Asia

Bangladesh Border Guards End Their Mutiny

By Pei Hu
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

DHAKA, Bangladesh – Government officials say that the Bangladesh border guards that rebelled against the government over conditions and pay have surrendered. The mutiny began on February 25th at the Dhaka headquarters of a paramilitary unit called the Bangladesh Rifles.  An army helicopter patrolling above the barracks was shot at and mortar rounds were also fired.

By the next day, the mutiny spread to 12 different towns and cities where border guards seized control of their barracks. Police chief of the Moulivibazar district told the AFP news agency that the border guards were “firing indiscriminately.” Reports said some border guards took their officers hostage, and in others they forced them to leave. Schools in Dhaka and the surrounding areas were closed for the day and mobile phone service was suspended across the country in a bid to stop the rebellion spreading.

A government spokesperson said the situation is now under control despite sounds of gunfire in the capital. The situation in other parts of the country, where paramilitary forces remain at large is still unclear.

The mutinous border guards were demanding better wages and new bosses. They surrendered after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina warned the guards would face “tough action” if they didn’t surrender. “Lay down your guns immediately and go back to barracks … Do not force me to take tough actions or push my patience,” she said. On Thursday, tanks rolled into the capital to backup. About 50 people have died in the violence.

Hasina offered to pardon the guards if they surrender and return to the post. A representative of the guards told the media they were surrendering because the Prime Minister agreed to look into their grievances.

There are 70,000 border guards in 42 camps across the country. The border guards are responsible for securing boarders and provide backup for the army and police.

Indian border officials told the media they will close their borders near Bangladesh and remain vigilant.

For more information, please see:

BBC – Bangladesh Guard Mutiny is ‘Over’– 26 February 2009

FT – Amnesty deal ends border guard mutiny in Bangladesh – 26 February 2009

VOA – Bangladesh Say Mutinous Guards Surrender– 26 February 2009

Junta Released More Than 6000 Prisoners

By Ariel Lin
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

YANGON, Myanmar – Junta released more than 6,000 prisoners after the United Nations human rights rapporteur Tomas Ojea Quintana concluded his visit last week.  Several monks and pro-democracy members were among released prisoners, a party spokesperson and a rights group said.  State radio and television reports prisoners were being freed because of their good conduct in jails.  These prisoners also would be able to participate in a general election planned for next year.

However, according to Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, a Thailand-based rights group believes “it is just for show”.  “This group does not include any policy makers or other key players,” said Tate Naing, the group’s secretary.  National League for Democracy spokesperson Nyan Win said he was expecting to hear about additional NLD members freed.

The United Nations human rights rapporteur Tomas Ojea Quintana noting “The human rights situation in Myanmar is still challenging.”  During his visit, Mr. Quintana were not allow to meet with either Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of the opposition who is under house arrest, or Burma’s junta chief, Senior General Than Shwe.  Mr. Quintana’s mission to Myanmar is to push for the freedom of political prisoners – including Aung San Suu Kyi.  The Junta said that they would consider his recommendation, amending some national laws to be more in keeping with international standards.

At the same time, pressure is rising for U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to visit Myanmar again.  Aung San Suu Kyi and others have written a letter welcoming a possible visit by the secretary-general to “discuss a broad range of issues,” U.N. envoy Ibrahim Gambari told reporters after briefing the Security Council on his recent trip to Myanmar.  U.N. Security Council members said they would support a visit by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

For more information, please see:

AP – 19 political prisoners released from Myanmar jails – 22 February 2009

AP – Myanmar junta announces 6300 convicts to be freed – 20 February 2009

BBC – Burma rights still ‘challenging’ – 20 February 2009

Reuters – Political prisoners among 6,000 freed in Myanmar – 22 February 2009

Pakistan Agrees to Implement Sharia Law in Swat Valley Area

By Shayne R. Burnham
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

PESHAWAR, Pakistan – Pakistan has agreed to a peace deal with Taliban militants in the Swat Valley. The deal will lead to the enforcement of Islamic Sharia law in the Pakistan’s northwest region. In return the Taliban will lay down their arms permanently.

Historically, Swat has been a religious holiday destination. Since 2007, it has been under Taliban control. As a result, thousands of people have fled and schools have been burned. Although female education, music and dancing have already been prohibited and executions have taken place, militants in the Swat Valley have been pushing for a stricter Islamic law.

“Our whole struggle is for the enforcement of Shariah (Islamic) law,” Swat Taliban spokesman Muslim Khan said. “If this really brings us the implementation of Sharia, we will fully cooperate with it.”

Chief Minister of North West Frontier Province Ameer Hussain Hoti, said, “[The deal] was reached after realization that it was the demand of the people.

The agreement will force the provincial government to implement Sharia law in the Malakand division, which includes the Swat Valley. Civilians have been caught in between the military and Taliban fighting. At least 1,000 have died and thousands have been displaced.

