By Christine Khamis

News Desk Reporter, Asia

 

BAKU, Azerbaijan –

Leyla Yunus, a prominent human rights activist in Azerbaijan, was released from prison on Wednesday. An appellate court in Baku decided to suspect the charges against Ms. Yunus, which included alleged fraud and tax evasion and placed her on a five-year probationary period.

The suspension of Ms. Yunus’s sentence does not mean that the charges against her will be dropped. At this time, her guilty verdict still stands. Additionally, Ms. Yunus and her husband Arif Yunus, also an activist, still face treason charges which are part of another case against them.

Ms. Yunus was initially imprisoned in July 2014 and received an 8 ½ year sentence for the alleged crimes of fraud and tax evasion. Mr. Yunus was charged for similar crimes and was sentenced to time in prison as well. She and Mr. Yunus were also charged with alleged treason for spying for Armenia. Both worked for the Peace and Democracy Institute in Baku.

Ms. Yunus suffers from illnesses of diabetes and hepatitis C and was released primarily due to her deteriorating health. During her time in prison, Ms. Yunus says that she was also beaten severely by prison guards. Mr. Yunus, imprisoned on similar charges, was released in November due to his own deteriorating health.

Human rights organizations such as Amnesty International have called for the charges against Ms. Yunus to be dropped completely, calling her and Mr. Yunus as “prisoners of conscience” who were charged with their crimes for their human rights advocacy and critiques of the government.

American and European Union officials have welcomed the release as a step forward in the promotion of human rights in Azerbaijan. Some, such as European Parliament President Martin Schulz, still call for the charges against the Yunuses to be fully dropped and for other prisoners of conscience to be released.

Nearly 20 other individuals, including activists, journalists, and government critics, including a journalist for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) are currently in Azerbaijan prisons after being convicted of charges human rights groups have called “politically motivated”.

 

For more information, please see:

Amnesty International – Azerbaijan: Release of Leyla Yunus Should Spur Freedom for All Prisoners of Conscience – 9 December 2015

Human Rights Watch – Dispatches: Azerbaijan’s Leyla Yunus is Free – 9 December 2015

The New York Times – Azerbaijan: Activist Freed From Prison – 9 December 2015

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty – Rights Activist Leyla Yunus Freed From Jail In Azerbaijan – 9 December 2015

By Christine Khamis

Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

 

KUALA LUMPUR –

Malaysia’s House of Representatives passed a bill on Thursday establishing a National Security Council, which will have the authority to make decisions on all matters pertaining to national security. The National Security Council will have few limitations when responding to known or potential security threats. Human rights organizations and other critics have condemned the passage of the bill, saying that it will be used as a tool to abuse human rights by the Malaysian government.

Malaysia’s House of Representatives tabled the bill on December 1, but then passed it on Thursday with a vote of 107 in favor and 77 against. Those in Malaysia’s ruling party, Barisan Nasional, were strongly in favor of the bill.

Malaysia’s Prime Minister, Najib Razak has stated that the law is necessary for responding to extremism and terrorist threats in Malaysia. Under the law, Mr. Najib has the power to declare any area of Malaysia as a “security area” for up to 6 months if the National Security Council finds that the area is under a serious threat that could be harmful to the public and any national interest.

A Director of Operations of the Council will be allowed to prevent anyone from entering such areas, remove anyone from those areas, and to establish curfews and take possession of any property necessary to further national security. The Director of Operations will have the right to conduct searches and arrest people without warrants.

The members of a security team, which the Director of Operations will oversee, will be allowed to use any force necessary and reasonable to protect national security. Additionally, members of the security team will be immune from liability for any actions taken in good faith.

The National Security Council will be headed by Mr. Najib. Additional members will include Malaysia’s Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense, Minister of Home Affairs, Minister of Home Affairs, Minister of Communication and Multimedia, Chief Secretary, Commander of the Armed Forces, and Inspector-General of Police.

Human Rights Watch’s Deputy Director for Asia, Phil Robertson, has released a statement referring to the bill as a tool of repression, saying there is a “real risk of abuse” of the law. Human Rights Watch also has stated that there is already a wide range of abusive laws being implemented by Mr. Rajib’s government to arrest dissidents.

The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) issued a press release on Thursday stating that the bill makes it clear that Malaysia’s government needs to establish reforms in their lawmaking process. ICJ’s Senior International Legal Adviser for Southeast Asia, Emerylynne Gil, stated that there seems to be “a disturbing pattern of avoiding deliberate care on legislation” on security concerns that also greatly implicate human rights.

