by Tony Iozzo
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

KHIRBET AL-MAKHUL, West Bank – Diplomats from various European countries, representing the United Nations, have spoken out to hold Israel accountable after soldiers from the Israeli Defense Forces prevented them from delivering aid and supplies to citizens in Khirbet al-Makhul in the West Bank.

The diplomats have reported that as they arrived to the village of Bedouin in Khirbet al-Makhul, they were ordered out of their trucks and instructed not to unload the contents.

Supplies and aid were being delivered by the European diplomats after many homes in the area were demolished pursuant to an order of a High Court. Last Monday, the homes of these villagers were destroyed as Israeli’s High Court ruled that they were built without permits in the first place. Many of the Bedouin villagers have refused to leave the land, however, as their ancestors have lived on the land and grazed sheep there for generations.

The European diplomats reported that a dozen Israeli army jeeps bombarded them when they arrived in the area. A French diplomat, Marion Fesneau-Castaing, said she was forced to the ground from her vehicle.

“They dragged me out of the truck and forced me to the ground with no regard for my diplomatic immunity. This is how international law is being respected here,” Fesneau-Castaing has stated.

A spokesman for the British Consulate General in Jerusalem stated it was “concerned at reports that the Israeli military authorities have prevented the affected community from receiving humanitarian assistance. We have repeatedly made clear to the Israeli authorities our concerns over such demolitions, which we view as causing unnecessary suffering to ordinary Palestinians; as harmful to the peace process; and as contrary to international humanitarian law. 

The Israeli Defense Forces have contended that the diplomats may have abused their privileges, and reported that that dozens of Palestinians, foreign activists and diplomats had tried to set up tents, which it called a “provocation.”

UN Humanitarian Coordinator James Rawley stated that the Israeli authorities should “live up to their obligations as occupying power to protect those communities under their responsibility.”

Last month, the first Israeli-Palestinian peace talks in three years were held in Jerusalem.

In 2010, the discussions disintegrated amid disagreement on the issue of Jewish settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

Israel has occupied the West Bank since the 1967 Middle East war, and the talks are aimed at reaching a permanent peace settlement with the Palestinians.

For more information, please see:

Russia Today – EU Calls for Explanations From Israel Over Diplomat Scuffle – 22 September 2013

Fars News Agency – Israeli Troops Attack EU Diplomats, Seize West Bank Aid – 21 September 2013

BBC News – Diplomats Protest Over West Bank Clash With Israeli Troops – 20 September 2013

Reuters Canada – Israeli Forces Manhandle EU Diplomats, Seize West Bank Aid – 20 September 2013

By Ben Kopp
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

KYIV, Ukraine – European leaders have conditioned a treaty between Ukraine and the European Union on the release of former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko. The treaty is an important for both sovereign bodies.

In 2011, Yulia Tymoshenko was convicted of embezzlement and fraud while she was prime minister between 2007 and 2010. She had been current Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych’s strongest opponent in the 2010 election. Currently, she is serving a seven-year sentence. Since her conviction, European leaders have pressed Yanukovych to free her.

On 20 September 2013, Yanukovych said that he is inquiring how Tymoshenko, his political opponent could be released from prison. However, Yanukovych made clear “we have not said ‘yes’ or ‘no’” to an early release because the courts must decide the legal issues.

“Nobody has a bigger interest in solving this issue than I,” said Yanukovych. “But there are obstacles. An answer has to be given to … the courts. Only the court can give an answer or (there can be) a voluntary decision by Tymoshenko. The answer lies in finding a compromise with the participation of Tymoshenko.”

European Union leaders told Yanukovich that he may sink the opportunity for Ukraine and the 28-member bloc to enter an “Association Agreement” that would create extensive trade and commercial cooperation between them. While Ukraine’s 46 million population and strategic position next to Russia make the treaty a significant act of enlargement for the EU, for Ukraine, it would mark a major shift westwards away from the orbit of Russia.

Stefan Fule, EU commissioner for enlargement said, “I want to underline how important this is. Progress has been made and there are talks with the Ukrainian authorities on this issue of selective justice.”

At a Crimea gathering of European leaders and officials, Yanukovich declared his ex-Soviet republic’s dedication to signing key agreements at the EU’s November summit in Vilnius, Lithuania.

Lithuania holds the rotating EU presidency. Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite said that before deals on association and free trade agreements would be signed, Ukraine must meet three criteria, including freeing Tymoshenko.

“The request from the European Union on Tymoshenko’s case is still on the table and, without a solution, I do not see a possibility for the signature,” she said.

Since 2012, Tymoshenko has been confined to bed in a hospital, under constant video surveillance. As a concession, she has been granted all-female medical staff on her corridor. From distrust of Ukrainian authorities, she refuses injections and all other invasive procedures.

