By: Jessica Ties
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

 NAYPYIDAW, Myanmar– Rights groups are calling on authorities in Myanmar to end the poor conditions of fifteen political prisoners who are being held in dog cells and deprived of water.

On October 26 the prisoners began a hunger strike to protest the denial of the same sentence reductions that are offered to criminal prisoners. In Myanmar, criminal prisoners automatically have their sentences reduced by one-third in return for good behavior. Political prisoners, however, are given no opportunity to reduce their sentences.

On October 27, authorities began to retaliate against the prisoners by depriving them of water. This deprivation continued through at least November 2.

Amnesty International has stated that “depriving prisoners of drinking water as a punishment for participating in a hunger strike that could result in the prison authorities being responsible for the rapid death of the hunger strikers due to dehydration.” The statement continued to state that prisoner induced death by dehydration would be a “…violation of the right to life according to international law…”

On November 1 two of the prisoners were sent to the hospital while eight other prisoners were moved into cells designed to contain prison guard dogs. The dog cells measure approximately ten feet in length and seven feet in width. They are sound proof, do not have windows and are generally unsanitary and lacking in a bed or mat on the floor.

Reportedly, the prisoners have also been denied food, letters from their families, medication and visits.

The joint-secretary of the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners Burma, Bo Kyi, believes that approximately 1,600 political prisoners remain imprisoned in Myanmar. He also stated that “[t]he Burmese prison authorities usually crack down brutally on striking prisoners, so we are worried for their lives.”

There have been reports that the Myanmar government is planning to release approximately 600 political prisoners next week as part of a new amnesty program by President Thein Sein’s new civilian government. The new releases would add to the several hundred political prisoners released less than a month ago.

According to the Myanmar government, there are only 600 political prisoners remaining in custody meaning that the expected release next week will free the remaining political prisoners. Amnesty International, however, insists that there are still approximately 2,000 political prisoners in jail.

Although the list of those to be released has been submitted to the National Defense and Security Council by the Myanmar president, it is unknown whether the hunger strikers are among those slated to be released.

For more information, please see:

The Irrawaddy – Families Fear for Hunger Strikers – 5 November 2011

Amnesty International – Myanmar Political Prisoners Held in Dog Cells and Denied Water – 4 November 2011

Radio Free Asia – New Political Prisoner Release ‘Likely’ – 4 November 2011

Reuters – Myanmar Prisoners on Hunger Strike Denied Drinking Water – 4 November 2011

By: Jessica Ties
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

 BEIJING, China – Rights groups are protesting the decision of Relativity Media to film a portion of its film “21 and Over” in the Chinese city of Linyi. The city has drawn criticism for its harsh treatment of an activist who has been kept under house arrest and subjected to beatings by government authorities.

Activist and lawyer Chen Guangcheng has been under house arrest since September 2010 after he completed a 51 month prison sentence for his involvement in a class action against brutal enforcement  of China’s “one child only” policy. Officials were being accused of forcing Linyi women to undergo abortions or sterilization in the interest of controlling the population.

Following his initial house arrest in 2005, Mr. Chen was then sentenced to serve four years in prison. After being released from prison, he was placed under house arrest along with his wife and young daughter while his school-aged son went to live with relatives. The house arrest sentence includes constant surveillance of his activities as well as the activities of his relatives.

In addition, Chen and his wife are beaten if they manage to make contact with the outside world or at the whim of government authorities.

Following his house arrest, authorities in Linyi have turned Chen’s village into a “hostile, no-go zone” in which activists, diplomats and reporters have been turned away and physically assaulted.  As recently as last week a group of unidentified men attacked visitors to Linyi as they tried to go to Chen’s home

Despite backlash from rights groups, Relativity Media asserts that it is proud of its partnership with China but admits that it was unaware of the political situation occurring in Linyi.

The company released a statement claiming that “[f]rom it’s founding, Relativity Media has been a consistent and outspoken supporter of human rights and we would never knowingly do anything to undermine this commitment. We stand by that commitment and we are proud of our growing business relationships in China… As a company, we believe deeply that expanding trade and business ties with our counterparts in China and elsewhere can result in positive outcomes.

Others, however, feel that the arrangement is a direct indicator of the company’s lack of concern for human rights. One example is Nicholas Becquelin, the senior researcher for Human Rights Watch Asia division, who stated that “…signing a deal with a person who is directly responsible for one of the most egregious and cruel abuses of a human rights defender in China is really beyond the pale.”

