By Eric C. Sigmund
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa
N’DJAMENA, Chad — The United Nations Security Counsel on Tuesday authorized the gradual withdrawal of U.N. peacekeepers in Chad and the Central African Republic.
The pullout comes at a time when hundreds of thousands of Sudanese refugees have flooded the two nations as a result of the war in Darfur. Despite a number of successful nation building endeavors, the U.N. will withdrawal the 3,300 troops stationed in Chad and the Central African Republic by the end of the year.
Although the peacekeepers have played a significant role in protecting civilians and refugees, Idriss Déby, President of Chad, has consistently criticized the United Nations’ role in the country. Despite protest from a number of diplomats and international organizations, the United Nations contends that it has no authority to maintain a presence in a country without its permission.
The unanimous decision was supported by Secretary-General Ban-Ki Moon who recommended the withdrawal in a report earlier this week. Mr. Moon contends that the decision will make the governments of Chad and Central African Republic responsible for the protection of its citizens and will facilitate development. Critics of the decision however, embrace a more pessimistic view. Representatives for Amnesty International stated that the decision is “premature and dangerous” as the region remains volatile and susceptible to violent unrest.
The safety and wellbeing of the 450,000 refugees currently living in Chad is just one concern of critics. The U.N. office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports that nearly two million people are dealing with food shortages as a result of drought in the region. Others worry that the withdrawal will create a power vacuum, opening the unstable countries to bandits and rebels.
Despite the troop withdrawal, the U.N. has vowed to continue to support the development of Chad and the Central African Republic by contributing humanitarian aid and political support. During the remaining months, the peacekeepers will continue to secure the resettlement of Sudanese refugees and elevate tensions.
For more information, please see:
Associated Press –UN Agrees to Pull UN Peacekeeping Force from Chad – 25 May 2010
U.N. News Centre –Security Council Votes to End U.N. Mission in Chad and Central African Republic – 25 May 2010
Independent Online – Holmes Examines Food Security in Chad – 24 May 2010
Charles Taylor Trial Update: Change in Venue
By Sovereign Hager
Managing Editor, Impunity Watch
THE HAGUE, Netherlands-The trial of Charles Taylor for war crimes, is being moved from an International Criminal Court (ICC) courtroom to the venue of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL). The move to the STL, also located in The Hague, was due to “increasing scheduling difficulties with ICC trials,” according to a statement by the Special Court for Sierra Leone.
The arrangement places all costs on the Special Court, as Mr. Taylor’s trial is still being conducted by thee Special Court. The trial was moved from Sierra Leone to the Netherlands in 2006 after fears that his presence was destabilizing to the region. He has been on trial since 2008 for crimes related to the ten year civil war in Sierra Leone.
The ICC, the word’s only independent, permanent tribunal for the crimes of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity, has three trials running simultaneously. The STN was established by the UN in 2007 to try suspected killers of former Lebanese prime minister Rafiq Hariri.
Bina Mansaray, Registrar of the Special Court said, “We appreciate the ICC’s cooperation and support for the use of their facilities over the past three years . . . the scheduling challenges are a sing of the ICC’s progress in implementing their own mandate. We wish them success in their work.”
For more information, please see:
AFP-Trial of Liberia’s Taylor Moved to New Court-14 May 2010
The Canadian Press-Charles Taylor’s War Crimes Trial Shifts Venue from One International Court to Another-16 May 2010
Sierra Express Media-Special Court, Taylor Trial Update-13 May 2010
Latest Darfur Clashes Bring Heightened Insecurity and Humanitarian Concerns
By Jared Kleinman
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa
KHARTOUM, Sudan— The joint African Union-United Nations mission in Darfur has urged the Government and one of the leading insurgent groups in the western Sudanese region to stop fighting in response to the recent eruption of clashes between the two sides despite a peace process intended to end the conflict.
The latest fighting between Government troops and forces of the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) resulted in an unknown number of casualties and displaced people, the mission (known as UNAMID) reported.
The recent clashes have led to displacements in eastern Jebel Marra in South Darfur and North Darfur states, and in western Jebel Marra and the Jebel Moon region in West Darfur state, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in an update on 2 March, stressing that accurate information from the ground was very scarce because of lack of access.
OCHA spokesman Sam Hendricks said media reports about the number of casualties in the recent fighting were unreliable. “There is no way to find about casualties. There is no access to areas affected by the fighting,” he said.
The insecurity caused by these clashes has also prompted humanitarian agencies to suspend activities in some areas.
The rebel Sudan Liberation Army, Abdel Wahid Nour faction (SLA-Nour), which refuses to join peace talks with the Sudanese government until a full cessation of hostilities is implemented, has accused government forces of attacking its positions east of Jebel Marra.
“There were random air attacks on villages,” Al-Sadeq Al-Zein Rokero, an official with SLM-Nour faction, said. “The situation is very tragic. This may be the most violent attack by the Sudanese armed forces.”
