By Christine Khamis

Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

 

DHAKA, Bangladesh –

Three men believed to be involved in the murders of secular bloggers in Bangladesh were arrested during a raid in Dhaka on Monday.

Four secular bloggers have been killed this year, including Avijit Roy and Ananta Bijoy Dash, who wrote for a website called Free Mind. Mr. Roy spoke out against religious extremism and formed a network of atheist bloggers in Bangladesh and abroad. Both Mr. Roy and Mr. Dash were hacked to death by machete.

Commander Mufti Mahmud Khan, spokesman for Bangladesh’s Rapid Action Battalion, a police unit, stated that the three suspects are believed to be members of the Islamic organization Ansarullah Bangla Team, which has been banned in Bangladesh. The group was banned in May after it was accused of threatening and killing bloggers and writers.

Muhammad Jasimuddin Rahmani is the leader of Ansarullah Bangla Team. He is currently in prison for his murder of another blogger, Ahmed Rajib Haider, in 2013. It is believed that one of the suspects arrested in Monday’s raid, Sadek Ali, visited Mr. Rahmani in prison to receive instructions for the bloggers’ murders.

Another of the accused men, Tawhidur Rahman, is a British citizen of Bangladeshi origin. He moved back to Bangladesh in 2012 and joined Ansarullah Bangla Team because he was inspired by Mr. Rahmani’s philosophy. Mr. Rahman is believed to have planned the killings of Mr. Roy and Mr. Dash.

The third suspect, Aminul Mollick, worked at a passport office and made fake passports so that members of the Ansarullah Bangla Team could leave the country if needed.

Bangladeshi authorities have been criticized for their failure to prevent the killings and for their slow place in their investigation of the killings. Imran H. Sarker, head of the Blogger and Online Activist Network in Bangladesh, has stated that many are wondering whether the government is supporting the criminals killing the bloggers. Bangladesh’s top police official has denied accusations that police officers sympathize with the killers and are purposely delaying their investigations of the murders.

About a decade ago, a group of mostly atheist Bangladeshi bloggers started speaking out against Islamic and other religious groups online. While the bloggers became popular with secular Bangladeshis, their online posts drew the anger of the Muslim population in Bangladesh.

While most Bangladeshis are Muslims, Bangladesh is ruled by laws based on British common law. Religion-based political parties in Bangladesh have sought the establishment of blasphemy laws to protect their faith, while bloggers have called for those parties to be banned.

In 2013, Hefajat-e-Islam, a body of Islamist groups, submitted a list of 84 atheist bloggers to the Bangladeshi government, demanding their arrest and trial under blasphemy laws. Hefajat-e-Islam also set in motion mass protests calling for the execution of those bloggers, and attacks against the bloggers began occurring.

In the past two and a half years, five atheist bloggers and five secular activists have been killed in similar machete attacks in Bangladesh.

 

For more information, please see:

Al Jazeera – Bangladesh Arrests Suspects in Blogger Murders – 18 August 2015

The Guardian – Bangladesh Arrests Three Men Including Briton Over Murders of Secular Bloggers – 18 August 2015

The New York Times – Bangladesh Arrests 3 Men in Killings of Secular Bloggers – 18 August 2015

Voice of America – Bangladesh Blogger Killings Highlight Dangers of Speaking Out – 14 August 2015

 

By Christine Khamis

Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

 

MOSCOW, Russia —

Russian lawmaker Andrei Klimov said on Thursday that he would propose the establishment of international tribunal on United States war crimes in Vietnam to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA). Mr. Klimov is the deputy head of the International Affairs Committee of Russia’s Federation Council.

Mr. Klimov announced his proposal during an interview with Govorit Moskva radio, a radio station in Moscow. The interview was focused on the anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan in 1945. While Mr. Klimov approved of an international tribunal on the bombings, he stated that he thought the United States’ actions against Vietnam should receive equal attention from international lawyers. He also stated that the war between the United States and Vietnam was illegal and that the United States’ military involvement in Vietnam was an obvious aggression.

During the Vietnam War, lasting from 1964 through 1975, around 3 million Vietnamese were killed, along with citizens of bordering countries. The Crimes of War Education Project has reported that there were over 300 war crimes committed by U.S. military during the Vietnam War, including murder, rape, torture, corpse mutilation, and random gun-fire in civilian areas. Mr. Klimov believes that it is necessary to bring the perpetrators of those war crimes to justice.

Mr. Klimov’s proposal came shortly after Sergey Naryshkin, chairman of the Russian State Duma, stated that an international court must look into the United States’ atomic bombings on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Mr. Naryshkin spoke at a meeting at the Moscow Institute of International Relations on August 5th. During the meeting, he stated that the atomic bombings were not a necessary part of the United States’ military action against Japan. The bombings caused the deaths of around 150,000 to 250,000 Japanese civilians.

