News

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

30 Dead Due to Violence in Central African Republic

By: Danielle L. Gwozdz
Impunity Watch News Reporter, Africa

BANGUI, Central African Republic – At least 30 people died and dozens wounded in clashes in the Central African Republic (“CAR”), officials say.

A truck with former Seleka coalition rebels drives by in Bangui on October 7, 2013 (photo courtesy of AFP)

The clashes were between armed civilians and the rebels who control CAR. They left those dead in a remote village in the country’s northwest.

The rebels were ex-rebels of the Seleka coalition and the armed civilians were local self-defense groups.

“Fierce fighting has claimed at least 30 lives . . . but the clashes were still going on as of mid-morning,” a security source close to the military high command in Bangui told AFP.

The fighting broke out on Monday and continued into Tuesday.

Reports say vigilantes attacked Garga village, 125 miles northwest of the capital, Bangui.

Waves of attacks on villages in Ouham province have forced more than 170,000 people to flee their homes, according to the U.N. Humanitarian Agency. Although it was not immediately possible to independently corroborate the military’s death toll of 30 people; however, witnesses claimed that twice this amount of people actually died.

The self-defense groups began attacking the village on Monday, the security source said, leaving three dead and a dozen injured. They were then beaten back by rebels who were the ones that distributed the weapons to the local population.

Seleka was disbanded in name but continues to operate as a pro-militia in the region.

The Agence France-Presse news agency quoted an official saying the village had been “emptied of its residents.”

Many had sought refuge in nearby bush land, it further said.

“A witness described having seen at least 40 people killed by the Seleka fighters who had begun searching for the men in town,” a Roman Catholic priest who works in the country’s northwest said, pointing out that the casualty figures did not include Seleka personnel.

The Seleka forces involved in the violence included fighters from neighboring Sudan, local residents were quoted by the AP news agency as saying.

CAR was one of the poorest and most unstable countries on the continent even before thousands of armed rebels descended on the capital in March and forced the president of a decade into exile.

In the months since, they have seized power, the country has devolved into a state of near-anarchy, and human rights groups have accused the rebel fighters of scores of atrocities, including committing massacres against civilians.

For more information, please visit:

BBC News – Central African Republic violence leaves 30 dead – 8 October 2013
Miami Herald – Army: Central African Republic clashes kill 23 – 8 October 2013
Yahoo! News – Central Africa clashes ‘leave 30 dead’ – 8 October 2013
News UK 24 – Central African Republic violence leaves 30 dead – 8 October 2013
DailyMe – BBC News – Central African Republic violence leaves 30 dead – 8 October 2013

Canadians Freed but Banned From Leaving Egypt

By Thomas Murphy
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

CAIRO, Egypt – On Sunday, two Canadians were prevented from flying out of Egypt after their names appeared on a “stop-list” issued by prosecutors. Earlier that morning, the two were released from prison after being held for fifty-one days without charges.

John Greyson (left) and Tarek Loubani (right) are currently being forced to remain in Egypt despite no formal charges. (Photo Courtesy of CBC)

John Greyson, a Toronto filmmaker and York University professor, and Tarek Loubani, a physician from London, Ontario, were arrested during a violent protest  in Ramses Square in Cairo. The two Canadians claim that, during the violence, Loubani stopped to help wounded protesters while Greyson videotaped. The men have said they witnessed at least fifty demonstrators killed and after leaving the protest they were beaten and arrested.

On Monday, the Canadians’  lawyer Marwa Farouk filed an application with the Prosecutor General to have the travel ban lifted. The application claimed that the investigation lacks any substantial evidence and that Greyson and Loubani should be allowed to return home.

Greyson’s sister, Cecilla, was optimistic about the their release and said that Canadian consular officials were dealing the “red tape.”

“Until they are safely back in Canada we are just going to be a little bit on edge,” she said. “We’ve had contact with them throughout the day today. We’re relieved they are out of prison. We’re immensely encouraged by that.”

Despite the optimism, CBC Middle East Correspondent Saša Petricic  reported that “it’s not just a question of red tape as we were led to believe originally.” The investigation of the two Canadians is considered on going and they will not be allowed to leave until it is over.

“If that needs to run its course, it could be a very long wait even though they are now in a hotel room instead of a jail cell,” added Petricic.

Greyson and Loubani have alleged that while in prison they were subject to physical abuse and degrading treatment at the hands of their Egyptian captors. The pair also said they were kept in cramped, filthy, and cockroach infested cells.

Spokesman for the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Badr Abdelatty, has publicly denied that the Canadians had suffered any mistreatment. He also stated that it is standard penal procedure to prevent individuals under investigation from leaving the country. The ministry also added that the Canadians were formally charged under Egyptian penal code, but only the prosecution has the right to announce formal charges and has refrained from doing so.

For further information, please see:

CBC News – John Greyson, Tarek Loubani may not be free to leave Egypt – 7 October 2013

Daily News Egypt – Canadians banned from travel, case still open –  7 October 2013

Al Jazeera – Freed Canadians barred from leaving Egypt – 6 October 2013

Guardian – Egypt: released Canadians prevent from leaving the country – 6 October 2013

Chinese Police Open Fire on Peaceful Protesters in Tibet

By Brian Lanciault
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

BEIJING, China– Chinese police opened fire on a crowd of Tibetan residents gathered in protest of the detention of a fellow villager who refused to comply with orders to display the national flag. Reports indicate that at least 60 people were injured.

An activist holds up a “Free Tibet” banner in protest. (Photo Courtesy of Getty Images)

Although the use of force by police to disperse unwanted crowds of protesters is common in China, shooting into crowds and causing mass injury has garnered global attention. According to the London-based Free Tibet organization, police aggressively fired at the crowd with tear gas and bullets. Local government officials have yet to comment on the incident.

Security forces had been deployed in mass beginning October 1 in response to reports that local authorities were struggling contain unrest surrounding a government order that all houses must display the national flag in commemoration of National Day. Government teams reported to the Biru region of Tibet in order to compel villagers to follow the order.

China has claimed Tibet as its own territory for centuries, but Tibetans claim that the region was an independent nation until Chinese communist soldiers began to occupy the territory in the 1950s.

The protests began after government officials detained local resident Dorje Draktsel, who was arrested last week for protesting the flag order.

The self-proclaimed Tibetan government-in-exile, based in India, said it has received reports of the firing in Biru, but had little information surrounding the incident. Spokesman Tashi Phuntsok said that the exiled Tibetans had heard protesters were injured, but did not know how many.

Many Tibetans, who resent the Chinese government’s crackdown on Tibetan and Buddhist culture, believe that Beijing’s economic policies in the Himalayan region have largely benefited Chinese migrants, at the expense of Tibetan natives. China, in return, says it has made vast investments to boost the region’s economy and improve Tibetans’ quality of life.

Tensions in the region have increased since protests were organized in the Tibetan capital, Lhasa, in March of 2008. Then, approximately 20 people were killed, followed by another 100 people, mostly Buddhist monks, who committed suicide in protest against Chinese colonization.

For more information, please see:

Global Post– 60 Wounded by police during Tibet protest — 8 October 2013

Radio Free Asia– Chinese Police Fire on Unarmed Tibetan Protesters in Driru — 8 October 2013

Al Jazeera– Chinese police fire at Tibetan protesters — 8 October 2013

ABC News– Reports: Chinese Police Fire at Tibetan Protesters — 8 October 2013

Voice of America– Activists: Chinese Police Fire on Protesters in Tibet, Wounding Dozens — 8 October 2013