Europe

Murder on the High Seas: Traffickers Suspected of Ramming Refugee Ship

By Kathryn Maureen Ryan
Managing Editor Impunity Watch

BRUSSELS, European Union – 700 refugee’s fleeing Africa for Europe are feared dead in the Mediterranean after two separate shipwrecks last week. the International Organization for Migration (IOM) fear the refugees likely drowned in the Mediterranean which would bringing the death toll for Mediterranean crossing deaths to nearly 3,000, making 2014 the deadliest year on record for refugees making the dangerous water crossing from North Africa to the shores of southern Europe.

In a photograph released by the Italian Navy migrants sit in a boat during a rescue operation off the coast of Sicily, the Mediterranean crossing from Africa to Europe as become a deadly risk for refugees from Africa and the Middle East who have taken to the sea in crammed, unsafe boats in an attempt to reach Europe and the safety and economic opportunity they hope it will offer (Photo Courtesy of The Hindustan Times)

The most recent shipwreck occurred of the cost of Libya where a ship crammed with as many as 250 African emigrants sank. The Libyan navy said that while 26 people survived the shipwreck most of the migrants are feared dead. Four days later, on September 10th a ship carrying hundreds of migrants was sank off the cost of Malta by traffickers in the region.  As many as 500 migrants ae believed to have died after traffickers rammed their ship off of the cost of Malta last week. The victims were Syrians, Palestinians, Egyptians and Sudanese refugees hoping to find safe haven in Europe. Only nine people survived the incident, two of the survivors testified that the trackers ordered the migrants to change vessels in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea. According to the testimony, when the migrants refugee the traffickers confronted the ship and rammed into the migrant’s vessel.

The ship had left Damietta, Egypt for Europe on Saturday September 6th and sank after being rammed by traffickers on September 10th. “In all, nine people survived and were picked up boats,” Berthiaume said. IOM officials interviewed two Palestinian survivors who were taken to Sicily, Italy, while other survivors were taken to Malta and to Crete, Greece, IOM Spokesperson Christiane Berthiaume said.

According to the IOM, after the boat sank, the survivors spent a day fighting for their lives in open water. According to the two survivors who testified, both of whom Palestinian refugees, the victims were tried to hold on to life buoys to survive. One of the survivors was in a lifejacket while the other was holding onto one of the life buoys with other victims who did not survive. One of the survivors said that among the diseased was a young Egyptian boy who hoped to raise money in Europe to pay for his father’s heart operation.

The survivors say their ship was deliberately rammed because, fearing for their lives, the refugee refused to leave the ship under the orders of the human trafficking vessel. “If this story, which police are investigating, is true, it would be the worst shipwreck in years… not an accident but a mass murder, perpetrated by criminals without scruples or any respect for human life,” IOM said in a statement Monday.

For more information please see:

CBS News – 700 Feared Dead In Mediterranean Boat Wrecks – 15 September 2014

The Guardian – Migrant Boat Was ‘Deliberately Sunk’ In Mediterranean Sea, Killing 500 – 15 September 2014

Hindustan Times – Traffickers ‘Sink’ Ship Carrying Migrants in Mediterranean, 500 Feared Dead Off Malta Coast – 15 September 2014

Reuters – Over 500 Migrants Feared Dead After Human Traffickers ‘Deliberately Sank the Boat’ – 15 September 2014

All Eyes on Scotland This Week as Vote for Independence Draws Near

By Kyle Herda

Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

EDINBURGH, Scotland – On Thursday September 18, Scotland will vote for whether to remain a part of the United Kingdom or separate and declare independence. Regardless of the outcome, the results will have a heavy impact throughout Europe.

A look at Scotland’s location within the UK, along with a projected breakdown of how the vote will go. (Photo courtesy of NY Daily News)

If Scotland’s vote for independence results in a vote to stay with the United Kingdom, Scotland will still receive some new benefits, in addition to keeping some old benefits. Britain has promised that in the event of a vote to remain in the UK, Britain would decentralize some power to Scotland. It is entirely possible that Northern Ireland and Wales could also receive similar benefits should Scotland remain united.

