By Myriam Clerge

Impunity Watch, Africa

Like its neighbors Namibia is threatened by HIV/AIDS and political upheaval. Namibia, a sparsely populated country, has enjoyed relative peace since its independence from Germany in 1990, although secession troubles in the Caprivi Strip have increased.

Last week, ten men were found guilty of treason. The men were accused of going to Angola to collect weapons and using them in the attack in the Caprivi Region. Thousands were forced to flee to Botswana. Twelve people died in the attack. Seven of the accused were sentenced to 32 years and the other three were sentenced to 30 years. The men were ordered out of the courthouse for shouting “Viva Caprivi”.

One hundred and nineteen have been arrested and await trial. Judge John Manyarara said the long sentences for plotting to secede were necessary given “today’s world”.

The BBC Correspondent at the trial raised human rights questions concerning the length of arrest for many of the men. One of the three men sentenced to 30-years, Frederick Ntambilwa, has been in custody for five years. The seven who received 32-year terms have been in custody since December 6, 2003 or December 12, 2003. The same is true for many of the men arrested.

The mastermind of the secession movement has been living in exile in Denmark since 1999.

For more information please see:

AllAfrica – Namibia: Long Jail Terms for ‘Traitors’ – 09 August 2007

BBC – Jail for Namibia’s secessionists – 08 August 2007

BBC – Country profile: Namibia – 15 May 2007

By Impunity Watch Africa

The Special Court for Sierra Leone will consider next week an application by defense lawyers to postpone the trial until January of next year.  The Court announced that the trail will not proceed on August 20 as previously scheduled, but instead a “status conference” will be held to determine the length of delay.  Taylor’s new defense team asked in their motion that the trial be postponed until January 7 to allow “adequate time and facilities for the preparation of [Taylor’s] defense, as required by Article 17 of the Statute of the Special Court of Sierra Leone.”  The prosecution’s response stated that it was ready to begin leading evidence, however it agreed that the defense team’s request for more time was justified.  The duration of the delay is left to the court’s discretion.

Taylor is on trial in The Hague, accused of committing crimes against humanity and war crimes including mutilations, murder, sexual slavery, sexual violence, recruiting children as soldiers, abduction, and forced labor.   Taylor has pleaded not guilty to all of the charges.  In June, Taylor initially boycotted the trial, calling it unfair and without legitimacy. He fired his court-appointed attorney and requested a new one be appointed and that he receive more money for his legal defense fund.  The court has since appointed a new attorney from the UK, and increased his legal fund several times.

The Special Court for Sierra Leone was established with United Nations backing to try those deemed most responsible for crimes against humanity that occurred during the 1991-2002 war.  Taylor’s trial is being held in The Hague due to fears that it could create instability if held in Sierra Leone’s capital, Freetown.  On Saturday, Sierra Leone held its first elections since UN peacekeepers left the country a year ago.

For more information, please see:

Afrol News – Taylor’s attorneys seek adjournment – 14 August 2007

AllAfrica – Taylor Seeks to Postpone Trial Again – 14 August 2007

Washington Post – Trial of Liberia’s Taylor Delayed Again – 13 August 2007

By Meryl White

Impunity Watch, Africa

Severe hunger and flood related damage are a major concern in Iferouane, Northern Niger. International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) spokesperson Marcel Izard stated, “We got a request from the mayor who said they have a humanitarian crisis due to floods and the security situation which has cut the city off.” However, while humanitarian aid groups attempt to provide resources to the struggling, mines placed by anti government fighters have made access to this remote city impossible.

Since February 2007, in Iferouana, the Nigerian army and foreign mining companies have been targeted by a militant group called National Movement for Justice (MNJ). The MNJ are presently campaigning for more autonomy for the ethnic group, Toureg. Furthermore, the MNJ want a percentage of Niger’s oil resources.

Presently, the Niger government is trying to increase security in region by deploying troops and attack helicopters. While, the army and MNJ have provided ICRC security methods and guides to cross the mined areas, the ICRC aid still has not gotten through to the flood damaged areas.

