By: Jessica Ties
Impunity Watch, Asia

BEIJING, China – In February China launched a campaign against dissent that has resulted in the detention of those criticizing the Chinese government without giving the accused a trial.

Chinese blogger Fang Hong was detained on April 24 and sentenced to serve one year in a Chongqing re-education labor camp for using a blog to mock the chief of Chongqing’s Communist party, Bo Xilai, despite his removal of the blog post following the orders of web censors.

Hong’s blog arose from Chongqing’s prosecution of a lawyer, Mr. Li, who defended a man being prosecuted for perjury. Mr. Li was himself charged after his former client testified that he had encouraged him to make false torture allegations. However, many believe that Mr. Li was framed by the government for opposing the campaign of Bo Xilai. Mr. Li was convicted and sentenced to two and a half years in prison.

The April 21 blog, which was posted to the Chinese social network Tencent, accused Bo Xilai of having excessive influence over Chongqing’s court system by comparing the case made against Mr. Li to excrement that Bo Xilai had delivered to Mr. Li who then returned it to Bo Xilai. The post then used Bo Xilai’s name in a sexual pun.

According to Fang Hong’s son, Fang Di, government discomfort with the blog post began to manifest when his father was told to go to the police station, his home was placed under surveillance and his electricity and gas were turned off.  A post on a human rights website states that Fang Di vanished Tuesday after he had notified his lawyer that he was at the public security police office.

Over the past year, Bo Xilai has become known for promoting a campaign to revive Maoism by reviving Mao-era songs and instigating a violent crackdown on corruption which has been opposed by many who believe such a revival to be dangerous. Last month, following the detention of Fang Hong, China set up a command center dedicated to controlling the information that can be found on the internet which has left many fearful that internet regulation will soon become even more severe.

Rights lawyer Ma Gangquan stated in an interview that “Education through labor itself is illegal because the practice has already been annulled by law. But currently, the punishment is still used by police…”

For more information, please see:

New York Times – Scatological Mockery of Chinese Official Brings Swift Penalty – 8 June 2011

Bloomberg – Chinese Blogger Jailed for a Year After Writing About Party Chief, FT Says – 7 June 2011

Financial Times – Dissent Lands Chinese Blogger in Labour Camp – 7 June 2011

Radio Free Asia – Netizen ‘Re-educated’ for Online Rant – 6 June 2011

By Greg Donaldson
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

NEW DELHI, India – Indian police halted a hunger strike late Saturday evening in the capital city. The protest, led by yoga guru Swami Ramdev, only lasted fourteen hours as police moved in to break up the protest just after midnight. Police officers forcibly removed Ramdev and thousands of his supporters by firing tear gas shells. It is estimated that anywhere between thirty and seventy people were injured during the raid.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The following day Ramdev appeared on national television stating that “the government wants to kill me.” Ramdev pledged to continue his hunger strikes elsewhere and to not be intimidated by the government. Ramdev has been classified as the “rock star of yoga.” Ramdev’s daily two-hour television show has been the most watched show in India since 2003 reports the Washington Post.

Responding to critics of the government crackdown, Prime Minister Manmohan Signh addressed the issue Monday explaining that the crackdown was “unfortunate but unavoidable.” The Delhi police said they decided to end the event since Ramdev only had a permit to conduct a yoga meditation session with 5,000 people, the crowd had risen to 50,000, and Ramdev was encouraging more people to come.

Sunday evening the Prime Minister continued his defense of the crackdown citing past “non-violent” protests that had later turned violent.  Rajan Bhagat, a police spokesman, explained that the confrontation did not begin until after the police ordered the protestors to go home, and then some protestors begin throwing bricks at officers which in turn led to the release of tear gas.

Kapil Sibal, a senior government official, released a letter that he said was written by Ramdev’s aide which promised to end the fast within twenty-four hours. Ramdev said he was forced to write the letter. Surendra Pai, a chemistry professor participating in the strike, said the government “is full of corrupt liars and they are trying to make Ramdev look bad.”The Supreme Court has asked the government for an explanation about their use of “brutal force” to disperse the Ramdev protest.

Ramdev and his supporters are calling for the Indian government to crackdown on those obtaining money illegally and then depositing it into secret back accounts outside of the country. This issue has haunted the government for the past year as several Indian citizens and government officials have been discovered as holding illegal earnings in foreign bank accounts.

Ramdev continues his protest two-hundred kilometers from the capital city in Haridwar.

