By M.E. Dodge
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

CHONGQING, China – Wen Qiang, a 55-year old former Chinese police chief, was sentenced to death in a gang corruption case for taking about $2.4 million from Chongqing crime syndicates in return for his promise to provide legal protection. Within 24 hours of Wen’s sentencing, a 54-year old banker, Wang Yi, was also sentenced to death for taking bribes.

Wen’s story has been the biggest in a series of related gang prosecutions in the south-western city of Chongqing. Wang’s tale, though a bit less sensational, has caused a similar reaction now that his conviction and punishment have been handed down.

In Wen’s case, back in August 2009, investigators were looking for 469 suspects from 14 different gangs. Even then, when Wen was acting as the director of Chongqing’s judicial bureau and a former police chief in the city, he was under internal investigation for suspicion of protecting criminals. In late summer of 2009 when intense investigation was instigated, Liu Guanglei, a member of the standing committee of the city’s Party Committee and team leader of the operation, told the Chongqing Evening News that gangs were involved in “prostitution, gambling, drugs and guns”, and that their crimes included murder and kidnapping.

Wen was detained last August and accused of protecting gang operations masterminded by his sister-in-law, Xie Caiping, 46, known as the “godmother” of the Chongqing underworld. Xie was sentenced to 18 years imprisonment in November for running illegal casinos and bribing government officials.

 The death ruling by the Chongqing No 5 intermediate people’s court passed sentence on Wen. When testifying about the money and its origin, Wen told the court much of the money he had accepted was for “birthday and new year” gifts. In addition to being found guilty of taking bribes, Wen was also found guilty of raping a university student in 2007 and 2008, according to a news report by Chongqing News. Wen remained silent throughout the trial on Wednesday and kept a straight face when the death sentence was delivered. He can appeal the sentence, but it is not likely that the court will reverse.

However, Wen was not alone – the court found a ring of corrupt Chongqing officials. More than 3,000 people, including 14 high-ranking government and police officials, have been arrested. Chongqing’s Communist party boss, Bo Xilai, said last month the crackdown was not over, and 500 or 600 cases “still haven’t been broken.” Even Wen’s wife was sentenced. She received eight years in prison for taking bribes in exchange for protecting gang members, according to Chongqing News.

In a comment to China Daily, Pan Jinggui, a law professor at the Chongqing-based Southwest University of Political Science and Law, said, “The verdict has sounded an alarm to all police officials – cherish, don’t abuse, the powers given to you.” He went on to say that, “It also reflects the government’s determination to fight corruption and has restored the public’s confidence in the judiciary.”

For more information, please see:

The Guardian – Former Chinese police chief sentenced to death in gangland case – 17 April 2010

The Times of India – 2 top officials get death over graft in China – 17 April 2010

China Daily – Chongqing hails death for biggest fish– 17 April 2010

By Hyo-Jin Paik
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

NEW YORK, United States – China’s leading independent women’s rights organization, which was affiliated with Beijing University, was notified last month that its affiliation with the University has been terminated.

Under Chinese law, nonprofit organizations must be affiliated and sponsored by a government unit. 

The organization, Women’s Legal Research and Services Center, received numerous domestic and international accolades over the year for its work with the Chinese government on legislation concerning women and for bringing public interest lawsuits highlighting women’s issues like domestic violence and discrimination. 

The Center’s founder and China’s leading women’s rights activist, Guo Jianmei, expressed her concerns regarding the lack of justification for closing the Center as well as the message the government is sending to the public by shutting down an organization that has dedicated years to fighting discrimination against women, promoting the rule of law, and in aiding vulnerable members of the society.

In a recently released statement, the Center said its closing “was only the last one in the long series of difficulties faced by the center in its 15-year existence.”  The statement also described the hardship the Center faced, such as barriers in raising charitable funds and the Chinese authorities’ hostility regarding public interest litigation.  For example, just last month, Chinese government implemented new laws that place addition hurdles on domestic NGO’s raising funds from international donors.

Sophie Richardson of Human Rights Watch said, “The Chinese government should recognize that civil society groups play an essential role in remedying social problems and easing social tensions . . . Instead, it is . . . making China’s most vulnerable populations pay the price.”

Some of Beijing University alumni have written a public letter to the university and its president protesting the decision to end its ties with the Center but to no avail, and the domestic media has not been allowed to report on this matter.

Richardson added, “The closure of the Women’s Center is a serious setback for women’s rights and civil society in China.  The government’s general hostility towards civil society is starting to impact mainstream organizations . . . .”

For more information, please see:

All-China Women’s Federation – Beijing University Women’s Legal Aid Center – 25 March 2009

Human Rights Watch – China: Chokehold on Civil Society Intensifies – 12 April 2010

NGOs in China – Peking University Women’s Legal Aid Center loses its affiliation – 14 April 2010

By Alok Bhatt
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan – Three soldiers and three foreigners were left dead as the result of further violence in Kandahar.  A suicide bomber drove a vehicle into the populated region of the city and detonated, creating a high-impact blast that scattered debris and blew out the windows of multiple buildings.  The home of the brother of Afghan president Hamid Karzai was also damaged in the attack, though it is unconfirmed whether or not he was the target of this particular attack.

An alleged target of the attack, however, was ascertained moments after the strike occurred.  A provincial leader divulged that the suicide-bomber intended to take out an establishment for a security company.  Though there do not seem to be any published reports on the success of the attack, this instance was the second such attack in the city of Kandahar occurring this afternoon.  The city centre suffered another explosion earlier on as a car-bomb exploded in the proximity of a hotel, wounding multiple people and destroying some shops and vehicles.