The National Security Council bill comes amidst an increasing level of civil rights abuses and crackdowns on government critics.

 

For more information, please see:

BBC – Rights Group Condemns Proposed Malaysia Security Bill – 3 December 2015

International Commission of Jurists – Malaysia: the ICJ Condemns Passage of National Security Council Bill, Urges Reform in Lawmaking – 3 December 2015

The New York Times – Malaysian Security Bill Invites Government Abuses, Rights Groups Say – 3 December 2015

World Bulletin News – Human Rights Watch Claims Law Provides Expansive Powers That Could Fundamentally Threaten Human Rights and Democratic Rule – 3 December 2015

 

 

 

 

 

By Christine Khamis

Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

 

TAIPEI, Taiwan –

It was announced on Monday that Taiwan and China exchanged spies prior to a historic meeting between the two sides’ leaders in early November. Taiwanese media reports that this is the first occasion where the two sides traded spies.

Taiwan released a Chinese spy named Li Zhihao after he had been jailed for 16 years. He was granted early parole and was sent back to China.

China released Taiwanese military officials Chu Kung-hsun and Hsu Chang-kuo, who had been held for over nine years. The two men, officers in Taiwan’s Bureau of Military Intelligence, were arrested in Vietnam near the Vietnam-China border in 2006. They were given life sentences for harming the China’s national security. China later commuted their sentences to 20 years, according to Taiwan’s China Times newspaper. The two men were sent back to Taiwan following their release.

President Ma Ying-jeou of Taiwan and President Xi Jinping met in Singapore on November 7. The meeting was the first time in 60 years that leaders of both sides held a summit. While the two leaders did not come to any formal agreements during the summit, it represented a significant effort toward strengthened ties between Taiwan and China.

Taiwan’s presidential office has stated that the exchange was a sign of improved ties between the two sides. The Taiwanese presidential spokesman, Charles Chen, released a statement stating that the exchange was “based on a mutual goodwill gesture delivered by the Ma-Xi meeting” and that “President Ma Ying-jeou hopes cross-strait mutual exchanges can continue and make more concrete achievements in the future.”

Taiwan has been ruled separately from China since 1949, when the Nationalist party (or Kuomintang) fled to Taiwan after losing the Chinese civil war to the Communist party. China considers Taiwan a breakaway province and intends to reclaim Taiwan as part of mainland China.

Relations between the two sides were poor until President Ma took office in 2008. During his term, President Ma has acted amicably toward China, strengthening the two countries’ ties in tourism, transit, investment, and trade.

The strengthened ties between Taiwan and China have sparked concern among many Taiwanese, who are apprehensive about China’s growing influence over Taiwan.

 

For more information, please see:

Associated Press – Taiwan Says it Has Swapped Convicted Spies With China – 30 November 2015

BBC – Taiwan and China Swapped Spies Ahead of Leaders’ Talks – 30 November 2015

The New York Times – Exchange of Spies With China Is Positive Sign, Taiwan Says – 30 November 2015

Reuters – Taiwan, China Swap Jailed Spies After Leaders’ Historic Meet – 30 November 2015

 

 

By Christine Khamis

Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

 

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan –

Police are investigating a fire at a Christian TV station in Karachi, a city in southern Pakistan. Police initially thought that the fire at Gawahi TV, a cable television station, had started due to an electrical short-circuit. However, the owner, Pastor Sarfraz Williams, believes that the fire was deliberately set.

Gawahi TV employed both Christians and Muslims and broadcasted gospel programming. The channel was preparing to release its Christmas programs before the fire occurred.

Mr. Williams made an official complaint to police following the fire, and a forensic investigation is underway. Mr. Williams has stated that the TV station had been getting threatening phone calls and messages.

Mr. Williams’ brother, Javed Williams, stated that the locks on the station’s doors appeared to have been cut open. Most of Gawahi’s materials, including religious books, were destroyed. The channel’s security system was destroyed during the fire, and security footage has not been found. Computers were either destroyed or missing entirely. The computers that were left to burn in the fire were missing their hard drives. Additionally, the cameras that the TV station had used were missing as well.

Mr. Williams also made a blasphemy complaint against those behind the fire, who are currently unidentified. It is remarkable that he made the blasphemy complaint, as such complaints are usually used in cases against Christians. The blasphemy law is implicated because the attack on Gawahi TV involved the burning of religious books.

