News

Saudi Arabia Mosque Bombing Claimed by the Islamic State

By Brittani Howell

Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – On Friday afternoon, a suicide bomber dressed in women’s clothing detonated his bomb in front of a Shi’ite mosque killing three other people. The Islamic State claimed that they were behind the bombing, making this the second in two weeks.

Suicide bomber detonated bomb outside Shiite mosque. (Photo courtesy of BBC).

One week ago, the Islamic State claimed to be behind a bombing of a Shi’ite mosque, which killed 22 people.

The majority of Saudi Arabia is Sunni Muslim with a minority being Shi’ite Muslim. The attack occurred in al-Qadeeh, a predominately Shi’ite neighborhood. On Friday night, Shi’ite protesters in Dammam and al-Qadeeh demanded an end to sectarianism.

Some have suggested that Saudi Arabia has not done enough to deter online abuse of Shi’ites, suggesting that the online abuse is a gateway to overt acts against the minority sect.

The Islamic State admits to pursuing sectarian goals. The Islamic State wanted to aggravate the tension between the Saudi Arabia state and Saudi Arabian Shi’ites. Currently, Saudia Arabia is leading a coalition in an air campaign in Yemen against the Shi’ite Houthi rebels. Saudi Arabia denies any sectarian objectives in forming the coalition against the Houthi rebels.

A witness to the bombing claimed to have seen a quick explosion and men preventing the bomber from entering the mosque. Security guards had become suspicious of a man in a vehicle near the mosque, and when they approached the vehicle, it exploded. The explosion resulted in other cars catching on fire and the death of three Shi’ite worshipers.

Of those killed, one was an undergraduate student at Wichita State University. Abduljaleel Alarbash was returning to Saudi Arabia to be married and intended to return to school in the fall.

The Islamic State identified the bomber as Abu Jandal al-Jazrawi. The Islamic State posted online that the bomber was a “soldier of the Caliphate.” Saudi Arabia has previously been threatened by the Islamic State because of Saudi Arabia’s involvement in a U.S. coalition against the Islamic State.

For further information, please see:

 BBC- Saudi Arabian Mosque Hit by Bomb Attack – 29 May 2015

CNN- ISIS Claims 2nd Saudi Mosque Attack– 29 May 2015

New York Times- Explosion Near Shiite Mosque Kills 4 in Eastern Saudi Arabia – 29 May 2015

Reuters- Islamic State Suicide Bomber in Women’s Garb Kills Three in Saudi Arabia– 29 May 2015

Peace Talks, And Violence, Resumes In Colombia

By Kaitlyn Degnan
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

BOGOTA, Colombia — The Colombian military conducted strikes against FARC rebels on Monday, the same day peace talks resumed between government and rebel representatives in Cuba. The Colombian air force bombed rebel positions near Riosucio in the Choco province.

The strikes reportedly killed FARC commander Alfredo Alarcon Machado, known as Ramon Ruiz, who led the 18th division operating out of north-west Colombia.

The strikes yesterday were the latest in the new wave of fighting between government forces and rebels since fighting resumed in April.

26 FARC rebels were also killed on Thursday May 21 in a military operation against rebels in Southwestern Colombia. The operation was reportedly part of an ongoing offensive against illegal drug and mining activities in the area.

Following the attack, the FARC suspended their unilateral ceasefire.

In December 2014, the FARC declared a unilateral ceasefire as a show of good faith in the peace talks. The Colombian military did not call a ceasefire, citing previous incidences where the rebels had used ceasefires as a way to regroup and re-arm, but did discontinue its bombing campaigns against rebel forces.

Colombian military forces resumed the bombing campaign against the rebels after April 15, when FARC rebels ambushed and killed 11 Colombian soldiers in Cauca. Following the ambush, President Juan Manuel Santos ordered the military to resume bombing.

Colombia’s Inspector General Alejandro Ordoñez is opening an investigation into the ambush, following an investigation by the NGO, Broad Front for Peace. The NGO reported eyewitness accounts which differed with the military’s version of the incident, but also with other eyewitness attacks.

Ordoñez will look into whether there was a failure to follow protocol, and whether details of the attack specifically regarding weapons used was concealed from the forensic investigation.

Representatives of the Colombian government and FARC rebels meet in Havana for peace talks. (Photo courtesy of Reuters)

There is concern that the latest incidences between the government and the FARC will set back the peace talks in Cuba. Despite ending the ceasefire, the FARC has said that it remains committed to the peace process. President Santos has called on the FARC to step up the pace on the peace talks.

Peace talks between the Colombian government and the FARC were officially initiated back in November 2012. The two sides have come to minor agreements since then, including pledges to eliminate illegal drug trafficking, and to work together to remove landmines.

