By Hojin Choi

Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

 

KABUL, Afhanistan – Voting in the Afghan presidential runoff ended Saturday. The runoff is to elect a successor to Hamid Karzai, who has been in office since 2001. In the first round of the election on April 5, former Foreign Affairs Minister Abdullah Abdullah received 45% of the vote, while former Finance Minister Ashraf Ghani received 31.6%. The next president will be determined by a runoff because no candidate received more than 50% of the initial votes.

Abdullah joined the 2009 Presidential Election and lost to Karzai. He dropped out after the first round as a means of protest, alleging large-scale voting fraud. He served as Foreign Affairs Minister under the Karzai regime, but recently positioned himself as a political opponent to Karzai. A week before the runoff, Abdullah narrowly escaped an assassination attempt.

Ghani, another lead candidate, was a senior World Bank Economist. He gave up his U.S. citizenship to run for the 2009 Presidential Election. He also served as Finance Minister in Karzai’s administration and worked as an advisor to Karzai. Abdullah’s camp criticized him for lacking Afghan street credibility.

The runoff went on amid violence and Taliban attacks. During the election period, the Taliban abducted and executed a candidate for provincial council and nine of his supporters. They went on to attack an election commission office in Kabul causing the death of a provincial council candidate, several workers, and police officers. The Ministry of Interior was attacked by a suicide bomber, and 6 police officers died.

The Taliban’s attacks continued even after the voting ended. The Afghan authority said a roadside bomb killed 11 people, including three election workers Saturday night after the polls closed. The victims were going home from the polling center and riding a mini bus when the bomb detonated. Afghan Deputy Interior Minister said there were nearly 150 attacks throughout the country on the Election Day, and at least 46 people were killed, including civilians and security forces.

The purpose of attacks seems to be obvious as the Taliban officially announced that they would target voting. The continuous attacks have caused widespread public fear, and possibly resulted in lower voter turnout. On the day of runoff, the Taliban insurgents cut the index fingers of 11 voting participants. Most of them were the elderly returning home after their voting, and their inked fingers were the sign of their participation in the election.

Nevertheless, voter turnout remained around that of the first round, approximately 6 to 7 million, even though exact numbers were not immediately made available. The election could mark the first democratic transfer of government power in Afghanistan. Some critics suggested that the Taliban’s attacks were motivated by desperation and a fear of losing its power as a shadow state.

According to the Election Commission, official results of the runoff election will be announced July 22.

 

For more information please see:

CNN – Voting ends in Afghan presidential runoff – 14 June 2014

CNN – Roadside bomb kills 11 in Afghanistan, including election workers – 15 June 2014

Washington Post – This Afghan election could be historic. Or fraud and rivalries could cause chaos – 13 June 2014

BBC – Afghan election: Run-off vote held amid violence – 14 June 2014

BBC – Afghan election: Taliban ‘removed voters’ fingers’ – 15 June 2014

By Hojin Choi

Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

 

BEIJING, China – June 4^th marked the 25^th anniversary of Tiananmen Square Protests, also known as the “89’ Democracy Movement” or “Tiananmen Square Massacre.” In 1989, student-led protesters, seeking political reform, occupied Tiananmen Square in Beijing for seven weeks and received broad support from city residents. They were forcibly suppressed by military troops with AK-47s and other assault weaponry, causing thousands of death and injuries. The death toll reflects estimates by various human rights groups, as the government has never released an official report.

On the eve of the 25^th anniversary, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lei Hong defended the 1989 crackdown saying it was the right path for the sake of the people.

“In the last three decades and more of reform and opening up, China’s enormous achievements in social and economic development have received worldwide attention. The building of democracy and the rule of law have continued to be perfected,” said Hong.

Hong elaborated that “in China, there are only law breakers . . . there are no so-called dissidents.”

The Washington Post reported that it was a “quiet day” with “no trace of remembrance” in Tiananmen Square.

Many young students said they have no memory of the event, and some others even appeared too afraid to respond. The government has “effectively quashed” the public memory.

As the 25^th anniversary approached, the security around the square greatly increased. Police officers were stationed every hundred feet or so throughout the streets, and patrolled the square continuously. According to state media, government officials mobilized thousands of informants to lookout for any suspicious behavior. Foreign journalists were warned and directed away from the square, and passers-by were searched.

The internet also saw a surge in censorship. According to the Los Angeles Times, even messages including the number “25” were banned from social networking sites on the date of the anniversary. Creative internet-users instead referred to June 4^th as “May 35.” As the anniversary approached, even words like “tomorrow” or “today” were banned.

Chinese news media largely ignored the anniversary; but foreign news media and governments gave due attention.

