By Greg Donaldson
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia 

SEOUL, South Korea – After a five day visit to North Korea United Nations’ humanitarian aid chief Valerie Amos declared the country to be in dire need of help to fight malnutrition. She continued “six million North Koreans urgently need food aid but the outside world is not giving enough.”

During her trip Ms. Amos said she was allowed to visit all of her requested locations without any restrictions. These locations included a public market, a government food distribution center, two orphanages, two hospitals, and a communal farm.

Ms. Amos found that most people were surviving on corn and cabbage. A few groups of people had access to small amounts of rice. Ms. Amos explained that children are most affected by the food crisis and one out of every two children is malnourished.

David Austin, the North Korea program director for the U.S. based relief group Mercy Corps explained that children are dying because they are eating alternative foods such as corn mixed with roots or leaves. He further explained that this kind of diet, along with the failure to find clean water to drink, has rendered many North Koreas unable to fight simple sicknesses such as the common cold.

Mr. Austin had the opportunity to interview several North Koreans during his time in the country. What he found was families spent all of their household income on food and “every single person knew the exact date of when they last had protein.”

Many critics have pointed fingers at the United States and South Korea for their recent lack of aid to North Korea. Some feel as though the United States is holding back its aid as leverage against North Korea in nuclear talks going on this week in Geneva.

While speaking with reporters Ms. Amos urged the world to not politicize the situation. “You do not judge people on the basis of the political environment in which they are living” she said following her visit.

While North Korea has taken unprecedented actions such as allowing journalists into the country to report the food situation to the world, Ms. Amos understands the world’s skepticism. She explained that she instructed the North Korean authorities about the importance of data collecting regarding the food situation.

In April the U.N. requested 218 million dollars in humanitarian aid for North Korea. Approximately, one-third of that amount has been contributed with the primary donors being the European Union and Russia.

For more information, please see:

Herald Sun — ‘Terrible’ Malnutrition in North Korea – UN – 24 October 2011

Korean Herald — U.N. Says Aid to N.K. Should be Separate from Politics — 24 October 2011

New York Times — Head of U.N. Humanitarian Aid Paints Dire Scene in North Korea — 24 October 2011

Reuters — North Korea food aid should not be politicized – U.N. official – 24 October 2011

Voice of America — UN Calls for Increased Funding to Feed North Korea’s Hungry — 24 October 2011

By: Jessica Ties
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

NAYPYIDAW, Burma – Burma’s military has been accused of killing, attacking and exploiting Kachin civilians since hostilities between the Burmese military and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) began five months ago.

Abuses by Burmese soldiers have caused an estimated 30,000 Kachin civilians to become displaced after being forced to flee their homes in fear of the army.

One farmer described his ordeal by explaining that they “…were afraid to live in the village so we went to hide in the jungle…we lived there for one month…” Another villager reported that Burmese soldiers are now living in the homes of those who were forced to flee after their village was invaded by the army.

Among the abuses causing citizens to flee their homes is the unnecessary killing of civilians.  In one case, Burmese soldiers entered Hang Htak village in search of KIA members and killed a fifty-two year old woman and her four year old grandson in their home as they tried to leave. There have also been reports of military forces entering villages and aimlessly firing their weapons at civilians.

Other civilians stated that they were held and aggressively interrogated by Burmese soldiers who threatened to kill them. One villager stated, “I was very afraid when they [soldiers] came and asked questions. I was afraid they would kill us.”

Some civilians have also reported being raped or witnessing a rape by soldiers. According to the September 2011 report to the United Nations by the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Burma, at least eighteen women and young girls have been “gang- raped” by the Burmese military and at least four of those victims were killed.

Those who survive encounters with the army have often reported being forced to work for the military without compensation. One woman reported that the army forced her to carry provisions up a steep two mile road despite the fact that she was six months pregnant. She stated that they were forced to make the strenuous three hour trek twice a day and were forced to eat their own food because they were not fed by the army.

Violence by the Burmese army has caused many Kachin civilians to attempt to flee into China. In response, the Chinese government has deployed 2,000 troops to the border to prevent refugees from entering the country and has also prevented the transfer of food and medical supplies to areas where over  20, 000 displaced Kachin are taking shelter.

