By Alishba I. Kassim
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

WASHINGTON, United States – Joint reports by several human rights agencies and U.S. funded broadcast services are accusing China of deceptively distributing billions of dollars in aid to Africa with “no strings attached” packages. These packages, the reports provide, subvert human rights and promote Chinese power.

Similar reports accuse Russia, Iran, and Venezuela of using wealth to build alliances without pressing developing countries to promote democracy and avoiding corruption.

The report, prepared jointly over a two year period by Freedom House, a Washington based NGO, did not address the role of US foreign policy or aid, but accused China of excessive abuse.

“These regimes are using soft-power methods to advance their interests internationally, particularly through billions of dollars in no strings attached development aid,” the report said. Chinese leaders, in contrast, have accused Western countries of being self-serving and continue to emphasize the importance of state sovereignty and non-interference.

The report accused Russia of undermining international institutions such as the United Nations that aim to work towards safeguarding human rights and democracy. While Iran, on the flipside, was accused of supporting forces such as Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Palestine. The report held Venezuela responsible for passing on the torch of corruption through subsidies in developing nations.

Although the reports’ justifiably emphasized the importance of oversight in ensuring corruption-free regimes in developing countries, one has to question whether Freedom House had an ulterior agenda when blacklisting countries such as Iran, China, Russia, and Venezuela. Countries some may argue are not amongst America’s favorites.

For more information, please see:

Washington Post – Human Rights Group Condemn how China gives Aid – June 4, 2009

AP – Human Rights Group Condemn China – June 4, 2009

Miami Herald – Human Rights Group Condemn China – June 4, 2009

By Alishba I. Kassim
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

WASHINGTON – A U.S. military investigation in Afghanistan continues to uncover mistakes in airstrikes that have exponentially added to the civilian death toll.

The 2000 pound bomb dropped in the 8 hour long strike was dropped by an Air Force B-1 bomber at night, making it even more difficult to determine whether civilians were present. A U.S. defense official who chose to remain anonymous commented that dropping a 2000 pound bomb was “overkill,” particularly since there is evidence the bomber may have briefly lost contact as well.

Another U.S. official confirmed that the civilian death toll would probably have been much lower if U.S. air crews and ground troops had followed proper rules to prevent civilian casualties. Afghan officials put the civilian death toll from air strikes in the Farah province to as high as 140 deaths. By contrast, U.S. military officials have said that 20-35 civilians have been killed among 80-95 people – the majority of whom they say were Taliban fighters.

The U.S. investigation, ordered by General Petraeus, has largely concluded that one U.S. aircraft, cleared to attack Taliban fighters, did not confirm targets before dropping deadly bombs. This leaves open the possibility of militants fleeing the targeting area, leaving just civilians in place.

The New York Times quoted a senior military official saying “in several instances where there was a legitimate threat, the choice of how to deal with that threat did not comply with the standing rules of engagement.” A second military official told Reuters that certain mistakes were linked to the choice of weapons used in the operation rather than any protocol violation. Regardless of the specific means, the reports are mostly concluding that several mistakes were made that added to the civilian death toll.

A senior military official familiar with the report cautioned that the report was not yet complete and went on to pose the ultimate question “given what was known, what was seen from the air, and given the threat, was that the right choice?”

One would be hard-pressed to answer in the affirmative when protocol is ignored and contact is lost when dropping 2000 pound bombs on a nation already ravaged by war.

For more information, please see:

AP – U.S. Broke Bombing Rules in Afghanistan June 3, 2009

Reuters – U.S. Finds Mistakes in Deadly Afghan Strikes June 3, 2009

Los Angeles Times – Some Afghanistan Airstrikes were Mistakes June 3, 2009

By Hyo-Jin Paik
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

BEIJING, China– Two days before the 20th anniversary of Tiananmen Square Massacre where thousands died fighting for democracy, the Chinese government has authorized an extensive censorship of the Internet.

Starting Tuesday, social networking sites, such as Twitter, as well as YouTube, Flickr, Hotmail, and Bing have been blocked.

Microsoft’s Public Affairs Director Kevin Kutz said, “We are reaching out to the [Chinese] government to understand this decision and find a way to move forward.”

Tiananmen Square (Source: AP)

While it is not uncommon for the Chinese government to block websites considered to be controversial before major events, the massive block today is the first extensive censorship of social media.  Some believe that this mass Internet censorship was prompted because calls for re-evaluation of Tiananmen have been published on the Internet this year.

Reporters Without Borders, outraged by this censorship, released a statement, “The Chinese government stops at nothing to silence what happened 20 years ago in Tiananmen Square.  By blocking access to a dozen websites used daily by millions of Chinese citizens, the authorities have opted for censorship at any price rather than accept a debate about this event.”

Internet users in China (Source: AFP)

In addition to Internet censorship, TV viewers in foreign compounds and hotels in Beijing and Shanghai experienced blackouts for minutes at a time as censors blocked out reports regarding the Tiananmen anniversary.

For more information, please see:

AFP – China blocks websites ahead of Tiananmen anniversary – 2 June 2009

BBC – Chinese curbs before anniversary – 2 June 2009

The Huffington Post – China Blocks Twitter Ahead of Tiananmen Anniversary – 2 June 2009

NYT – China Blocks Twitter Service Ahead of Anniversary – 2 June 2009

By Alishba I. Kassim
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

RANGOON, Burma-The trial of Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi has once again brought attention to the military junta controlling Burma. Human rights activists call the trial a sham and cite it as a chance to bring attention to the rights violations occurring under the current government.

Suu Kyi is facing an additional five years in detention for violating the terms of her house arrest. Suu Kyi was arrested for the violations when she allowed a trespasser to remain in her home overnight when he was too weak to leave. Many in the international community have called the trial a sham, including United States President Barack Obama who called the charges “spurious.”

International observers claim that the charges are meant to keep Suu Kyi out of the upcoming elections. Suu Kyi is the Secretary General of Burma’s National League for Democracy and is one of the most vocal critics of Burma’s ruling military junta. If Suu Kyi is in detention at the time of the elections she will not be allowed to play any role in process. Critics say this is the real reason behind the trial.

Many countries and human rights groups have asked the military junta to stop the trial and release Suu Kyi along with the estimated 2,000 other political prisoners being held by the Burmese government. Observers say that the military junta could gain political legitimacy if they allowed her to play a role in the upcoming elections. Human rights activist claim the trial and persecution of the Nobel Peace Prize winner is another example of the long line of human rights violations committed under the watch of the ruling military junta. The junta’s spokesman Major-General Aye Myint stated that the trial “is not political…it’s not a human rights issue, so we don’t accept pressure from abroad.”

For more information, please see:

Voice of America – Injustice In Burma – 29 May 2009

Washington Post – What the U.N. Can’t Ignore in Burma – 1 June 2009

Guardian – The EU must start squeezing Burma – 1 June 2009