KABUL, Afghanistan – Afghan children fleeing their war-torn home country are facing danger as they make their way through Iran and Eastern European countries.  Many of these children’s parents have paid smugglers to bring them to a safe country, and as they travel alone they are being preyed upon by traffickers.

This is particularly a problem in the port city of Petras, Greece, where many of these children are camped hoping to sneak on to ferries going to Western Europe.  Recently, police in Petras raided one of these camps; the children living there scattered across the city, causing them to become even more vulnerable to trafficking.  The United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Refugees has called the situation in Petras a “humanitarian crisis” and the UN office in Greece has asked for immediate support for the children.  Authorities in Petras refuse to offer assistance to the children because they fear that the city will become an even larger magnet for refugees.

The Afghan government has been criticized recently for its inability to address human rights in its country.  Because it cannot protect these children in Afghanistan, they are fleeing to other countries and facing many dangers along the way.

For more information, please see:

Impunity Watch – Impunity in Afghanistan: UN Statement – 19 March 2008

International Herald Tribune – Afghanistan’s youngest migrants adrift on the road to asylum – 24 March 2008

By Ariel Lin
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

KATHMANDU, Nepal – UN officials reports Nepalese police stopped two separate protests by Tibetan exiles and monks in Katmandu, and arrested 475 protesters on Monday as they gathered to protest the recent crackdown on Tibetans in China.  The UN human rights office in Nepal said the arrested included some prominent Nepali human rights activists who joined the protests.

Chanting “China, stop killings in Tibet. UN, we want justice,” the protesters were marching toward the UN offices when police stopped them and snatched their banners.  The protest in Katmandu by 200 Tibetan refugees and monks was broken up by police, who beat them with bamboo sticks and arrested scores, dragging them to trucks and vans to be taken to police stations. Police official Sarad Karki said about 245 demonstrators were arrested in the protest.

Police also stopped a second protest near Singhadurbar, where the prime minister’s office and all government ministries are located, but less force was used.  Police official Sarvendra Khanal said 155 protesters were arrested there.

The UN human rights office said it was deeply concerned at the arbitrary arrests and detentions of several hundred individuals. “These actions by police violate individuals’ basic rights to freedom from arbitrary detention and freedom of movement, in addition to impairing the individuals’ rights to peaceful assembly and expression,” the UN said in a statement.

The Nepali government denied it was using excessive force, saying it was only trying to stop political activities by Tibetans.  “We will not allow any anti-China activities in Nepal and will stop it. The allegations that excessive force was used to break these protests are baseless,” said Modraj Dotel, Nepal’s home ministry spokesman.

For more information, please see:

AP – Nepal Police Arrest Tibetan Protesters – 24 March 2008

CBC News – 400 Tibetan supporters arrested in Kathmandu – 24 March 2008

FOX News – Nepalese Police Beat Back Monks, Refugees in Tibetan Protest; About 475 Arrested – 24 March 2008

Reuters – Tibetans protest in Nepal, 250 detained – 24 March 2008

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – In the aftermath of the Barisan National Party’s loss in recent elections, Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi has begun to initiate reforms to promote transparency and accountability. Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi announced that ministers would have to declare their assets and created a smaller 68-member cabinet. In downsizing the cabinet, many unpopular political heavyweights were pushed out, but despite the smaller cabinet, the prime minister included some of his staunchest critics in the cabinet. Human rights lawyer and Bar Council deputy chairman Ragu Kesavan said, “This type of reformist cabinet is long overdue. It seems that the poll losses have forced Badawi to bring in new faces. But will he give them the power and the scope to make changes.”

For more information, please see:

Impunity Watch – UPDATE: Malaysians Protest and Call for Prime Minister’s Resignation After Unprecedented Elections – 14 March 2008

Impunity Watch – Barisan National Party Wins Simple Majority – 8 March 2008

Inter Press Service – Malaysia: Poll Setback Finally Prompts Reforms – 20 March 2008

By Kristy Tridhavee
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Asia

DHAKA, Bangladesh – Veterans from Bangladesh’s war of independence in 1971 have called for war trials. Many allege that their fellow countrymen, who sided with Pakistan at the time, are responsible for thousands of civilian deaths. Former commanders have called for many influential politicians to be tried, including Jamaat-e-Islami who is the leader of Bangladesh’s largest party. To this day, Jamaat-e-Islami’s party calls the war a civil war between Pakistanis and deny a war of liberation ever took place.

