BEIJING, China – In a statement released on Tuesday, film director Steven Spielberg announced his withdrawal as artistic adviser for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Mr. Spielberg accused China of not doing enough to resolve the crisis in Darfur, saying “I have made repeated efforts to encourage the Chinese government to use its unique influence to bring safety and stability to the Darfur region of Sudan. Although some progress has been made [the situation] continues to worsen and the violence continues to accelerate.”

At least 200,000 people have been killed and two million forced from their homes in the five-year conflict.

Actress Mia Farrow, who has campaigned against what she calls the “Genocide Olympics,” praised Mr. Spielberg’s decision, hoping it would influence others to drop out of the Olympic Games.

In response, the Chinese Embassy in Washington called Mr. Spielberg and Ms. Farrow’s actions unfair for linking the Games to Darfur. They said the event should not be politicized.

Although human rights groups have applauded Mr. Spielberg’s decision, some are unhappy with the focus on Darfur alone. Richard Just of The New Republic said Mr. Spielberg made it seem “as if Darfur were the only reason one might think twice about serving as a propagandist for the Beijing Olympics.”

For more information, please see:

Reuters – Olympics – EU rights champion backs Spielberg over Games – 13 February 2008

The New York Times – Mia Farrow Gains Ground in Campaign Against Beijing Games – 13 February 2008

BBC News – Spielberg in Darfur snub to China – 13 February 2008

DAEGU, South Korea – As part of an effort to reform its legal system, a nine-member jury trial was held on Tuesday for the first time in South Korea’s legal history.

The new juries will only be used in certain criminal cases. Its findings are non-binding, however, and judges will retain the final say in verdicts and sentences.

South Korea’s judicial system is considered by many to be outdated, a remnant of its former authoritarian rule. The system is undergoing gradual changes since the National Assembly agreed last May to introduce changes including giving testimony and evidence greater weight.

Following the trial, the court president said the innovation was “a significant step to not only improve human rights, but also to win the public’s trust.”

For more information, please see:

The Korea Times – Nation’s First Trial by Jury Held at Daegu District Court – 12 February 2008

BBC – S Korea holds first trial by jury 12 February 2008

Economic Times – South Korea launches jury system – 12 February 2008

By Juliana Chan
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

YANGON, Myanmar – Myanmar’s military government announced on Saturday they would hold a referendum on a new constitution in May and general elections in 2010.

The United States and pro-democracy activists in Myanmar have denounced the regime’s plans for “its lack of seriousness about an open and fair process for the restoration of democracy.”

Dana Perino, White House spokeswoman, said the problem was not the setting of the date for elections, but  with the regime’s non-transparent and exclusive processes. “The drafting process for the constitution does not incorporate the views of opposition parties or all ethnic groups, nor does this timeframe allow for adequate debate on the pros and cons of the proposed constitution.”

Sean McCormack, State Department spokesman, said the proposed constitution was a “sham referendum [drafted] in a closed process by a hand-picked committee dominated by senior regime officials.” The proposal includes non-democratic features, including a ban on pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyifrom running for office because she married a foreigner. “No referendum held under these conditions […] can be free, fair, or credible,” Mr. McCormack added.

Saturday’s announcement is widely seen as an attempt to deflect international pressure after last September’s suppression of pro-democracy protesters that killed at least 31 people. The junta has also failed to meet pledges it made to begin talks on political changes.

If elections are held, however, it would be the first since 1990, when Ms. Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy won a landslide victory that the junta ignored.

For more information, please see:

AFP – Activists reject Myanmar charter, fear violence during vote 11 February 2008

Bloomberg – Myanmar Elections Plan ‘Not Satisfactory’ to U.S. – 11 February 2008

Reuters – U.S. assails Myanmar election pledge; U.N. cautious – 12 February 2008

AP – Myanmar Activists Denounce Planned Polls – 11 February 2008

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka- A new report released by Amnesty International (AI) has found that threats to media freedom are very serious in Sri Lanka, and have been since the civil war resumed in 2006.  AI is concerned that the Sri Lanka government is not meeting its obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Many reporters have been illegally detained under recently enacted Emergency Regulations.  Not only are reporters’ rights threatened, but so are their lives.  In just the past two years, at least 10 journalists, mostly Tamil, have been killed and others have been abducted and tortured.  According to AI, the people responsible have not been punished by the government.

For more information, please see:

Amnesty International – Sri Lanka: Silencing Dissent – 7 February 2008

Impunity Watch – Sri Lanka: Poor Human Rights Record Noted on Day of Independence – 3 February 2008

By Kristy Tridhavee
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia – Nuon Chea made his first public appearance at the Khmer Rouge Tribunal in a hearing regarding his bail. Nuon Chea’s attorneys requested the tribunal release him on bail pending trial because authorities interrogated him without his attorneys. During the bail hearing, victims from the Khmer Rouge regime also spoke.

A victim who survived the Khmer Rouge regime’s atrocities participated in the hearings to argue against releasing Nuon Chea on bail. Theary Seng, a Cambodian-American who is now a lawyer, told the tribunal of her experiences under the regime as a child. She said, “My brother, who was younger than me, and I were put in prison under Mr. Nuon Chea’s regime. We were not informed of our rights. There was no due process and we were arrested arbitrarily. They treated us inhumanely — for us, the graveyard was our playground. Here Mr. Nuon Chea is afforded all the protection of the best legal principles and ideals (in) both domestic and international law.”

Theary Seng’s testimony marks an important event in international law. Helen Jarvis, a tribunal spokeswoman, referred to the appearance of regime survivors “historic.” She continued, “To actually stand across the room from someone who a victim feels is responsible for their suffering is very important and at the leading edge of international justice.”

Victims have also submitted complaints regarding the regime’s crimes to the tribunal. Since October 2007, the tribunal has received about 500 complaints. Presently, the complaints are being scanned, processed, and analyzed. They also will be sent Co-Investigating Judges for use in their investigations. Co-Prosecutors will determine if the complaints will warrant new investigations. Robert Petit, one of the tribunal prosecutors, said, “Information received from victims is crucial to our success. The Court is lucky that so many people have come forward and submitted complaints, because it gives us a lot of information to work with.”

During the first public hearing Nuon Chea did not react to Theary Seng’s accounts and instead spoke about Cambodia’s present growth and presence in the world community. He said, “My fellow Cambodians, today Cambodia is enjoying peace, solidarity and national reconciliation and its development is improving gradually. But difficulties remain due to the influence of foreign countries that are hindering Cambodia’s growth.” Nuon Chea also praised PrimeMinster Hun Sea, an ex-Khmer Rouge fighter who defected to Vietnam in the late 1970’s. He later returned to Cambodia with the Vietnamese invasion in 1979.

The Khmer Rouge Tribunal is expected to rule on Nuon Chea’s bail request in the next few days. However, it is highly unlikely he will be released because of dangers to his life from surviving victims and the risk he may flee.

For more information, please see:

AFP – Khmer Rouge Victim Confronts Regime Leader in Court – 8 February 2008

Reuters – Pol Pot Number Two Blames Outsiders for Ills – 8 February 2008

UN News Centre – UN-backed Tribunal Processing over 500 Khmer Rouge Victims’ Complaints – 7 February 2008