Fighting between the Burmese army and the KIA erupted on June 9^th after a seventeen year ceasefire between the ethnic Kachin and the Burmese government forces. The KIA has stated that they will not stop fighting until Burma agrees to allow the ethnic group full political power and other rights.

For more information, please see:

Chinland Guardian – Churces Attacked, Women Raped and Civilians Killed in Kachin State – 22 October 2011

Radio Free Asia – Renewed Clashes Near Chinese Border – 20 October 2011

Asian Correspondent – Burma’s Civil War: Who is Really Pulling the Strings? – 19 October 2011

Human Rights Watch – Burma: Army Committing Abuses in Kachin State – 18 October 2011

By Greg Donaldson
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia 

NEW DEHLI, India – Chief Minister Omar Abdullah announced on Friday that the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) will be removed in some of the areas of Jammu and Kashmir in the following days.

Abdullah explained that many of the areas in the state have become peaceful enough to permit the change. The law has been despised for years and has been the subject of much protest.

The AFSPA was enacted in 1958 as an emergency measure to protect the country from a small rebellion in the northeast part of the country. Since the AFSPA’s enactment many have called for its repel claiming it results in the military committing major human rights violations.

After a woman died in military custody in 2004, a violent protest broke out demanding the AFSPA be revoked. The Prime Minister set up a judicial committee to review the law but no change was made to it even though the committee recommended the AFSPA be exchanged for a more “humane law.”

The AFSPA grants the military the ability to shoot to kill in law enforcement situations, to arrest without a warrant, and to detain people without time limits.

Security officers cannot be prosecuted without special approval from the central government. Even in cases of alleged rape or murder it is rare for governmental approval to be given to prosecute an officer.

Critics of the law claim that this blanket authority given to the military has resulted in torture and poor treatment to citizens throughout the country. This summer thousands of unidentified bodies were discovered in mass graves in Jammu and Kashmir lending support to critic’s claims.

The Khaleej Times quotes an “official” who explained that as AFSPA is removed from part of the state (Jammu and Kashmir) the practice will be gradually continued to other parts of the country, pending the security situation.

While most of the country is thrilled at the prospect of the AFSPA being phased out, the Army and the Defense Ministry are not. Military officials have already declared that the areas the minister has assigned as “peaceful” could be reclassified as “disturbed” if violence occurs which would led to the revival of the AFSPA in those areas.

The Military claims that terrorist threats still exist in those regions, however, defense ministry officials have declared the decision of Chief Minister Abdullah will be respected and followed.

For more information, please see:

Khaleej Times – Anti-Terror Laws to be Relaxed in J&K: Omar – 22 October 2011

Times of India – Army Still Opposed to Withdrawal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act from J&K – 22 October 2011

New York Times – Kashmir to Lift Reviled Security Law – 21 October 2011

Human Rights Watch – India: Repeal Armed Forces Special Powers Act – 19 October 2011

By: Jessica Ties
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

 MANILA, Philippines –The Philippine army is facing allegations that they have been falsely claiming that children taken into custody are rebel “child warriors” of the rebel New People’s Army.

According to Elaine Pearson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch, “[t]he army is concocting stories of rebel child soldiers that are putting children at risk for propaganda purposes.”

Since June 2010, according to Human Rights Watch, there have been at least six cases involving twelve children in which the children were not only taken into custody but also publicly exposed to the media as captured rebel combatants. This public exposure is not only a violation of Philippine law, but is also a violation of international law which prohibits the exposure of captured combatants to the public and the media.

In one case, three young boys were detained by soldiers while doing chores and then publicly declared to be rebel child soldiers. One of the children illustrated his experience by stating, “[t]he soldiers shook me…they were trying to force me to admit we had planted a bomb…they tied my hands together…I was afraid.”

One of the other boys stated that the soldiers pushed him to the ground and told him that they would kill his father if he did not give them the names of other rebels.

In some cases, the children were detained by the army for days or weeks before being surrendered to the Department of Social Welfare and Development as required by Philippine law.

