Asia

Taliban Forces Students into Islamic Madrasas

By Shayne R. Burnham
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

AFGHANISTAN – Due to the insurgency in southern Afghanistan, many schools have been closed and students have been attacked for trying to attend. As a result, going to school has become increasingly dangerous for students and teachers. This has caused many youths to attend madrasas in Pakistan.

Hence, the parents of Abdul Wakil sent their son to a madrasa in Pakistan. But a mere two months home, he quit and returned home.

“In the madrasas we were taught to sacrifice ourselves for Jihad in Afghanistan and were told to do suicide attacks,” said 14 year old Wakil. “I don’t want to be a suicide attacker, because it’s forbidden in Islam, so I secretly quit the madrasa and returned home.”

His parents are concerned for his safety. “If the Taliban find out about him, they will kill him,” said Wakil’s father. “We are also concerned about his education and his future.”

Madrasas typically provide classes about Islam, free education, shelter and food. Madrasas are funded by private donors.

“Pakistani madrasas brainwash students and teach them religious extremism, armed Jihad and hatred against the government in Afghanistan and the West,” said Gulab Mangal, the Helmand province’s governor.

Madrasas are believed to be a recruiting ground for militant organizations. In fact, the Taliban has been strongly linked to them.

But supporters of madrasas claim that the religious schools are necessary in countries where of Muslims live in poverty and state educational infrastructure is poor.

Today, Pakistan alone is home to over 13,000 madrasas. The rise in the number of madrasas increased in the 1980s when they became recruiting grounds for Islamic volunteers fighting Soviet forces in Afghanistan. Some madrasas later supplied recruits for the Taliban regime.

President Pervez Musharraf attempted to reform madrasas, but failed due to strong support of the education. The International Crisis Group claims that madrasas have survived attacks from the government because of the government’s reliance on religious parties.

For more information, please see:

CRS Report for Congress – Islamic Religious Schools, Madrasas – 23 January 2008

Irin – Afghanistan: Taliban Forces Students Out of Schools into Madrasas – 17 February 2009

Reuters – Factbox:  Key Facts about Pakistan’s Islamic Madrasas – 10 July 2007

Reuters – Pakistani Taliban Force Girls’ Schools to Close – 17 January 2009

Filipino Radio Journalist Killed

By Shayne R. Burnham
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

Manila, PHILIPPINES – Local radio journalist Ernie Rollins was killed at gunpoint Monday in Ozamiz City, in Misamis Occidental province of southern Mindanao.

International media groups urge that the murder be promptly investigated. “We firmly condemn the murder of Rollins, the latest victim of a culture of violence and impunity that has ravaged the media in the Philippines for too long,” said Reporters Without Borders. “The motive has not yet been established by the modus operandi indicates it was a contract killing ordered by Rollin’s enemies and carried out by professional hitmen.”

At 5:30 a.m., Rollins was on the way into work to host his program. He parked his car at a gas station in Barangay Talic when two men wearing ski masks approached by motorcycle. Rollins was shot three times in the body and a fatal shot to the head.

Ligaya, his partner, who witnessed the murder states, “I had not expected that Ernie would be targeted.” She then added that she believed that his outspoken commentaries against local officials might have prompted the attack.

Police superintendent Leonilo Cabug was placed in charge of the investigation.

Cabug and Misamis Occidental Governor Loreto Leo Ocampos stated that the murder was a “big blow and grave offense to press freedom.” They continued, “The dynamics of a democratic society hinge on the free flow of information, exchange of ideas, respect for one’s opinion and tolerance for the thoughts of others.”

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) believes that the date of the killing is of great significance. “There can be no greater irony than the timing of Rollin’s murder. He was killed on the 23rd anniversary of the Edsa People Power I uprising that supposedly restored the people’s basic freedoms, including (that) of expression,” said the NUJP.

Rollin was the first journalist killed this year in the Philippines. However, he was the 99th murder since the 1986, when the Philippines returned to democracy.

For more information, please see:

GMANews – Press Groups Condemn Killing of Filipino Radioman – 24 February 2009

Inquirer – Special PNP Unit to Probe into Rollin’s Slay – 25 February 2009

Reporters Without Borders – Popular Radio Journalist Gunned Down on Mindanao Island – 23 February 2009

Bangladesh Discovers Mass Grave at Border Guard Compound

By Pei Hu
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

DHAKA, Bangladesh – The Bangladesh military discovered a mass grave in Dhaka holding 66 border guard officers killed by mutinous border guards.  Col Rezaul Karim, chief deputy of the elite Rapid Action Battalion force, told AFP “The bodies were buried underground in a makeshift grave near the hospital in the BDR headquarters compound.”

Officials say that at least 50 more people have been killed during the 2-day violent revolt.

Major General Shakil Ahmed, a commander of the Bangladesh Rifles border guards, was one of the dead bodies found inside the border guard compound. Many more guard officers remain missing. Hundreds of mutinous border guards fled after surrendering to the government. The mutinous guards agreed to lay down their weapons after the prime minister vowed to look into their grievances, which include demands for better pay.

