News

Three More Officers Charged in Killing of Folk Singer Victor Jara

By Delisa Morris

Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

SANTIAGO, Chile–On Wednesday, a judge in Chile charged three more people in the murder of folk singer Victor Jara.  Jara was murdered during the country’s 1973 military coup.  The murder occurred during the opening days of the dictatorship of Gen. Augusto Pinochet.

Folk musician Victor Jara. Photo courtesy of instrumental.com

 

 

A judge charged former military officers Hernan Chancon Soto and Patricio Vasquez Donoso in Santiago.  The killing occurred Sept. 16, 1973.  Ex-army prosecutor Ramon Melo Silva was also charged as an accomplice.  The list has grown from eight former army officers who were charged in late 2012 and early 2013 in the killing of Jara.  Jara was a communist supporter, singer and songwriter.

“This decision has to be celebrated and we hope this investigation can continue,” Jara’s widow, Joan Jara, stated at a press conference.  “We know this marks a milestone.”

Jara’s songs were known for tackling social and political issues.  Jara was an open supporter of communism and was a member of the Communist Party of Chile.  During the coup he was swept up with thousands of other supporters of socialist President Salvador Allende.  The military coup was led by Gen. Augusto Pinochet.

In 2013, Jara’s family filed a civil lawsuit in the United States accusing former Chilean army Lt. Pedro Barrientos Nunez of ordering soldiers to torture Jara.  The lawsuit also detailed that Barrientos personally fired the fatal shot while playing a game of “Russian roulette.”  At that time some 5,000 supporters of former President Allende were being detained inside of a locker room in Santiago’s Estadio Chile.

Following his murder, Jara’s body was thrown out onto the street of a town in Santiago.

The locker room where Jara was tortured and killed remains in its original state and currently operates as a shelter for the homeless at night.

Barrientos, who left Chile in 1989 and is currently living in the U.S., is part of the group of officers who also face criminal charges in Chile related to the singer’s killing.  Barrientos continues to deny all involvement in the murder, stating that he wasn’t there and didn’t even know who Jara was at the time of the coup.

The Chilean government estimates 3,095 people were killed during Pinochet’s rule, including an estimated 1,200 people who were forcibly disappeared.

Currently, about 700 military officials still face trial in Chile and about 70 have been jailed for crimes against humanity.

For more information, please see:

ABC News – Chile: 3 More Charged in Victor Jara Murder –  3 Sept. 2014

National Post – Chile Charges Two Army Officers in ‘Russian Roulette’ Style Execution of Folk Singer Victor Jara in 1973 – 4 Sept. 2014

The Prince George Citizen – Chile Charges 3 More People for Torture Death of Folk Singer Victor Jara in 1973 Coup – 3 Sept. 2014

Cuba Si – Three Chilean Officers Charged with Murder of Victor Jara – 4 Sept. 2014

Talks of Peace Begin Between Ukraine and Russia Following a Tense Week

By Kyle Herda

Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

KIEV, Ukraine – Amid all the chaos that has ensued in Eastern Ukraine over the past week, there may finally be a sign of light. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko have reportedly agreed to a cease-fire between the two nations.

A pro-Russian tank flies the flag of ‘New Russia’. (Photo courtesy of NBC).

This reported cease-fire follows a week of high escalation in fighting. Anywhere from 1,000 to 15,000 Russian troops have reportedly entered into Ukraine and stormed the cities of Donetsk and Luhansk, bringing along tanks and artillery, prompting Kiev to change their tactic from chasing out pro-Russian rebels in the east to now falling back and attempting to hold off against a Russian incursion.

While Russia continues to deny any sort of invasion, the Kremlin does not deny that Putin told Jose Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, that Russia could take Kiev in two weeks.

The escalated fighting has caused particular concern to NATO, as Baltic nations like Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania are nearby and feeling particularly threatened by a now-militaristic and invasive Russia. To curb their concerns, NATO has taken the step of creating a “readiness force” of several thousand troops that can quickly respond if needed. President Obama further pleads support to the Baltic nations through NATO, stating: “We’ll be here for Estonia. We’ll be here for Latvia. We’ll be here for Lithuania. You lost your independence once before. With NATO, you’ll never lose it again.”

The United States has also scheduled a military exercise for next week to take place in Poland near the Ukrainian border. This exercise will also include military personnel from Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Britain, Canada, Georgia, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Norway, Poland, Romania, and Spain. The United States will also be moving troops and 600 troops to Poland and the Baltic states for further military exercises to take place next month.

Australia and France have also acted out against Russia in response to this week’s invasion. France has halted the sale of a French battleship to Russia, and Australia has halted the sale of uranium to Russia. Australia also opened an Australian embassy in Kiev in support of Ukrainian sovereignty.