In July, a fourteen year old boy and his younger sister were taken into custody while on vacation in Northern Samar. The children were then publicly declared rebels and the younger child was kept in the army camp for three weeks. While detained, she was forced to do laundry and other chores before being released to the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

The social welfare and development officer found no evidence to support claims that the children were recruited by the rebel and reported that this conclusion can be supported by school records.

Often, children and their families have reported experiencing continued harassment and intimidation by the Philippine army following their release. One mother reported that the continued harassment forced her to relocate her children after members of the army came to her home and asked her to take her children to the military camp to sign “unspecified papers.”

The armed forces public affairs office chief, Col. Arnulfo Burgos, has combated the allegations by stating that falsifying information has never been accepted or tolerated and if “…soldiers are ground to be falsifying documents or fabricating evidences, we will not hesitate to punish them.”

Despite the assurance of Burgos, Elaine Pearson has warned that “[t]he use of child soldiers in the Philippines is a matter of grave concern that the government should be taking seriously.”

The battle between the government and the rebels has been ongoing since the Communist Party of the Philippines began a campaign to seize power in 1969. The conflict has claimed the lives of countless civilians who were caught in the crossfire or fell victim to atrocities.

For more information, please see:

ABS-CBN News – AFP Denies Lying About NPA ‘Child Warriors’ – 12 October 2011

Arab News – Philippine Army Falsely Tags Children as Rebels: HRW – 12 October 2011

Philippine Daily Inquirer – Rights Group Accuses Army of Fabricating Stories on Child Warriors – 12 October 2011

Human Rights Watch – Philippines: Army Falsely Tags Children as Rebels – 11 October 2011

Reuters – Philippine Rebels Must Stop Targeting Civilians – Rights Group – 5 October 2011

By Greg Donaldson
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

BEIJING, China – A year after becoming the first Chinese citizen to win the Nobel Peace Prize, Liu Xiaobo still finds himself incarcerated. Prior to being awarded the peace prize, Mr. Liu was arrested and sentenced to eleven years in prison for his work which demanded political and legal reform in China.

One year later human rights groups are again calling for Mr. Liu’s release. Several organizations have reported that Xiaobo has only been allowed to leave prison once and that was to attend his father’s funeral.

In addition to Mr. Liu’s imprisonment, his wife Liu Xia has been placed under house arrest at the couple’s home in Beijing even though she has not been charged with any crime. When Mr. Liu was awarded the peace prize last year reporters attempted to speak with Ms. Liu at her apartment but were denied by government security guards.

Amnesty International reports that Ms. Liu has had very limited contact with people outside of her apartment since February and in an online chat with a friend explained that she felt miserable and her entire family is being held hostage.

Conflicting reports exist about the visitations Mr. Liu has received while being detained. Amnesty International stated that Mr. Liu has been able to meet with his wife twice since January according to unofficial reports. However, other sources explain that Mr. Liu was not given any visitation rights until last month after he was visited by his brothers.

Monthly visits to imprisoned family members are protected by Chinese law.

Human rights groups are appealing for international support to release Mr. Liu. In a telephone interview with the New York Times, Nicholas Bequelin, a researcher for Human Rights Watch explained “The only thing that would force the government to reassess the decision is if there was some strong international pressure on China in this case, but the pressure is not there.”

He continued “There’s no incentive for the government to revisit this decision. We’re talking about a climate where standing defiantly against the West is reaping more political awards than collaborating.”

Others outside of the Liu family have been affected by Mr. Liu’s winning of the peace prize including the country of Norway. Prior to awarding the peace prize, the Chinese embassy in Oslo warned that diplomatic ties between China and Norway would suffer if the Nobel Peace prize was handed to “a criminal.”

Following the awarding of the peace prize China imposed additional import controls on Norwegian salmon. These controls have reportedly led to a sixty-one percent decrease in salmon sales to China and thousands of salmon rotting in Chinese warehouses.

For more information, please see:

New York Times – 3 Human Rights Groups Call for Release of Imprisoned Chinese Nobel Laureate – 7 October 2011

Asia One News — One Year After Nobel, Silence Shrouds China Dissident — 6 October 2011

The Independent – Norway’s Salmon Rot as China Takes Revenge for Dissident’s Nobel Prize – 6 October 2011

Radio Free Asia – Nobel Laureate Granted Family Visits – 4 October 2011