Mr. Klimov also intends to discuss the possibility of the international tribunal on U.S. war crimes in Vietnam at assembly sessions of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), to which Vietnam is a party, in September.

 

For more information, please see:

Meduza – After Vetoing MH17 Tribunal, Russia Proposes Tribunals for Vietnam War and Atomic Bombings of Japan – 6 August 2015

RT – Russian Senator Urges International Tribunal into U.S.-Vietnam War – 6 August 2015

Sputnik International – Moscow to Discuss Creating Tribunal on U.S. War Crimes in Vietnam at OSCE PA – 6 August 2015

RT – Int’l Tribunal Should Try 1945 U.S. Nuke Attacks on Japan – Duma Chief – 5 August 2015

 

 

By Christine Khamis

Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

NAYPYIDAW, Myanmar—

 Myanmarese president Thein Sein has pardoned and released 6,966 prisoners, including 210 foreign prisoners. A statement on Myanmar’s information ministry website said that the prisoners were being released on humanitarian grounds and “in view of national reconciliation”.

Around 155 Chinese loggers, who had been detained just last week, were among those released. Most of them, arrested on suspicion of illegal logging in Kachin State in Northern Myanmar, had been given life sentences. The loggers have been deported back to China following their release, according to U Mong Gwang, a liason officer at the Kachin Independence Organization.

Kachin State borders China’s Yunnan Province and has rich natural resources including jade and wood. Jade and wood are in high demand in China, and Chinese citizens are able to cross the border from Yunnan Province to Kachin State to take advantage of those resources. This has led to resentment in Myanmar and could have been one explanation for the life sentences given to the Chinese loggers.

China is a close economic and political ally of Myanmar. Myanmar’s ties with China are important for its trade, security, and energy programs. Recently, however, there has been tension between the nations due to conflict between Myanmar’s army and a rebel militia that has resulted in the deaths of Chinese citizens living near the China-Myanmar border. China had also protested against the loggers’ prison sentences and called for Myanmar to return them to China.

President Thein Sein was elected in 2010 when military-backed civilian government replaced military rule in Myanmar. During military rule, more than 2,000 journalists, activists and politicians were imprisoned, leading to Western sanctions against Myanmar. Those sanctions were lessened once civilian rule was established. Government reform has led to a series of amnesties in which most political prisoners held in Myanmar have been released.

A general election coming up in November could be one of the underlying reasons for the prisoners’ release. Also, U Bo Kyi of the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners has pointed out that the prisoners’ release occurred just days before Yanghee Lee, the United Nations’ Special Rapporteur on Myanmar, was scheduled to visit. As the Special Rapporteur on Myanmar, Yanghee Lee reports on human rights and electoral reform in Myanmar.

It is unclear whether pro-democracy activists were among the prisoners released in Myanmar. Most of the prisoners released in Myanmarese amnesties have been common criminals. There are no official lists of released prisoners, so any names of those released are generally disclosed by the prisoners or their families.

For more information, please see:

BBC – Myanmar Frees 6,966 Prisoners Ahead of Polls – 30 July 2015

New York Times – Myanmar Frees Loggers From China Amid a Broader Amnesty – 30 July 2015

Reuters – Political Prisoners, Chinese Loggers Among Thousands Freed in Myanmar Amnesty – 30 July 2015

The Guardian – Chinese Loggers Among 7,000 Prisoners Released in Burma – 30 July 2015

United Nations Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights – Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Myanmar

 

By Christine Khamis

Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia —

Malaysia has been upgraded to the Tier 2 Watch List on the U.S. State Department’s yearly Trafficking in Persons Report ranking. This means that the United States no longer considers Malaysia one of the worst offenders when it comes to human trafficking. Thailand, on the other hand, is ranked among the worst offenders.

Countries are placed in one of four tiers on the Trafficking in Persons Report. Tier 1 includes countries that fully comply with the United States’ Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA). Tier 2 includes countries that do not fully comply with the TVPA, but who are making significant efforts to comply. The Tier 2 Watch List includes countries who do not fully comply and still have negative indicators, yet who are are making significant efforts to comply. Tier 3 includes countries who do not fully comply and are not making significant efforts to do so.

Thailand remains in Tier 3, the lowest ranking group, for a second consecutive year. Only two other countries from the Asia region, North Korea and the Marshall Islands, were placed in Tier 3. In part, Thailand was downgraded from the Tier 2 Watch list in last year’s report because of labor abuses in its fishing industry. There is also a U.S. State Department Rule that countries have to be either upgraded or downgraded after two years on the Tier 2 Watch list.

Both Malaysia and Thailand have been internationally criticized this year for their trafficking of Rohingya and Bangladeshi migrants on overcrowded ships. Human traffickers transported the migrants,then leaft thousands stranded at sea with meager supplies.

