TASHKENT, Uzbekistan – After reviewing sanctions placed on Uzbekistan for human rights violations surrounding the Andijan Massacre in 2005 (see Impunity Watch article here), the EU has decided to keep the sanctions suspended.  EU foreign ministers remain seriously concerned about human rights protections in Uzbekistan, but believe the sanctions should remain suspended due to progress made by the government by abolishing the death penalty and releasing some rights activists.

For more information, please see:

Impunity Watch – BRIEF: EU Reviews Sanctions on Uzbek Government for Human Rights Violations – 29 April 2008

Reuters – EU keeps sanctions on Uzbekistan suspended – 29 April 2008

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan – Pakistan’s coalition government leaders are meeting today to discuss reinstating the judges fired by President Pervez Musharraf during his declaration of emergency rule in late 2007.  By removing the judges, many believe Musharraf greatly abused his power and it has been a significant issue in Pakistani politics since.

When the coalition was formed in February after the parliamentary election (see Impunity Watch article here), it vowed to reinstate the judges by the end of April.  However, the coalition parties are struggling to resolve their differences and thus have not been able to reach a conclusion.  Analysts believe that the shaky coalition’s future rests on its ability to resolve this problem, and the future of Pakistan’s democracy is strongly connected to the coalition.

For more information, please see:

BBC News – Crisis talks over Pakistan judges – 30 April 2008

Impunity Watch – UPDATE: Pakistan Opposition Parties Form Coalition Government – 22 February 2008

International Herald Tribune – Pakistan’s leaders close to deadline in talks on reinstating sacked judges – 30 April 2008

HANOI, Vietnam – The Vietnamese government has decided to end its adoption agreement with the US after recent allegations of widespread corruption and baby-selling.

The Vietnamese government stated it will stop taking applications received after July 1^st, but it will continue to processing applications for families matched prior to that date. The end of the adoption agreement between the countries will close 42 adoption agencies operating in Vietnam.

Days earlier the US released a report accusing Vietnam of adoption fraud, baby-selling, and bribery. The US Embassy report described brokers coercing poor mothers in small villages, hospitals selling babies whose parents cannot pay their medical bills, a grandmother giving her grandchild up for adoption without the parents knowing, and cash-donations diverted for personal uses.

During the announcement, Head of Ministry’s Department for International Child Adoption, Vu Doc Long, noted that Vietnam law is quite “strict” and “transparent” in the adoption field. In an interview to the Vietnam News Agency a day earlier, Vu Doc Long also commented that the US report contained “slanderous” and “distorted” information.

For more information, please see:

Impunity Watch – United States Accuses Vietnam of Widespread Adoption Fraud – 25 April 2008

The Washington Post – US Allegations Prompts Vietnam to Halt Adoption Program – 29 April 2008

VietNam Net – Vietnam Not to Renew Adoption Agreement with US – 30 April 2008

TASHKENT, Uzbekistan – This week, the European Union (EU) begins its twice-yearly review of the current sanctions placed on Uzbekistan and it will decide whether the current suspension on those sanctions should continue.  The sanctions were originally instated in response to the Andijan Massacre, an incident in 2005 when the Uzbek government fired into a crowd of protesters, killing hundreds and then allegedly hiding the bodies in mass graves.

When the EU originally placed sanctions on Uzbekistan, it had also demanded that an independent international investigation be conducted.  The investigation has not yet taken place.

As the sanction review takes place this week, human rights organizations are demanding that the EU reinstate sanctions, assure that an investigation take place, and remember why they imposed sanctions initially.  They point out that if the EU does not do these things, it will be condoning impunity in Uzbekistan.

However, many expect that the suspension on the sanctions will continue due to recent positive steps taken by the Uzbek government.  If that is true, then the sanctions will likely become insignificant as they expire in October 2008 and will not likely be renewed due to the lack of support by many EU states.

“The EU cannot forget why it imposed sanctions on Uzbekistan in the first place – to push for an independent investigation of the killing of hundreds of people protesting against the government,” stated Natalia Alonso, Deputy Director at Amnesty International’s EU office.  She noted that three years had passed and the “families of the [Andijan] victims are still waiting for justice.”

For more information, please see:

Amnesty International – Uzbekistan: EU must not forget the mass killings of Andizhan – 28 April 2008

Human Rights Watch – Keep the Momentum for Rights Reform in Uzbekistan – 26 April 2008

By Ariel Lin
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

YANGON, Myanmar – In Myanmar’s largest city, security was tightened as rumors spread that pro-democracy activists would launch protests against an upcoming referendum on a draft constitution.  Riot police and junta supporters carrying batons were deployed at major road junctions and Buddhist monuments.  Dissidents in Myanmar and exile groups have urged voters to vote against the constitution, saying it is merely a ploy to perpetuate more than four decades of military rule.

Hundreds of Myanmar nationals living overseas said “No” to the country’s proposed new constitution. In Singapore, about 500 Myanmar nationals wearing red or t-shirts with the word “No”, gathered outside the Myanmar embassy to protest against the country’s proposed new constitution.  They were prevented from voting on their country’s draft constitution when they refused demands from embassy personnel to remove T-shirts.  “It’s a sham referendum,” said Myo Mying Maung, spokesman for the Overseas Burmese Patriots.  He urged everyone to vote ‘no’ “because the draft constitution is for a sham democracy”.  A  student said. “It’s not for a true and real democracy as all the terms in the constitution are biased toward the military regime.”

In Tokyo, at least 150 Myanmar citizens were protesting at the Burmese embassy, demanding that all Burmese expatriates be allowed to vote in the referendum.  Several demonstrators were injured and one man arrested during scuffles with Japanese police.  In Thailand, the demonstrators, organized by the Joint Action Committee for Democracy in Burma, chanted slogans against the May 10 referendum. Protest organizers called the vote a ploy to help Burma’s ruling generals keep their grip on power.

Meanwhile, the European Parliament is scheduled to hold a debate on Burma this week in Strasbourg and will vote on a new resolution which would exert more pressure on the Burmese military junta, according to the parliament’s official website.  These measures included a ban on the import of gemstones, timber and precious metal.

For more information, please see:

AP – Security tightened in Myanmar amid possible demonstration – 27 April 2008

AFP – Myanmar nationals in Singapore signal ‘no’ as they wait to vote – 27 April 2008

Bangkok Post – Burma bars anti-constitution group from voting – 27 April 2008

Bloomberg – Myanmar Nationals in Singapore, Indonesia Vote on Constitution – 27 April 2008

Reuters – Myanmar nationals protest constitution in Singapore – 27 April 2008