News

UN Security Council Calls for Peacekeeping Force in CAR

By Erica Smith
Impunity Watch Report, Africa

WASHINGTON D.C., United States of America — On Thursday, The Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution urging the UN to establish a peacekeeping operation in Central African Republic (CAR).

Seleka Rebels (photo courtesy of The Telegraph)

The resolution calls on U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to submit a report within 30 days that would outline possible international support to the African Union lead peacekeeping mission known as MISCA. The resolution requires that Ban’s report contain “detailed options for international support to MISCA, including the possible option of a transformation of MISCA into a United Nations peacekeeping operation, subject to appropriate conditions on the ground.”

The 15-member Council also called for “the holding of free, fair and transparent presidential and legislative elections” to be held within 18 months after the beginning of the transition period which took effect on the 18 August. The council noted in it’s resolution that  there are widespread “violations of international humanitarian law and the widespread human rights violations and abuses, notably by Seleka elements,” and demanded “that the Seleka elements and all other armed groups lay down their arms immediately.”

CAR has fallen into widespread lawlessness since the March ouster of President Francois Bozize by the Seleka rebels. Human rights groups have noted widespread looting and killing of civilians. 30 people were killed Tuesday when armed men attacked a village and Human Rights Watch has described what it says is Seleka’s deliberate killing of civilians between March and June of this year and its deliberate destruction of more than 1,000 homes.

Laurent Fabius, France’s foreign minister, warned that the Central African Republic could become a new Somalia unless immediate action is taken.

UN officials say that the crisis in CAR has failed to generate much international interest because it has  been largely overshadowed by other conflicts, especially the civil war in Syria.

For more information, please see:

Chicago Tribune — U.N. Security Council asks for Central African peacekeeping options — 10 October 2013

Financial Times — UN backs peace plan for African nation — 10 October 2013

UN News Centre — Central African Republic: Security Council reinforces UN office, backs African Union peacekeeping role — 10 October 2013

Voice of America — UN Calls for Peacekeeping Force in CAR — 10 October 2013

The Wichita Eagle — UN tackles collapsing Central African Republic — 10 October 2013

BBC News — Central African Republic violence leaves 30 dead — 8 October 2013

 

Kim Jong-un Tightens Governmental Grip, Ousts Top General

By Brian Lanciault
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

PYONGYANG, North Korea– North Korea’s state media confirmed Thursday the removal of its highest military chief, in yet another step towards effecting a military overhaul. The country’s supreme leader, Kim Jong-un, has replaced nearly half of his country’s top officials in the past two years, according to South Korean officials.

General Kim Kyok-sik, ousted earlier this week in the latest step towards a massive military overhaul. (Photo Courtesy of AP)

The firing of Gen. Kim Kyok-sik and the rise of Gen. Ri Yong-gil to replace him as head of the general staff of the North’s Korean People’s Army was the latest in a sequence of high-profile reshuffles that Kim Jong-un has engineered to consolidate his grip on the country’s top officials.

Since taking power after the death of his father, Kim Jong-il, in late 2011, Kim Jong-un has replaced 44 percent of North Korea’s 218 top military, party and government officials, according to the South’s Ministry of Unification . He engineered this and other reshuffles to retire or simply oust the old generals from his father’s regime and promote a new set of aides who owe loyalty directly to him.

The reordering at the top has accelerated since July of last year, when Vice Marshal Ri Yong-ho, one of the most powerful men under Kim Jong-un’s father, was suddenly fired as chief of the general staff of the North Korean military. He was replaced by Vice Marshal Hyon Yong-chol. Hyon hardly lasted long, as he was soon demoted and replaced by Gen. Kim Kyok-sik in May.

Gen. Kyok-sik, 74, had been one of the oldest aides of Kim Jong-il still holding a top job even after Kim Jong-un promoted younger generals. South Korean officials believed that General Kyok-sik commanded units responsible for sinking one of South Korea’s warships and bombarding a South Korean border island in 2010, attacks that killed at least 50 South Koreans.

But his name soon disappeared from state media after the Central Military Commission of the ruling Workers’ Party met in August to discuss personnel matters.

Little is known about Ri Yong-gil, who is in charge of the field operations of the North Korean military as chief of its general staff. He gained the attention of outside analysts when North Korean media reported that he was one of the generals who advised Kim Jong-un this spring when North Korea threatened nuclear strikes against South Korea and the United States.

Analysts believed that General Ri was appointed military chief during the August meeting of the Central Military Commission.

But North Korean media mentioned his new title for the first time on Thursday in dispatches listing those who accompanied Kim Jong-un while visiting a Pyongyang mausoleum where his father and his grandfather lie in rest.

General Ri Yong-gil joins Gen. Jang Jong-nam, who became minister of the armed forces in May, and Vice Marshal Choe Ryong-hae, the military’s top political officer, as Kim Jong-un’s top three military aides.

Among the three, Vice Marshal Choe Ryong-hae, director of the General Political Department of the North Korean People’s Army, is considered the most powerful. He appeared with Kim Jong-un in North Korean media more often than any other member of the elite.

Choe Ryong-hae, a former party secretary, had never served in the army and experts believe his sudden rise in the military ranks under Kim Jong-un is a sign that the supreme leader is allowing the party to reassert its influence over the military.