Once free, Tymoshenko would be able to receive surgery in Germany for herniated discs.

Critics claim that Yanukovich is concerned that, if released, Tymoshenko challenge him in the 2015 election.

With two months until the EU summit in Lithuania, Yanukovich must decide whether leaving Tymoshenko without a pardon will be as damaging to his political career as allowing her to run against him in 2015.

For further information, please see:

RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty — Moscow Again Warns Kyiv Over EU Deals – September 22, 2013

Euronews – EU leader and Ukraine president clash over potential trade agreement – September 20, 2013

RadioFree Europe/RadioLiberty – Ukraine’s Yanukovych Says Searching for Way to Release Tymoshenko – September 20, 2013

Reuters — EU Presses Ukraine Leader over Tymoshenko, He Stalls – September 20, 2013

Reuters – Ukraine Leader Says on Course for EU Deals, Stalls on Tymoshenko – September 20, 2013

Telegraph — EU to Kiev: Free Yulia Tymoshenko, or No Pact – September 20, 2013

By Ben Kopp
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

PRISTINA, Republic of Kosovo – Unknown gunmen killed a EULEX police officer after shooting at his vehicle. A murder investigation has been opened in the northern region of Kosovo, where the death occurred.

In 1999, NATO ended the massacre and expulsion of ethnic Albians from Kosovo. Although 2008 saw Kosovo declare independence from Serbia, the Serb government rejected the secession and exerted control over the northern strip of Kosovo, which consists of 50,000 Serbs. Around the time of Kosovo’s independence, the EU deployed its largest ever civilian mission: the EU Rule of Law Mission (EULEX).

Approximately 100 countries and the United States recognize Kosovo as an independent country. However, UN Security Council veto-holder and Serbian ally, Russia has continued to block Kosovo’s entry to the United Nations.

In April 2013, Serbia agreed to cede its control over Kosovo’s northern Serbs in order to boost its status with the EU. In that region, the ethnic Serb minority has grown increasingly nervous over their anticipated integration with the rest of Kosovo and its Albian majority. As such, Serb leaders in northern Kosovo have called for a boycott of the November elections.

On 19 September 2013, in a northern region of Kosovo near Municipality Zvecan, gunmen opened fire on two EULEX vehicles and fatally shot Audrius Senavicius, a Lithuanian man serving with EULEX. A Czech officer with Senavicius was hospitalized. This is the first death in the EU’s mission since it began in 2008, even though recent years have seen criminal gangs working with near-impunity. Indeed, EU officials reported that recent months have been calm.

The attack follows the acquittal of Fatmir Limaj and nine others accused of war crimes related to the 1998 killings of Serbian and Albanian civilians. Two EULEX judges and one Kosovo judge ruled that a diary on the alleged war crimes was unreliable because it contained inconsistent and contradictory information.

According to the Serbian government’s pointman for Kosovo, Aleksander Vulin, those responsible for the officer’s death are “the greatest foe of the Serbs and the Serbian state.”

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and his top envoy in Kosovo strongly condemned the attack, and urged that those responsible be brought to justice. In a statement, Ki-moon stressed “the importance for all concerned to cooperate with the investigation and ensure security and freedom of movement of EULEX and other international presences in the implementation of their respective mandates.”

Farid Zarif, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative in Kosovo, stated that “this abhorrent act of violence is a direct assault on the principles of peace, justice and civility that international missions are in Kosovo to serve. Any attack against representatives of the international community is an attack on the international community as a whole.”

Additionally, to ensure that investigators do their work unobstructed, the Secretary-General’s envoy urged the world to avoid speculation about motives or identities of those responsible.

For further information, please see:

BBC News – EU Police Officer Killed in Kosovo – September 19, 2013

CNN International – EU Officer Killed in Kosovo Shooting – September 19, 2013

InSerbia – Kosovo: EULEX Staff Member Audrius Šenavičius Killed Near Zvecan – September 19, 2013

Reuters – EU Police Officer Shot Dead in Kosovo, Testing Fragile Accord – September 19, 2013

UN News Centre – Kosovo: UN Officials Strongly Condemn Fatal Attack on European Union Convoy – September 19, 2013

Wall Street Journal – EU Customs Officer Dies Amid Gunfire in Kosovo – September 19, 2013

Human Rights Watch – Dispatches: For Kosovo Victims, No Justice Yet – September 18, 2013

RadioFreeLiberty/RadioEurope – Former Kosovo Rebel Commander Cleared of War Crimes – September 17, 2013

by Tony Iozzo
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

ATHENS, Greece – A member of the Greek Neo-Nazi political party Golden Dawn is the main suspect in the stabbing death of an activist-musician, police say.