Human rights groups have criticized the use of the blasphemy law in Pakistan because they believe that the complaint is misused by those seeking to settle personal feuds and those seeking to facilitate “land-grabbing”.

Karachi, which is Pakistan’s largest city, has a substantial Catholic population. Gawahi TV was located in the Akhtar Colony area, which is populated by several religious communities. The population’s makeup in the area is around 90% Muslim and 10% minorities.

There have recently been several other attacks against religious minorities in Pakistan. Churches were bombed in Lahore in March, leading to the deaths of over a dozen people. Last week, a mosque owned by the Ahmadis, a Muslim sect that Pakistan’s Sunni Muslim majority thinks unfavorably of, was attacked after a factory worker was accused of burning pages of the Quran.

Although Pakistan’s government has pledged to protect religious minorities, such attacks have continued. Some critics have questioned the government’s commitment to protecting religious minority groups.

 

For more information, please see:

Business Standard – Owner of Christian Channel Lodges Blasphemy Complaint in Pak – 28 November 2015

NBC News – Pakistan’s Gawahi Christian TV Station Gutted in Fire – 27 November 2015

The Express Tribune – Christian TV Channel Office Burnt to Ashes in Karachi – 26 November 2015

The New York Times – Pakistani Police Investigate Fire at Christian TV station – 26 November 2015

By Christine Khamis

Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

PYONGYANG, North Korea –

Nine North Korean refugees are believed to be detained in a Chinese military base, awaiting potential deportation to North Korea. Among the refugees are an 11-month-old baby and a teenager. The refugees were detained by police in Vietnam on October 22, according to their relatives. After their bus was stopped for a random check, they were detained for two days before being handed over to Chinese authorities.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human rights expressed concerns on Friday that the refugees had already been sent back to North Korea. Human Rights Watch believes, however, that the refugees are being held in Tumen, a Chinese town near the North Korean border. Tumen is the last stopping point for many North Korean refugees who are being returned to North Korea. Human Rights Watch is concerned that the refugees could be forcibly deported to North Korea at any time.

Human Rights Watch has urged President Park Geun-hye of South Korea to pressure China to free the refugees and to allow them to seek asylum in a country of their choice. President Park’s office has stated that her government is working to secure the freedom of the refugees and to ensure that China will not forcibly deport the refugees back to North Korea.

Phil Robertson, the Asia deputy director for Human Rights Watch, has stated that if the refugees are handed back over to North Korean officials, they will likely vanish into North Korea’s prison camp system, which is “characterized by torture, violence, and severe deprivation.” Many North Koreans who have been able escape North Korea have stated that refugees sent back from China are subjected to torture and imprisonment in labor camps.

North Korea treats refugees as traitors and therefore subjects repatriated refugees to detention, torture and sexual violence, according to the U.N. Under a 2010 law, those who leave North Korea without permission are deemed guilty of “treachery” against the country, which is punishable by death.

China has often not recognized the refugee status of such North Koreans and instead has tended to treat them as illegal economic migrants. Consequently, China has deported many refugees back to North Korea. The act of forcibly sending refugees back to a country where they face potential persecution is known as “refoulment” and is banned under international treaties such as the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 protocol. As a party to those international treaties, China is not allowed return refugees to a place where their life or freedom would be threatened.

The U.N. Committee Against Torture recently expressed concerns about China’s practice of deporting North Korean refugees. Xu Hong, an official in China’s foreign ministry, told the U.N. that some illegal migrants from North Korea entering China for economic reasons do not meet the Refugee Convention’s conditions pertaining to the status of refugees and that some of them were criminals who had abused the principle of asylum.

Over 28,000 North Koreans have resettled in South Korea since the end of the Korean War in 1953, according to South Korea’s Unification Ministry. Most of the refugees have fled into China first, then have crossed into countries that have entry points into South Korea, such as Thailand and Vietnam.

 

For more information, please see:

The Guardian – Fears for North Korean Refugees Who May ‘Face Death” if Returned by China – 25 November 2015

Human Rights Watch – South Korea: Act to Save North Korea Refugees – 24 November 2015

The New York Times – South Korea Says It’s Working to Halt Refugees’ Return to North – 25 November 2015

Reuters – U.N. Asks Vietnam and China to Clarify Fate of North Koreans – 20 November 2015