News

Suicide Bomber Attacks Turkish Mission

By Danielle L. Gwozdz
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

MOGADISHU, Somalia – A car loaded with explosives drove into an office housing Turkish embassy staff in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, killing three people and injuring nine.

An injured Turkish nationalist is carried out on a stretcher (photo courtesy of Reuters)

Al-Shabaab, the Somali Islamist group, claims it carried out the attack on its Twitter feed.

“Mujahideen forced in Mogadishu have just carried out an operation targeting a group of Turkish diplomats in Hodan district,” al-Shabaab posted.

Al-Shabaab state they targeted Turkey because of their support for the Somali government and wanted to stop the establishment of Sharia.  This has not been the first time this group has targeted Turkish institutions.

A diplomat in Istanbul told AFP that the Turkish guards were able to kill two of the attackers before a third was able to detonate his vehicle.

One Turkish security officer was killed when the mission’s guards clashed with the attackers as they tried to enter the complex, one Turkish government official told Reuters.

“Turkey is very active in Somalia and when you are very active you become a target quite easily,” the diplomat told AFP.

Somalia’s government is being backed by international aid aimed at preventing al Qaeda-linked militants from entering in east Africa.

Turkey has given Somalia more than $400 million in aid since 2011 in an effort to help Somalia, most of the money coming from private companies.

These Al Qaeda-linked Shebaab insurgents have carried out multiple bombings and attacks that have ended in many deaths in an attempt to overthrow the internationally backed government.

Later this same day, unknown insurgents carried a bomb into a nearby hotel in central Mogadishu killing two people and wounding around ten.

In June this group attacked a main UN compound in Somalia’s capital, killing 22.

“All the Mujahideen who carried out the operation have returned safely back to their bases inside Mogadishu, preparing for the next operation,” al-Shebaab also stated on its Twitter feed.

“This cowardly act will not shake our commitment to continue working for the brighter, more democratic and prosperous future the people of Somalia deserve,” State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said in a statement.

 

For more information, please visit:

 

The Peninsula — Attack on Turkey mission in Somalia kills three — 28 July 2013

The Times of India — Suicide attack on Mogadishu Turkish compound kills two — 28 July 2013

Reuters — UPDATE 4-Al Shabaab claim attack on Turkish mission in Somalia, three dead — 28 July 2013

The Jerusalem Post — Car bomb hits Turkish staff building in Somali capital, 3 dead — 27 July 2013

BBC News — Deadly bomb hits Turkish target in Mogadishu — 27 July 2013

Yahoo! News — Suicide attack on Mogadishu Turkish compound kills two — 27 July 2013

 

M23 Rebels in Democratic Republic of the Congo Accused of Human Rights Violations

By Erica Smith
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

KINSHASA, Democratic Republic of the Congo — A new Human Rights Watch report detailing recent abuses carried out by the rebel group M23 in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo has been released.

An M23 camp commander inspects new recruits during a training session in eastern Congo in May. (Photo Courtesy of CBC)

According to the report, the group has executed at least 44 people and raped at least 61 women since March. It is believed that the instances of rape may be higher than reported because of social stigma surrounding rape.  Women are also often threatened with reprisal if they report the crime or seek medical attention.

The report also details the coercive recruiting tactics of M23 in Congo and Rwanda, often young men in Rwanda are promised jobs in the Congo only to end up forced into the militia.  One man was killed for refusing to turn over his sons to the group.

The Rwandan military has been accused of directly supporting M23. Rwandan army officers have been sighted at M23 bases training new recruits and actively participating in recruitment efforts in Rwanda. Former M23 members reported seeing weapons, ammunition, food, and phone credit delivered from the Rwandan army.

“Not only is Rwanda allowing its territory to be used by the abusive M23 to get recruits and equipment, but the Rwandan military is still directly supporting the M23,” said Daniel Bekele, Africa director at Human Rights Watch. “This support is sustaining an armed group responsible for numerous killings, rapes and other serious abuses.”

The report came a day before the US Department of State called on Rwanda to stop supporting M23 and other rebel groups in the Congo.  The State Department also urged the Rwandan government to follow through on its commitments to a peace and security cooperation agreement signed by regional governments in the beginning of the year.

The U.N. has also previously accused Rwanda of supporting rebel groups in Congo.  An expert panel at the UN reported in June that Rwanda’s support for M23 had declined in recent months.  Human Rights Watch contends that the support coming from the Rwandan army is still significant. “It does appear the support is more limited than it was last year, but what we have documented in terms of support is still quite significant,” said researcher and report author Ida Sawyer.