The increased pressure on both parties, via Russian incursion on Ukraine and via the rest of the world’s actions in response to Russia’s behavior, seems to have finally reached a breaking point. In the face of all-out warfare, both Ukraine and Russia have allegedly agreed to a cease-fire and to work towards peace. Whether the deal will become permanent or fall apart remains to be seen, but for the moment it appears possible that an end may be in sight for a conflict that has claimed nearly 3,000 lives.

For more information, please see:

RT – US prepares military drill in W. Ukraine for mid-September – 3 September 2014

LA Times – Obama reassures Baltic allies of NATO support amid Ukraine conflict – 3 September 2014

The New York Times – Obama Calls Ukraine a ‘Moment of Testing’ for NATO – 3 September 2014

The Australian – Australia considers aid to Ukraine, opens Kiev embassy – 3 September 2014

The Washington Post – Putin says he and Ukrainian president agree on outlines of a peace deal – 3 September 2014

CBS – Ukraine says it is now battling the Russian military – 2 September 2014

The Guardian – Putin claims Russian forces ‘could conquer Ukraine capital in two weeks’ – 2 September 2014

NBC – Baltic States Fear Putin Amid Escalation in Ukraine – 2 September 2014

The Wall Street Journal – Ukraine Shifts to Defense Against Russian Incursion – 1 September 2014

BBC – Ukraine crisis: Nato chief Rasmussen announces new force – 1 September 2014

Maduro Enraged by Negative Television Portrayal

By Delisa N. Morris

Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

CARACAS, Venezuela – While there hasn’t been much uproar in North America concerning the new TNT spy drama “Legends”, Venezuelan officials are enraged.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Photo courtesy of Telegraph Co. UK.

Venezuelan officials are denouncing the show for portraying the socialist government stockpiling chemical weapons such as nerve gas to dispel protesters.  

The show has caused such a rift in the South American country that the telecommunications commission opened an investigation on Tuesday into the series.  The episode in dispute details a character that fingers President Maduro and the socialist party as purchasers of chemical weapons.  On Monday, the script was called hostile and ‘imperialist’ by the Minister of Information, Delcy Rodriguez.

The shows producer, Fox 21, has publicly apologized and detailed that the show was just fictional.

“The producers did not intend to imply that the show was reporting any actual events when it mentioned President Maduro’s name.  We sincerely apologize to President Maduro,”  stated the company.  

The episode in question is titled “Lords of War”, during which the main character intensely questions a terrorist about who was purchasing his chemical weapons.  After a drawn out bout the terrorist leaks the name of President Maduro and the PSUV (the made up socialist party acronym).  The terrorist goes on to say that the President and his socialist group are worried about civil unrest in Venezuela.

This past spring Venezuela was often in the news due to many of the country’s peaceful protests turned violent.  While President Maduro has been cited for violating several human rights in his harsh tactics to quell protestors, chemical weapons were never used.

On her personal twitter page, Rodriguez denounced the script, stating the brief scene had  “lies and manipulation” that were a part of a “Hollywood-type script typical in its imperialist actions against legitimate governments.”

The show, “Legends”, debuted in August only scoring a 58% on “Rotten Tomatoes.”  The show stars Sean Bean, who was famously killed off in the first season of “Game of Thrones”, as an undercover FBI agent.

The investigation currently holds no clear path, and it is unclear what the governments investigation will consist of.  On Tuesday, critics of the socialist government released 20-second versions of the clip with the heading, “the scene Maduro doesn’t want you to see.”

Venezuela has been in the eye of the US entertainment industry a few times before.  Other quells with the entertainment sector include a video game claimed to seek overthrowing former President Hugo Chavez, and portrayals of the country as a lawless place for escaped criminals on other network dramas.

So far no official repercussions have followed these incidents.

For more information please see,

ABC News – Venezuela Rails Against Portrayal in US Spy Drama – 2 September 2014

the guardian – Venezuela Outcry as US Drama Maligns Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro – 2 September 2014

The Washington Times – Venezuela Rails Against Portrayal in US Spy Drama – 2 September 2014

Reuters – Venezuela Blasts U.S. TV Show Over Maduro Nerve Gas Plot – 2 September 2014

Boko Haram Leader Claims Control Of Nigerian Town

 

 

 

 

By Ashley Repp
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

 

Gowza, Nigeria-  Boko Haram Releases Video Claiming Control in Northern Nigeria

 

Abubakar Shekau, the leader of Boko Haram, an Islamic militant group with its roots in Nigeria, released a video commending group members for their work in capturing the town of Gowza.  The video asserts that the town, with a population of about 265,000, will now be under the governance of Islamic Law, and that this is major victory for the militants.

