By Alok Bhatt
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

 BAGRAM, Afghanistan – Afghan inmates held in the US’s Bagram military custody center will soon have their first opportunity to exercise expanded rights to challenge indefinite detention.  The Obama administration has prepared a new set of guidelines regarding the legal rights of over 600 Afghan inmates detained at Bagram air-base.  The administration hopes to implement the new system during this week.  The new system will also grant extended rights to an unknown number of captive nationals from numerous other Middle Eastern states.  The Obama administration aims to utilize the new system to separate extremist militants from civilians and moderate detractors, all of whom are currently imprisoned together.  An anonymous official of the US Defense Department made a statement that “We don’t want to hold anyone [we should not] have to.” 

Photo: Prisoners at the Bagram detention center (Source: Associated Press).

 Bagram air-base, located 40 miles north of Kabul, has been the US’s makeshift prison since 2002.  Though it faces less mainstream controversy than the infamous Guantanamo Bay naval base in Cuba, human rights organizations have long been voicing distress over the plight of Bagram prisoners.  US torture techniques caused the death of two Afghan detainees hung from isolation cells in 2002.  Investigative reports have also noted sleep deprivation and abusive interrogations as other torments inflicted upon inmates.  

Many Bagram detainees have been imprisoned for up to six years, subject to conditions even more derisory than those at Guantanamo.  Unlike the detainees in Cuba, Bagram prisoners had no access to lawyers, were mostly unaware of the allegations against them, and were afforded only meager review of their designation as enemy combatants.

However, after passing Congressional review, the new detention program will assign a non-lawyer official to each detainee in Bagram.  With the aid of these officials, inmates will have an opportunity to challenge their detention before a military review board and have access to evidence to support their case.  

The local Afghan government seems receptive towards the new prison system.  Deputy mayor of Kabul, Wahaad Sadaat, regards the help of US military officials as a “helpful step” in securing inmates’ rights, and believes the US’s “legal assistance is of crucial importance.”  However, the Obama administration’s newly proposed system has not eluded domestic skepticism.  Ramzi Kassem, professor at the Central University of New York and attorney for a Bagram detainee, berates the new system as a ruse “meant to pull wool over the eyes of the judicial system.” Additionally, many human rights organizations have refrained from comment until they can judge the concrete results of the new system.

The world must wait to see the effectiveness of the Obama administration’s new detention system for the Bagram air base.  However, this proposal of new guidelines may signify a shift in the US perspective towards foreign detainees’ rights and the pursuit of more humane practices. 

For More information, please see:

Al-Jazeera – US expands Afghan prison rights – 12 September 2009

AlterNet – Very Bad News: Aghanistan’s Bagram Air Base Will Be Obama’s Guantanamo – 22 February 2009

The New York Times – Bagram Detention Center – 20 July 2009

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty – New U.S. Plan Reportedly To Let Afghan Prisoners Challenge Incarceration – 14 September 2009

By Alok Bhatt
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

MADURAI,  Sri Lanka – Lynn Pascoe, head of UN’s political affairs department, recently expressed concern over the lack of progress in the removal of Sri Lankan Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) from government-operated refugee camps.  Pacsoe and a small team flew out to Sri Lanka hoping to bolster the evacuation process.  Pascoe commented that “[The UN is] particularly concerned about the [IDPs] in the camps, and getting them…home.”

Photo: Tamil children stand behind razor-wire in an IDP camp (Source: Associated Press). 

Ethnic Tamils have been subject to inhumane conditions in refugee camps since the May defeat of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Ealam.  Military strikes on the rebel group effectively ended insurgencies plaguing Sri Lanka for over twenty-five years.  However, post-war sanctuary has been failing to provide proper living situations for the displaced Tamils.  Camp dwellers describe unsanitary conditions and a lack of soap and toothbrushes.  Movement within the camps is stringently restricted.  Many IDPs have been wearing the same clothes since they entered the refugee camps.  Food and medical supplies have also been inadequate to support the droves of IDPs forced to take shelter.  Tamil IDPs have also reported severe mistreatment at the camps, saying military overseers treat them more like prisoners of war than a protected population.  