Graves of Rohingya and Bangladeshi migrants were also found about two months ago in abandoned camps on both sides of the Thai-Malaysian border, along with pens that appear to have been used as cages for the migrants.

The Thai Minister of Foreign Affairs has released a statement that Thailand’s ranking is not an accurate portrayal of the efforts Thailand has made to decrease human trafficking. For instance, Thai state prosecutors brought charges against more than 100 people last week who have been suspected of trafficking migrants.

Lawmakers and human rights groups have criticized Malaysia’s upgrade, claiming that Malaysia was upgraded from Tier 3 to the Tier 2 Watch List for politicized reasons. They believe that the upgrade is politicized because it enables Malaysia to be a participating country in the Asia-Pacific trade agreement, the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP). In June, the United States Congress approved legislation that limits President Obama’s ability to make free trade agreements with Tier 3 countries.

To counter those claims, Sarah Sewall, the U.S. Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy and Human Rights has stated that Malaysia has made the effort to reform its trafficking victim protection system as well as to increase the number of investigations and prosecutions connected to human trafficking. However, convictions of human traffickers have decreased in Malaysia. Ms. Sewall denies that Malaysia’s upgrade was politicized.

Human rights groups assert that Malaysia has not sufficiently improved its handling of human trafficking issues to justify its upgrade from a Tier 3 country. They also claim that Malaysia’s upgrade diminishes the reliability of the Trafficking of Persons report.

 

For more information, please see:

CNN – Who’s Fighting Human Trafficking? U.S. Releases Rankings – 28 July 2015

Associated Press – Malaysia, Cuba Taken off U.S. Human Trafficking Blacklist – 27 July 2015

New York Times – Key Shift on Malaysia Before Trans-Pacific Partnership Deal – 27 July 2015

Reuters – U.S. Softens View of Malaysia, Cuba in Human Trafficking Report – 27 July 2015

 

By Christine Khamis

Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

 

BEIJING, China–

Tibetan monk Tenzin Delek Rinpoche died on July 12th in a prison in the Sichuan city of Chengdu. His death occurred while he was serving a 20-year sentence on separatism and terrorism charges. Prison officials have not explained the cause of his death.

Tenzin Delek was highly esteemed among Tibetans in Sichuan, where he helped establish medical clinics, monasteries, and schools. He promoted Tibetan culture and had many followers.

Tenzin Delek was one of China’s most famous political prisoners. He was convicted of involvement in a bombing in Chengdu in 2002 but maintained his claims of innocence throughout his sentence. The United States, European Union, and human rights groups claimed that his arrest was politically motivated and called for his release.

Tenzin Delek was originally given a suspended death sentence when he was convicted, but the sentence was decreased to life imprisonment and then to the 20-year sentence. Another monk, Lobsang Dhondup, was also charged with involvement in the Chengdu bombing and was executed in early 2003.

Tenzin Delek’s relatives applied for medical parole on his behalf last year due to his development of a heart condition and other health problems. Prison authorities never responded to the relatives’ request. Tenzin Delek’s family members believe that his heart ailment resulted from abuse that he endured during his imprisonment.

Upon his death, Tenzin Delek’s relatives requested that his body be returned to them so that they could perform customary Tibetan Buddhist death rites, but prison officials refused to give up the body and instead cremated it.

Radio Free Asia reports that four Tibetans were able to retrieve the ashes from the cremation and that they intended to carry them to his home county of Nyagchuka in China. However, a Tibetan with connections to Tenzin Delek’s family told Radio Free Asia that Chinese authorities came to where the four Tibetans were staying overnight on their way to Nyagchuka and forcibly took the ashes back.

Relatives have stated that Chengdu prison officials have repeatedly declined to give a cause of Tenzin Delek’s death. Dolkar Lhamo, Tenzin Delek’s sister, stated that the family was not permitted access to see his death certificate and medical records.

According to advocacy group Students for a Free Tibet, Dolkar and her daughter, Nyima Lhamo, have now been arrested. Dolkar was one of nearly 100 Tibetans who had previously staged a sit-in protest outside the Chengdu building where Tenzin Delek was thought to be held.

Human rights groups have claimed that China has suppressed Tibetan culture and detained monks who have shown support for the exiled Dalai Lama, Tibet’s spiritual leader.

 

For more information, please see: 

Radio Free Asia – Chinese Authorities Snatch Tenzin Delek Rinpoche’s Ashes From Tibetans – 20 July 2015

New York Times – China: 2 Relatives of a Tibetan Monk Who Died in Prison Have Been Arrested – 18 July 2015

New York Times – Chinese Cremate Body of Revered Tibetan Monk, Ignoring Pleas – 16 July 2015

Associated Press – Family Fails to Get Tibetan Lama’s Body After Prison Death – 15 July 2015

BBC – Tibetan Monk Tenzin Delek Rinpoche Dies in China Prison – 13 July 2015