News

Ukrainian Government to Ban Blacklisted Russian Singers from Eurovision

By Sarah Lafen

Impunity Watch Desk Reporter, Europe

KIEV, Ukraine — The Ukrainian government has announced that it is planning to ban certain Russian artists from next year’s Eurovision Song Contest, which will be held in Kiev, Ukraine in May 2017.  Ukraine is in the middle of an economic recession, however plans to spend $49 million on the competition through renovations to the host venue.

Crimean Tatar Jamala won the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest with her ballad about Stalin’s deportation of Crimean Tatars (Photo Courtesy of ABC).

This past year, a Ukrainian citizen named Jamala won the competition with a song about deportations of Crimean Tatar’s under the rule of Joseph Stalin.  Crimean Tatars are ethnic Muslims who were accused by Stalin of collaborating with the Nazis.  Stalin had them transported in cattle cars from Crimea to remote regions of the Soviet Union.

Ukrainian Culture Minister Yevhen Nyshchuk said that Russian singers who have been blacklisted by Ukrainian state security for supporting the separatist cause between Russia and Crimea would be banned from the competition if Russia chose them to compete.  He noted that there are “many decent artists” in Russia who understand peace, however warns that Russia is capable of finding the would-be blacklisted singers and pushing them to win local competitions, which might lead to their entry in Eurovision.  Nyshchuk would consider this action by Russia to be a “deliberate provocation.”

Anton Gerashchenko, a parliament member for the ruling party in Ukraine, wishes to uphold the ban against Russian media as well, stating that it is for “Ukraine to decide” whether to block certain Russian media groups from covering the competition.

There are currently 10 Russian singers and actors whose work has been banned from Ukrainian media for its support of the Crimea annexation and Russian separatists.  Chicherina and Kobzon are two Russian singers who have been banned from physically entering Ukraine for performing songs that support Russia’s position in the Crimea annexation.

Jamala’s song in the 2016 event raised concerns in Moscow that the contest was charged by politics.  For this reason, some Russians have suggested that Russia boycott the 2017 Eurovision altogether.  There is still speculation regarding whether or not Russia will honor the ban, or will try to challenge it and send blacklisted artists to the competition.

 

For more information, please see:

EuroVisionary — Ukraine Confirms Russian Artists Still Banned From Entering 2017 Eurovision — 10 September 2016

ABC — Eurovision: Ukraine Names Names City to Host 2017 Song Contest — 9 September 2016

Reuters — Ukraine to Bar Some Russian Singers After Kiev Chosen to host Eurovision — 9 September 2016

EuroVisionary — Ukraine Threatens Russian Artists to Ban them from Eurovision 2017 — 21 May 2016

Black Lives Matter Protest Shuts Down London City Airport Runway

By Sarah Lafen

Impunity Watch Desk Reporter, Europe

 

LONDON, England — Nine activists of Black Lives Matter UK (BLMUK) staged a protest on a runway of London City Airport in London last Tuesday.  Protestors reportedly swam or traveled via a dinghy across the Thames River from a dock across from the airport in order to reach the runway.  Once on the runway, the protestors constructed themselves into an interlocked tripod formation.

Law enforcement officers work to remove protesters from the London City Airport Runway (Photo Courtesy of CNN)

Flights at the airport were suspended until the protesters were arrested and removed from the runway.  According to local police, the seven of the nine protestors were arrested on charges of aggravated trespass, being unlawfully airside, and for breaching the bylaws of the London City Airport.  The remaining two protestors remained interlocked on the runway and continued to engage in negotiations with police officers.

BLMUK stated that London City Airport is planning to expand, which would likely impact the surrounding neighborhoods which are located in a highly deprived part of London.  One reason given by BLMUK for the protest was to highlight the economic disparity between airport travelers and the people who live in the neighborhoods surrounding the airport.  The activist group claims that the airport was “designed for the wealthy,” and compares the salaries of the average London City Airport user (€136,000) to the average population in the surrounding town of Newham (£20,000 or less).

In this same sense, BLMUK provides that the reason for the protest was to “highlight the environmental impact of air travel on the lives of black people locally and globally.”  The group estimates that by 2020, there will be 200 million climate refuges across the world.  They claim that in 2016, 3,176 migrants either died or went missing in the Mediterranean as a result of fleeing conditions they did not create because cheaper, easier, and safer avenues of travel have been blocked or ignored by the UK.

The protest aggravated many affected travelers at London City Airport.  One traveler whose flight was delayed said she understood the purpose of the protest and the concerns surrounding it, but highlighted that there are other ways the group can get their point across without impacting “young families.”  Another set of African American travelers recognizes that “many issues always affect the poorest in society…but it has stopped these two black lives from going on holiday.”

