Asia

Afghan Journalist Released on Bail

By Shayne R. Burnham
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

KABUL, Afghanistan – Television reporter Fahim Kohdamani was released from detention in Kabul on April 19.  Human rights organizations call upon the release of pending charges against him, including defamation and insult.  He was arrested four weeks ago following complaint from an Iranian official.

Kohdamani worked for the privately owned television station, Emroz.  According to the Afghan Independent Journalists’ Association, it was alleged that an Emroz broadcast expressed “anti-Islamic sentiments offensive to some Shiite clerics.”

“It is deplorable that an Afghan journalist was detained like a criminal because of a complaint by the Islamic Republic of Iran,” Reporters Without Borders said. “The public prosecutor and the government must resist foreign pressures that lead to the press law being applied arbitrarily. All Kohdamani did was criticize certain religious superstitions.”

Proof of the complaint lies in a letter that Iranian ambassador Fada Hossein Maleki sent to Afghan prosecutor general Mohamad Ehssagh Alko on March 23.  Maleki requested “legal proceedings” to be brought against the TV station Kohdamani works for, Emroz.  He alleged that Emroz insulted “senior officials of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” including President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and that these “suspect, separatist and insulting actions” should be dealt with under the Afghan criminal code.  The letter further threatened that relations between Afghanistan and Iran would suffer if prosecution was not pursued.

After his arrest, Kohdamani was interrogated by the Afghan prosecutor’s office about Ayatollah Khomeiny, the Islamic Republic of Iran’s founder. He was accused of criticizing a book written by Khomeiny.  However, Kohdamani explained that he did not criticize Khomeiny, personally, only  religious superstitions. He said, “In my programme, I combat the use of religions for personal or political interests.”

He continued, “I was not mistreated but it is intolerable that an innocent person should imprisoned with killers and traffickers . . . I am still awaiting another court summons  . . . and unfortunately, I cannot count on the Media Verification Commission as the conservatives on it are in the majority.”

For more information, please see:

IFJ – IFJ Alarmed by the Arrest of Two Journalists in Afghanistan – 25 March 2009

Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty – Kabul TV Station Faces Officials’ Wrath – 11 March 2009

Reporters Without Borders – Emroz Channel Presenter Freed on Bail After Being Held After Complaint by Iran – 21 April 2009

Human Rights Watch Urges Pakistan to Go Back on Peace Deal with Taliban

By Shayne R. Burnham
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan –  Human Rights Watch calls upon the Pakistani government to withdraw its peace deal implementing Islamic Sharia law in the Swat Valley, located in the northwestern region of the country.  Human Rights Watch cites to violence among women and other basic rights.

President Asif Ali Zardari signed an ordinance on April 13, 2009 which imposed Sharia law and giving the Taliban complete control of the Swat Valley region.  This came about by way of the peace deal made on Februrary 15.  The parliament unanimously voted in favor of the ordinance.  Pakistani military have since moved out of the region.

“The Taliban are taking Swat back to the Dark Ages and the Pakistani government is now complicit in their horrific abuses,” said Ali Dayan Hasan, senior South Asia researcher at Human Rights Watch.  “Tossing out the rights of the people in the tribal areas reflects abysmally on both the government and the Pakistani military’s ability to protect Pakistan’s citizens.”

According to Human Rights Watch, the Taliban have implemented their authority by summary executions, such as beheading, public whippings, and intimidation.

“The government defends this ordinance by saying that the officials implementing the law are still appointed by the provincial government and that they will respect the rights of women and others,” said Hasan.  “But the reality is that any official in the Swat who does not follow the dictates of the Taliban may be signing his or her own death warrant.”

Critics of the peace deal fear that the country is in danger of being taken over by the Taliban.

“They are now threatening to get out of Swat and take other areas into their custody.  So we’ve got to avoid that situation,” said former prime minister Nawaz Sharif.

Sufi Mohammad, leader of the Tehreek-e-Nifaz-e-Shariat-Mohammad, a Taliban affiliate stated, “We hate democracy.  We want occupation of Islam in the entire world.  Islam does not permit democracy or election.”

“It is mind boggling that any elected, rights-respecting government would seek to partner with and cede control to entities and individuals to brazen in their rejection of human rights and constitutional rule,” said Hasan.  “Instead of being feted as allies, Sufi Mohammad and his allies should be held accountable for their crimes.”

For more information, please see:

Daily Times – TTP Says Osama Welcome in Swat: Taliban Reject Peace Accord – 22 April 2009

Human Rights Watch – Paksitan: Swat Deal Grave Threat to Rights – 15 April 2009

Reuters – Opposition Grows to Pakistan’s Taliban Pact – 22 April 2009

Blind Human Rights Activist’s Wife Beaten

By Ariel Lin
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

BEIJING, China – Nine men attacked Ms. Yuan Weijing, the wife of imprisoned blind activist Chen Guangcheng, as she was leaving to visit her family.  They punched and kicked her as they forced her back to her house.  The men are thought to be hired by local officials.

Yuan Weijing has been under house arrest for the past three years and seven months.  Her husband, Chen Guangcheng, a self-taught blind attorney, had been involved in investigation of forced abortions and sterilizations cases in China.  He was arrested in June 2006 on charges of “destruction of property” and “assembling a crowd to disrupt traffic”.  The Chinese court sentenced him in prison to four years and three months.

