By Michael E. Sanchez
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

PESHAWAR, Pakistan- On Wednesday Pakistan’s main Taliban faction claimed responsibility for a suicide attack that killed 43 people at a Shiite parade in the commercial capital of Karachi, and have threatened more attacks.  Asmatullah Shaheen, one of the commanders of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), or Taliban Movement of Pakistan, made the claim on Wednesday in phone calls to news agencies from an undisclosed location.

“My group claims responsibility for the Karachi attack and we will carry out more such attacks, within 10 days,” he said, referring to the bombing of the previous day.

Shops, offices and schools were closed in the city after religious and political leader called for a day of mourning following the attack that in addition to the deaths left scores injured.

A bomber detonated explosives strapped to his body as crowds walked down Mohammed Ali Jinnah Road in the heart of Pakistan’s largest city on Monday, turning Ashoura, the holiest event on the Shiite Muslim calender into a bloodbath.  Shaheen, whose name is also on a government list of 19 most-wanted militant added, “We did it to protect the honor of the companions of the holy prophet” referring to the centuries old dispute between the Sunni, who dominate the Taliban and the Shiite over the succession to the Prophet Mohammed. 

It was the deadliest attack in Karachi in more than two years and one of the deadliest single sectarian-linked attacks in the conservative Muslim country’s history.  Since October, Pakistan has been pressing a major offensive against TTP in its South Waziristan stronghold on the Afghan border.

The bombing and the following arson by furious mourners underscored the extent of the volatility in Pakistan,were militant attacks have killed more than 2,760 people since July 2007.

Pakistan has posted a 10-million-rupee ($118,690) bounty for Shaheen’s capture dead or alive, when it published a list last month of its most-wanted TTP warlords.

Monday’s attack sparked riots as mourners rampaged, throwing stones at ambulances, torching cars and buildings and reducing shops to rubble. “Our office and the whole building is completely burnt.  Everything has been destroyed,” said Saleem Khan, who runs a car rental business in the city. 

 

Pakistan had tightened security to protect mass procession before Ashoura, deploying tens of thousands of police and paramilitary forces.  The attack was the third on the commemorations in Pakistan this year.

 

Asif Ali Zardari, Pakistan’s President, blamed groups such as TTP for trying to turn Shiite and Sunni Muslims against each other.  

In Pakistan Sectarian violence periodically flares up between the minority Shiites, who beat and whip themselves in religious fervor during Ashoura, and the country’s majority Sunnis who account for 80 percent, who oppose the public displays of grief.

For more information, please see:

Aljazeera.Net-  Pakistani Taliban in Attack Claim– 30 December 2009

Associated Foreign Press-  Taliban Claim Pakistan Shiite Parade Attack– 30 December 2009

Reuters- Pakistan Taliban Says Carried Out Karachi Bombing– 30 December 20009

By Alok Bhatt
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

DHAKE, Rohingya  – The Burmese government has recently conceded to the repatriation of 9,000 of an estimated 28,000 Rohingya Muslims.  The Muslims who have just been granted access into Burma are among an alienated group of peoples who have been fleeing from religious persecution perpetrated by the Burmese junta.  Since the 1970’s, Bangladesh has experienced an increasing influx of Rohingya Muslims escaping mistreatment and discrimination by the state and civilians of Burma.  Escape into Bangladesh has proved the most effective means for Rohingya Muslims desperate to evade maltreatment and unequal consideration in social aspects such as employment and trade. 

The respective Foreign Secretaries of Bangladesh and Burma met recently to discuss the terms and scope of the repatriation agreement.  During the discussion, the two figures seemed to conclude that repatriation should begin as soon as possible so as to give at least some of the over 30,000 Rohingya Muslims an official residence nation.   

Apart from the approximately 30,000 living under derisory conditions in Bangladeshi refugee camps, over 300,000 Rohingya Muslims originating from Burma reside illegally in other nations throughout Asia.  The Rohingya repatriation plan appears also to extend a welcome to Rohingya Muslims who have ventured beyond Burma to find peace in life. 

The repatriation of Burma by Rohingya Muslims has been a point of contention between the Burmese and Bangladeshi governments since the beginning of the 1990’s.  Although Bangladesh has established numerous camps to house the Rohingya refugees, human rights groups have often voiced concern over the inadequate living conditions of the refugee camps.  Essentials such as food, clothes, and shelter are apparently scarce in the camps, which are not readily supplied so as to tend to the needs of the refugee dwellers.  