For more information, please see:

The Hindu — After midnight swoop, battle line hardens — 6 June, 2011

The Times of India — PM defends crackdown on Ramdev, says there was no alternative — 6 June, 2011

New York Times — After Raid, Indian Guru’s Protest Stirs a Firestorm — 5 June, 2011

Washington Post — Fast led by yoga guru prompts India to weigh move against corruption — 4 June, 2011

By: Jessica Ties Impunity Watch, Asia ISLAMABAD, Pakistan – Pakistani journalist Sayed Saleem Shahzad was abducted in Islamabad Sunday night while driving from his home to a television station. On Tuesday, his body was discovered 155 miles outside of Islamabad and showed indications of torture.

A colleague of Shahzad, Zafar Mehmud Sheikh, described Shahzad as “an extremely critical writer” and stated that “his writings in Asia Times were not liked by many circles…he was always getting threats, direct life threats not from one side, from all sides.” Amnesty International is demanding that an investigation into the death of Shahzad include Pakistan’s security and intelligence agencies. Pakistan’s main intelligence agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), has issued a statement denying its involvement in the killing of Shahzad. The ISI is known for its support of Islamist militants and has been accused of detaining political activists for months or years without formally charging them. Speculation of the ISI’s involvement in the killing of Shahzad arises partially from an article in the Asia Times in which Shahzad wrote that Pakistan had freed a detained Afghan Taliban commander. According to an email sent by Shahzad to Human Rights Watch researcher Ali Dayan Hasan, he was summoned to the ISI office shortly after the article was published and was pressured to reveal his sources or retract his story. Shahzad refused to do either. In an email sent to a friend following the meeting at ISI headquarters, Shahzad stated that he was told by an official that a hit-list had been recovered from a recently arrested terrorist. The official then stated, “If I find your name in the list, I will certainly let you know.” While Shahzad interpreted the statement as a threat, the ISI maintains that the meeting “had nothing sinister about it” and that “it is part of the Wing’s mandate to remain in touch with the journalistic community…ISI also makes it a point to notify institutions and individuals alike of any threat warning received about them.” The ISI had reportedly delivered several warnings to Shahzad regarding his writings however, it is also possible that his death was the result of his writings provoking one of the various militant groups he was in contact with who felt that Shahzad had gained too much information. For more information, please see: Amnesty International –Pakistan must probe intelligence agencies as body of journalist is found – 31 May 2011 Associated Press of Pakistan – Salim Shahzad death source of concern for entire nation: ISI official – 1 June 2011 CNN – A Pakistani journalist is killed and many questions remain unanswered – 1 June 2011 MSNBC – Pakistan spy agency denies role in killing – 1 June 2011

By Greg Donaldson
Impunity Watch, Asia

BANGKOK, Thailand — Lerpong Wichaicommart, an American citizen, was arrested last Tuesday for defaming the Thai King through the use of his blog. Wichaicommart, who also goes by “Joe Gordon,” is accused of posting a link to the book “The King Never Smiles,” written by American journalist Paul M. Handley and published by Yale University Press. The book, which is banned in Thailand, takes a critical look at the actions of King Bhumibol during his reign.

Furthermore, in an interview with the New York Times, Tharit Pengdit, the director of Thailand’s Department of Special Investigation, said “He violated the law by writing articles and posted them on a website.”

Wichaicommart has been charged with lèse majesté, inciting unrest and disobedience of the law in public, and disseminating computer data which threatens national security. Lèse majesté prohibits anyone from defaming, insulting or threatening the king, queen, or crown prince. The debate about the recent aggressive enforcement of the law is expected to heat up this summer as parliamentary elections take place July 3.

Over twenty Department of Special Investigation officers arrested Wichaicommart at his house in Nakhon Ratchasima, confiscated his desktop computer and mobile phone, and transferred him to department headquarters in Bangkok for interrogation. Wichaicommart’s friends brought a land deed worth over 1.7 million baht as bail to release Wichaicommart but the court denied bail, citing that this was a serious case concerning national security, and that the accused might tamper with evidence reported the Thai-language prachatai.com news website.

Prior to his arrest, Wichaicommart taught English to children. Wichaicommart was born in Thailand but settled in Colorado more than thirty years ago. Wichaicommart never planned on returning to Thailand he said, but chose to come back to his hometown to receive treatment for an illness after the death of his wife.

BBC’s Rachel Harvey said free speech advocates claim the law is being misused to silence legitimate debate. Charges have also been brought against a Thai academic who has publically called for the reform of monarchy, and a prominent opposition politician who is a leader of the anti-government “red shirt” movement. A BBC correspondent said that approximately 2,000 web addresses are being blocked by state censors for containing links or references deemed offensive to the monarchy.

