By Impunity Watch Africa

Charles Taylor’s new defense team will now have until 7 January 2008 to prepare for the former Liberian president’s war crimes trial.   Taylor’s trial began June 4 with prosecution’s opening statements.  Taylor boycotted the trial, sending a letter to the judge firing his attorney’s and claiming he wanted to represent himself.  He later ended his boycott, appearing in court to demand new attorneys and more money for his defense fund.  The court has increased his defense fund and appointed a new defense team headed by Courtney Griffiths of the UK.

Taylor is charged with arming and supporting rebels who murdered thousands of civilians and mutilated thousands more during the 10 year civil war of Sierra Leone, which ended in 2002.  Taylor has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Griffiths argued that the defense team needed more time in order to adequately prepare for his trial. The new defense team was appointed on August 1 and was given access to Taylor’s personal archive last week. Presiding Judge Julia Sebutinde stated that the delay was reasonable “given the complexity of the case with which the new defense team now has to grapple.”   The delay was granted during a status conference, one in a series that will occur over the next few months to evaluate the progress of the prosecution and defense in presenting their case.

Human Rights Watch says that its fair for Taylor to receive a delay, given that the prosecution has had years to gather evidence and prepare its case.   However, human rights organizations and activists are still inpatient for the trial to begin.

For more information, please see:

AllAfrica – War Crimes Trial of Former Leader Postponed by UN-Backed Court – 20 August 2007

BBC – Taylor Trial Delayed Until 2008 – 20 August 2007

Mercury News – Taylor’s Defense Gains More Time – 20 August 2007

VOA – Court Delays Charles Taylor’s War Crimes Trial Until 2008 – 20 August 2007

By Meryl White

Impunity Watch, Africa

In Port Harcourt, Nigeria, a dusk to dawn curfew was imposed on Friday after a violent clash between security forces and gang members left dozens dead. According to a senior military official, the fighting ceased when three boatloads of fighters on the Port Harcout waterways were attacked by a Nigerian helicopter gunship.

Furthermore, top gang lord, Sobomo George, is rumored to have died in the fighting, as he was believed to be in a building that burnt down. Nevertheless, there are contrary reports that top military officials have spoken to George after the clash by telephone. Neither account has been officially verfied.

The curfew imposed will last one week and then it will be reevaluated by government officials. Although there has not been any further reports of security threats or fighting in the Niger Delta, Nigerian troops have entered the hard hit area of Port Harcout.

According to the Chief of Army Staff, Lt General Luka Yusuf, the troops may be deployed in the region for over six months. Yusuf stated that if the governor, acting as chief security officer, “feels that the security situation has improved he will ask for the pulling out of the solders to the barracks.” Concerns that face long deployment are the challenges of training, equipment and mainting welfare of the troops.

For more information, please see:

AllAfrica – Nigeria: PH – Troops May Remain Beyond 6 Months – 21 August 2007

AllAfrica – Curfew Imposed in Rivers – 18 August 2007

CNN – Curfew in Niger Delta After Deadly Battles – 17 August 2007

By Myriam Clerge

Impunity Watch, Africa

The conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea began with a bitter territorial war 1998. In 2000 a peace deal was signed in Algiers, marking an Ethiopia-Eritrea boundary, ceasing the war and not the tension. Since then there has been a continuance barrage of accusations from both nations.

On Wednesday, Ethiopian police release a statement through the state-run Ethiopian News Agency that they had prevented an Eritrea-backed plan to assassinate state officials and carry out bomb attacks. According to the police, the latest police was targeted at the president of Adama University. Several suspects were caught in Addis Ababa.

As Ethiopia investigate the assassination plots, Eritrea lawyers are preparing lawsuits against Ethiopia. During the territorial war, thousands of Eritea citizens living in Ethiopia were arrested, stripped of their possessions and deported to Eritrea. Since then they have not received compensation for the homes, businesses and money they lost. Eritrean lawyers claim that nearly 70,000 share the same story and the claims could exceed $500 million. However, several expellees are concerned that if Ethiopia has not complied with boundary commission, why would they reimburse expelled Eritreans.

As a side note, President of Eritrea Isaias Afwerki discussed relations between the US and his country. According to the President, the U.S. did not support Eritrea during its liberation and independence but instead employed acts of conspiracy. Allegations Zimbabwe President also invokes.