ICRC spokesperson Izard stated “We are not concerned about either the rebels or the army, only the antipersonnel and antitank mines. We have already had security guarantees from both sides but the mines make it very unsafe to go because the floods mean the mines could have shifted, even if we are told exactly where they were laid.

For more information, please see:

AllAfrica – Niger: Despite Security Assurances, Mines Keep Aid Agencies Out of North – 13 August 2007

AllSafeTravels.com – Niger – MNJ Attack Two Towns in North – 10 August 2007

IFRC – The ICRC in Niger – August 2007

By Myriam Clerge

Impunity Watch, Africa

While addressing a crowd in Harare during Zimbabwe’s National Heroes’ Day, President Robert Mugabe used the opportunity to blame Britain for the country’s failing economy. With an inflation rate past 5000 % and unemployment at 80 %, Mugabe accused the former colonial of conspiring with his opposition and undermining the country’s economy.

Mugabe also reiterated his warning to business owners against profiteering by raising prices. Thus far at least 7,500 business managers and shop owners have been arrested. In a desperate move to gain support, Mugabe has reverted to evicting white farmers, a strategy that won him the presidency. The government announced last week that white farmers who resist eviction of land targeted for blacks would be arrested.

Critics blame the violent eviction for the country’s food shortage and poor production. More than 4000 white farmers have lost their land and the remaining has had the size of their land reduced. Furthermore, the government has passed an amendment prohibiting former owners from challenging the eviction.

The Human Rights Forum, founded in 1988 when Mugabe sent troops to crush food riots, has documented 5,307 human rights violations. The violations include 328 cases of torture, 481 assaults by a governmental or military personal, 802 unlawful arrests and detention, and 1,937 violation of freedom of expression.

For more information please see:

Yahoo – Mugabe Rails Against Britian on Zimbabwe’s Heroes’ Day – 13 August 2007

Yahoo – Zimbabwe Rights Violations Rising-Report – 08 August 2007

Yahoo – Zimbabwe Threatens White Farmers on Evictions – 08 August 2007

By Myriam Clerge

Impunity Watch, Africa

The U.S.- based Human Rights Watch (HRW) sent a letter to South African President Thabo Mbeki during the national celebration of Women’s Day, requesting that he take actions to commit to equality of gay and lesbian rights. Despite the fact that South Africa’s constitution is the most progressive anywhere in the world and has legalized same-sex marriage, a climate of violent homophobia exists amongst the people.

Three women were brutally killed in July. Sizakele Sigasa, a 34-year-old, openly gay, and an activist of people living with HIV/AIDS, was found dead in a field in Meadoland, Soweto along with the body of 24-year-old Salome Masooa. Sigasa was shot 6 times and Masooa once.

Later in the same month, in a case unrelated, the naked body of Thokozane Qwabe, age 23, was found in the field of Ladysmith, KwaZulu-natal. Qwabe has multiple head wound. In an earlier case in March, 19-year old Zoliswa Nkonyana was attacked and killed by a mob.

Local police have refused to speculate the murders were related to sexual orientation.

In September of last year, Nobel Peace Prize winner Desmond Tutu warned of South Africa’s “moral failing”. Desmond was referring to South Africa’s high murder rate, corruption, rape and the lack of reverence for life.

This past week, South African opposition parties and AIDS activists condemned President Mbeki for the termination of Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge as deputy health minister. Madlala-Routledge raised global support for her means of tackling the AIDS epidemic in South Africa. The move created speculation and criticism regarding the future South Africa, whose has a death rate of 1,000 from AIDS and related disease. The South African government has been accused of dragging its feet on AIDS drug treatment.

For more information please see:

AllAfrica – South Africa: Lesbians Targeted for Murder – 09 August 2007

BBC – SA Lesbians ‘Targeted for Murder’ – 09 August 2007

Reuters – Mbeki Blasted Over Deputy Health Minister Sacking – 09 August 2007

BBC – S Africa is Losing its Way – Tutu – 27 September 2006