Sudan’s army spokesman, Al Sawarmi Khaled, denies that there has been any government military action. “The armed forces are present in the area to preserve order. They did not clash with Abdel Wahid’s forces.”
The US State Department cast doubt on this denial in a statement expressing extreme concern “about reports that Government of Sudan forces are conducting offensive operations against … [SLA-Nour] positions in the Jebel Marra area of Darfur that have reportedly caused significant civilian casualties, displacement, and the evacuation of humanitarian organizations”.
The statement called on both parties “to refrain from further violence and to allow the Joint African Union-UN Mission in Darfur access to Jebel Marra to assess the humanitarian situation and restore stability”.
Estimates indicate that the conflict has resulted in the deaths of some 300,000 people. At least 4.7 million residents of Darfur have been have been affected by the conflict, with a majority of them living as internally displaced persons (IDPs) or as refugees in neighbouring Chad.
For more information, please see:
AFP – Sudan Tribal Clash ‘leaves 26 dead’ – 6 May 2010
UN News – UN Urges Calm in Darfur as Fresh Clashes Erupt Despite Peace Process – 4 May 2010
IRIN – No Access After Darfur Clashes – 3 March 2010
Somali Pirates Hijack Yemeni Cargo Ship
By Ahmad Shihadah
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East
ADEN, Yemen – Somali pirates have seized a cargo vessel off the coast of Yemen, and are believed to be holding the crew of nine Yemeni sailors, Yemen’s Defense Ministry website said Tuesday.
Citing sources at the Interior Ministry, the website said the pirates took over the ship after it sailed from Mukalla port en route to Aden. It was carrying various products and a crew of 9 Yemeni sailors was onboard. Meanwhile, the sources said that information had surfaced that the ship was seen at Somali Qarta’a port.
“The ship with the license registration name of Al-Asa’a carrying various merchandise along with nine Yemeni sailors on board has been moved by pirates to Karta area in the northern coast of Somalia,” the report added.
The Gulf of Aden, off the northern coast of Somalia, has the highest risk of piracy in the world. Every year about 25,000 ships use the channel south of Yemen between the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea.
For more information, please see:
Reuters – Somali Pirates Hijack Yemeni Cargo Ship – 4 May 2010
Saba Net – Somali Pirates Seize Yemeni Ship – 4 May 2010
People’s Daily Online – Yemeni-Owned Commercial Ship Hijacked By Somali Pirates – 4 May 2010
Egypt Convicts 26 In Terror Plot
By Ahmad Shihadah
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East
CAIRO, Egypt – An Egyptian court on Wednesday convicted 26 men of belonging to a Hezbollah cell that was charged with planning to attack Israeli tourists in the Sinai Peninsula, fire on ships passing through the Suez Canal and smuggle weapons, supplies and people through tunnels to the Gaza Strip.
The men’s sentences ranged from life in prison to six months in jail. Prosecutors had asked for the death penalty for several defendants, including Muhammad Youssef Mansour, also known as Sami Shehab, who had been sent by Hezbollah to set up the cell in Egypt.
The prisoners maintained their innocence throughout the trial, saying they were just trying to help Hamas, the Hezbollah ally in the Palestinian Gaza Strip, across the Egyptian border.
But prosecutors argued successfully that the men had spied on ships in the Suez Canal and on tourist sites, with the aim of launching strikes against them. Those convicted include Egyptian, Palestinian, Lebanese and Sudanese citizens. Four were tried in absentia and remain at large.
“The verdict proves only that the case is politically motivated,” defence lawyer Abdul-Monem Abdel-Maqsud told al-Jazeera TV. “It only serves the Zionist entity which has welcomed the trial as it diverts attention away from calls to try their Gaza war criminals.”
The controversial case illuminated one of the Middle East’s great divides: between US-backed Egypt, with its peace treaty with Israel – and Hezbollah, which is supported by Syria and Iran. Hezbollah has sought to play it down since the trial began last summer but maintains that its only interest was backing Palestinian resistance to the Jewish state.
No appeal against the sentences is possible but there is already speculation in Cairo about possible presidential pardons as the Egyptian leader, Hosni Mubarak, seeks to improve his long-strained relations with his Syrian counterpart, Bashar al-Assad.
Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah’s secretary-general, described the charges as revenge for the organisation’s denunciation of Egypt’s support for the Israeli blockade of Gaza. In December 2008, as Israel carried out its offensive in the Gaza Strip, Nasrallah accused Mubarak of “taking part in the crime” of Israel’s onslaught an called for the overthrow of his regime.
For more information, please see:
Guardian – Egypt Sentences 26 For Plotting Hezbollah Terrorist Campaign – 28 April 2010
VOA – Egypt Convicts 26 Men On Terror Charges – 28 April 2010
The New York Times – 26 In Egypt Are Convicted In Terror Plot – 28 April 2010