 

For more information, please see:

BBC — Black Lives Matter Protestors Close London City Airport Runway — 6 September 2016

CNN — Black Lives Matter Protesters Removed from London Airport Runway, Police Say — 6 September 2016

The Guardian — Black Lives Matter Protest Stops Flight at London City Airport — 6 September 2016

The Independent — Seven Arrested as Black Lives Matter Protest Hits Flights at London City Airport — 6 September 2016

The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe Requests an Injunction to Stop Dakota Access Pipeline Construction

by Portia K. Skenandore-Wheelock
Impunity Watch Reporter, North America

CANNONBALL, N.D. — The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe has sought a preliminary injunction to stop the construction of a $3.7billion pipeline until their lawsuit against the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is heard. The judge, James A. Boasberg of United States District Court, wanted more time to determine whether the Corps failed to follow federal laws, including the National Historic Preservation Act, in its environmental review of the pipeline project. A ruling on the injunction is expected September 9.

The pipeline spans over 1,100 miles over four states and is the first to bring Bakken shale in North Dakota directly to refineries in the Gulf Coast. Dakota Access is the group of firms behind the pipeline, which is led by Energy Transfer Partners. Supporters of the pipeline say this will be a more cost-effective way to transport the shale to the Gulf and assert it is safer than using roads and railways.

Members of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe have been protesting the construction since April in order to protect their burial sites, sacred land, and the Tribe’s main water supply. There are now three distinct camps, the original Sacred Stone Spirit camp, the main Seven Council camp on the north side of the Cannonball River, and the Rosebud camp across the river. The main camp was established last spring to fight the construction of the pipeline that is expected to travel under the Missouri River on treaty lands a half of a mile from the Standing Rock reservation. Other Tribes and Nations have joined the camp in solidarity to protect the water and advocate for treaty rights. Accounts of the number of people at the camps vary from 1,000 to 3,000 over the last few weeks. A part of the camp traveled to Washington, D.C. to fill the court room and demonstrate outside the courthouse.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have confirmed that Energy Transfer Partners does not have a written easement to build the pipeline on Corps property. In July the Corps issued Section 408 permission, which allows the easement to be written, but the easement itself is still under review. The Department of the Interior, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, and the Environmental Protection Agency objected to the Corps permission. Corps spokesman Larry Janis discussed current construction saying, “They can’t build the project by accessing corps property from west to east across Lake Oahe.” The lack of an easement became clear in the federal district court case. “Everybody thought they had it, this is really important information,” said attorney Carolyn Raffensperger, one of four attorneys volunteering their legal services to the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and individuals that may get arrested in the protests.

A group of those protesting the Dakota Access pipeline left the camp to take their message to Washington, D.C.. (Photo courtesy of the New York Times)

Amnesty International and United Nations observers have been making visits to the camp. The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and the International Treaty Council have appealed to the United Nations by submitting an urgent action communication to four U.N. human rights special rapporteurs on the grounds that the tribe’s water supply is directly threatened by construction of the pipeline. The appeal states, “We specifically request that the United States Government impose an immediate moratorium on all pipeline construction until the treaty rights and human rights of the Standing Rock Tribe can be ensured and their free, prior and informed consent is obtained.” The Dakota Access pipeline allegedly violates the U.N. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples including the “right to health, right to water and subsistence, threats against sacred sites including burial grounds, Treaty Rights, cultural and ceremonial practices, free prior and informed consent, traditional lands and resources including water, productive capacity of the environment, and self-determination.”

The appeal also asserts environmental racism in the Corps’ decision to relocate the pipeline from north of Bismarck due to concerns of the impact on the city’s water supply without concern for the impact on the Tribe’s main water supply. The Corp has also issued permits to dig through burial grounds that are protected by protocols established by the National Historic Preservation Act that the Tribe alleges are not being followed.

North Dakota Governor Jack Dalrymple declared a state of emergency which allows for resources to be mobilized through the State Emergency Operations Plan and helps state and local agencies with more funding for public safety. Some residents are questioning the use of resources to protect Energy Transfer Partners. North Dakota Highway Patrol troopers and other agencies are manning a police barricade that stops and reroutes those going to the reservation but gives access to those north of the reservation. Private security has also been employed, including the recent use of dogs and pepper spray.

In addition to easement issues and potential human rights violations, residents in other states impacted by the pipeline have also filed suit. In Iowa, farmers are suing the government asserting that Dakota Access LLC is illegally using eminent domain to gain rights of way onto their land.