Criticism was also drawn from a press release by Relativity which quoted the party secretary of Linyi as praising “his good friend” Ryan Kavanaugh, who is the CEO of Relativity. In addition, the press release states that the studio was “…very much looking forward to shooting in china, especially in a place as amazing as Linyi.”

In direct response to the characterization of Linyi as an amazing place, China director for Human Rights Watch stated that Linyi is only amazing because of the , “amazing abuses Linyi officials have heap on one of China’s best known legal rights activists and his family…It’s almost equally amazing that Relativity was unaware of Linyi’s notoriety.”

Groups, such the Women’s Rights Without Frontiers, are calling for the worldwide boycott of “21 and Over” as a result of the partnership with china.

Relativity has produced or co-financed over 20 movies including “Bridesmaids”, “Limitless” and “The Social Network”.

For more information, please see:

Radio Free Asia – Call for Movie Boycott – 2 November 2011

The Washington Post – Hollywood Stirs Outrage With Comedy Filmed in Notorious Chinese City – 1 November 2011

The New York Times – Activists Denounce Film Deal in China – 31 October 2011

Huffington Post – Relativity Slammed for Linyi, China Shoot for ’21 And Over’ Film – 30 October 2011

Reuters – Human Rights Groups Rebuke Relativity Over Chinese Co-Production – 30 October 2011

By Greg Donaldson
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia 

JAYAPURA, Indonesia – On October 19, 2011, approximately 1,000 Papuans gathered for a peaceful pro-independence rally in the Papua provincial capital. However, the demonstration turned violent as Indonesian police and the army arrived and fired warning shots to disperse those in attendance.

Witnesses explained that people either began running or immediately surrendered by putting their hands up. Approximately 300 people were arrested. Upon arrest detainees were ordered to take their clothes off and stood in their underwear while police reportedly beat them with pistols, canes and batons.

The army and police pursued those who ran into the nearby wooded area and made several more arrests. It has been confirmed that at least three people died during the crackdown while the Australian Broadcasting Company reports that six people died during the incident. Of the three confirmed dead, witnesses established two of them were shot by the army or police.

Daniel Kadepa, a twenty-five year old law student was shot in the head as he ran away from soldiers. Yakobus Samansabra had bullet wounds to his torso reportedly in the back. The Indonesian Government denies the deaths took place near the rally and were caused by bullets. Instead the government claims the injuries and deaths were caused by a sharp object.

Everyone who was arrested at the event has been released with the exception of six individuals. Five of those individuals are charged with treason and one is charged with possession of a sharp weapon.

Human Rights Watch has called on President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono for the “immediate establishment of an independent investigation into the deaths of the protestors and the ongoing violence in Papua.”

John Baransano, a Protestant minister in Jayapura who was present at the rally, cries for international help. “I call on the churches around the world to care about this. I’m calling for an intervention for us because today’s events show that we need a transitional government and this needs to happen to help the people of Papua,” he said. “We are now in a dangerous situation and we’re calling for a UN intervention to help us.”

The government appears prepared to resolve its differences with the Papuans. On Thursday President Yudhoyono told cabinet members “we have tried to solve the problem using a security approach, but that did not work. Now we will focus on the prosperity of our brothers and sisters.”

Many believe a dialogue between the two parties is essential to ending violence in the region.

For more information, please see:

Jakarta Globe – Activists Call for Dialogue on Papua’s Future – 30 October 2011

Australia Broadcasting Company — Video Shows Aftermath of Papua Crackdown — 28 October 2011

Human Rights Watch – Indonesia: Independent Investigation Needed Into Papa Violence – 28 October 2011

Jakarta Post – Govt ‘Not to Use Force’ to End Violence – 28 October 2011

By: Jessica Ties
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

 NAYPYIDAW, Myanmar – Burmese authorities have detained and charged up to seven individuals, including a Burmese rights lawyer, following a peaceful demonstration opposing the confiscation of farm land.

The detainees were arrested following a staged sit-in that occurred in front of the government housing department in Yangon and were charged with unlawful assembly and refusing to comply with a police order to disperse. These charges carry a potential sentence of six to twelve months in prison for those charged.

The detained rights attorney, Pho Phyu, was taken by police to an unknown location where the vice police chief allegedly engaged in negotiations with him. Pho Phyu has been an advocate in the campaign for farmer’s rights and has used his legal expertise to help farmers petition the government to prevent their land from being seized from them by with little or no compensation in return.