M23 spokesman Kabasha Amani called the report very partisan and based on rumor. “It’s not a report, these are just rumors,” Amani said. “We have grown used to this. It isn’t the first time they’ve said these things.”

On Friday the Congolese government issued international arrest warrants for four former members of M23.  The warrants are for crimes against humanity, war crimes, and torture.

 

For further information, please see:

AFP — DR Congo issues warrants for Rwanda-based rebels — 26 July 2013

San Fransisco Chronicle — Congo issues warrants for former M23 rebel leaders — 26 July 2013

CBC News — Rwandan arms, fighters still sustaining M23 rebel forces in Congo — 23 July 2013

International Business Times — M23 Rebel’s Reign of Terror, Rape and Murder in DR Congo ‘Aided by Rwanda’ — 23 July 2013.

Voice of America — Human Rights Watch: M23 Abuses Continue — 23 July 2013

Voice of America — US Presses Rwanda to End Support for M23 Rebels — 23 July 2013

Human Rights Watch — DR Congo: M23 Rebels Kill, Rape Civilians — 22 July 2013

 

INTERPOL REJECTS RUSSIA’S SECOND REQUEST TO ARREST WILLIAM BROWDER

Press Release

26 July 2013 – Today, the General Secretariat of Interpol has announced that Interpol cannot be used by the Russian Federation to arrest William Browder, who is running a global justice campaign to sanction Russian officials responsible for the torture and murder of 37-year old lawyer Sergei Magnitsky.

“INTERPOL cannot be used by the Russian Federation to seek the arrest of Mr William Browder,” said Interpol’s General Secretariat in the official announcement posted on its website (http://www.interpol.int/News-and-media/News-media-releases/2013/N20130726).

The public statement from Interpol came a day after the Russian Interior Ministry announced that it had sent a request to Interpol to search for Mr Browder on orders from the Russian Prosecutor General’s Office. The news of the Russian authorities targeting Mr Browder with one more international search warrant was covered by 139 news outlets in several hours since its release.

This morning Interpol’s General Secretariat refused the Russian Federation’s request to search for and arrest Mr Browder in order to extradite him back to Russia because the Russian proceedings in relation to Mr Browder have already been found by the Interpol’s governing bodies to be “of a predominantly political nature” and “contrary to INTERPOL’s rules and regulations” following a review held in May 2013 by the Interpol’s Commission for the Control of Files. In accordance with the Commission’s recommendation, the General Secretariat of Interpol has deleted all information related to the Russian request concerning Mr Browder from its information systems.

“All information related to this request for Mr Browder’s arrest has been deleted from INTERPOL’s databases and all INTERPOL member countries have been informed accordingly,” said Interpol’s General Secretariat in its official statement.

“It is remarkable that Putin has become so desperate to persecute whistleblowers that he is ready to humiliate himself and Russia in front of key international organizations. The fast response from INTERPOL in this case is an indication that it has put in place effective systems to protect themselves from Putin’s attemtps to draw them into his own corrupt political vendettas”,said a Hermitage Capital representative.

For further information, please see:

Law and Order in Russia

Bulgarian Prime Minister Oresharski Refuses Resignation Amidst Continued Protests

By Ben Kopp
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

SOPHIA, Bulgaria – Despite recent protests, Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) Prime Minister Plamen Oresharski vowed to continue his administration of the country, even if low public support delays much needed reform. European Commission spokesman Olivier Bailly simultaneously called for public order and the continued right of public demonstration.

Thousands of Bulgarians barricaded lawmakers in the parliament building during a seven-week-long protest. (Photo courtesy of Reuters)

Currently, a number of problems plague Bulgaria’s aging population, including an ineffective market and failing health care and education systems. Tax collection and revenue agency reforms are also areas of concern.

In February 2013, Bulgaria’s former Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (GERB) government collapsed following protests over low living standards and high utility bills. By May, without backing from another party, GERB reclaimed an electoral majority. However, the BSP, which won second place, received support from another party in the legislature for Oresharski’s rise to power.

In June, demonstrators protested the Socialist government’s decision to appoint, without debate, a “media magnate” the head of the National Security Council. Even after parliament cancelled the appointment, protests have continued for nearly seven weeks in Sofia. Of thousands of Bulgarian protesters, most are young and well-educated anti-corruption demonstrators.