For further information, please see:

The Bismarck Tribune – Corps Says Pipeline Still Needs Water-Crossing Easement – 25 August 2016

Indian Country Today Media Network – Dakota Access Pipeline: Standing Rock Sioux Issue Urgent Appeal to United Nations Human Rights Officials – 20 August 2016

Inside Climate News – Native American Pipeline Protest Halts Construction in N. Dakota – 19 August 2016

Los Angeles Times – With Echoes of Wounded Knee, Tribes Mount Prairie Occupation to Block North Dakota Pipeline – 27 August 2016

New York Times – North Dakota Oil Pipeline Battle: Who’s Fighting and Why – 26 August 2016

Reuters – Celebrities Join Native American Pipeline Protest in Washington, DC – 24 August 2016

French Interior Minister Vows to Destroy Calais ‘Jungle’

By Sarah Lafen

Impunity Watch Desk Reporter, Europe

 

PARIS, France — The French Interior Minister, Bernard Cazeneuve, has vowed to gradually dismantle the migrant camp in Calais known as “the jungle,” where migrant refugees are currently living in “dire sanitary conditions.”  In attempt to unblock Calais, Cazeneuve plans to close the site in stages, while simultaneously creating accommodations for thousands of migrants elsewhere in France in hopes of persuading the migrants to leave the Calais jungle voluntarily.  This has posed problematic, however, as migrants were also offered bus rides to other locations around France, but did not utilize this service as much as authorities had hoped.

Tents in the Calais ‘jungle’ (Photo Courtesy of The Guardian)

Calais is currently home to an estimated 7,000 migrants, the majority of whom have traveled to Calais in hopes of crossing the English channel to Britain.  The site was create by the state in 2015 in an attempt to concentrate refugees into one wasteland who had been evicted from other camps across the Calais area.  1,900 police officers are currently patrolling the camp to prevent the migrants from the camp from smuggling themselves onto lorries traveling to Britain.  There has recently been an increase in the number of violent attacks on lorry drivers who are headed to the UK.

In March, French authorities shut down the southern part of the part of the camp in an aim to “radically reduce numbers.”  However Daniel Barney, of the health center Médecins Sans Frontières which opened up a satellite center in the camp, warns that the French authorities’ decision to close the southern part of the camp worsened the issue of overcrowding.  Double the population is fit into half as much land, and access to more water and toilets has not increased to reflect this population increase.

Citizens UK, a campaign group, claims to have identified around 400 children living in the Calais jungle that are eligible to go live in the UK.  About half of these children are eligible to move to the UK under the Dublin III regulation, which would allow them to live there due to their close family ties to the country.  According to Citizens UK, there are approximately 800 unaccompanied children currently living in the camp.

French lorry drivers, and local shopkeepers and farmers are planning to stage a blockade of the port on Monday in order to demonstrate their opinion that the camp is demolished.  Cazeneuve claims that the northern part of the camp has already begun by his orders.

 

For more information, please see:

BBC — Calais ‘Jungle’ Camp: UK Urged to Take in 400 Refugee Children — 2 September 2016

France 24 — Calais ‘Jungle’ Migrant Camp to be ‘Gradually Dismantled’ — 2 September 2016

The Guardian — France Vows to Dismantle ‘Jungle’ Refugee Camp in Calais — 2 September 2016

RT — France Vows to Destroy Calais ‘Jungle’ as Paris Authorities Plan 2 More Refugee Camps — 2 September 2016    

Al-Shabab Claims Responsibility for Deadly Car Bombing in Somalia

By Samantha Netzband 

Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

MOGADISHU, Somalia–Al Shabab has taken responsibility for two deadly car bombing that took place in Galkayo, Somalia on Sunday August 21st.  The death toll is unclear, but news outlets are reporting that over 10 civilians have died, with Al Jazeera reporting at least 20 dead.

Two car bombs killed at least 23 people Sunday in the Somali town of Galkayo. Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the blasts, which killed students and local merchants.

The site of the two car bombings. (Photo Courtesy of CNN)

The first car bomb was set off in a truck, the second was set off in a car.  Local police Captain Abdi Hassan said the truck was rammed into the main gate of a building in Galkayo.  After the first bomb exploded and help started to arrive for the wounded the second bomb exploded.    The buildings near the site of the bombing included a school, market, and government building.  Authorities believe that Al-Shabab was targeting the government building.

Members of international society were quick to condemn the twin bombings.  The representative of the UN Secretary-General in Somalia, Michael Keating, issued a statement: “This act of terror highlights the vulnerability of Somali civilians including children to actors who continue to use violence to achieve their objectives.”  The Somali President and Prime Minister also condemned the attack as well as the President of the United States of America.

This bombing is one in a series purported by Al-Shabab in Somalia.  Upset with the presence of foreign sources in Somalia, Al-Shabab also attacked the city of Mogadishu in July killing 6 civilians.

For further information, please see:

Aljazerra – Al Shabab Claims Double Suicide Bombing in Somalia – 22 August 2016

CNN – Somali Suicide Bombings Leave 23 Dead; Al Shabab Claims Responsiblity – 21 August 2016

Press Herald – Twin Blasts Kill 17 at Government Building, Market in Somalia – 21 August 2016

Times of India – More than 10 Dead in Twin Blast in Somali Town – 21 August 2016