attack.  Calls for help were made to a United Nations compound that was nearby, but there was no response.

The Terrain Hotel where the foreign aid workers were hiding before they were attacked.  (Photo Courtesy of NPR)

“The soldiers just came to the bathroom where all the girls were hiding and they just picked us out of the bathroom one by one,” says one women who was at the hotel.  Despite the violence from the civil war this unusual attack has created shock waves in the humanitarian aid community.  Some organizations are evacuating their staff while others are reducing their activities in the area.

The United Nations were not the only one’s who did not show up to save the aid workers.  The trapped aid workers also called the United States Embassy and private security firms.  The reported reason for their failure was the fact that the streets were too dangerous from clashes that were happening outside the hotel.

The aid workers were eventually rescued, but only after 5 of them had been raped for hours.  Many civilians have also reported being raped in South Sudan.  Some of these civilians were raped while under United Nations Peacekeepers watch.  The international attention brought to the gang rape of aid workers may force change that works to prevent the further spread of sexual and gender based violence in South Sudan.  While the gang rapes were happening, over 300 people were killed during 4 days of fighting.

For more information, please see: 

New York Times Live – Shock in South Sudan as foregin aid workers gang raped by soldiers – 24 August 2016

News Deeply – Aid Worker Attacks Expose Ongoing Assault of Women in South Sudan – 24 August 2016 

NPR – Gang Rape of Aid Workers In South Sudan Is A Turning Point – 23 August 2016

The Colombian Government and FARC Reach Peace Deal

By Cintia Garcia

Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

BOGOTA, COLOMBIA—The FARC and the Colombian government announced the end of the longest guerilla war in the Americas on Wednesday August 24 in Havana, Cuba. After four years of negotiations, both parties have reached a deal outlining the timeframe in which the FARC will turn in their arms and reintegrate into society.

The Farc will put down their arms after 52 years of war. (Picture Courtesy of BBC)

The negotiation team released a 297-page document detailing the accords. The deal calls upon the FARC to end their drug trafficking activities. It also calls on the government to develop the rural impoverished communities of Colombia. Additionally, the deal allows FARC to reintegrate into Colombian politics by becoming a left-wing political party that will have the governments protection. The deal gives certain FARC members amnesty, and they will not be able to be indicted for war crimes.   The FARC will also hand in their weapons in a transfer to the UN monitors— though a date for the transfer has not been established.

Although the parties have agreed on the details of the peace accords, the people of Colombia will vote to approve the deal in a referendum that will be held on October 2. President Juan Manuel Santos stated, “It’s in your hands, of all Colombians, to decide with your vote to support this historic accord that puts an end to this long conflict between the children of the same nation.” The FARC will meet in mid-September to ratify the accord.

Hundreds gathered in Bogota to watch the broadcasting of the peace accords and to celebrate the end of a chapter. As President Juan Manuel Santos announced, “Today begins the end of the suffering, the pain and the tragedy of war…Let’s open the door together to a new stage in our history.” The ceasefire will officially commence on Sunday at midnight when both the FARC and the government will announce at the same time a definitive ceasefire.

For the past fifty-two years Colombia has experienced an intrastate conflict that has displaced millions and killed 260,000 victims. FARC was created in the 1960s on Marxist beliefs demanding land and social reform.

 For more information, please see:

New York Times—Colombia and FARC Reach Deal to End the Americas’ Longest War—24 August 2016.

NPR—FARC Rebels, Colombian Government Sign Historic Peace Treaty—25 August 2016.

Colombian Reports—FARC Peace Deal to be Signed in 2nd Half of September, ahead of Vote—26 August 2016.

BBC—Colombia Peace Deal: FARC to Announce Ceasefire on Sunday—27 August 2016.