Most of the protests had been peaceful and overshadowed in international media by concurrent violence in Brazil, Turkey, and Egypt.

On 23 July 2013, protesters trapped more than 100 lawmakers, ministers, and journalists inside the parliament building. Protesters used paving stones, street signs, and park benches as barricades. Despite injuries to several protesters and at least one police officer, the rally continued for over eight hours. The streets rang with thousands shouting “Resign! Mafia!” Around 3:00AM, police escorted lawmakers away in vans.

A government decision to borrow nearly $700 million sparked the demonstrators’ decision to barricade lawmakers inside parliament.

“We want people in the parliament to start thinking about the people, and not only for their own pockets,” said demonstrator Anna Grozdanova.

“People’s patience has run out,” said Bulgarian cultural expert Alexander Kiossev, who recently protested in Sofia. “This patience has several times been overstretched by this government and previous ones.”

European Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding openly sympathized with “Bulgarian citizens who are protesting on the streets against corruption.”

According to a recent poll, Oresharki’s coalition has the highest disapproval rating of any incoming Bulgarian government since 1997. Amidst protesters calling for Oresharki’s resignation, political analysts have predicted that the government will not last long because the Attack Party, while necessary for passing legislation, continues to push an anti-EU and anti-NATO agenda.

“When we speak of resignation,” said Oresharski, “that is an easy personal decision to make but would be irresponsible for the country… I have heard no convincing arguments explaining how resignation would automatically solve the problems of the country.”

Oresharski added that while protests have forced his government to be more effective, they have made enacting major reforms difficult. Nevertheless, he vowed to maintain fiscal rigor and help spur economic growth.

As demonstrated, however, if the corruption allegations are true, the Bulgarian people will not want the major reforms offered to them.

For more information, please see:

The Guardian – Bulgaria’s ‘Class War’ – 26 July 2013

Reuters – Bulgaria PM Refuses to Quit, Says Protests Hamper Reforms – 26 July 2013

TIME World – A Bulgarian Spring? Entrenched Protests Challenge Eastern Europe’s Status Quo – 26 July 2013

Deutsche Welle – Kiossev: ‘There’s a moral solidarity in Bulgaria’ – 25 July 2013

Reuters – Bulgaria Parliament Siege Escalates Political Crisis – 24 July 2013

Death Toll Over 100,000 in Syria Conflict

By Thomas Murphy
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

DAMASCUS, Syria – On Thursday, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said that over 100,000 people have now been killed in the conflict in Syria.  The UN Chief appealed to all parties involved to begin new peace talks as he addressed the media before a meeting with United States Secretary of State John Kerry.

Heavy weaponry used in urban in areas has produced a large number of the casualties. (Photo Courtesy of Getty Images)

“More than 100,000 people have been killed, millions of people have either been displaced or become refugees in neighbouring countries,” Ban said. “We have to bring this to an end. The military and violent actions must be stopped by both parties, and it is thus imperative to have a peace conference in Geneva as soon as possible.”

Kerry also addressed the reporters stating that he had recently spoken with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and that both countries remained committed to a peaceful outcome.

“There is no military solution to Syria,” Kerry told reporters. “There is only a political solution, and that will require leadership in order to bring people to the table. We will try our hardest to make that happen as soon as is possible,” Kerry said.

In the past, peace conferences have been delayed because of disagreements between Russia and the US and uncertainty as to whether the all of the Syrian parties to the conflict would show up.

The announcement occurred shortly after a car bomb was detonated in the al-Siyouf Square in the Jaramanah disctrict of Damascus.  Reports have the number of deaths ranging from seven to as many as seventeen with dozens injured.

The UN death toll estimate marked a significant increase from last month’s estimate of 93,000 killed in the conflict.  The UN has stressed that their numbers are an underestimate.

The death toll is not the only startling statistic that has been released by the UN.  In May, it was reported that more than one-and-a-half million had fled Syria and another four million were displaced within the country.

While Ban and Kerry pushed for peace talks, the rebel opposition called for more military support from the US.  Opposition Syrian National Coalition president Ahmad Jarba said that the rebels have a “right to self-defense” and need further support as the situation has grown “desperate” after regime advances.

For further information, please see:

CNN – Opposition presses for weapons as Syria death toll tops 100,000 – 26 July 2013

Al Jazeera – UN: Syria death toll rises above 100,000 – 25 July 2013

BBC – Syria death toll now above 100,000, says UN chief Ban – 25 July 2013

Global Post – Syria death toll tops 100,000 – 25 July 2013