Pavlos Fyssas, 34, was stabbed to death early Wednesday morning in the western Athens district of Keratsini, after an alleged dispute over the Oympiakos vs Paris St. Germain Champions League football match.

Fyssas, however, was a well-known left-wing musician, and an opponent of the fascist party.

The Golden Dawn political party has denied any involvement, but Fyssas, who was able to identify his attacker before he died, has named a member of the party.

Fyssas, whose nickname was Killah P, was allegedly ambushed on his way out of a café by a gang of Golden Dawn supporters, and stabbed multiple times in the heart and abdomen. Fyssas died shortly after arriving at Tazanneio Hospital.

Police have arrested the Golden Dawn suspect, and conducted a search of Golden Dawn’s offices.

Social tensions have been rising as Greek citizens react to the implementation of austerity measures approved by Parliament back in late July. Greece’s Public Order Minister, Nikos Dendias, has cancelled a trip to Rome. He has stated that the situation was “critical.” Dendias expressed sorrow over the incident, and stated the government would put forward a new law against political violence and armed groups.

The killing occurred amidst additional strikes against government plans to cut thousands of public sector jobs as a part of the austerity measures. Golden Dawn has frequently been accused of violence towards left-wing activists and immigrants and is blamed for vigilante attacks.

The Council of Europe, Europe’s human rights body, has stated that there are grounds for Golden Dawn to be made illegal.

Greece’s Socialist Party, which is the second party in the governing coalition, has also stated that Golden Dawn should be considered a criminal group.

Golden Dawn’s popularity, however, has grown during Greece’s financial crisis. The government fears banning the party would increase its support even further underground.

The civil servants’ union had called a strike on Tuesday night to protest the latest austerity measures, and to protest Fascism, and are planning an additional rally for Wednesday.

Fyssas had been part of the Greek hip-hop scene since 1997, and was an outspoken activist against the Fascist party.

For more information, please see:

BBC News – Neo-Nazi Held Over Greek Musician Pavlos Fyssas Death – 18 September 2013

Ekathimerini – Police Say Amfiali Suspect Intended to Kill – 18 September 2013

International Business Times – Greece: Golden Dawn Neo-Nazi Accused of Murder of Rapper KillahP – 18 September 2013

United Press International – Left-Wing Musician Killed by Alleged Member of Golden Dawn in Greece – 18 September 2013

 

by Tony Iozzo
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

THE HAGUE, Netherlands – The Dutch government formally apologized last Thursday for the mass killing of thousands of Indonesians during colonial occupation which ended in 1949.

The Dutch ambassador for Indonesia, Tjeerd de Zwaan, officially presented the state’s apology at a ceremony in Jakarta.

Dutch Special forces carried out thousands of “summary executions” between 1945 and 1949 in Indonesia, which it colonized during this time.

In total, roughly 40,000 people were executed during this colonial era, as the Indonesian government reports; however, the Dutch government has only acknowledged a few thousand of these deaths, to date.

One of the most notorious incidents occurred in South Sulawesi on January 28, 1947. There, Dutch special forces executed 208 men on a field outside of a local government office.

“On behalf of the Dutch government I apologize for these excesses,” De Zwaan said at the ceremony on Thursday.

“The Dutch government is aware that it bears a special responsibility in respect of Indonesian widows of victims of summary executions comparable to those carried out by Dutch troops in what was then Celebes [Sulawesi] and Rawa Gede [now West Java],” De Zwaan added.

The Dutch government had already apologized for some specific murders, and paid compensation to victims’ families in those cases, but this was the first general apology for all of the murders during the colonial era.

Friends and family of the victims who were present at the ceremony welcomed the apology.

“We feel grateful and very happy to be here. Before that we never imagined that it would be like this,” said one family member, Nurhaeni.

Notorious Dutch captain Raymond Westerling carried out many of these executions back in the colonial era. Westerling and his troops held executions in dozens of villages for a period of three months in a bid to wipe out resistance against Dutch colonization. No one has been prosecuted for these murders, to date.

Most of present-day Indonesia was ruled by the Netherlands from the 19th Century until World War II, when the Japanese army forced out the Dutch.

When the Dutch attempted to reassert control of the country after the defeat of the Japanese, they met great resistance. The Netherlands recognized Indonesia’s independence in 1949.

For more information, please see:

Al Jazeera – Dutch Apologize for Indonesian Executions – 12 September 2013

BBC News – Netherlands Apology for Indonesia 1940s Killings – 12 September 2013

Daiji World – Dutch Envoy Apologises for Utions in Colonial Indonesia – 12 September 2013

Dutch News – The Netherlands Apologizes for Indonesia Executions – 12 September 2013