However, despite the unfavorable situation of staying in refugee camps, a majority of the Rohingya Muslim refugees seem to prefer Bangladeshi shelters than returning their homes in Burma.  Although no reports discuss whether the issue of significant discrimination against the Rohingya Muslim group was considered in repatriation talks, refugees themselves have stated their desire to remain in Bangladesh where they are at least safe from state mistreatment. 

While these issues continue to be raised by human rights groups, it remains to be seen how many Burmese Rohingya Muslims will actually grasp the opportunity to return, supposedly without prejudice, to their native state.

 

For more information, please see:

BBC News – Bangladesh to send home thousands of Burmese refugees – 29 December 2009

Irrawaddy – Bangladesh, Burma Agree on Repatriation of Some Rohingya -30 December 2009

Silobreaker – Burmese Muslims to be repatriated – 29 December 2009

By Hyo-Jin Paik
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

SEOUL, South Korea – In an effort to raise awareness of North Korea’s human rights abuses, a Korean-American rights activist illegally crossed a river into North Korea from China.

Activist Robert Park during an interview.  Courtesy of Reuters.

The 28 year-old activist, Robert Park, heads a coalition of about 100 groups which works to shed light on North Korean defectors and the rights abuses within North Korea.

Park crossed the Tumen River near the northeast border city of Hoeryong on Christmas Day carrying a letter for the North’s leader Kim Jong-il.  Witnesses said Park shouted, “I am an American citizen.  I am bringing God’s love,” as he crossed the Tumen River.  Witnesses said Park was not stopped by the North Korean border guards.

The letter he was carrying is said to include demands for opening the tightly-controlled border so that North Korea can receive shipment of food and medical aid as well as a request to close all political concentration camps.

Park was reported to have said he would carry a message calling for Kim Jong-il to step down as the North Korean leader and for compensation to the rights abuses victims.

In an interview with Reuters earlier this week, Park said he felt that it was his duty as a Christian to make this journey to North Korea and that he did not want the U.S. government to try freeing him. 

He added that he would prefer to be arrested so as to pressure the governments of the U.S., South Korea and Japan to improve North Korea’s human rights record and to address the suffering of innocent North Koreans.

Park said, “Through the media and through sacrifice[,] we are looking for the global leaders to be forced to give an account.  There is no excuse.”

In addition, Park commented, “Until the concentration camps are liberated, I do not want to come out.  If I have to die with them, I will.” 

North Korea has not released any statements concerning Park.
For more information, please see:

Reuters – U.S. rights activist crosses into North Korea: reports – 25 December 2009

UPI – Rights activist crosses into North Korea – 26 December 2009

Yonhap News – Activist breaches N. Korea border for human rights campaign: activists – 26 December 2009

 

By M.E. Dodge
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

JAKARTA, Indonesia – It seems that corruption is a way of life in Indonesia, and for many Indonesians, it is trite to pass a small bribe to an official to get a task or favor done. The practice is embedded in so many facets of life in Indonesia that it is virtually impossible for civilians to escape having to engage in bribery or evade its effects.

Corruption costs the country’s economy billions of dollars every year. According to a recent report by the US-based Human Rights Watch, it is estimated that corruption in Indonesia’s forestry industry alone costs the economy $2 billion a year, which is dramatic since Indonesia is home to the world’s third largest area of tropical rain forest impacted by the huge degree of illegal logging that occurs.

Dealing with corruption in forestry is not only area Indonesia is seeking to clamp down on efforts of fraud. The European Union has come out with a report saying that one of the main reasons its investors are reluctant to come to Indonesia is the perception of high levels of graft in the country. The government acknowledges there is a problem, but says that like all developing countries, Indonesia is not perfect. According to Gita Wirjawan, the individual responsible for trying to attract more foreign funds to Indonesia’s economy, “One has to take a long term view of Indonesia.” Wirjawan went on to say that, “There may be some questions or concerns about Indonesia – but that applies to just about every country in the world… we’re on the right trajectory and we’re heading in the right direction.” 

In early December, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono reasserted his pledge to lead an endeavor against corruption in Indonesia. In a televised speech on the eve of International Anti-Corruption Day, Yudhoyono asked the public to work together to fight graft, saying he wished to create a clean government as his legacy by the end of his term in 2014. Yudhoyono claims to have done a lot to eradicate corruption since he assumed power in 2004, and stated that reforms within the Attorney General’s Office and the National Police would continue to be the top priority of his administration in the coming five years.