The political impact this vote in Britain could be huge, as Scotland has been united with England for 307 years. The loss of Scotland would be disastrous to British Prime Minister David Cameron and would make him appear weak and reckless to the British people for allowing Scotland to leave. Even if Scotland stays, to give Scotland more power and possibly have to give Wales and Northern Ireland more power would have a similar effect. Either way, England’s next elections will focus greatly on this event.

In addition to decentralized powers, Scotland would also continue receiving benefits from the rest of the UK, including, and likely most importantly, European Union membership and use of the euro currency. Should Scotland vote ‘yes’ for independence, Scotland would likely be promptly left outside of the EU and without a currency. While such a scenario would likely be followed with steps on how to apply for EU membership, it would entail time where Scotland is on its own to effectively establish a military and currency, two issues that are no small feat.

An independent Scotland would put the EU into a tough position, as the UK is already one of the more powerful economies in the world and would be weakening some. This move would also cause problems within other member States, as it would encourage independence referendums throughout Europe. Particularly, Italy’s Northern League, Flemish separatists in Belgium, and the Catalans and Basques in Spain would pose an immediate threat to the independence of those nations. The Catalans pose a particularly significant risk that Spain is worried may pan out should Scotland succeed in their movement.

This same threat is also felt in Eastern Europe in nations such as Latvia or Ukraine, where Russian-ethnic citizens could push for independence referendums, perhaps even backed by Russia who has shown it is willing to act militarily to support such movements.

As with most major decisions, while the act itself of Scotland separating from the UK may appear to be a good idea, it could have serious and unplanned impacts that may lead to major changes throughout Europe on the whole, with results that are impossible to foresee. For now, the only thing left to do is wait for Scotland’s vote on Thursday.

For more information, please see:

Daily Times – Europe changing shape whichever way Scotland goes – 15 September 2014

Business Insider – Europe fears Scottish independence contagion – 14 September 2014

The Independent – Scotland independence vote: Everything you ever wanted to know about life after the result – 14 September 2014

The New York Times – Scottish Independence Would Ripple Through Europe – 11 September 2014

Italy’s Good Intentions and Humanitarian Efforts May Ultimately Harm Europe

By Kyle Herda

Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

ROME, Italy – With all of the turmoil and fighting currently widespread throughout the Middle East and Northern Africa, many citizens have flocked from countries like Libya, Syria, Iraq, South Sudan, and elsewhere. In an effort to help these refugees, Italy has opened up its borders for refugees to enter into Europe, particularly in Southern Italy around Sicily.

Mehdi Nemmouche, the shooter in the Brussels Jewish Museum murders, stands with his ak-47 during the attack. (Photo courtesy of Breitbart)

Italy’s new immigrant policy, dubbed “Mare Nostrum”, or “Our Sea”, came last year after Pope Francis flew to the scene of a sunken migrant vessel off the coast that went down unaided. Pope Francis asked, “Who has wept for the people who were on the boat?” Italy took this as inspiration to help refugees who make it across the Mediterranean Sea. Now, Italy takes in refugees, offers them medical treatment, food, water, and temporary shelter. Further, Italy has decriminalized migrants, and also adopted a de facto “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy where refugees may stay a few nights and then move onwards to other European nations, such as Germany and Sweden, that often grant asylum.

While this initially seems great, and for many it is a wonderful thing, there also comes skepticism. Italy is taking in nearly 1,000 migrants per day, and has already taken in 119,939 migrants since January, far more than the 42,000 from all of 2013. The problem lies in that the nearly 120,000 migrants have entered into Europe with relative ease as far as security checks goes, and now may be moving fairly undetected and unaccounted for throughout Europe. With a particular eye on some of the nations where the refugees are coming from, countries where ISIS is growing and expanding at a scary rate, this creates a serious security concern for Europe.

