News

Zuwara, Libya’s Deadly Refugee Port

By Tyler Campbell

Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

TRIPOLI, Libya – Two Hundred people are feared dead off the coast of Libya this week after a refugee boat sank while taking the perilous journey across the Mediterranean Sea toward Italy. This was the second refugee boat to sink this last week. Another boat, also full of refugees had gone down the day before.  This is one of the most heavily traveled refugee routes out of Africa toward Europe and it has seen an increase in the number of refugees that never make it when compared to last year. According to the International Organization for Migration approximately 2,373 people have died trying to reach Europe this year. This is compared to the 3,281 people that died all of last year trying to make the same trip.

Location of Zuwara in relation to Sicily (Photo Curtsey BBC)

The first boat that capsized was a smaller fishing vessel believed to be carrying 100 people. The second larger boat was said to be carrying nearly 400 passengers when it sank the next day. Some sources reported that people were trapped in the cargo hold of the larger vessel when it went down on Thursday.

As of August 29th, 105 people had been declared dead with hundreds of others still missing. Rescue efforts have been working since the boats went down and have successfully recovered 200 people.  Heading the rescue efforts is Libya’s Red Crescent Society, a disaster relief group in Zuwara. The LRCS is an organization that relies primarily on volunteers for its mission. Many of these volunteers are not trained or prepared to handle human remains. However, with little to no involvement from the Liberian government they have had to head the continuing rescue mission of saving these refugees.

The city of Zuwara is a popular port for refugee boats to begin the trip toward Italy. It is one of Libya’s most northern cities and lies just over 300 miles away from the tip of Italy. Separating these two is the unpredictable Mediterranean Sea. The unseaworthy and overcrowded boats along with this dangerous section of the Sea make it an extremely perilous journey for refugees.

Even though it is a dangerous trip the number of people willing to take it has continued to climb. In the first nine months of this year 300,000 people had attempted to cross the Mediterranean into Europe. The total number of people who attempted to cross in 2014 was only 219,000.

The reason for the increasing number of refugees is long and growing. The main drivers are the escape from war, persecution and poverty. The three nations with ties to the greatest number of refugees fleeing to this section of the Mediterranean are Syria, Nigeria, and Eritrea.

 

For More Information, Please See:

Al Jazeera – About 200 feared dead in Libya refugee boat disaster – 29 August 2015

CNN – Dozens of Migrants die as boat capsize off Libya – 29 August 2015

BBC News – Migrant crisis: Libya boats sink off Zuwara carrying hundreds – 28 August 2015

CNN – Tide of Death: Migrants’ bodies wash ashore in Libya – 27 August 2015

Protestors Occupy Lebanon’s Ministry Demanding the Environment Minister Resign

By Brittani Howell 

Impunity Watch Reporter, The Middle East

BEIRUT, Lebanon – On Tuesday, activists for the “You Stink” Movement lined the halls of Lebanon’s environment minister’s office. The protestors engaged in a 9-hour sit-in to protest the garbage piling up in the streets and the incompetence of the government.

Supporters of activists inside the Ministry clash with Lebanon’s police force. (Photo Courtesy of The New York Times)

Garbage has been collecting in the streets since July. Residents of a town just south of Beirut blocked garbage trucks from continuing to dispose of waste in the already overfull landfill because of environmental concerns. Since the incident, the government has not reached a solution for the proper disposal of the trash.

The “You Stink” movement gave the Lebanon government three days to reach a solution for the garbage issue on Saturday. If the demands of the protestors were not met, the activists stated they would escalate.

Activists were able to sneak into the Ministry building in small groups until security personnel locked the main doors. As many as 40 activists participated the sit-in and refused to leave until Environment Minister Mohammed Machnouk resigned. While in the halls the protestors chanted “Out, out, out!”

When asked what the protestors intended to do if police were to enter the building, one activist responded, “They don’t understand that we are doing civil disobedience. We will not leave. And of course we will not confront them.”

During the protest the air conditioning was turned off and the bathroom doors were locked, while the army and riot police gathered outside. Nine hours from the beginning of the sit-in, the activists were forced out of the building when they refused to leave. Activists claim to have been struck by batons on their way out and two reported injuries, including a broken shoulder. Interior Minister Mouhad Machnouk, a relative of the Environmental Minister Mohammed Machnouk, stated that force had not been used on the protestors.