According to Yuan, she has experienced constant harassment by local authorities.  During the past three years and seven months, local authorities hired over 30 people to watch her, even when she was farming in the field.  Not only they have prevented her from meeting journalists and lawyers, she was also prohibited from international traveling.  In 2007, the local government prevented her from travel to the Philippines to accept the Magsaysay award on behalf of her husband.  The couple’s children are not permitted to enroll at school.

According to Yuan, she has been able to visit her husband only one time on December 31, 2008 since Chen’s imprisonment.   She says that Chen has had diarrhea since July 2008, but received no treatment.

Amnesty International called to stop the continuing harassment and attacks on Yang Weijing. Roseann Rife, the deputy Director of Amnesty International’s Asia Pacific Programme, says that
“The continued virtual house arrest of Yuan Weijing is illegal. While national authorities are touting the new National Human Rights Action Plan, we see local authorities flagrantly violating the law in this case.”

For more information, please see:

Amnesty International – Wife of Chinese human rights activist beaten – 21 April 2009

Epoch Times – Blind Chinese Activist’s Wife Under House Arrest For Over Three Years – 21 April 2009

Time – Chen Guangcheng – 30 April 2006

Human Rights Watch – Chronology of Chen Guangcheng’s Case – 18 July 2006

Rights Group Demands Media Presence in Sri Lanka Stronghold

By Shayne R. Burnham
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka – Reporters Without Borders demands that the media be allowed to enter the northern part of Sri Lanka where the military and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) are in the midst of a 20 year battle.  Because of the stronghold, tens of thousands of civilians are trapped between forces.  More than 2,000 are believed to have died.  Yet no confirmations on this estimation exist since journalists and humanitarian aid are prohibited from the area.

“With a major humanitarian crisis and war crimes clearly taking place, the government must heed the international community’s calls for a ceasefire and for better access for humanitarian workers and journalists,” Reporters Without Borders said. “It is a disgrace that this war is being waged without independent journalists present. And by preventing thousands of innocent civilians from moving freely, the Tamil Tiger rebels bear a large share of the responsibility for these crimes.”

It added, “By limiting media coverage to guided tours with the purpose of confirming military victories, the armed forces are preventing the press from doing its job and are disregarding the public’s right to be informed in an independent manner.”

The government said that only nine journalists had been killed and 27 had been assaulted over the past three years.  Private activists state that over twelve have been killed.  Human rights groups cite to Sri Lanka as the third most dangerous place for journalists.

The United Nations estimates there are still 100,000 civilians trapped.  Since the beginning of the war in 1983, government security forces have contained the Tigers to the coastal jungle of the Vanni,located  in the northeastern region.

The government has been accused of violating international human rights laws by shooting in their safety zones, even schools and hospitals.  On the other hand, the Tigers have been claimed to prevent civilians from leaving, using them as human shields and forcing them, including children, into their ranks.

For more information, please see:

AFP – Sri Lankan Media Ban “A Disgrace”: Rights Group – 11 April 2009

Reporters Without Borders – Call for Journalists to be Let into Area Where “A Major Humanitarian Crisis” is Unfolding With No Media Presence – 10 April 2009

Reuters – Short Sri Lanka Truce Over, Doors Open to Final Fight – 15 April 2009

Pakistan Cleric Granted Bail

By Shayne R. Burnham
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan – The Supreme Court of Pakistan ordered the bail release of a hard-line cleric Maulana Abdul Aziz Wednesday.

In 2007, Pakistani soldiers raided a mosque in Islamabad because dozens of heavily armed Al-Qaeda militants were inside and refused to surrender.  Aziz was arrested when Pakistani soldiers besieged the mosque while he attempted to sneak out dressed in a burqa.  As a result of the raid, about 102 people were killed.

Subsequently, suicide bombings and other attacks on the government ensued.  This has left more than 1,700 people dead.

Aziz faces 27 various charges including abetting terrorists and illegally occupying a building.  He was granted bail by the Supreme Court of Pakistan in exchange for 500,000 rupees (approximately $6,214).  Aziz’s lawyer, Shaukat Siddiqui, stated that the only case left before the court was the charge of abetment.  He said that the court noted that “bail cannot be withheld on mere charges of abetment.”  He added, “It observed that there is no such material which should deprive him bail.”  Pending his release, he was moved out of prison and was detained in a house in Rawalpindi.

Aziz was released from house arrest last Thursday.  He vows to lead a campaign for Islamic law without violence.

“God willing, the day is not far away when Islam will be enforced in the whole of Pakistan,” Aziz said. “Our struggle has always been peaceful, and we will continue this struggle for the enforcement of Islamic laws in the country.”

“He’s learned no lessons, nothing’s changed as far as his agenda is concerned,” said Zafar Hilaly, a political analyst and former ambassador. “It’s troubling. His supporters will take a lot of heart, as will extremists, who think they’re on a roll.”

According to BBC News, the release of Aziz demonstrates President Asif Ali Zardari’s struggle to control militancy in the northwest part of Pakistan.  It is also an example of Pakistan’s history of failure to prosecute militants.  Critics say the difficulty in holding perpetrators responsible lies in the cooperation between radicals and national security forces.

For more information, please see:

AFP – Pakistan Red Mosque Cleric Granted Bail: Lawyer – 15 April 2009

Associated Press – Pakistan Grants Bail to Hard-Line Red Mocleric – 15 April 2009

Associated Press – Radical Pakistani Cleric Released on Bail – 17 April 2009

BBC News – Pakistan Red Mosque Cleric Bailed – 15 April 2009

Los Angeles Times – Militant Pakistani Cleric Out on Bail Remains Defiant – 17 April 2009