“Twenty-five years later, the United States continues to honor the memories of those who gave their lives in and around Tiananmen Square and throughout China, and we call on Chinese authorities to account for those killed, detained or missing in connection with the events surrounding June 4, 1989,” the White House announced. The United Nations’ High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, demandedthat China release the pro-democracy activists and dissidents who were recently detained prior to the anniversary. China’s Foreign Ministry responded, calling the statement “a grave intervention of China’s judicial sovereignty and internal affairs.”

In opposition to the silence in Beijing, tens of thousands of people gathered with candle lights for the commemoration in Hong Kong. The vigil organizer estimated the number of participants at 180,000 while the police estimated a more conservative 99,500.

The Victoria Park Candlelight Vigil has been held every year since 1989. In past years, the vigil was dominated by people ages 40 or older, who remember the event in 1989. But, the New York Times reported that the crowd seemed to be “visibly younger” than previous years.

 

 

For more information please see:

Los Angeles Times – Few visitors, heavy security as China marks Tiananmen Square anniversary – 4 June 2014

Los Angeles Times – Marking 25th anniversary of China’s Tiananmen Square takes creativity – 3 June 2014

BBC News – Beijing tense on Tiananmen massacre anniversary – 4 June 2014

The New York Times – Crowds Gather in Hong Kong for Anniversary of Tiananmen Crackdown – 4 June 2014

The Washington Post – In Tiananmen Square, no trace of remembrance on 25th anniversary of protests – 4 June 2014

Reuters – China defends Tiananmen crackdown on eve of 25th anniversary – 3 June 2014

By Kathryn Maureen Ryan
Impunity Watch Managing Editor

SRI JAYAWARDENEPURA KOTTE, Sri Lanka – On Wednesday the government of Sri Lanka once again rejected a policy devolving police powers to the nation’s providence as requested by India’s new government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and required by the Sri Lankan Constitution as a means of easing tensions with the state’s Tamil minority.

Sri Lanka reached an agreement with the Indian government in 1987 to devolve powers, including power over policing and land, to regional governments as a means to improve relations between the Tamil minority and Sinhalese majority in Sri Lanka. “Police power is important for provinces to maintain law and order,” Primus Siraiva, a northern Provincial Councillor, said. “Otherwise, there could be lawlessness in provinces and the Provincial Council won’t be able to control it.”

Sri Lankan External Affairs Minister G.L Peiris told Parliament that President Mahinda Rajapaksa did not have an in depth discussion on constitutional issues during his meetings Modi. Last week during a meeting between Modi and Rajapaksa, the Indian prime minister stressed the need for the complete implementation of the 13th amendment of the Sri Lankan constipation which was intended to grant more political recognition to the Tamil people, even recognizing Tamil as an official state language.

The Sri Lankan government design to keep policing powers out of the hands of local authorities, including the Tamil minority, is a sign that tensions between the government and Tamil population remain high five years after the end of the Sri Lankan Civil War which ended in 2009.

The Sri Lankan Civil war, which raged on for more than a quarter century left more than 100,000 people dead and thousands more, mainly front the minority Tamil population in the North, are still missing. During the Civil war Tamil rebels fought for a homeland in the country’s northern region. Ethnic Tamils have faced discrimination in Sri Lanka for decades; while many Tamils are indigenous to the island many more were brought to the island by British Colonists to work on tea farms and were seen by members of the Sinhalese population as foreigners who had taken Sinhalese land.

Last month President Rajapaksa, who is under international pressure to investigate war crimes in the battle after the United Nations approved an international probe into the war crimes allegedly committed by both Sri Lankan state forces and members of the Tamil Tigers during the conflict. Members of Minority ethnic Tamils said they had been banned from commemorating the deaths of their relatives five years ago in the final battle of the war with Sri Lanka’s military, a charge denied by the army.

For more information please see:

Al Jazeera – Sri Lanka Says No to Devolution of Powers – 5 June 2014

Reuters – Sri Lanka Again Rejects Devolving Police Powers to Ease Tension With Tamils – 4 June 2014

Reuters – Tamils Say Barred From Commemorating War Dead, Sri Lanka Denies – 18 May 2014

BBC News – Sri Lanka Blocks Tamil Memorials amid War Parade – 18 May 2014

Government of Sri Lanka – Thirtieth Amendment to the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka – 14 November 1987

By Hojin Choi

Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

 

XINJIANG, China – A Chinese court sentenced 55 people for terrorism, separatism, and murder at a sports stadium. The sentence was handed down before a crowd of more than 7,000 spectators in the prefecture of Yili, a part of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. Three of the defendants were sentenced to death.

The open trial follows a spike in widespread fear of terror attacks and increasing tensions across the country. In October, five people were killed and at least 40 injured by a car rushing into crowds of innocents on busy streets in Beijing. In March, a group of men armed with long knives invaded a train station in the city of Kunming and murdered 29 people, and  injured at least 130 others at the scene. In early May, some 39 people were killed and almost 100 injured by a terror bombing  in Xinjiang.