One of the countries with many emigrants to Italy is Libya, a nation that France calls a ‘terrorist hub’. And while it may be unclear exactly if or how many dangerous migrants may have snuck through already, one thing is clear: there has already been at least six serious attacks planned against member states of the European Union. British Prime Minister David Cameron warned the British people, “be in no doubt about the threat that so-called Islamic State poses to us.” Cameron went on to cite the deadly attack in a Brussels Jewish museum as a successful ISIS attack on European soil.

Even without new ISIS members coming into Europe, there already exists a serious problem throughout Europe as Europeans continue to be recruited into ISIS. Two Austrian girls of 15 and 16 years in age, Samra Kesinovic and Sabina Selimovic, have recently been recruited by ISIS and have already led at least two additional girls, ages 16 and 14, to try and follow to Syria to convert.

It is quite clear that the ISIS problem in Europe is a present problem and very likely to get much worse as ISIS’s presence and influence continues to spread. ISIS is already in Europe and influence is spreading throughout Europe in the form of recruiting, and increasing via immigration through open borders like Italy. While Italy is helping many who are in dire need of help, it must be careful to prevent the same people from coming over who caused the massive flocks to begin with.

For more information, please see:

New York Post – Gun-wielding teen girls from Europe join ISIS – 10 September 2014

RT – France calls for new Libya intervention, calls it ‘terrorist hub’ on Europe’s doorstep – 10 September 2014

The Washington Post – Amid flood of refugees to Europe, Italy opens a back door – 9 September 2014

Breitbart – Prime Minister: Six ISIS Attempted Attempts Against European Nations Already – 9 September 2014

Estonia – Russia’s Next Target?

By Kyle Herda

Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

TALLINN, Estonia – Following a tense week featuring NATO and Russia with Ukraine at the center of it all, it seems that a new player has been dragged into the spotlight: Estonia. Both sides seem to be turning focus towards Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania as things in Ukraine have currently settled in a cease-fire that many are still unsure will hold.

Estonian President Toomas Hendrik shakes hands with Eston Kohver, who was arrested by Russia on Friday. (Photo courtesy of The Guardian)

On Friday, the Estonian-Russian border at Luhamaa saw action as Russian soldiers arrested Eston Kohver, an Estonian security officer. Armed men from Russia allegedly crossed the border into Estonia, used smoke bombs and jammed radios in Estonia, and took Kohver at gunpoint with them back into Russia. Kohver has been seen since in Russia being paraded on TV and accused of spying on Russia.

Kohver is a counter-intelligence officer in Kapo, an Estonian agency similar to the FBI in the United States. Until now, Kohver’s job has typically been to keep an eye on smuggling cartels going through the border. Russia’s post-Cold War KGB, now called the Russian Federal Security Service (“FSB”), have claimed that Kohver was arrested in Russian territory with “special equipment for concealed audio recording and documents that bear evidence of an intelligence mission…”

On Wednesday, President Obama traveled to Tallinn to pledge NATO support to Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania should they be invaded. Citing Article 5 of NATO’s founding treaty, all members must defend any ally that faces a foreign attack. While Ukraine is an ally to NATO, Ukraine is not a full member who shares in this Article 5 protection. Estonia, however, is a NATO member under the protection of Article 5.

Claiming to have been invaded in this capture, however, Estonia remains in a tough position as NATO has not responded militarily and there has yet to be any strong response from its members. Considering that thousands of Russian soldiers and tanks in Ukraine were called an “incursion” rather than an actual invasion, Estonia’s recent incident is likely far from anything NATO would consider an “invasion”.

The current position in Estonia is far from the position that Ukraine is in, but Kohver’s arrest has managed to raise an already-high level of concern in the Baltic region. Latvia, another border-nation of Russia, is also worried about Russia’s recent aggression, and Lithuania has voiced concern as well. Russia’s uses of force this year have yet to be met by NATO or any forces other than Ukraine, and so this may be just another test by Putin to see how far he can get away with.