Protestor Wadih Asmar stated, “In other countries people have asked to take down their state. We are asking for a state and they are beating us.”

The “You Stink” movement has united people of different religious background, which is rare in a country constantly divided along religious and political lines. “The fact that we have this spontaneous nonsectarian movement is really the most important thing here,” stated a former interior minister and lawyer, Ziad Baroud.

Lebanon has been without a president for over a year. The country continues to have daily power cuts and water shortages is further strained by the influx of over one million Syrian refugees.

For more information, please see:

BBC News – Lebanon Rubbish Crisis: Police Eject Ministry Occupiers – 1 September 2015

Reuters – Beirut Protestors Occupy Ministry, Demand Minister Resigns – 1 September 2015

The New York Times – Police Clear ‘You Stink’ Protestors from Minister’s Office in Beirut – 1 September 2015

The Wall Street Journal – Lebanese Activists Occupy Environment Minister’s Office – 1 September 2015

Egypt Taking Step Backwards on Media Freedom.

By: Tyler Campbell

Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

 

 

CAIRO, Egypt – –

On Saturday an Egyptian judge sentenced three Al-Jazeera English reporters to three years in prison. The three men, Mohamed Fahmy, Baher Mohamed and Peter Greste appealed this ruling and spent 400 days in jail until released on bail by Egypt’s highest court in January, when it granted them a retrial. This case has some important international connections. Mohamed Fahmy is a Canadian national and Peter Greste is an Australian journalist so any ruling by an Egyptian court could seriously affect the men’s abilities to continue as international journalists.

The three men on trial. (Photo courtesy of The Hindu)

Media and civil right groups around the world are loudly criticizing the verdict as baseless and politically motivated by the current Egyptian regime. This is the same regime that took power two years ago when the military removed president Mohamed Morsi from office. Since the regime change the climate for journalist in Egypt has steadily become more unfavorable. Last Saturday when the Judge read the sentences, the original charge of collusion with a terrorist organization was not present. Instead they are being imprisoned for operating without a broadcast license and broadcasting false news with the intentions of harming Egypt. The journalists stand by that they were just doing their jobs and are now being prosecuted for it by current Egyptian leadership.

The lack of evidence, and the nature of said evidence provided by the prosecution seems to give some credence to the idea that the ruling was politically motivated. For instance one of the pieces of evidence offered by the prosecution was the music video of “Somebody that I used to Know” by Gote. Not only are civil rights groups questioning the ruling but governments around the world have expressed concern. The U.S. State Department said it was “deeply disappointed” with the court’s ruling. State Department spokesman John Kirby said, “The freedom of the press to investigate, report, and comment even when its perspective is unpopular or disputed is fundamental to any free society and essential to democratic development.” The Australian government has also pledged its support to Greste. Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said she would “continue to pursue all diplomatic avenues with my Egyptian counterpart to clear Greste’s name.” The ruling is rather troubling for the state of media rights in Egypt. It looks like they have traded one oppressive regime for another. How the current President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi will handle these calls for action by the world remains to be seen.

For more information, please see: 

The Guardian — Al-Jazeera journalists sentenced to three years in prison by Egyptian court—

29 August 2015

CNN —Egyptian court sentences 3 Al Jazeera journalists to prison—30 August 2015

Al Jazzeera–FAQ: Al Jazeera’s journalists on trial in Egypt—29 August 2015

The Hindu—Egypt sentences 3 Al-Jazeera reporters to 3 years in prison—29 August 2015

 

Citizens Demand Governmental Reform as Garbage Lines the Streets of Lebanon

By Brittani Howell 

Impunity Watch Reporter, The Middle East

BEIRUT, Lebanon –  Protests over uncollected trash transform into anti-government protests in Lebanon this week. The “You Stink” movement expresses protestors’ discontent with the government.

Man rummages through pile of trash on Lebanon street. (Photo Curtesy of the New York Times)

The garbage crisis has been going on since July. Landfills became overfilled and the residents neighboring one particular landfill, blocked garbage trucks from entering because of potential environmental hazards. Since July, garbage has been collecting in the streets of Lebanon.

For many, the garbage filling the streets is the last straw. Mohammad Rizk, a sandwich shop owner, told the New York Times, “Enough. This is Enough. No electricity, we said O.K. No water, we said O.K. But the trash?”