The veterans rallied under the banner of the Bangladesh Liberation War Sector Commanders’ Forum. Many veterans that spoke told of their anguish and anger over the long delay in bringing the war criminals to justice. Many of those that attended the forum said they had witnessed Pakistani forces and their collaborators within the country commit much of the carnage. Dr. Mustafisa Rahman, a medic in the Bangladeshi forces, said of the collaborators: “They raped our mothers, they killed our brothers and sisters, they burned our houses, they have done everything.”

The war took place over nine months in 1971 and was won quickly with the support of India. Today, the veterans of the war are considered national heroes. During the brief but bloody war, nearly 3 million people lost their lives.

For more information, please see:

BBC – Calls for Bangladesh War Trials – 21 March 2008

Independent Bangladesh – Convention on War Trials March 21 – 19 March 2008

Reuters – Bangladesh Commanders Demand War Crime Trial – 21 March 2008

By Ariel Lin
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

BEIJING, China – Hundreds of paramilitary troops converged on foot, trucks and helicopters to Tibetan areas.  At least 80 trucks were seen traveling along the main road through the mountains into southeastern Tibet. Others set up camp and patrolled streets in riot gear, helmets and rifles in small towns across a wide swath of western China.  The troop mobilization was helping authorities reassert control after the massive demonstrations by Tibetans against Chinese rule in decades.  Led by Buddhist monks, protests began peacefully in Lhasa but erupted into rioting March 14, drawing a harsh response from Chinese authorities.  Demonstrations had also spread across Tibetan areas of Sichuan, Gansu and Qinghai provinces in support of protests that started in the Tibetan capital of Lhasa.

Yesterday, the government also issued a “Most Wanted” list of 21 rioters by posting their photos taken from video cameras and security footage on major Internet portals.  The official Xinhua News Agency said two of the 21 suspects had already been arrested and a third turned himself in.  They will be charged with “endangering national security, beating, smashing, looting and burning,” in Lhasa.  Authorities also called on the public for help, offering rewards for information and guaranteeing the anonymity of tipsters.  China also has admitted for the first time that its police have opened fire on four Tibetan protesters, but it insisted that the gunfire was in self-defense.

China’s response to riots in Tibet drew worldwide attention to China’s human rights record, and threatens to overshadow China’s attempts to project an image of unity and prosperity for the Olympics in August.  The United Nations’ top human rights body is facing calls to break its silence over China’s crackdown in Tibet and send investigators to the Himalayan region Beijing has closed off to foreigners and journalists.

US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi met with the Dalai Lama in India and called on the world to denounce China’s crackdown in Tibet.  She dismissed China’s claim that the Dalai Lama was behind the violence in Tibet, as making “no sense.”  Chinese government made its unhappiness clear concerning Nancy Pelosi meeting the Dalai Lama and her statements on Tibet.  The Chinese government warned against any meddling in its “internal affairs” by “any country, organization and person”.  Chinese officials also expressed “grave concerns” toward British Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s upcoming meeting with the Dalai Lama.  Also, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier has called on China to be open about the situation in Tibet.

However, leaders of numerous countries around the world including Vietnam, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Pakistan and others have also voiced their support for the Chinese government’s efforts to safeguard territorial integrity and national unity in the face of the recent riots in Tibet.  Moreover, Many overseas Chinese groups in South Korea, the United States, Mexico and Egypt as well as Chinese-language newspapers have condemned the riots in Tibet.

For more information, please see:

AP – Chinese Troops Converge in Tibetan Areas – 21 March 2008

AP – China Blankets Tibetan Areas With Troops – 21 March 2008

AP – Pelosi Denounces China’s Tibet Crackdown – 21 March 2008

BBC – Top US lawmaker meets Dalai Lama – 21 March 2008

Canadian Press – China warns British PM about planned meeting with Dalai Lama – 20 March 2008

New York Times – China Admits to Wounding 4 Tibetan Demonstrators – 21 March 2008

Reuters – CHRONOLOGY-Day-by-day record of Tibet protests – 21 March 2008

Reuters – China’s torch climbers denounce Tibet protests – 21 March 2008

Recuters – Germany urges China to open up on Tibet – 21 March 2008

XiHua – Foreign leaders support China’s efforts to defend territorial integrity, national unity – 21 March 2008

XiHua – Overseas Chinese groups, Chinese-language media condemn riots in Tibet – 20 March 2008

XiHua – Vietnam, Cambodia, Bangladesh support China’s actions to stabilize Tibet – 21 March 2008