Some critics believe that the peace deal is the beginning of Taliban rule in Pakistan, saying the deal will encourage the Taliban in other areas of the country to take more severe action. Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardaru said the Taliban had “a presence in huge amounts of land” in Pakistan and were trying to take over the county.

On the other hand, the government views it in strategy. The peace deal will stop the fighting in the Swat Valley area and thereby giving the government some breathing room.

Many people in the area prefer that the army retreat since they have failed to pacify Taliban insurgents and protect civilians.

For more information, please see:

Associated Press – Islamic Law to be Imposed in Parts of NW Pakistan – 16 February 2009

BBC – Pakistan Agrees Sharia Law Deal – 16 February 2009

Reuters – Pakistan:  Now or Never? – 16 February 2009

Nuns Shot While Escaping War Zone in Sri Lanka

By Shayne R. Burnham
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

TRINCOMALEE, Sri Lanka – The Liberation Tigers Tamil of Eelam (LTTE) shot at civilians as they were fleeing the rebel controlled territory on Thursday.

Two days earlier the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) helped ferried 240 sick and injured people by boat from Puttumatalan, a village controlled by the Tigers. They were taken to Trincomalee, the eastern port. One of the passengers was Sister Mary Colostica, a 74 year old Catholic nun.

Colostica, along with five other nuns, guided at least 2,000 civilians from village to village in search of food and safety from the war. She gave a first hand account from the war zone.

“When we tried to leave, the LTTE didn’t allow civilians to leave and said only we can leave.” Colostica said. “So we stayed back with the civilians.”

The ICRC said that 16 patients were killed in firings on Monday and another 160 patients were carried from Puttumtalan on Thursday.

The military said it had set up a 7 mile safety zone encompassing Puttumatalan and other villages along the coastline.

Sister Mary was shot and treated for shrapnel wounds. “At least 10 to 15 people die a day and no one is there to bury them,” she said. “The LTTE fired from close to civilians. We had objected, but that didn’t work.”

Sister Louise said that the LTTE shot at people when they begged to leave, “When we tried to escape with civilians, LTTE had fired at me. I got shot in my leg.”

Human rights organizations estimate there are at least 250,000 civilians still trapped in the stronghold.

The Tamil Tigers have consistently denied accusations that they are forcibly keeping civilians inside their territory. Instead they claim that civilians remain of their own free will. Some, they say, even follow them.

The Sri Lankan government refuses to enter into a cease-fire. Both sides deny targeting civilians and blame the other for their deaths.

The LTTE has been fighting a 25 year war with the government in order to secure a separate homeland for the ethnic Tamils.

For more information, please see:

Aljazeera.net – Tamil Tigers ‘Shoot’ at Civilians – 12 February 2009

AsiaNews – Religious Personnel Under Wanni Bombings – 10 February 2009

Reuters – Wounded Sri Lankans, Nuns Make Narrow Escape From War – 12 February 2009

Another Journalist Attacked in Nepal

By Pei Hu
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

KATHMANDU, Nepal – Gyanendra Raj Mishra, a program coordinator for Garima FM, an independent FM radio station, was shot and wounded in the town of Birguni. Unidentified gunmen riding a motorcycle shot and wounded Mishra while riding in Southern Nepal. Police say the attack on Mishra is the latest of a series of attacks on journalists in Nepal.

Mishra had just left work before he was attacked. He was passing by Narayani Rangashala, one of the most prominent public places in Southern Nepal.  Mishra was shot in the right hand by unidentified gunmen in front of dozens of witnesses. He was rushed to the Narayani regional hospital for treatment.

Shambhu Shah, a police spokesperson said “[Mishra’s] condition is not critical and he has returned home after treatment at a hospital.”

Police say the motive behind the shooting is unclear. The attack on Mishra is the latest attack on journalists in Southern Nepal. Uma Singh, a young journalist working in Southern Nepal was brutally stabbed to death.

Thousands of people have joined in Uma Singh’s funeral procession.  She had spoken about the plight of workers in south-east Nepal as well as gender and caste discrimination. In an interview last year Uma spoke about the difficulties of working as a journalist in Nepal.  Last month she was killed by a group of 15 men who attacked her with knives and sharp objects. Neighbors of Uma heard the killers say, “This is for writing so much.” The perpetrators are still at large.

Nepal’s media is frequently under attack when the country was at civil war in the 1990’s. Both the Maoist and security forces attacked journalists. Though the civil war ended three years ago and Nepal became a democratic federal republic, Nepal still remains deadly for journalists. Since 2006 four have been killed.

For more information, please see:

BBC – Thousands Mourn Nepal Journalist– 13 January 2009

Reuters –Journalist Shot and Wounded in Nepal– 20 February 2009

Times of India – Democratic Nepal Still Deadly for Journalist– 19 February 2009