By Ariel Lin
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

YANGON, Myanmar – After an American man allegedly sneaked into the detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s home last week, Junta took her physician for questioning, according to the National League for Democracy spokesman Nyan Win.  Last week, an American man named John Willian Yeattaw swam 1 1/4 miles across Inya Lake to detained Suu Kyi’s home and “secretly entered the house”, according state-run press.  Myanmar authorities arrested the man.

Nyan Win says that the physician arrived at Sun Kyi’s house for her routine monthly checkup but was barred from entering.  Later, the authorities took doctor Tin Myo Win from his home for questioning, and have not returned since. “We don’t know where he was kept or why he was questioned,” Nyan Win said.

Human Rights groups have accused Junta of denying Suu Kyi adequate medical care.  Finally, Junta allowed a doctor to make a visit to Suu Kyi on Monday. Tin Myo Win’s assistant doctor, Dr. Pyone Moe Ei was granted a medical visit on Monday afternoon to Suu Kyi’s home, where she is under house arrest.  Suu Kyi was found to be suffering from dehydration and low blood pressure. A medical assistant has placed Ms Suu Kyi on an intravenous drip, and her health has improved since.  The doctor issued an appeal for Suu Kyi to be allowed further treatment for her condition.

Aung San Suu Kyi, the 63-year-old Nobel laureate, one of the world’s most famous political prisoners.  She has been living under house arrest without trial for 13 of the past 19 years.  Suu Kyi’s party won a victory in Myanmar’s 1990′ elections.  But military authorities ignored the results, and many party members are now in prison, in exile or in hiding.

For more information, please see:

AP – Myanmar arrests US man for entering Suu Kyi home – 07 May 2009

AP – Doctor of Myanmar’s Suu Kyi questioned by police – 09 May 2009

BBC – Burma’s Suu Kyi ‘in poor health’ – 09 May 2009

Times – Burma’s Most Famous Political Prisoner Gets a Surprise Visitor – 08 May 2009

United Press International – Doctor allowed access to Aung San Suu Kyi – 11 May 2009

USA – American arrested for allegedly sneaking into Burmese activist’s home – 07 May 2009

Washington Post – Myanmar junta allows doctor to see ailing Suu Kyi – 11 May 2009

By Shayne R. Burnham
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

KABUL, Afghanistan – Human rights organizations condemn the use of the chemical white phosphorus by NATO in the battles against the Afghan Taliban.  An 8 year old civilian suffered severe burns to her face and neck on March 14, 2009 in Alahsay district in eastern Kapisa Province.  The girl is currently stationed at a U.S. military base in Bagram where medics found white phosphorus on her face and neck.

“White phosphorus causes horrendous burns and should not be used in civilian areas,” said Marc Garlasco, senior military analyst at Human Rights Watch. “NATO should immediately make public the results of its investigation into this incident.”

Chemicals such as white phosphorus is typically used to provide light during the night, to create smokescreens to hide military operations or burn buildings. Uses such as these are not prohibited by international treaties.  Yet to prevent future civilian casualties and injuries, human rights groups declare that utilizing such a chemical in densely populated areas violates international humanitarian law, and should be prohibited.

Colonel Gregory Julian, a spokesman for the commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, confirmed that Western forces indeed use the chemical. He stated, “it is used on the battlefield in certain applications. . .  It is used as an incendiary to destroy bunkers and enemy equipment; it’s used for illumination.”

However, the victim’s father, Aziz Rahman stated that a shell fired by NATO forces landed on his home.  “(Western) troops were on the road, the Taliban were on the mountain and we were at the house, sandwiched between them. When the Taliban began retreating, they fired artillery at them, 12 rounds. One hit my house,” he said.

A NATO spokesperson denies allegations that it was NATO forces that caused these injuries.  Officials state that no shots were fired that could have landed on the victim’s home, but never deny that white phosphorus was used.  Instead, they suggest that insurgents may have been responsible.  The international Security Assistance Force released a report indicating that insurgents used white phosphorus on four occasions since December 2007.

Yet, Defense Ministry spokesman Azher Murad said, “I am not aware that the Taliban have used this is any of their attacks.”

NATO is currently conducting investigations into the matter.  Human rights groups call for the immediate release of the results.

For more information, please see:

Associated Press – Afghan Rights Group Probes Civilians’ Burns, US Militay Denies Using White Phosphorus – 10 May 2009

Human Rights Watch – Afghanistan: NATO Should ‘Come Clean’ on White Phosphorus – 8 May 2009

Reuters – Exclusive: Afghan Girl’s Burns Show Horror of Chemical Strike – 8 May 2009

By Shayne R. Burnham
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

KABUL, Afghanistan – On Wednesday, President Barrack Obama met with Afghan and Pakistan presidents and reaffirmed the U.S.’s commitment to defeating the al Qaeda while minimizing civilian casualties in Afghanistan.

“[L]et me be clear — the United States has made a lasting commitment to defeat al Qaeda but also to support the democratically elected sovereign governments of both Pakistan and Afghanistan. That commitment will not waiver and that support will be sustained.” Obama said in a statement.

However, U.S.-led airstrikes in the Farah province in southern Afghanistan on Monday and Tuesday resurrected Karzai and Zardari’s fears of violence among his citizens.  The Red Cross stated that dozens of civilians were killed.  Meanwhile, local officials say that at least 100 have perished.

The airstrike occurred in two villages over several hours.  In a joint investigation by the U.S. and Afghanistan into the number of casualties revealed that “villagers had taken refuge in a number of houses in each village. Reports also indicate that Taliban fighters deliberately forced villagers into houses from which they then attacked ANSF (Afghan security forces) and Coalition forces.”

The team confirmed that “a number of civilians were killed” but could not determine the number of casualties between militants and civilians since the bodies were buried.  The investigations are continuing.

The U.S. dismissed accusations that more than 100 civilians were killed, placing the blame on militants who used villagers as “human shields.”

“We deeply, deeply regret that loss,” U.S. Secretary of State Clinton said of the civilian deaths.  She expressed that despite the deaths, much progress resulted from the meeting with Afghanistan and Pakistan.

On Friday, Karzai urged the U.S. to put a stop to the airstrikes.  He said “we cannot justify in any manner, for whatever number of Taliban, for whatever number of significantly important terrorists, the accidental or otherwise loss of civilians.”

For more information, please see:

Associated Press – U.S.-Afghan Probe Confirms Civilian Deaths in Battle – 9 May 2009

BBC News – Afghan Death Toll Not Confirmed – 9 May 2009

Reuters – U.S. Committed to Defeating al Qaeda – 7 May 2009