Pho Phyu explained the reason for the protest when he stated, “we have approached parliament for help but nothing happened, so we decided to take to the street.” He also explained that, “at first, they promised that joint-venture farming would be carried out between the farmers and private businessmen on these lands but nothing happened.”

In addition to dispersing the crowd of approximately 100 individuals, the police also confiscated the group’s signs and banners.

The protesters alleged that government authorities have seized about 10,000 acres of land and did not adequately compensate the owners in return. This figure was confirmed by the deputy agriculture minister who has testified that several thousand acres of farmland have been confiscated for urban development and mechanized farming. In return for the land, the government’s housing department paid the farmers only 20,000 kyat, or twenty-six American dollars, per acre.

Approximately half of the workforce in Myanmar is employed in the agriculture sector but farmers do not generally have the money or legal resources to challenge the evictions compelling them to accept the offers made by the government.

Protests in Myanmar during the reign of the military government were rare and brutally suppressed by the military.

The land grab protests, however, come shortly after the government’s promise of democratic reforms following the acquisition of power by an elected government. The government’s reaction to the protest has been seen as a test of the new government’s commitment to reform. The lack of violence used in dispersing the protesters was seen by some as a positive sign of the government’s commitment to reform.

 

For more information, please see:

ABC News – Myanmar Police Charge Seven for Staging Land Protest – 28 October 2011

BD News – Farmers in Rare Myanmar Protest – 27 October 2011

Radio Free Asia – Police Breakup Rare Protest – 27 October 2011

Reuters – Myanmar Police Shut Down Rare Protest – 27 October 2011

By: Jessica Ties
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

HOHHOT, Inner Mongolia – Chinese authorities are being accused of attempting to cover up the killing of an Ethnic Mongolian herdsmen who was struck by an oil truck while protesting the destruction of grazing land in the Uushin Banner district of Inner Mongolia.

Zorigt, was one of several local Inner Mongolian herders involved in protests attempting to prevent the destruction of their land by “… unregulated Chinese oil and gas transport trucks that drive roughshod through their grazing lands and kill livestock.”

Conflicts between herders trying to protect their grazing land and the Shuurhei Oil-Gas Field transporters have resulted in numerous beatings that have caused several herdsmen, including Zorigt, to be hospitalized.

The Southern Mongolian Human Rights Information Center (SMHRIC) has claimed that the Chinese government is attempting to “…prevent possible unrest by the Mongolians…” and that they had “…preemptively reported on the event, calling it a ‘traffic accident.’” This report, however, has since been removed from other Chinese language internet news sites.

The government’s fear of protests stems from demonstrations that occurred after a similar incident last May. On May 10 another herdsman, Murgen, was run down by the driver of a coal truck as he tried to prevent him from driving over the pasture.

The May killing catalyzed mass demonstrations that were fueled not only by the herdsman’s death, but also by Inner Mongolian anger at the exploitation of natural resources and the apparent erosion of Inner Mongolian self-rule by Han Chinese settlers and developers.

The protests resulted in a government crackdown and the execution of the man convicted of killing Murgen with his truck.

Given the lingering anger of many Inner Mongolians, the Chinese government allegedly hopes to avoid a repeat of the May protests by claiming that the death was caused by Zorigt’s own recklessness in attempting to pass a truck on his motorcycle and was not another intentional killing by a truck driver.

According to the SMHRIC, the government has combated the accusations by posting messages in internet chat rooms to encourage people to disregard the rumors that the death was intentional. One message states, “[s]ome people who have hidden intentions are interpreting it as an ethnic problem or a conflict with the oil and natural gas development.”

Ethnic Mongolians claim that mining and desertification, defined as land degradation that is often caused by human activity, have ruined their grazing lands and that the Han Chinese majority has been the main beneficiaries of the resulting economic development.

 

For more information, please see:

BBC – Truck Kills Herder in Inner Mongolia China – 24 October 2011

China Digital Times – Truck Kills Protesting Herder in Inner Mongolia – 24 October 2011

Radio Free Asia – Group Charges Cover-Up – 24 October 2011

Reuters – Truck Kills Herder in China Inner Mongolia Protest: Group – 24 October 2011

Straits Times – Truck Driver Kills Ethnic Mongol Herder in China Land Dispute – 24 October 2011