For more information, please see:

The Guardian – Russia says detained Estonian police officer is a spy – 7 September 2014

The Guardian – Russia parades detained Estonian police officer before TV cameras – 7 September 2014

Time – Russia Is Testing NATO’s Resolve in Eastern Europe – 6 September 2014

International Business Times – Ukraine Crisis: Estonia Intelligence Officer Kidnapped at Gunpoint and Taken to Russia – 5 September 2014

Talks of Peace Begin Between Ukraine and Russia Following a Tense Week

By Kyle Herda

Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

KIEV, Ukraine – Amid all the chaos that has ensued in Eastern Ukraine over the past week, there may finally be a sign of light. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko have reportedly agreed to a cease-fire between the two nations.

A pro-Russian tank flies the flag of ‘New Russia’. (Photo courtesy of NBC).

This reported cease-fire follows a week of high escalation in fighting. Anywhere from 1,000 to 15,000 Russian troops have reportedly entered into Ukraine and stormed the cities of Donetsk and Luhansk, bringing along tanks and artillery, prompting Kiev to change their tactic from chasing out pro-Russian rebels in the east to now falling back and attempting to hold off against a Russian incursion.

While Russia continues to deny any sort of invasion, the Kremlin does not deny that Putin told Jose Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, that Russia could take Kiev in two weeks.

The escalated fighting has caused particular concern to NATO, as Baltic nations like Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania are nearby and feeling particularly threatened by a now-militaristic and invasive Russia. To curb their concerns, NATO has taken the step of creating a “readiness force” of several thousand troops that can quickly respond if needed. President Obama further pleads support to the Baltic nations through NATO, stating: “We’ll be here for Estonia. We’ll be here for Latvia. We’ll be here for Lithuania. You lost your independence once before. With NATO, you’ll never lose it again.”

The United States has also scheduled a military exercise for next week to take place in Poland near the Ukrainian border. This exercise will also include military personnel from Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Britain, Canada, Georgia, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Norway, Poland, Romania, and Spain. The United States will also be moving troops and 600 troops to Poland and the Baltic states for further military exercises to take place next month.

Australia and France have also acted out against Russia in response to this week’s invasion. France has halted the sale of a French battleship to Russia, and Australia has halted the sale of uranium to Russia. Australia also opened an Australian embassy in Kiev in support of Ukrainian sovereignty.

The increased pressure on both parties, via Russian incursion on Ukraine and via the rest of the world’s actions in response to Russia’s behavior, seems to have finally reached a breaking point. In the face of all-out warfare, both Ukraine and Russia have allegedly agreed to a cease-fire and to work towards peace. Whether the deal will become permanent or fall apart remains to be seen, but for the moment it appears possible that an end may be in sight for a conflict that has claimed nearly 3,000 lives.

For more information, please see:

RT – US prepares military drill in W. Ukraine for mid-September – 3 September 2014

LA Times – Obama reassures Baltic allies of NATO support amid Ukraine conflict – 3 September 2014

The New York Times – Obama Calls Ukraine a ‘Moment of Testing’ for NATO – 3 September 2014

The Australian – Australia considers aid to Ukraine, opens Kiev embassy – 3 September 2014

The Washington Post – Putin says he and Ukrainian president agree on outlines of a peace deal – 3 September 2014

CBS – Ukraine says it is now battling the Russian military – 2 September 2014

The Guardian – Putin claims Russian forces ‘could conquer Ukraine capital in two weeks’ – 2 September 2014

NBC – Baltic States Fear Putin Amid Escalation in Ukraine – 2 September 2014

The Wall Street Journal – Ukraine Shifts to Defense Against Russian Incursion – 1 September 2014

BBC – Ukraine crisis: Nato chief Rasmussen announces new force – 1 September 2014