News

Settlement Reached for South African Gold Miners

By Tyler Campbell

Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

 

CAPE TOWN, South Africa – A case between 4,365 South African miners and two major mining companies has come to an end after 12 long years. The two mining companies, Anglo American South Africa and AngloGold Ashanti settled the suite before it went to court for 500 million Rand ($32.5 million). The miners brought the suite because of a lung disease they had contracted while working in the companies’ mines.

Gold miner working near Johannesburg South Africa. Photo Courtesy: Reuters

Heading the case was Richard Meeran a lawyer from the UK, human rights firm, Leigh Day. Leigh Day first got involved in the case in 2012 and has followed through till its completion on Wednesday. However, much still remains to be done before sick miners receive their payouts.

 

Although 4,365 miners were included in the suite it is clear that not all of them will receive compensation. The money paid out by Anglo American and Anglo Gold will be put into a trust and paid out to all those who qualify. If one qualifies how much they will receive will depend on the severity of their silicosis and their age.

 

Meeran admits that he does not expect everyone in the class action to receive compensation. The law firm did its own sampling and estimates that just over half of the plaintiffs will qualify to receive payout. According to the structure of the trust all testing and payouts must be done within six years, but Meeran believed it should all be concluded in four.

 

The miners are all suffering from a condition known as Silicosis, a condition contracted from repeated inhalation of airborne dust particles. Complications of Silicosis can lead to severe respiratory disease, ultimately leading to death. The conditions created by mining are exactly the type lead to Silicosis. The two mining companies were not being sued because of creating unsafe working conditions but instead because they failed to provide the correct protective gear for their workers.

 

Although many human rights groups have been supportive of the settlement it may be that it does not go far enough. The deal did include a payout for affected workers but did not include an admission of liability for either company. This means that the settlement will be almost meaningless for any upcoming cases against the two companies for the same disease. One of these cases that could have bolstered by an admission of liability is currently in the South Gauteng High Court, South Africa’s superior court.

 

For more information, please see:

 

City Press – Silicosis claims: Anglo has to cough up nearly R500m – 6 March 2016

The Guardian – South African gold miners awarded £22m in compensation – 5 March 2016

SABC News – Multi-million rand silicosis settlement is a victory for human rights – 5 March 2016

Bloomberg Business – Anglo American South Africa, AngloGold Agree on Silicosis Deal – 4 March 2016

Cameroon Continues Battle Against Boko Haram

By Tyler Campbell

Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

 

ABUJA, Nigeria – This Friday Cameroon reported that its military, working in conjunction with Nigerian forces, had killed 92 Boko Haram militants and freed 850 villagers from the small Nigerian town of Kumshe. This is the latest victory claimed in the fight against Boko Haram, a group that the U.S. has labeled as the most violent armed group in the world.

Photo of a raided Boko Haram camp in Nigeria. Photo Courtesy of the Guardian

It is reported that during the raid five soldiers were injured and two Cameroon soldiers were killed when a mine accidentally exploded. Besides freeing 850 villagers the multinational group also seized arms, ammunition, and what seemed to be a homemade mine production site.

While nations like Nigeria and Cameroon continue to have success against Boko Haram in traditional combat settings, guerrilla type tactics continue to be a problem. These types of attacks are reported to be responsible for the deaths of over 20,000 and the displacement of over 2 million since 2009, when Boko Haram first started their campaign.

Cameroon and Nigeria have seen some of the worst of the Boko Haram campaign but the violence has spilled over to Chad and Niger as well. In just this past year Cameroon has lost as many as 1,000 people to Boko Haram attacks and suicide bombings. The group has shown no signs of slowing down through the first two months of 2016.

Beginning in January the group attacked the northern Nigerian village of Dalori multiple times in a string of days and killed 86 and injured multiple others. February began with two suicide bombings in Cameroon that killed 12 and injured as many as 50. Boko Haram later claimed responsibility for those bombings.

Besides death and destruction the actions of this group have had other negative effects on the area. The group is known for targeting children and in response many parents have kept their children out of school for fear they will be taken. This group first gained national recognition after they kidnapped 276 schoolgirls from a Nigerian boarding school.

Nigerian president Buhari ran on a platform that promised to defeat Boko Haram by the end of 2015. Unfortunately, it does not appear that his goal was met although, he says that there have been marked improvements on the ground. Boko Haram’s switch to guerrilla style tactics and heavy use of IED’s is seen as a positive sign by the president instead of a negative.