While the U.S. Embassy is still gathering information on the charges, an official from the embassy visited Wichaicommart in prison and told him the embassy will try to help him as much as possible.

For more information, please see:

BBC Asia-Pacific — Thailand arrests US citizen for ‘insult to monarchy’ 27 May, 2011

New York Times — American Arrested for Insulting Thai King 27 May, 2011

Asian Correspondent — American arrested in Thailand for posting link on blog [updated] 27 May, 2011

Prachatai — A Thai with American citizenship arrested for lèse majesté and denied bail 27 May, 2011

David L. Chaplin II
Impunity Watch, Asia

ROHTAK, India – India’s Supreme Court says family members convicted of ‘honour killings’ should face the death penalty, going further than life sentences of old. Honour crimes are perpetrated by families against their very own family. These crimes are committed in the name of honor, pride, and tradition when dealing with marriage outside of one’s caste.

The male, female intermingling and marriage outside of caste and religion remains a taboo, not only for largely rural illiterate populations who have lived under a system of feudalism for centuries, but even for educated, well-off families in urban India.

In traditional Indian societies, women are often regarded as family property. Marriages are carefully arranged by parents and elders and relationships outside of caste are frowned upon.

Many victims incite their families by marrying outside their caste. Often “honour” crimes against them are endorsed, or even encouraged, by village-based caste councils.

A dominate issue remains the proximity to cities and access to education often promoting modern influences, creating a conflict between traditional beliefs and modern aspirations in the minds of the young.

The Supreme Court of India warned senior officials who failed to act against the offenders with threats that they too would be prosecuted. The Court asked state governments to suspend district magistrates and senior police officers for failing to act against these councils.

Despite India’s rapid modernization and growing cosmopolitanism, which has been driven by accelerated economic growth, discrimination against low-caste communities known as Dalits and minority faiths such as Muslims persists in this predominately Hindu country.

“It is time to stamp out these barbaric, feudal practices which are a slur on our nation,” the court said.

India’s media highlighted the case of 22-year-old journalist Nirupama Pathak who allegedly was killed by her mother in their home in the eastern state of Jharkhand, after she was found to be pregnant by her lower caste boyfriend.

Cases of “honour killings” are regularly reported from the neighboring states of Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, but in the capital they are uncommon.

The All-India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA) has welcomed the Supreme Court judgment underscoring the gravity, barbaric and feudal nature of killings in the name of ‘honour.’

“The judgment exposes the failure of the government to take appropriate action and bring the perpetrators of such crimes to justice. It has been a long-standing demand of AIDWA that such killings and crimes in the name of ‘honour’ be dealt with by a comprehensive stand-alone legislation,” said AIDWA.

The AIDWA has also demanded that the police be forced by the government to ensure that such crimes are properly investigated and criminals are apprehended.

On Sunday, two widows were bludgeoned to death in a Haryana village by a man who accused them of being in a lesbian relationship.

The 23-year-old killer was the nephew of one of the women. He was on parole, having served a sentence for rape.

He said he had killed the women to protect his “family’s honour”.

Eyewitnesses told police he killed his aunt and the other woman in full view of other villagers, after he accused them of being in a lesbian relationship.

The two bled to death as the villagers watched. Correspondents say such killings have often not been reported or widely discussed in the past because families usually accept the verdicts.

Oppositional voices to the Supreme Court’s decision say that the “[l]aw is for the society and not vice versa. Honour is one of the most important elements for a being,” Om Parkash Dhankar said.

He further stated, “There are adequate provisions of punishment in the Indian judicial system for every kind of crime. Making a separate provision for murder cases is uncalled for.”

He added that in a majority of cases, the family members kill their relatives in a fit of rage. “Even Rama killed Ravana for honour, because he was keeping a bad (an evil) eye on his wife,” he said.

The Justice department vehemently disagrees, stating that “[a]ll persons who are planning to perpetrate ‘honour’ killings should know that the gallows await them,” said Justices Markandeya Katju and Gyan Sudha Mishra.

There are no reliable statistics on the number of “honour killings” in India, but most have reported that for every case that gets recorded, several others go unreported.

For more information, please see:

The Hindu – AIDWA demands law on on ‘honour’ killing – 10 May 2011

Times of India – Honour Killings: Khaps reject SC observations – 11 May 2011

Indian Express – Inter-caste marriages in national interest – 20 April 2011

India Reuters – Supreme Court cracks down on tradition of “honour killings” – 20 April 2011

BBC – Indian ‘honour’ killers should hang, Supreme Court says – 10 May 2011