By Shayne R. Burnham
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

KARACHI, Pakistan – Pervez Chachar and his wife, Humera Kambo, are the latest example of the prevalence of “honor killings” as a tradition and custom. Chachar and his wife have been living in a room at a local police station for the past four months. They fear that their families would kill them.

Chachar stated, “I know they will kill her and I have to protect her.”

When Kambo’s family first learned that she married without their permission, Kambo was abducted by her family and Chachar was beaten. They were angered that she married a man from a rival tribe.

Generally in rural Pakistani society, actions such as marriage without the permission of the family are justification for death. Other acts by daughters that are deemed shameful include supposed illicit relationships, for marrying men of their choice and for divorcing abusive husbands. Additionally, being raped also brings shame to the family.

After the killings of 5 teenagers buried alive who wanted to choose their own husbands, a Pakistani lawmaker defended the tradition.

“These are centuries-old traditions and I will continue to defend them,” said Israr Ullah Zehri. “Only those who indulge in immoral acts should be afraid.”

Zehri also told Parliament that traditions in the Baluch province helped to stop obscenity. Most stated that the executions were “barbaric” while others said that such matters ought to be left to the people of the province.

The United Nations has estimated that 5,000 people, the majority of which are women, are killed as a result of honor killings in South Asia and the Middle East. Many go unreported and without punishment.

In a report, Amnesty International stated, “While recognizing the importance of cultural diversity, [we] stand resolutely in defense of the universality of human rights, particularly the most fundamental rights to life and freedom from torture and ill-treatment. The role of the state is to ensure the full protection of these rights, where necessary mediating ‘tradition’ through education and the law.”

For more information, please see:

Amnesty International – Pakistan: Honour Killings of Girls and Women – 1 September 1999

Associated Press – Pakistani Lawmaker Defends Honor Killings – 30 August 2008

Reuters – Pakistani Newlyweds Live in Fear of Honor Killing – 22 January 2009

By Pei Hu
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

NAYPYIDAW, Burma – 19 North Koreans that were arrested in Burma for trying to defect to South Korea through Burma and Thailand were released by Burmese authorities.  Of the group, 15 were women and there was one seven-year-old boy. Instead of being jailed or deported back to North Korea, the refugees are now in detained in Thailand.

On December 2, 2008, Burmese authorities detained 19 North Koreans refugees near the Thai border for illegal entry.  Initially, Burma was going to try the North Korean refugees who can face up to three years in jail for illegal entry. However, refugee sympathizers and NGOs pressured the Burmese government to release the North Korean refugees and not to send them back to North Korea.

Burmese officials offered no comment on this issue. Burma has been trying to renovate strained ties with North Korea that was restored in 2007.

A Thai immigration official told Korea Times that the North Korean refugees surrendered to Thai authorities right away and said, “They were asking for political asylum in South Korea.”

He continued, “The South Korean embassy in Bangkok would have to notify us that their asylum applications were accepted, and then there must be an NGO group to give these refugees further assistance to reach their goal.”

Thailand does not formally recognize asylum seekers as refugees. However, Thai officials turnover many asylum seekers to NGOs and refugees groups that help asylum seekers settle in another country.

Thousands of North Koreans have fled North Korea due to property and political oppression.  Many of these refugees travel through China or Southeast Asia before seeking asylum in South Korea. South Korea is currently home to about 14,000 North Korean defectors.

For more information, please see:

BBC – Burma Frees North Korean Refugees – 1 January 2009

Irrawaddy –19 North Koreans Arrested at Thai-Burmese Border – 22 December 2008

Korea Times – Burma Sends 19 North Koreans to Thailand – 4 January 2009

By Ariel Lin
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

YANGON, Myanmar – Chin, an ethnic group living in Myanmar’s western Chin state.  About 90 percent of Chin is Christian, account for about one percent of Myanmar’s 57 million people.  The Chin National Front (CNF) rebel group is still fighting the junta. The recent Human Rights Watch report shows a wide range of human rights abuses carried out by the Myanmar Junta.  The abuses include forced labor, arbitrary arrests and detention, torture, religious repression and other restrictions on fundamental freedoms.  According to the report, tens of thousands of Chin flee across the border to India, and some of them were forced to return home.  Human Rights Watch called the Indian government to extend protection to Chin who have fled to the country to escape ongoing abuse in Myanmar.

The report is based on extensive research and interviews carried out from 2005 to 2008.  Human Rights Watch interviewed Chin who are currently living in Chin state, and who fled the country permanently, most in recent years.  A Chin man who fled to India told the group, “They tortured me and put me in jail for one week. They beat me on my head and ears — I still have a hearing problem. Then the army forced me to work at road construction and repair the army camp.”

Elaine Pearson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch said ethnic groups like the Chin have borne the brunt of abusive military rule in Burma for too long.  “It is time for this brutal treatment to stop and for the army to be held to account for its actions. India should step forward to protect those desperately seeking sanctuary,” she adds.

Amy Alexander, a Human Rights Watch consultant, told at a press conference the Myanmar Junta targeted anyone suspected of links to the CNF.  Religious suppression was also rampant in Chin State, the only predominantly Christian state in mainly Buddhist Myanmar.  “The military government regularly interferes with worship services… and also destroys religious symbols and buildings,” she says.

For more information, please see:

AP – Report: Myanmar’s Chin people persecuted – 27 January 2009

AFP – Myanmar abusing Christian Chin minority: rights group – 27 January 2009

BBC – Burma’s ‘abused Chin need help’ – 28 January 2009

Human Rights Watch – Burma/India: End Abuses in Chin State – 28 January 2009

By Ariel Lin
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

BEIJING, China – Chinese authorities launched a 42-day “strike hard” campaign in Tibet since Jan. 18, 2009.  According to the Chinese-language state-run Lhasa Evening News, “Within three days of the launch of the winter “Strike Hard” campaign, the Lhasa municipal public security bureau had deployed 600 officers and around 160 police vehicles, and had conducted raids on seven housing blocks, 2,922 rented houses, 14 guest house and hotels, 18 bars and three Internet cafés in Lhasa.”

The authorities in Lhasa had rounded up and interrogated 5,766 Tibetans in the first three days of the campaign.  Dharamsala-based Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) contends that the main objective of the campaign is probably to find participants in last year’s Lhasa unrest.  TCHRD assistant director Jampa Monlam said that police questioning is focused on last year’s March 14 demonstrations that turned into rioting in Lhasa.  “They are asking people where they were during the March 14 incident in Lhasa, whether they have an alibi, and so on. If you can’t prove where you were during that time, you will probably be detained.”

In addition, all visitors are required to apply for a temporary residence permit from the police if they wishes to stay for more than three days and less than a month in Lhasa, TCHRD said.

“Strike hard” campaign was first launched in China in 1983 to fight corruptions and crimes.  However, the motive of launching this campaign in China and in Tibet is very different.  The motive of launching such campaign in Tibet is to intimidate and eliminate those supporting Tibetan independence and human rights activists in Tibet.

For more information, please see:

Punjab Newsline – China grills 5766 Tibetans under winter “Strike Hard” campaign in Lhasa – 23 January 2009

Radio Free Asia – China ‘Strikes Hard’ in Tibet – 26 January 2009

Tibetan Review – 5,766 rounded up in Lhasa under winter ‘strike hard’ move – 26 January 2009

World News – 5766 Tibetan people questioned in winter ‘Strike Hard’ campaign – 24 January 2009