Photograph of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono discussing anti-corruption efforts. Image courtesy of Asia Sentinal. 

Apart from statements by government officials, editorials in Indonesian newspapers have called him weak and indecisive in his handling of the case of the Corruption Eradication Commission, or the KPK as it is known in Indonesia, one of the few institutions people in this country actually have faith in.

Photograph of an anti-corruption demonstration. Image courtesy of BBC World News.

One civilian, James Sundah, a 50-year-old musician lost his driving license and tried to get the local police to help him replace it. Instead, he was forced to get a new license. He was told by police that “it would be a quick and painless procedure” and he knew that this was a hint to most Indonesians to pay some money and get your license, but Sundah refused. He tried to go through the official procedure to re-obtain his license, but his application and test were denied several times. Sundah said, “I was a couple of points short each time – but when I asked to see the test papers, the officials refused. The others in my exam room told me that if I just paid an extra $20, I would get my license.” Sundah stated that the police must have grown tired of his persistence, because finally he was given his license. When Sunday asked to see his exam paper after passing, he said, “I looked at it and I spotted the question: ‘What would you do if you hit someone in an accident?’ I got the question wrong because the correct answer, according to the official exam paper was to run away!” 

Photograph of James Sundah and family driving. Image courtesy of BBC World News.

Despite stories like Sundah’s and so many other Indonesians forced to endure and submit to nefarious practices, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has publically announced its effort to target corrupt officials and agency backroom wheeling and dealing

 

For more information, please see:

BBC World News – Indonesia battles with widespread corruption – December 24, 2009 

Asia Sentinal – Anti-graft Day in Jakarta – December 9, 2009

The Jakarta Post – SBY renews pledge to lead corruption jihad – December 8, 2009

By Hyo-Jin Paik
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

BEIJING, China– Liu Xiaobo, China’s most famous dissident, has been sentenced to 11 years in prison for criticizing the Chinese government. 

The Beijing No. 1 Intermediate People Court handed down a ruling on Christmas Day saying that Liu was “guilty of inciting subversion of state power.”  In China, those found guilty of inciting others by “spreading rumors…to subvert the State power” are subject to imprisonment of no less than five years.

Some have suggested that this verdict foreshadows that other detained activists will also face harsh punishments as China began tightening its already strict stance against dissidents. 

Many believe that Liu’s sentence is a warning against other activists, including human rights lawyers whose licenses to practice law have not been renewed by the government this year.

Phelim Kine, a researcher at the rights group Human Rights Watch, said, “The fact is that Liu Xiaobo is neither a subversive nor a criminal and the severity of the verdict against him suggests that the Chinese government is ready and willing to take an unyieldingly harsh line against human rights activist in the year ahead.”

One of Liu’s attorneys, Ding Xikui, said they will be appealing the decision as there were some flaws during the trial procedure.  In fact, Human Rights Watch has criticized the Chinese government for violating Liu’s rights and for showing contempt for China’s commitment to universal human rights.

Human Rights Watch’s Asia director, Sophie Richardson, added, “The only purpose of this trial [was] to dress up naked political repression in the trappings of legal proceedings.  Liu’s crimes are non-existent, yet his fate has been pre-determined.  This is a travesty of justice.”

However, appeals on political charges almost never succeed because political agenda supercede the written law in China.

Chinese officials were not available for comment, but China’s Xinhua news agency released a statement from the court which said that legal procedures were strictly followed and that the court fully protected Liu’s litigation rights.

Nonetheless, U.S. Embassy official Greg May said, “We are deeply concerned by the sentence…Persecution of individuals for peaceful expression of political views is inconsistent with internationally recognized norms of human rights.”

In addition, German Chancellor Angela Merkel responded to Liu’s sentence by saying that the Chinese government “still massively restricts freedom of opinion.”  However, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has remained silent.
For more information, please see:

Human Rights Watch – China: Liu Xiaobo’s Trial a Travesty of Justice – 21 December 2009

Inner City Press – UN’s Ban Silent as China Sentences Liu Xiaobo and Five Uighurs to Death – 25 December 2009

WSJ – China Sentences Dissident to 11 Years for Subversion – 25 December 2009