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

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

By Kristy Tridhavee
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Asia

YANGON, Myanmar – The United Nations [UN] special envoy to Myanmar reported that its last visit to the country was its most disappointing yet because senior government leaders refused to meet with them. Ibrahim Gambari, a representative from the envoy, commented, “Whereas each of my previous visits produced some tangible result that could be built upon, it is a source of disappointment that this latest visit did not yield any immediate tangible outcome.”

The only thing the UN special envoy was able to do was leave a list of UN recommendations for international monitoring that would enhance the “credibility and inclusiveness” of the democracy project the military junta says it is undertaking. The Myanmar government has begun to implement a seven-step process called “a road map to democracy.”

Critics, however, believe the plan will only guarantee continued military dominance. The “road map to democracy” calls for elections in 2010 and bars participation by Aung San Suu Kyi. Aung San Suu Kyi is a leader of the National League of Democracy, and she has been under house arrest for 18 years intermittently. During the UN special envoy’s visit, Ibrahim Gambari met withAung San Suu Kyi, and during the visit she urged that there could be no reconciliation until she was treated as partner in the dialogue.

US Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad also expressed disappointment with the constitutional and referendum process. The draft of the constitution had yet to be distributed, and there are laws prevented debate concerning it. The UN will attempt to introduce a draft statement based on its concerns and lack of progress on important issues. However, U.N. Ambassador U Kyaw Tint Swe said that “no Security Council action is warranted with regard to Myanmar.”

Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej made his first visit to Burma and made controversial comments, which were quite contrary to the UN’s reactions. During his weekly TV program, the prime minister said, “Killings and suppressions are normal there but we have to know the facts.” He went on to praise the Senior General Than Shwe. He then went on to add, “And Senior (Gen) Than Shwe practices meditation. He says he prays in the morning … and the country has been in peace and order.” Senior General Than Shwe ordered troops and riot police to fire at peaceful street protestors, which were lead by thousands of Buddhist monks.

For more information, please see:

AP – UN Envoy Disappointed with Myanmar Trip – 18 March 2008

International Herald Tribune – UN Envoy Disappointed by Myanmar Visit – 19 March 2008

Inter Press Service – Thailand Queers ASEAN’s Burma Pitch – 19 March 2008