The UN has delivered sharp warnings to the Lankan government that it may no longer be able to aid in funding the immense interment camps.  Fearing the failure of the camps, the UN firmly demanded the release of the unwillingly encamped IDPs.  Sri Lanka’s Colombo officials responded with a commitment to release 80-percent of the over 280,000 Tamils by the end of this year.  However, the Colombo government claims to be unable to successfully evacuate the interment camps until the Lankan military can identify and remove surviving Tamil Tigers from among the civilian IDPs.  Numerous human rights groups have criticized the Colombo government for forcing Tamil IDPs to endure sub-human conditions while performing prolonged and questionable screening processes.   

The Colombo government also stated that it would have to clear stray landmines strewn about the areas surrounding the camps before releasing Tamil IDPs.  Tamils in the interment camps, however, have voiced skepticism and discontent towards the government’s supposed safety measures.   

The extended encampment of Sri Lankan IDPs signifies the affliction of ethnic Tamils after a civil war which stole the lives of up 100,000 people.  The camps contain IDPs in mean conditions and cannot sufficiently supply fundamental necessities such as food, clothing, and shelter.  The UN and multiple human rights organizations continue to pressure the Colombo government into releasing civilians, yet it seems that until further action is taken, the fortune of nearly 280,000 Tamils remains uncertain. 

For more information, please see:
 
Al-Jazeera – UN ‘concerned’ over Sri Lanka camps – 14 September 2009 

CBC News – Sri Lankan refugee camps try UN patience – 11 September 2009

Express Buzz – Sri Lankan refugee camps worst in history – 14 August 2009

The Independent – UN warns Sri Lanka over prison camps – 12 September 2009

By Michael E. Sanchez
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

KARACHI, Pakistan– A gesture of generosity became a day of sorrow and horror for many when 18 women were killed, among them a 13-year old girl, during a stampede where free flour was being given out. 15 others were also injured during the chaos.

The free-flour was being given out by local philanthropist Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, at his warehouse in Khori Garden, a neighborhood on the southern part of the city, and one of the poorest as well. Thousands of women and children gathered to attempt to take advantage of the offer. However a stampede occurred when the organizers, believing that the women were getting out of control decided to close the doors. Because of Khori Garden’s narrow lanes this created a suffocating atmosphere. The stampede was caused by the panicking women all attempting to leave at once. Witnesses state that what started the chaos were various arguments which broke out during the distribution of the food. One women stated that “Dozens of women just leapt to grab the items and the man distributing just closed the gate,”. One grieving mother named Karima cried “I have lost my little daughter…All I wanted was a bag of flour for my family, but my greed lost me so gravely” 

During the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, Muslims traditionally give free food and drink. These gifts are given by private individuals, and by religious and charitable groups.

During this year, a shortage of flour and sugar in the country as a result of hoarding has caused food prices in Pakistan to rise, with food prices rising even further during the Ramadan period. As a result competition for the distributed free food among the poor of this country has been higher than in previous years. Although the government has tried to subsidize flour and sugar prices, they seem unable to provide relief to the ever increasing number of poverty-stricken citizens.

The United Nation’s International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights defined the right to adequate food as a fundamental human right which is inherent to all to have regular access, either through direct or financial to an adequate and sufficient supply of food.  In other words, the right to adequate food is achieved when every person in a community has the physical and economic access at any time to adequate food or means to procure it.  Evidenced from the chaos erupted from the poverty and hunger stricken masses from a free-food give away, there seems to be a violation of this basic human right of access to food.

This incident was not the first time people have died, with similar scenes of long lines at various centers distributing free food falling into chaos during the last few weeks.  

For more information, please see:

BBC News- Pakistan food stampede kills many – 14 September 2009

New York Times- At least 19 killed in Ramadan food stampede– 14 September 2009

Daily Times- 18 women die in Karachi free food stampede – 15 September 2009

The Right to Food- Guiding Principles

By Michael E. Sanchez
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia      

BEIJING, China– China has detained numerous dissidents and campaigners ahead of President Barack Obama’s anticipated first visit to the country, their relatives and close contacts told the Associated Foreign Press Saturday.

In Beijing, a group of dissidents tried to apply for a demonstration last Friday, to protest the President’s visit.  The dissidents hoped it would attract attention to the Chinese regime’s human rights violations.  But officials rejected their application.

