by Michael Yoakum
Impunity Watch Reporter, North America

WASHINGTON, D.C., United States – President Obama announced plans on Saturday to delay military action against Syria, opting to ask Congress to authorize strikes against Syrian chemical weapon depots.  This announcement came days after the United States accused the Assad regime of using sarin gas to kill 1400 of its own civilians.

After laying out evidence that Bashar al-Assad’s forces were responsible for the August 21 attack in Damascus, President Obama explained that a strike against Syria’s chemical weapons depots, while important, is not time sensitive.  President Obama then surprised his advisers on the President’s National Security Council by asking for Congressional approval to make limited strikes to Syrian military targets.

The President explained that he believes a military response is necessary to demonstrate the consequences of ignoring international treaties banning the use of chemical weapons.  He noted that any military action in Syria would not involve “boots on the ground” or a prolonged occupation.

Reactions to President Obama’s decision were mixed.  Secretary of State John Kerry praised the President’s willingness to consult the People’s Representatives, calling his decision “courageous.”  While appearing on “Fox News Sunday” Kerry warned that the President would not wait for Congressional approval if there was evidence of further chemical weapon attacks.

President Obama stated that members of both parties in Congress have agreed to schedule a debate and vote as soon as Congress comes back into session September 9. Some members of Congress praise the President for seeking their authorization for military force.

Presidents are not required to seek Congressional approval for limited military interventions under the War Powers Act.

Political analysts speculate that shifting the decision to Congress allows the President to walk back statements he made to Assad last year. President Obama told Assad last year that the use of chemical weapons would be the “red line” by which the United States would be forced to intervene.

For more information, please see:

The Washington Post – Obama says U.S. will take military action against Syria, pending Congress’s approval – 31 August 2013

CBS News – Obama seeks Syria strike with Congress’ approval – 31 August 2013

The New York Times – Kerry Casts Obama’s Syria Decision as ‘Courageous’ – 1 September 2013

USA Today – Obama surprised staff with decision on Syria – 1 September 2013

CNN – ‘War-weary’ Obama says Syria chemical attack requires response – 30 August 2013

By Brandon Cottrell 
Impunity Watch Reporter, North America

WASHINGTON, D.C., United States – Robert King, the U.S. special envoy for North Korean human rights issues, is expected to arrive in North Korea today and will ask for release of Kenneth Bae.  King’s trip is the first public trip to North Korea by a U.S. official in over two years.

The North Koreans imprisoned Bae, a 45-year-old American citizen and Christian missionary, last November for planning an operation against Kim Jong Un’s regime through religious activities.  Specifically, the North Koreans charged Bae with setting up bases in China for the purpose of toppling Kim’s regime, encouraging North Korean citizens to bring down the government and spreading false propaganda.  The North Korean government also claims that Bae used his tourism business to form groups that could overthrow the government.

North Korea does allow religious freedom, but such religious freedom yields to “total loyalty to the Kim dynasty,” which has ruled for three generations.  Bae’s family believes that it was not Bae’s religious beliefs that got him in trouble, rather his sympathy toward North Korean orphans.

Online posts, however, which have since been taken down, showed Bae describing himself and a party of people that he took to North Korea as “warriors for Christ.”  Bae had also talked of bringing three hundred people into North Korea to emulate the biblical destruction of the walls of Jericho.

Bae was sentenced in May to fifteen years of hard labor.  Although he has only served ten months of his sentence, Bae has already spent more time in North Korean custody than any other American.  Additionally, Bae’s health has deteriorated and he is spending time in a hospital.  It is reported that he is suffering from leg and back pain.  Bae has also lost more than fifty pounds, has kidney stones, dizziness and loss of vision.  Prior to his arrest, Bae suffered from diabetes and an enlarged heart.

The White House hopes that the government of North Korea will “grant special clemency to Mr. Bae immediately and allow him to return home with Ambassador [Robert] King.”  While King’s visit may improve political relations with North Korea, the U.S. State Department stated that the immediate release of Bae is the sole purpose of the envoy.

Since 2009, six Americans have been detained by North Korea.  Former U.S. Presidents Clinton and Carter have both successfully negotiated the release of American detainees.  Hopes are also high that Bae will be released, as several years ago King led a U.S. delegation, which resulted in the release of an American who had been detained by the North Koreans for several months.

UPDATE: As of 11:20am EDT North Korea has rescinded its invitation for the U.S. envoy to visit North Korea and try to secure the release of Bae.

For further information, please see:

BBC – US Envoy due in North Korea to Seek Prisoner Release – 30 August 2013

CNN – N. Korea Rescinds Invitation to U.S. Envoy over American Prisoner – 30 August 2013

CNN – U.S. Envoy set to Travel to North Korea to try to free Kenneth Bae – 30 August 2013

Times of India – US Envoy on Mission to Free American in North Korea – 30 August 2013

MSNBC – US Envoy Seeks Prisoner Release in North Korea – 29 August 2013

By Brandon Cottrell 
Impunity Watch Reporter, North America 

GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala – Carlos Alberto Orellana Chavez, 62, was found Monday shot to death.  The shooting came hours after Chavez, a broadcast journalist, was reported missing.  With his passing, a total of four journalists have been murdered in Guatemala this year.

Chavez’s shooting comes one week after Freddy Rodas, a regional correspondent, was seriously wounded in a shooting.  Guatemalan police do, however, have a suspect in custody regarding Rodas’ shooting.  Additionally, last week gunmen shot at the home of Vernick Gudiel, an investigator for a Guatemala City daily newspaper.  No injuries were reported in that shooting, however.

Carlos Lauria, coordinator for the Committee to Protect Journalists, has called for the authorities to “thoroughly investigate the murder of Carlos Alberto Orellana Chávez and the shooting of Fredy Rodas, determine the motives, and bring those responsible to justice.”

As authorities continue to investigate the murder, Interior Minister Mauricio Lopez rejected the notion that journalists as a group are under attack.  Lopez believes that the shootings are based on personal motives, indicating that Chavez may have been killed during a carjacking.

Maria Martin, director of the Guatemalan journalism training organization Gracias Vida, rejects Lopez’s notion and offers two additional explanations.  First, Martin states “organized crime and the drug cartels are gaining more power . . . and that makes it more dangerous for rural and regional journalists.”  Additionally, she states, “you have Guatemala between Honduras and Mexico, where the killing of journalists has become an open sport . . . it was just a matter of time before the bad guys would take a lesson from both of these countries, where journalists are killed and no one is called into account.”

President Otto Pérez Molina, meanwhile, announced the creation of a task force that will investigate the murders of all four journalists that have been murdered this year.  Molina said that, “we put together a special team to run the investigation so we can make sure this does not go unpunished.”  He also announced a new program that is aimed at protecting journalists who work in Guatemala.

For further information, please see:

The Guardian – Guatemalan Journalist Shot to Death – 22 August 2013

Info Sur Hoy – Guatemala Task Force to Probe Journalist Deaths – 21 August 2013

Journalism in the Americas – Regional Reporter in Guatemala Gunned Down, the Fourth This Year – 21 August 2013

One India – Journalist Slain in Guatemala, one Suspect Held – 21 August 2013