The spike in violence in Kandahar seems to have been spurred by the extensive Nato and US offense initiatives which have also been occurring in Afghanistan.  The Nato and US strikes have long been criticized for their moments of insufficient discrimination when identifying targets, resulting in unreasonable numbers of civilian deaths .  The nature of the insurgent attacks, however, is thought to be pre-emptive in nature, perhaps in anticipation of more strikes by the West.

The attacks in Kandahar also follow another strike upon German soldiers in the northern region of Afghanistan.   Opposition fighters in the province of Baghlan let fire off at four German soldiers near their military camp station.  The German Defence Ministry claims that their soldiers came under rocket-fire.

The continuance of these attacks, it seems, will only proliferate the Western presence in Kandahar, which has been identified as a pivotal territory for terrorist activity.  US-led forces have occupied the region since 2001, subsequent to the September 11 attack on US soil.  The blasts in Kandahar today signify only a couple instances in what has become a long strain of attacks which often claim the lives of many civilians.  The violence in Afghanistan, unfortunately, sees no near end if the current trends persist and escalate.

For more information, please see:

Al-Jazeera – Many dead in Afghan in blasts – 16 April 2010 (Mecca Time)

BBC – Afghanistan  attacks kill Germans… – 15 April 2010

Sky – No Britons Killed in Kandahar Blast – 15 April 2010

By Michael E. Sanchez
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

YANGON, Myanmar- On Thursday three bomb blasts rocked a holiday festival killing nine people in Yangon, Myanmar’s largest city.  The attack was the deadliest of its kind in five years in the country.  In addition, the attack injured more than 60 people.

An official said the blasts occurred as festival goers gathered for a New Year water festival in the former capital.  The blast occurred around 3 p.m. near 20 pavilions erected for celebrations at the Kandawgyi Lake.  During this annual four-day festival, the people drench each other with water to usher in the Myanmar New Year on Saturday.  A British Embassy representative in Myanmar told the news agency Al Jazeera that it was not yet known what exactly caused the explosions.

The television station run by the state reported that the explosions were caused by bombs, but did not say who was responsible.  Television images showed pools of blood and scattered sandals left behind by frightened revelers.  The television station described the blasts as the work of “terrorists”.  No group or organization has claimed responsibility for the attacks yet.

While State television stated that the death toll is at eight, a hospital official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity maintained that nine people were killed.

Witnesses say that Yangon General Hospital, where most of the injured were taken, was a scene of chaos.  According to a hospital official none of the casualties included foreigners.

Although rare, bombings are not unknown in cities such as Myanmar, whose military ruler are fighting several insurgencies in remote regions.  This was the worst attack since May 2005 when a series of bombs exploded at two upscale supermarkets and at a convention center in Yangon, killing 19 people and injuring more than 160 others.

The government has previously blamed bomb blasts on exiled anti-government groups and insurgents including ethnic Karen rebels fighting for greater autonomy in eastern Myanmar.

Myanmar has been under military rule since 1962.  The country is slated to hold election later this year, but no date has been announced and the generals have been criticised for regulations that prevent Aung San Suu Kyi, the opposition leader, from taking part.

For more information, please see:

Aljazeera.net- Deadly Blasts Hit Myanmar Festival-15 April 2010

CBSnews- Bombs Kill 9 At Myanmar New Year Water Festival– 15 April 2010

Wall Street Journal- Myanmar Festivities Marred By Blasts– 15 April 2010

By Alok Bhatt
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

BANGKOK, Thailand – Red-shirt protesters in Thailand, supporters of ousted populist leader Thaskin Shinawatra, clashed with the Thai military force on April 10.  Thaskin was overthrown in 2006 by protesters against the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD).  These anti-Thaskin political groups identify themselves with yellow attire and have successfully brought down two governments that supported Thaskin.  The group now identifies itself as The People’s Alliance for Democracy and functions as a political party without visible political activism.

The red-shirt UDD, on the other hand, has established multiple educational sessions over the past year and marched in numerous areas in promotion of their cause.  However,  on April 10th, a military effort to clear UDD red-shirts from a camp lead to the deaths of seventeen protesters and four military men.  The red-shirts were protesting the Prime Minister position held by Vejjajiva, who they assert was actually elected undemocratically.

Along with red-shirt street demonstrators, Thaskin has backing from intellectuals and proponents of democratic rule who seek to educate others on their policies.  The multiple constituencies from which Thaskin derives support comprise Thailand’s UDD, many of whom may be identified by their distinctive red attire.  Thaskin’s red-shirt supporters desire to reinstate Thailand’s populist policies framed under his half-decade of leadership.  Red-shirts also demand a state with significantly less military rule and an increase in democracy.

The ouster of Abhisit Vejjajiva from office, however, may not be sufficient to quell the political unrest consuming Thailand.  The Thai people witnessed the violence of red-shirt political protests reach tragically excessive levels, resulting in the bloodiest demonstrations since 1992.  Aside from nearly 25 deaths, well over 800 persons were injured by tear-gas and other anti-riot weapons. Despite the chaos, the red-shirts have refused Vejjajiva’s offers to hold elections within six months.  However, the red-shirts have also claimed that reinstating Thaskin would not be enough to meet their demands; they desire equal treatment of all peoples in Thailand.

Abhisit seems to have used to confusion caused by the rallying to launch propaganda against the red-shirt campaign, claiming that full investigations must go under way to place liability where it is due.  The red-shirts, however, have decided to remain resilient until the Thai government as it exists today ceases to act against their demands.

For more information, please see:

BBC – Q&A: Thailand protests – 13 April 2010

BusinessWeek – Ousting Abhisit May Not End Deadly Thailand Protests – 14 April 2010

Christian Science Monitor – Thailand’s red-shirt protests darken… – 12 April 2010