Prime Minister Shiekh Hasina sent in military tanks throughout Dhaka to help stabilize the crisis. Bangladeshi authorities arrested 300 border guards believed to take part in the mutiny.

The rebellion happened this past Wednesday after failed negotiations with officials for better benefits for border guards. Border guards are responsible for securing the country’s border and providing backup the country’s army and police. There has been a long standing tension between the government and the border guards who complain they are treated as second class citizens to the Bangladeshi military.

After visiting the Bangladesh Rifles border guard’s compound, a government minister announced that the men responsible for the deaths of border guard officers would not receive the amnesty Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina previously offered.  “No one has the right to kill anyone,” the prime minister said.

The Bangladeshi government declared three days of official mourning, beginning Friday and ending on Sunday at midnight.

For more information, please see:

BBC – Bangladesh Troops Find Mass Grave– 27 February 2009

Economic Times – Mass grave discovered at BDR headquarters, 30 bodies recovered– 27 February 2009

VOA – Mass Grave Discovered in Bangladesh Border Guard Compound – 27 February 2009

Bangladesh Border Guards End Their Mutiny

By Pei Hu
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

DHAKA, Bangladesh – Government officials say that the Bangladesh border guards that rebelled against the government over conditions and pay have surrendered. The mutiny began on February 25th at the Dhaka headquarters of a paramilitary unit called the Bangladesh Rifles.  An army helicopter patrolling above the barracks was shot at and mortar rounds were also fired.

By the next day, the mutiny spread to 12 different towns and cities where border guards seized control of their barracks. Police chief of the Moulivibazar district told the AFP news agency that the border guards were “firing indiscriminately.” Reports said some border guards took their officers hostage, and in others they forced them to leave. Schools in Dhaka and the surrounding areas were closed for the day and mobile phone service was suspended across the country in a bid to stop the rebellion spreading.

A government spokesperson said the situation is now under control despite sounds of gunfire in the capital. The situation in other parts of the country, where paramilitary forces remain at large is still unclear.

The mutinous border guards were demanding better wages and new bosses. They surrendered after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina warned the guards would face “tough action” if they didn’t surrender. “Lay down your guns immediately and go back to barracks … Do not force me to take tough actions or push my patience,” she said. On Thursday, tanks rolled into the capital to backup. About 50 people have died in the violence.

Hasina offered to pardon the guards if they surrender and return to the post. A representative of the guards told the media they were surrendering because the Prime Minister agreed to look into their grievances.

There are 70,000 border guards in 42 camps across the country. The border guards are responsible for securing boarders and provide backup for the army and police.

Indian border officials told the media they will close their borders near Bangladesh and remain vigilant.

For more information, please see:

BBC – Bangladesh Guard Mutiny is ‘Over’– 26 February 2009

FT – Amnesty deal ends border guard mutiny in Bangladesh – 26 February 2009

VOA – Bangladesh Say Mutinous Guards Surrender– 26 February 2009

Junta Released More Than 6000 Prisoners

By Ariel Lin
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

YANGON, Myanmar – Junta released more than 6,000 prisoners after the United Nations human rights rapporteur Tomas Ojea Quintana concluded his visit last week.  Several monks and pro-democracy members were among released prisoners, a party spokesperson and a rights group said.  State radio and television reports prisoners were being freed because of their good conduct in jails.  These prisoners also would be able to participate in a general election planned for next year.

However, according to Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, a Thailand-based rights group believes “it is just for show”.  “This group does not include any policy makers or other key players,” said Tate Naing, the group’s secretary.  National League for Democracy spokesperson Nyan Win said he was expecting to hear about additional NLD members freed.

The United Nations human rights rapporteur Tomas Ojea Quintana noting “The human rights situation in Myanmar is still challenging.”  During his visit, Mr. Quintana were not allow to meet with either Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of the opposition who is under house arrest, or Burma’s junta chief, Senior General Than Shwe.  Mr. Quintana’s mission to Myanmar is to push for the freedom of political prisoners – including Aung San Suu Kyi.  The Junta said that they would consider his recommendation, amending some national laws to be more in keeping with international standards.

At the same time, pressure is rising for U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to visit Myanmar again.  Aung San Suu Kyi and others have written a letter welcoming a possible visit by the secretary-general to “discuss a broad range of issues,” U.N. envoy Ibrahim Gambari told reporters after briefing the Security Council on his recent trip to Myanmar.  U.N. Security Council members said they would support a visit by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

For more information, please see:

AP – 19 political prisoners released from Myanmar jails – 22 February 2009

AP – Myanmar junta announces 6300 convicts to be freed – 20 February 2009

BBC – Burma rights still ‘challenging’ – 20 February 2009

Reuters – Political prisoners among 6,000 freed in Myanmar – 22 February 2009