For more information, please see:

Japan Times– N. Korea confirms army head ousted — 10 October 2013

Global Post– North Korean leader Kim Jong-un sacks hard-line military chief — 10 October 2013

Gulf News– North Korea confirms removal of hawkish army chief Kim Kyok-sik — 10 October 2013

NY Times– North Korean Leader Tightens Grip with Removal of Top General — 10 October 2013

Voice of America– N Korea Replaces Hawkish Army Chief — 10 October 2013

 

 

 

Dutch Foreign Minister Issues Apology After Arrest of Russian Diplomat Violates Vienna Convention

by Tony Iozzo
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

The Hague, Netherlands – The Netherlands has issued a statement apologizing to Russia regarding the arrest and detention of a Russian diplomat by Dutch police at The Hague.

Timmermans stated on Wednesday that the two countries remain in talks about the incident. (Photo courtesy of Al Jazeera)

Dutch police have refrained from commenting on the case, but Dutch media reports have cited police documents alleging that Russian Diplomat Dmitry Borodin was detained late on Saturday night after police found him intoxicated and barely able to stand.

Witnesses also stated that Borodin was mistreating his two young children. According to various claims, Borodin was “totally drunk” and had dragged his children by their hair throughout his house and garden.  His wife also allegedly collided with several vehicles while driving intoxicated.

Dutch Foreign Minister Frans Timmermans stated on Wednesday that an investigation revealed that the arrest of Borodin was a actually a breach of the Vienna Convention that regulates diplomatic relations between nations. Borodin’s arrest violated his diplomatic immunity, also stressed by Timmermans.

For the illegal arrest and detention, “the state of the Netherlands offers the Russian Federation its apologies,” Timmermans stated on Wednesday.

Timmermans also stated that he “understands” the action of the police officers who arrested Borodin, given the development of the situation on Saturday night after reviewing the case.

“They acted in accordance with their professional responsibilities with regard to the situation they found after the report,” Timmermans stated. He added that the Netherlands and Russia “remain in talks” about the incident.

Russian President Vladimir Putin called Borodin’s detention “the most gross breach of the Vienna Convention”, and demanded an apology on Tuesday.

Also on Tuesday, the Russian foreign ministry accused Dutch police officers of raiding Borodin’s apartment in The Hague and assaulting him before bringing him to the police station for hours of questioning regarding the accusations.

Relations between the Netherlands and Russia have deteriorated promptly since Russian investigators charged thirty crew members of a Dutch-flagged Greenpeace ship, the Arctic Sunrise, with piracy last week over a protest against Arctic oil drilling.

The Netherlands had responded by launching legal action to free the activists, who face up to fifteen years in jail.

For more information, please see:

Al Jazeera – Dutch Apologize for Russian Diplomat Arrest – 9 October 2013

BBC News – Dutch Sorry on Russia Diplomat Case – 9 October 2013

Dutch News – The Netherlands Apologize to Russia for Diplomat’s Arrest – 9 October 2013

The Moscow Times – Dutch Apologize to Moscow for Detention of Russian Diplomat – 9 October 2013

The United States to Cut Military Aid to Egypt amid Rising Violence

By Kathryn Maureen Ryan

Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

CAIRO, Egypt–According to the White House, the United States is planning to cut hundreds of millions of dollars in military aid to Egypt. The move appears to be a direct response to the Egyptian military’s violent crackdown on supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood. However, despite the uptick in violence the United States will maintain some military aid to the Egyptian state.

A riot police officer moves into position during clashes with protesters on October 6 in Cairo Egypt. (photo Courtesy of CNN)

The Obama administration has already made some cuts to Egyptian military aid. In August the Administration cut aid in response to the violent clashes between activists in protest camps and military security forces that followed the overthrow of President Morsy in July.

Despite the violence the Obama Administration has so far mainlined its relationship with Egypt sense President Morsy was removed from power on 3 July. The Administration yet to label the removal of Egyptian President Mohamed Morsy from office a military Coup which would regime the administration to cut all aid to the country except humanitarian aid. State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said in a statement that “as a result of the review directed by President Obama, we have decided to maintain our relationship with the Egyptian government, while recalibrating our assistance to Egypt to best advance our interests.”

The administration’s decision to halt a $260 million cash transfer to Egypt and suspend the sale of military systems, including the F-16 aircraft, M1A1 tank parts, Harpoon anti-ship missiles and Apache helicopters may single a changing tide in US relations with Egypt.

Despite criticism of the Egyptian Military’s violent tactics to suppress the views of the Muslim Brotherhoods and other Islamist groups in the state The US will maintain some Military aid to Egypt. According to a senior US official that will be earmarked to allow the state to uphold its obligations under its peace treaty with the State of Israel. Egypt has been involved counterterrorism and security efforts in the Sinai Peninsula where attacks have escalated during the months since Morsy was removed from power. The United States will also maintain non-military funding that earmarked for the promotion of democratization in Egypt.

The Obama Administration’s announcement comes as the death toll in Egypt counties to rise as the military violently cracks down on supporters of ousted President Mohamed Morsy and anti-government protesters. At least 51 people were killed across the country Sunday during a day of protests led by supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood. The Interim government has essentially returned the Muslim Brotherhood to the illegal status it held during the regime of Hosni Mubarak, an Egyptian court banned the activities of the Muslim Brotherhood and froze the organization’s financial assets.

For more information please see:

Al Jazeera – Egypt Sets November Trial Date for Morsi – 9 October 2013

CNN – U.S. to Cut Some Military Aid to Egypt After Coup, Turmoil – 9 October 2013

CNN – U.S. Suspends Significant Military Aid to Egypt – 9 October 2013

The New York Times – Obama Expected To Reduce Military Aid to Egypt – 9 October 2013