 

For more information, please see:

Al Jazeera – Cameroon: 92 Boko Haram fighters killed in Nigeria – 27 Feb. 2016

All Africa – Cameroon – 92 Boko Haram Fighters Killed in Nigeria – 27 Feb. 2016

The Guardian – Cameroon says 92 Boko Haram militants killed and 850 captives freed – 26 Feb. 2016

Reuters – Cameroon says its army kills 92 militants in operation with Nigeria – 26 Feb. 2016

Missiles Strike Four Hospitals in Syria

By Brittani Howell

Impunity Watch Reporter, The Middle East

DAMASCUS, Syria – Nearly 50 civilians were killed on Monday, as four hospital facilities were struck by missiles. The United Nations stated that the airstrikes were a blatant violation of international law.

The remains of the Doctors Without Borders Hospital in Maraat al-Numan. (Photo courtesy of CNN)

In the town of Azaz, near the Turkish border, fourteen people were killed and another 30 were wounded, as airstrikes struck a school and the children’s hospital. Local news footage showed ambulances unloading children on stretches at the Kilis State hospital.

The Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu accused Russia of conducting the airstrikes that hit the hospital and school, killing children. Turkey’s foreign minister called it an “obvious war crime.” Russia denied responsibility for the attacks, stating that their country does not bomb indiscriminately and does not target civilians. The United States State Department, however, claimed the Syrian regime for the attacks.

Unicef, the United Nations children’s agency, stated, “We at Unicef are appalled by reports of attacks against four medical facilities in Syria – two of which were supported by Unicef.” It continued, “One is a child and maternal hospital where children were reportedly killed and scores evacuated.” “Apart from compelling considerations of diplomacy and obligations under international humanitarian law, let us remember that these victims are children,” Unicef continued.

Another attack occurred on Monday at Maarat al-Numan, in the Idlib province, as a Doctors Without Borders hospital was struck by missiles four times within minutes. According to Doctors Without Borders, seven people were killed with another 8 people missing and presumed dead. Of those killed, five were patients, one was a caretaker, and one was a hospital guard. The eight unaccounted for are staff members, patients also may be missing, however it is not clear how many.

Massimilian Rebaudengo, Doctors Without Borders’ head of mission, stated, “This appears to be a deliberate attack on a health structure, and we condemn this attack in the strongest terms possible.” He continued, “The destruction of the hospital leaves the local population of around 40,000 people without access to medical services in an active zone of conflict.”

Doctors Without Borders claimed that the Syrian government was responsible for the airstrikes in the Idlib province. The Syrian ambassador to Russia accused the United States led coalition for the attacks in Idlib. The United States stated that the coalition did not conduct any military operations in the area.

Riad Hijab, the head of the high negotiations committee, stated on Sunday, “Everyday, hundreds of Syrians die from airstrikes and artillery bombardment, poison gas, cluster bombs, torture, starvation, cold and drowning.” He continued, “The Syrian people continue to live in terror and in utter despair after the international community failed to prevent even the gravest violations committed against them.”

According to Physicians for Human Rights, 697 health care workers have been killed in 336 attacks on medical sites over the course of the Syrian conflict. The vast majority of attacks are carried out by the Syrian government and its allies according to Physicians for Human Rights.

For more information, please see:

CNN – Syria: At least 22 Killed in Strikes Against 2 Hospitals, Sources Say – 16 February 2016

Reuters – Missiles in Syria Kill 50 as Schools, Hospitals Hit; Turkey Accuses Russia – 16 February 2016

Al-Jazeera America – Deadly Airstrikes Destroy Three Hospitals, School in Syria – 15 February 2016

The Guardian – Airstrikes Hit Two Syrian Hospitals, with Turkey Condemning ‘Obvious War Crimes’ – 15 February 2016

The New York Times – Syrian Hospitals Hit as Battlefield Grows More Chaotic – 15 February 2016

Egypt on Path to Repeat 2011?

By Tyler Campbell Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

CAIRO, Egypt – People gathered together protesting repeated instances of police brutality. A wide range of people, from doctors to taxi cab drivers, actively voicing their frustration with a government they see as increasingly heavy handed. Reporters catching every moment and informing the public with social media. All this leading to grass roots support with the hashtag Jan25. For many this sounds like the start of the Egyptian unrest that took place in 2011. However, for people living in Cairo, this could also describe what has been happening in the last few days.