Chinese authorities believe these terror attacks were carried out by a separatist group formed with Uyghurs, an ethnically Turkic Muslim minority group native to the Xinjiang region. The ruling Communist Party declared an anti-terrorism campaign to strike hard any “violent terrorism, separatism, and religious extremism.” Li Minghui, Deputy Party Secretary of the prefecture of Yili, said they must “resolutely strike criminals … and boost the confidence and will to fight for all ethnicities among the masses.” The Xinjiang police launched a crackdown on the extremist groups that has resulted in 200 arrests of suspected terrorists so far.

Uyghurs have complained for a long time about pervasive discrimination in favor of Han, the Chinese majority ethnic group. The alleged discrimination includes employment, education, housing, and religious freedom restrictions. The Chinese government believes that Uyghurs are trying to form an independent state called East Turkestan.

Human rights organization Amnesty International described the “deplorable” proceeding as a “show trial.” William Nee, China Researcher of Amnesty International, said the recent terror attacks and disregard of human lives must be held to account. However, “speedy show trials will not deliver justice for the victims. Hastily sentencing people after unfair trials will only exacerbate tensions in the region,” said Mr. Nee.

The regional Communist Party leader announced before trial that the suspected criminals should be “severely punished.” According to Amnesty International, this places all of the defendants at risk of torture while they are detained.

According to Reuters, the trial was originally reported by the official Xinhua news, a state-operated press agency, but links to the news appear to be disconnected at this time.

For more information please see:

Reuters – China sentences 55 in Xinjiang mass trial – 28 May 2014

CNN – 55 sentenced before 7,000 onlookers at terror ‘show trial’ in Chinese stadium – 29 May 2014

CNN – China train station killings described as a terrorist attack – 2 March 2014

Aljazeera – China sentences 55 in mass stadium trial – 29 May 2014

BBC – China sentences 55 people in Xinjiang stadium – 28 May 2014

Amnesty International – China: Shameful stadium ‘show trial’ is not justice – 29 May 2014

By Kathryn Maureen Ryan
Impunity Watch Managing Editor

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan – As a court of onlookers watched outside of a Lahore courthouse on Tuesday, several male relatives beat her to death with stones, bricks and clubs because she married the man she loved instead of  her cousin.

Police investigators said the 25-year-old woman, Farzana Parveen, was stoned and beaten to death on a busy street as of about 30 men watched, but took no action to save her. Ms. Parveen was killed in the name of protecting her families “honor.” She was from a small Punjabi village 57 miles west of the city of Lahore, enraged her family in January when she married Muhammad Iqbal, a widower from a nearby village, instead of the man who had been chosen by her parents, a man who was her own cousin.

Her parents had brought a police complaint against her husband claiming that he had kidnapped their daughter. On Tuesday, Ms. Parveen was scheduled to appear in court in Lahore in the case. According to her lawyer she intended to tell the court that she had not been coerced into marrying her husband.

She was killed outside of the courthouse by her father, brother and the cousin her parents wanted her to marry as well as about a dozen male relives. So far Lahore police have charged her father, Mohammad Azeem, with murder, and the other men involved are being sought for the crime. Azeem told the police he helped kill his daughter because she had shamed his family.

While such crimes, often called “honor killings” are still seen in rural Pakistani communities where tribal traditions are strong and protections of women’s rights are weak, the crime of “honor killing” has become relatively rare in Pakistan’s larger cities. “I do not even wish to use the phrase ‘honor killing’: there is not the faintest vestige of honor in killing a woman in this way,” United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said in a statement condemning the horrific killing.

According to Farzana Bari, a human rights activist based in Islamabad, in many so-called “honor killings” witnesses outside of the women’s family do not step in to stop the killings and protect the victim. She said “I’ve seen in the past people stand around and watch, and don’t intervene because it is a private matter. Farzana believes honor killings are still engrained in the culture in parts of Pakistan; she said, “I think honor killing is very much part of our culture. It is a cultural form of violence which is quite prevalent in certain parts of Pakistan.”

Ultimately the brutal murder of Farzana Parveen was not shocking because it is a rare occurrence in Pakistan or any other country but instead because her death was so public, it did not occur in the dark corners of a remote village but instead Ms. Parveen was killed on the streets of a bustling city. According to a report published in April by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, 869 women in the country were the victims of honor killings last year.  Activists say the number may be much higher.

For More Information please see:

CNN International – Pregnant Pakistani woman beaten to death with bricks by relatives – 28 May 2014

Reuters – Pakistan woman stoned to death by family for marrying man she love – 27 May 2014

The New York Times – Pregnant Pakistani Woman Is Beaten to Death – 27 May 2014

USA Today – Pregnant Pakistani woman stoned to death by her family – 27 May 2014