 

For more information please see:

The Guardian – Colombia rebels cancel unilateral ceasefire after air raid kills 26 leftist rebels in Colombia attack – 22 May 2015

Colombia Reports – Military commanders investigated over FARC attacks that killed 11 soldiers – 24 May 2015

BBC – Colombian Farc rebels push ahead with peace talks – 25 May 2015

BBC – Colombian Farc rebel leader Roman Ruiz ‘killed in raid’ – 26 May 2015

International Business Times – FARC Commander Roman Ruiz Killed by Colombian Government Airstrike Hours After Peace Talks Resume – 26 May 2015

International Crisis Group – Colombia Peace Process: Lurching Backwards – 26 May 2015

Stabroek News – Colombia’s FARC says end of ceasefire a ‘step back’ in peace talks – 26 May 2015

Indonesia Temporarily Allows Malaysian Refugees Ashore

By Samuel Miller
Impunity Watch Reporter, North America and Oceania

JAKARTA, Indonesia – Indonesia said on Wednesday it would offer shelter to 7,000 Rohingya refugees adrift at sea, but made clear that their assistance was temporary and would take no more. The Indonesian Government stated, the refugees would stay only as long as it took for the Government to process and document the refugees. More than 3,000 migrants have landed so far this month in Malaysia and Indonesia.

A Rohingya Refugee After Weeks at Sea (Photo Courtesy of NY Times)

Rohingya are a Muslim ethnic group fleeing persecution and economic hardship in Myanmar and Bangladesh.

The agreement came as fishermen on the Indonesian island of Sumatra rescued at least 370 migrants from sinking ships and brought them ashore. Maj. Gen. Fuad Basya, chief spokesman of the Indonesian military, said migrants saved by fishermen in Indonesia were on several ships rescued separately on Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning off Aceh Province, on the northern tip of Sumatra.

Those migrants who have made it to shore in Indonesia told stories of weeks of horror and brutality at the hands of the traffickers, who extorted them for money, provided little food or water and then abandoned them on the open sea to evade a crackdown on smuggling networks by the government of Thailand.

The U.N. High Commission on Human Rights (UNHCR) welcomed the decision, saying in a statement that it is “an important initial step in the search for solutions to this issue, and vital for the purpose of saving lives.” The UNHCR went on to say, “It is now urgent for people to be brought ashore without delay. UNHCR agrees with the ministers that further action will be needed. It will need to take into account looking properly at the needs of those in need of international protection.”

The situation, however, is far from resolved. While the migrants from Myanmar may be allowed to apply for asylum in Indonesia, Malaysia or perhaps a third country, experts say those from Bangladesh are mainly economic refugees who are likely to be sent home.

Furthermore, Myanmar does not recognize the Rohingya people and has refused to engage in talks where the term is used. Rohingya Muslims are a long-oppressed linguistic and ethnic minority in Myanmar, a majority Buddhist country. Most of Myanmar’s 1.1 million Rohingya Muslims are stateless and live in apartheid-like conditions. Almost 140,000 were displaced in clashes with ethnic Rakhine Buddhists in 2012.

One issue that was not controversial was human trafficking, which all of the countries involved, including Myanmar, agreed to try to stop.

 

For more information, please see:

CNN — Indonesia, Malaysia agree to take in migrant ships, report says — 21 May 2015

Bloomberg — Malaysia, Indonesia to Shelter Fleeing Rohingya Temporarily — 20 May 2015

NY Times — Indonesia and Malaysia Agree to Care for Stranded Migrants — 20 May 2015

Reuters — Malaysia, Indonesia to let ‘boat people’ come ashore temporarily — 20 May 2015

Knife Laws Complicate Freddie Grey Debate

By Samuel Miller

Impunity Watch Reporter, North America and Oceania

 

BALTIMORE, United States of America  

A court fight has emerged over a knife in the possession of Freddie Gray at the time of his death at the hands of six Baltimore police officers. Baltimore State Attorney Marilyn J. Mosby said when announcing charges against the six officers that the knife was not an illegal switchblade under Maryland law. Baltimore police have said the knife violated city code.

The six officers charged with the murder of Freddie Gray. (Photo Courtesy of ABC News)

The knife has not been shown to the public; as of now, it is unclear which interpretation is appropriate.

In Baltimore, it is illegal to sell, carry, or possess any knife with an automatic spring or other device for opening and/or closing the blade.  Baltimore City Code, Article 19, Section 59-22 states: “It shall be unlawful for any person to sell, carry, or possess any knife with an automatic spring or other device for opening and/or closing the blade, commonly known as a switch-blade knife.”

Andrew Alperstein, a defense attorney from Baltimore City, commented on the effect of the Baltimore City Code.

