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

By Kristy Tridhavee
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

DAMAK, Nepal – Nepal has issued the first set of exit permits to Bhutan refugees who have voluntarily chosen resettlement. About 107,000 refugees have been living in Nepal for the last 17 years in refugee camps. The refugees fled Bhutan in 1990’s because of persecution from the royal family.

The first set of exit permits allows refugees to resettle in third countries. TheUnited States has agreed to accept up to 60,000 refugees. Canada has indicated it will accept up to 5,000 refugees. Australia, Denmark, theNetherlands, New Zealand, and Norway have also shown interest in taking refugees.

Voluntary resettlement is a decisive issue among the refugees. Although some have agreed to be moved to third countries, others vow to regain their citizenship in Bhutan. There have been reports of clashes between the two groups. Some refugees have faced intimidations since the plans of resettlement were announced last November. Soon after, US Assistant Secretary of State Population, Refugees and Migration, Ellen Sauerbrey requested more security from Nepalese officials. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) also said, “While resettlement offers a welcome solution for those who voluntarily choose this option after 17 years in the camps, the UN refugee agency will continue to advocate for the option of voluntary return to Bhutan for those refugees who wish to do so.”

However, the UNHCR has welcomed the issuance of exit permits. A UNHCR statement read, “It was an important step towards finding a solution to the 17-year-old refugees’ problem. Thousands of Bhutanese refugees have applied for third country resettlement and the UNHCR has submitted the details of 10,000 refugees for resettlement to different countries.”

Presently, the refugees are in the midst of the resettlement process. Some are undergoing interviews and extensive medical exams while others are taking part in culture orientation programs.

According to estimates, the first refugees will arrive in the United States in March. A larger group will then exit Nepal in July.

For more information, please see:

The Himalayan Times – First Batch of Bhutanese Refugees to Leave for the United States by March – 4 February 2008

The Hindu – Nepal Issues Exit Permits to Bhutanese Refugees – 4 February 2008

Nepal News – Nepal Issues Exit Permits to Bhutanese Refugees for Third Country Resettlement – 4 February 2008

By Kristy Tridhavee
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

DAMAK, Nepal – Nepal has issued the first set of exit permits to Bhutan refugees who have voluntarily chosen resettlement. About 107,000 refugees have been living in Nepal for the last 17 years in refugee camps. The refugees fled Bhutan in 1990’s because of persecution from the royal family.

The first set of exit permits allows refugees to resettle in third countries. TheUnited States has agreed to accept up to 60,000 refugees. Canada has indicated it will accept up to 5,000 refugees. Australia, Denmark, theNetherlands, New Zealand, and Norway have also shown interest in taking refugees.

Voluntary resettlement is a decisive issue among the refugees. Although some have agreed to be moved to third countries, others vow to regain their citizenship in Bhutan. There have been reports of clashes between the two groups. Some refugees have faced intimidations since the plans of resettlement were announced last November. Soon after, US Assistant Secretary of State Population, Refugees and Migration, Ellen Sauerbrey requested more security from Nepalese officials. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) also said, “While resettlement offers a welcome solution for those who voluntarily choose this option after 17 years in the camps, the UN refugee agency will continue to advocate for the option of voluntary return to Bhutan for those refugees who wish to do so.”

However, the UNHCR has welcomed the issuance of exit permits. A UNHCR statement read, “It was an important step towards finding a solution to the 17-year-old refugees’ problem. Thousands of Bhutanese refugees have applied for third country resettlement and the UNHCR has submitted the details of 10,000 refugees for resettlement to different countries.”

Presently, the refugees are in the midst of the resettlement process. Some are undergoing interviews and extensive medical exams while others are taking part in culture orientation programs.

According to estimates, the first refugees will arrive in the United States in March. A larger group will then exit Nepal in July.

For more information, please see:

The Himalayan Times – First Batch of Bhutanese Refugees to Leave for the United States by March – 4 February 2008

The Hindu – Nepal Issues Exit Permits to Bhutanese Refugees – 4 February 2008

Nepal News – Nepal Issues Exit Permits to Bhutanese Refugees for Third Country Resettlement – 4 February 2008