Egyptian Doctors stage protest and threaten to strike after police violence. Photo Courtesy: Iran-Daily

Just as in 2011, there has not been one major spark to ignite the people’s feelings against the government. Instead a dangerous mix of authoritarian tendencies, police brutality, and general distrust continue to move people to stage these protests against the current regime.

The problem of police brutality was a major part of what lead to overthrow of ex-president Hosni Mubarak in 2011. It appears the people of Egypt are again facing the very same problem. Last Friday the doctors of Egypt took to the streets to protest an instance of police brutality committed against 2 of their own.

On January 28th two doctors were assaulted and arrested after two police officers visited the Matariya hospital in Cairo. Allegedly, while receiving treatment for a cut on the forehead a doctor called an officer’s injury “simple.”  This comment ended with two doctors being assaulted and being placed on a bus toward the police station. The 2 doctors were later released but the larger group of protesting doctors threatens to go on strike if no action is taken against the officers.

Yesterday another instance of police brutality led to more protests around Cairo. Mohamed Ali, a young taxi driver, was shot by an out of uniform police officer during an argument between the two. It is reported that the two got into an argument as the officer and a relative of his were getting into Ali’s cab.

A statement from the Interior Ministry stated, “The policeman pulled out his gun to end the fight but a bullet came out by mistake, killing the taxi driver.” It is unclear at this time where the officer is, some reports say he was apprehended by authorities while others claim that he was killed by bystanders who saw the altercation.

Young Ali’s death came only a day after the regime had moved to close the Nadeem Centre for the Rehabilitation of Victims of Violence. This Human Rights organization had been documenting complaints of torture against Egyptian authorities and giving families effected by violence and torture a resource to turn to. Little explanation for the closure was given besides they had been operating outside their license.

If instances of police brutality and Human Rights violations continue to occur we could see a situation come together in Egypt that heavily mirrors 2011.

For More Information Please See:

The Guardian – Thousands of doctors in Egypt protest after police accused of attack on two medics – 12 Feb. 2016

The Guardian – Egyptian authorities move to shut down torture watchdog – 17 Feb. 2016

All Africa – Deadly Police Shooting Sparks Egypt Protests – Feb 19 2016

Deutsche Welle – Deadly police shooting sparks Egypt protests – Feb 19 2016

 

Uganda Election Won With not so Popular Vote

By Tyler Campbell

Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

 

KAMPALA, Uganda – It was announced yesterday that Yoweri Museven has been elected to his 5th term in office as Uganda’s President. However, the streets were rather quiet and lacked the celebration that you would expect for someone who won 60.8% of the vote. Instead of supporters filling capitol square to celebrate their re-elected leader armed soldiers and police kept watch silently. While President Museven sat comfortably in the capitol, the leader of the opposition party, Kizza Besigye, was at home under house arrest.

Ugandan police surround runner-up Besigye’s Home, keeping him in and reporters out. Photo Courtesy: VOA News.

This is the fourth time Besigye had been arrested since voting started. Finally, he was placed under house arrest after trying to enter a home where he believed ballots were being altered. Supporters of Mr. Besigye have also clashed with Ugandan police forces since voting began Friday. Police forces and Besigye followers traded rocks and teargas canisters thought the capitol city after the election was called for President Museven with just over 10% of the polls reporting.

 

Mr. Besigye has officially called for an independent audit of the election in an open letter he sent to the people of Uganda on Saturday. Besigye commented on the election calling it “stolen” and “what must be the most fraudulent electoral process in Uganda.”

 

Mr. Besigye and his supporters do seem to have good reason to be upset. During the election social media sites were blacked out along with mobile-money services. Urban areas that were expected to be heavily in favor of Besigye did not receive their ballots until late in the day. This led to lower voter turnout and ended with some citizens not getting to vote at all. Finally, there were reports of ballots arriving at polling stations that had already been marked for President Museven.

 

The European Union Election Observation Mission (EU-EOM) were in attendance at the election and do not claim to have seen this level of fraud, but stopped short of calling the election free and fair. The EU-EOM reported that there was great enthusiasm to go out and vote but also admitted that this enthusiasm was over shadowed by intimidation and a lack of transparency.

 

 

For more information, please see:

 

The Guardian – Uganda election victory extends Yoweri Museveni’s grip on power – 20 Feb. 2016

Al Jazeera – Uganda’s Museveni re-elected amid controversy – 20 Feb. 2016

All Africa – Uganda: Poll Observers Give Mixed Verdict – 21 Feb. 2016

The Economist – Yoweri Museveni wins a fifth term as Uganda’s president – 21 Feb. 2016