“Baltimore City has a law that says it’s not only illegal to have a switchblade, but it’s also illegal to have a spring-action knife.” Alperstein also noted the adding that the charges could have a chilling effect on police doing their job in the future. “The prosecutor has said if you violate the law by arresting these people falsely, then we’re going to charge you with assault for false imprisonment.”

Former Baltimore Deputy State’s Attorney Page Croyder agreed with the assessment by Alperstein.

“You’re setting a precedent that any police officer who arrests without probable cause can not just be civilly sued, but criminally charged.” Croyder also noted the impact such a decision could have on law enforcement. “As long as officers are acting in good faith, to subject them to criminal charges is going to put a chill on the whole police department.”

Under Maryland law, knives without “switchblades” are not considered weapons. Under Code of Maryland, Section 4-105, “A person may not sell, barter, display, or offer to sell or barter: a knife or a penknife having a blade that opens automatically by hand pressure applied to a button, spring, or other device in the handle of the knife, commonly called a switchblade knife or a switchblade penknife.”

Jan Billeb, executive director of the American Knife & Tool Institute, advocated for greater knife rights in the United States. “How’s a person supposed to know what the law is, and how are they supposed to know that there’s a difference in the law between jurisdictions”, said Billeb.

Doug Ritter, founder and chair of Knife Rights Inc., said most knife experts would disagree that Gray’s knife was illegal.

“It’s ridiculous that someone traveling through a metropolitan area can go through a dozen city lines crossing a metropolitan lines and have to deal with a half a dozen laws regarding the knife in his pocket,” Ritter said. Knife right groups are fighting for state pre-emption knife laws, which would stop towns, cities and counties from enacting knife laws different from what has been approved by the state.

But Maryland law does not specifically define what a switchblade is, leaving courts to make that interpretation.

For more information, please see:

ABC News — Varying Knife Laws Can Confuse Across State, Local Lines — 18 May 2015

Associated Press — Varying Knife Laws Can Confuse Across State, Local Lines — 18 May 2015

Baltimore Sun — Freddie Gray’s knife could be key factor as charges challenged — 9 May 2015

CNN — Was Freddie Gray’s knife legal? — 6 May 2015

Truce Ends, Airstrikes Resume in Yemen

By Brittani Howell

 Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

SANA’A, Yemen—The five-day ceasefire ended late Sunday night. The Saudi-led coalition resumed airstrikes over Yemen blaming the Houthi rebels for breaking the truce. Yemen’s foreign minister, Riad Yassin, stated, “That’s what we said before – that if they start again, we will start again.”

Aid Supplies to Yemen. (Photo Courtesy of BBC)

The United States, a supporter of the Saudi-led coalition, also blamed the end of the truce on the Houthi rebels. State Department representative Jeff Rathke commented on Saudi Arabia’s “exercised restraint during the humanitarian pause” while the Houthis “moved missile-launchers to the border and shelled Saudi territory numerous times.”

Air strikes resumed late Sunday night and continued into Monday. Witnesses reported strikes attacking cities neighboring Aden.

The Saudi-led coalition does not intend to reinstate a cease-fire. However, air and sea ports used for aid relief will not be targeted. Saudi Arabian officials expressed remorse for the end of the cease-fire, blaming the Houthis for its end.

The UN and humanitarian groups urged for an additional five-day truce in order to extend aid to others. During the cease fire the United Nations was able to provide enough food for one month to 273,000 people. Fuel was provided to 1.2 million people to access water. Non-essential items were distributed to 32,000 people.

Yemen is a country of 26 million people and one of the poorest in the Middle East. An extended truce would have allowed supplies to reach others who remain in desperate need as a result of the air and sea blockade. Yemen relies heavily on imports in order to sustain its population.

Unicef was able to resupply medical centers and establish mobile centers to rural areas. Solar-powered refrigerators were also provided in order to keep vaccines cool. A Unicef representative, when commenting on the aid effort, stated, “humanitarian assistance cannot replace the needs of 26 million people who have been cut off from a regular supply of commercial imports of food and fuel.”

Even with the aid received, hospitals are still in great need of fuel in order to continue to operate the generators.

The Saudi-led coalition continues to attempt to re-instate President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi. President Hadi was exiled in late March. The efforts so far have not proven successful. The Houthis continue to advance in Aden with no sign of stopping. There is evidence that the truce allowed the Houthis to bring more troops into Aden.

According to the United Nations, since March 1,820 have been killed, 7,330 have been injured, and 545,719 have been displaced.

For further information, please see:

BBC- Yemen Conflict: Saudi-led Air Strikes Resume as Truce Ends– 18 May 2015

Chicago Tribune- Saudi-led Airstrikes in Yemen Resume After Truce Expires– 18 May 2015

Reuters- Saudi-led Air Strikes hit Yemen After Truce Expires– 18 May 2015

New York Times- Saudi-led Airstrikes Resume in Yemen as Truce Ends– 17 May 2015