For more information please see:

AllAfrica – Eritrea: U.S. Attempt to Put Into Effect its Strategy of Monopoly and Dominance Leading the World to Dangerous Paths – 20 August 2007

Yahoo – Expelled Eritreans Seek Damages from Ethiopia – 19 August 2007

Yahoo – Ethiopia Blames Eritrea for ‘Assassination’ Plot – 15 August 2007

By Myriam Clerge

Impunity Watch, Africa

Peace seems elusive as key rebel leaders refuse to join peace talks. Common platforms such as power sharing, security, land, humanitarian affairs and compensation has already been discussed and negotiated however uniting rebel groups and appointing a “leader” may be difficult. As many rebel leaders and international envoys meet in Arusha, Tanzania to continue negotiations, the presence of a few rebel leaders remain void.

This past Tuesday, the African Union renewed its invitation to Suleiman Jamous and Abdel Wahid Mohammed Nur. Jamous, a unifying figure of the Sudanese Liberation Army (SLA), has been a key link between Darfur rebels and humanitarian workers. He has been unable to attend the conference due to his failing health. Although, authorities in Khartoum have threatened to arrest him, mediators see him as a crucial member and have informed of negotiations via telephone conference from his hospital bed. On Wednesday, the Sudan government agreed to let Jamous fly to Kenya for further medical treatment.

In the meantime, actress Mia Farrow has offered to take his place during the peace talks. Her offer has not been accepted.

Abdel Wahid, the father of the rebel movement and the first chairman of the SLA, is in exile in Paris. He seat remains empty during the conference, a sign of his influence amongst rebel leaders. Wahid announced that he would only join talk once UN-AU forces have been deployed. The operation is not expected to occur until the middle of 2008.

Darfur rebel say that present AU forces have been unable to stem the violence. Recognizing a lack of support, African nations have pledged 11,000- 12,000 troops. Last month, the UN Security Council authorized up to 19,555 military personnel and 6,432 civilian police. This would be the world’s largest peacekeeping force.

A peace deal was already signed by the Sudanese government in May 2006. However, that agreement failed because only one of the three factions endorsed the deal. In a hurried attempt to secure a deal, the security in Darfur rapidly worsened since the agreement sparked new divisions within rebel factions and surged violence.

The conflict in Sudan began in 2003 when African tribes took arms against Sudan’s Arab-dominated government. Although, two decades of war has existed between the Sudanese government and the Christian and animist rebels in the south, in which 2 million people have dies and nearly 4 million displaced.

For more information please see:

Yahoo – Ailing Sudan Rebel Chief Can Go To Kenya – 15 August 2007

Yahoo – Africans Pledge Darfur Troops – 14 August 2007

Yahoo – African Union Urges Darfur Rebel Group to Join Talks – 14 August 2007

BBC – Darfur Rebel Unity Proves Elusive – 08 August 2007

By Meryl White

Impunity Watch, Africa

According to Nigeria’s National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), 4.4% of Nigerians are infected with HIV. Presently, the Anglican Church in Nigeria has implemented HIV testing in all Anglican dioceses as a prerequisite for marriage. Rev Akintunde Popoola, a spokesman for the Church explained that mandatory marriage is intended to help “couples to make informed decisions because we don’t want anyone to be kept in the dark about their partner.” The practice of HIV testing is also conducted in many Nigerian Christian Churches.

Prof Tunde Oshotimehin, the head of Nigeria’s state HIV control agency, finds the new policy of mandatory HIV testing unacceptable. He stated, “We cannot accept what the church is proposing. Every Nigerian must be allowed to decide on their own whether they want to be tested or not.” Oshotimehin believes that mandatory testing and therapy will just encourage further denial of the deadly disease.

Just recently, Covenant University, a church-owned college in Otta, Ogun State, attempted to implement a policy that forced its graduates to take a HIV and pregnancy test as a condition for graduation. The policy failed due to widespread criticism from the government and human rights organizations. According to Prof. Osotimehin compulsory testing on university students is “a breach of the Fundamental Human Rights of the students.”

For more information, please see:

BBC – HIV Test Before Nigerian Marriage – 17 August 2007

This Day – Nigeria: HIV Test – Naca Faults Covenant Varsity – 08 August 2007

AllAfrica – Nigeria: Covenant University’s HIV Test – 02 August 2007