On Sunday Obama arrives in Shanghai before moving on to Beijing the next day for a four-day presidential trip.  As the visit has drew closer, Zhao Lianhai, the head of an activist group for parents of children who were sickened by tainted milk was detained, said his wife.  In a text Li Xuemei said, “Zhao Lianhai was criminally detained for ‘provoking an incident’.”

Zhao was handcuffed and taken away Friday night by officers who searched his house and took items such as computers, a video recorder, a camera and an address book according to activist group Human Right in China.  The group also stated that upon refusing to go with them, since the summons did not state a cause, the police filled in “provoking an incident” in the summons.  Beijing police would not comment on the case.

Qi Zhiyong, a survivor of the Tiananmen Square Massacre, says the President’s upcoming visit is already affecting him, “[Obama’s] visit to China only involves discussions on climate change, or economic issues. We hope that he will bring up the issue of human rights, and truly improve  China’s human rights.  In fact, his [upcoming] visit has indirectly caused our rights as well as our living spaces to be trampled on.  Because of his visit people like me and other dissidents are being affected.  I have been subjected to a formless oppression, whether it’s house arrest, or being taken away from Beijing.”  Many dissidents have received warning from police not to go to Beijing during Obama’s visit.

Qi also applied to police to protest the Obama’s visit to press him on human rights in China and was detained trying to organize a human rights seminar on November 9 in a Beijing park. Qi said he was being held in the suburbs and had been charged with unlawful assembly and disturbing the social order.

Obama is headed to China to discuss climate change.

For more information, please see:

AFP – China Dissidents ‘Detained Ahead of Obama Visit’ – 14 November 2009

New Tang Dynasty Television – Dissidents Protest Obama’s Upcoming Visit to China – 10 November 2009

AP – Chinese Activist Risks Jail With Letter to Obama – 5 November 2009

By Hyo-Jin Paik
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka – With the monsoon season approaching in about a month, the UN and other humanitarian agencies are expressing concerns over the overcrowded, unsanitary camps where Tamil civilians are being housed.

Human rights groups have argued that holding these civilians in the military-run camps is an “illegal form of collective punishment,” but the Sri Lankan government is claiming that the camps are conducting screenings for potential rebel fighters. 

Tamils in camps.  Courtesy of AFP.

However, the UN has said that the screening process is progressing too slowly, and those who have gone through the screening have not yet been released unless the person is under 10 or over 60 years old.

Mark Cutts of the UN was told by Sri Lanka’s senior military officials that probably less than 20% of the Tamils currently in the camps will be able to resettle despite Sri Lankan government’s initial decision to resettle most Tamils by end of this year. 

“We need to look into this issue of how long are they going to be kept in these places, will they be given proper freedom of movement…,” said Cutts.

The camps are housing twice as many people as originally intended, and activists are worried that monsoon rains, which is likely to cause flooding, will worsen the sanitary conditions by bringing fecal matter to the surface and subjecting people to diseases.  Moreover, the camps were averaging about 40 people per latrine while the UN standard is 20.

In addition, Sri Lanka has expelled James Elder of UNICEF, accusing him of siding with the Tamil Tigers.  Elder has spoken out against the sufferings of children in Sri Lanka, and UNICEF “unequivocally rejects any allegations of bias” since Elder’s statements were based on “concrete information that the [UN] attained and verified.”

UN Secretary-General Bank Ki-moon strongly denounced Elder’s expulsion saying he has “full confidence in the work of the [UN] in Sri Lanka, which includes making public statements when necessary in an effort to save lives and prevent grave humanitarian problems.” 

Furthermore, human rights organizations claim that the Sri Lankan government has failed to investigate the rights abuses and war crimes which occurred during the fighting. 
For more information, please see:

BBC – UN concern over Sri Lanka camps – 11 September 2009

CNN – Concern over conditions in Sri Lankan camps – 11 September 2009

Inter Press Services – SRI LANKA: Gov’t to Resettle Displaced Tamils Ahead of Monsoon – 12 September 2009

Radio Canada – Sri Lankan refugee camps try UN patience – 11 September 2009