BokoHaram

Citizens of northern Nigeria are not strangers to the presence of Boko Haram, and the violence that tails the group.  Since 2009, thousands have been indiscriminately killed at the hands of Boko Haram.  Just this year, nearly 4,000 civilians fell victim to the deadly violence that Boko Haram so frequently employs in asserting authority and dominance.  The video recently released by Abubakar Shekau, shows pickup trucks with armed militants driving into Gowza.  About 20 men are shot dead in the video as well.  Many fled upon the arrival of the militants, though many were not fortunate enough to avoid the onslaught of gunfire and grenades.

Though the Nigerian military asserts that it is still in full control of Nigeria in its entirety, Boko Haram contends that this is untrue.  Many civilians in the area have also expressed that Nigerian military has been absent from the region.  Military absence creates a space in which Boko Haram influence can proliferate.  Furthermore, with the rise of ISIS in the Middle East, the growing influence of Boko Haram is particularly concerning.  While Abubakar Shekau mentioned Iraq in his video, there was no specific mention of an alliance or allegiance between ISIS and Boko Haram.  Nevertheless, this will be an allegiance to pay particular attention to.

Ultimately, in light of the recent news regarding Boko Haram, including their claim of responsibility in the kidnapping of about 200 school girls in April, the group is an entity that appears to have the requisite strength and ominous shadow to continue to grow.  Further growth will certainly compound issues for Nigeria, a country currently reeling from the devastation of an outbreak and the continued presence of Boko Haram.  It goes without saying that the Boko Haram situation will only continue to grow in strength and presence, unless it can be stopped, in the very least, by government and military forces.  Until a decisive shift in either direction is made, it seems the world, and Nigerians, can only watch and wait.

For more information please visit:

BBC News– Boko Haram Declares ‘Islamic State’ in Nigeria– 25 Aug, 2014

Boston Herald- Nigeria: Boko Haram Declares it is Islamic Caliphate– 25 Aug, 2014

Times of India- Boko Haram Chief Declares ‘Caliphate’ in Nigeria Town– 25 Aug, 2014

Reuters- Boko Haram Leader Says Ruling Nigerian Town by Islamic Law– 25 Aug, 2014

 

 

 

 

 

Confusion and Misunderstanding Fuel the Ebola Fire

By Ashley Repp
News Desk Reporter, Africa

West Africa– Lack of government outreach and denial of the disease are adding kindling to the Ebola fire. Denial regarding Ebola has been an overarching reality in many West African nations.  In March and April many governments refused to admit that there were Ebola cases in their villages, asserting to the international community that there was no chance of an Ebola outbreak, no looming epidemic to contend with.  Governments misstepped again by failing to alert the public to the presence of the deadly virus within their respective countries.  This issue was further compounded by the general lack of knowledge of how the virus is spread, and without dissemination of information regarding proper health precautions on how to avoid becoming infected, many West Africans are in denial that Ebola is actually an issue at their doorstep, or are fearful of the disease they don’t understand.  Regardless of which side West Africans find themselves on, their governments should be faulted for the limited resources, information, and awareness provided to combat the rapidly spreading virus.

ebola

Ebola is spread by contact with bodily fluids including, sweat, blood, urine, vomit, and mucus.  Understanding this is key, yet very few West Africans are aware of this.  As a result, ritual burials that often include extensive contact with the dead body still continue, despite the fact that such contact with a body infected with Ebola could be lethal.  As one news report mentioned, many people waver between fear and denial, exemplified by a girl in Liberia yelling at her friend not to touch her because “Ebola in town.”  Her friend responded that Ebola isn’t real, the government planted this seed of fear.  Others are certain that West African governments are only using Ebola to get aid from nations like the United States, and that it is not an actual issue.  Ultimately, denial and fear are spurring on Ebola, and lack of government outreach and uniformed people, are supporting the epidemic’s survival.

It wasn’t until several days ago that one country, Guinea, decided to shut its borders in an effort to keep Ebola at bay.  But with West Africa’s porous borders and largely weak governments, it is unlikely that this measure will ultimately have much effect.  Nevertheless, in the aftermath of West African governments failing their people by not disseminating information regarding the disease, and denying the Ebola crisis, steps, such as closing borders, may be a turning point for the epidemic.  But have these precautions come too late?

 

For more information, please visit:

All Africa- Guinea Shuts Boarders in Bid to Halt Ebola Spread- 9 Aug, 2014

All Africa- Nigeria: Ebola- Many Nigerians Still Ignorant of Disease- 8 Aug, 2014

All Africa- Liberia: You Ain’t Know Ebola In Town?- 9 Jul, 2014

All Africa- West Africa: Misconceptions Fuel Ebola Outbreak- 14 Jul, 2014