The country cannot meet the power needs of its citizens and many have needed to purchase generators or merely go without power for hours at a time.

In addition, running water is only available for a few hours on certain days, even though Lebanon has water resources that neighboring countries would envy. When the water is running, it flows into the streets from the neglected, broken pipes. Citizens are thus forced to buy water to fill personal water tanks for daily use, or use salty water from wells.

Lebanon’s infrastructure is further strained as refugees from war torn areas seek shelter. As many as 1.3 million refugees from Syria have sought shelter in Lebanon, a country of 4 million people.

Lebanon’s Parliament has failed to elect a new President for 15 months. The sectarian nation is currently seeking a Christian to fill the Presidency, but the different religious sects have not reached an agreement on the person for the job.

The Parliament has been unable to even come to terms with a solution for cleaning up the garbage that lines the streets and adjourned from an emergency meeting held Tuesday with no solution.

Sunday’s protest turned violent. Sticks and stones were thrown at police officers and tear gas and hoses were turned onto protesters. Over 400 protesters and security forces were injured during the protest, according to the International Community of Red Cross. Subsequent planned protests have been delayed as 32 of the protesters were arrested.

Earlier this week Prime Minister Tammam Salam threatened to resign if the meeting on Tuesday was not productive regarding possible solutions to the garbage problem. If Salam did resign, Lebanon would be thrown into additional chaos, as it is the President who appoints the Prime Minister.

For further information, please see:

The Wall Street Journal – Anger Over Garbage in Lebanon Blossoms into Demand for Reform – 28 August 2015

The New York Times – As Trash Piles Up, So Does Contempt for Lebanon’s Government – 27 August 2015

CNN – Lebanon: How Piles of Trash Led to a Violent Uprising Against the Government – 24 August 2015

Reuters – Lebanon Protest Postponed as U.N. Urges Restraint – 24 August 2015

Dozens of Christians Abducted From Syrian Town by the Islamic State

By Brittani Howell

Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

DAMASCUS, Syria—The Islamic State abducted over 230 people from Qaryatain on Thursday. Dozens of Christians were among those abducted according to the UK-based Syrian Observatory of Human Rights.

Islamic State militant stands with Islamic State flag after capturing the town of Qaryatain on August 6, 2015. (Photo Curtesy CNN)

The Syrian Observatory speculated that the abductions occurred either from “checkpoints or raids or from churches.” Among those kidnapped were 45 women and 9 children. Of those taken hostage, the other 170 individuals are Sunni Muslims.

Amnesty International called for the release of the detained citizens. An Amnesty International reporter stated, “the abhorrent abduction in Syria of more than 200 people by the Islamic State highlights the dreadful plight of civilians caught up in conflict in the country.”

Qaryatain lies in between Damascus, Palmyra, and Homs. The route between Damascus and Homs is often used to move supplies and fighters throughout the rest of the region.

This past February, the Islamic State kidnapped 220 Assyrian Christians. Only a few of those kidnapped in February have been released.

The Islamic State may be preparing to attack the nearby town of Sadad. Over 4,000 Chrisitian families reside in Sadad. According to an Assyrian activist, many of those living in Sadad have already begun to flee.

The Islamic State militants execute captives whom they deem to be “infidels,” including Shi’ite Muslims, Christians, and religious minorities. Sunni Muslims who do not swear allegiance are also executed. The militant group allows Christians to live under its rule as long as Christians pay a special tax.

The Islamic State has made advances into areas east and south of Homs. The Syrian Army has led a counter-offensive in hopes of re-capturing the city of Palmyra after it was lost to the Islamic State last May.

The Islamic State has been pushed back in Northern Syria by a surge of Kurdish-led forces. The Islamic State militants were evicted from the town of Tal Abyad in northern Syria by the Kurdish forces in June.

For further information, please see:

CNN – ISIS Takes Strategically Important Town in Western Syria, Rights Group Says – 7 August 2015

Reuters – Islamic State Abducts Dozens of Christians From Syrian Town: Monitor – 7 August 2015

The Los Angeles Times – More Than 200 Feared Kidnapped by Islamic State in Syrian Town – 7 August 2015

The New York Times – After Capturing Syrian Town, IS Abducts Dozens of Christians – 7 August 2015